How much wind is required to knock over a camper?

[DaveMatthewsBand]

I thought I saw a thread on this last year but I can’t seem to find it. I’m sure there is a mathematical calculation that factors in length, width, height and weight of the trailer, wind speed, trajectory etc.
I’m also curious if anyone has witnessed trailers being blown over and if so, at what wind speed?
Obviously hurricanes and tornadoes wouldn’t have a problem doing this but I’m curious about the minimum wind speed that would be considered “dangerous” to someone in... say a 9,000 pound 27’ fifth wheel that is boondocking in the desert.

: )




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[WhittleBurner]

We had some very intense winds in FL a few yers ago, close to if not over 50 to 60 mph gusts. The wind was so intense it blew rain into the stove vent and it gathered on the counter between the stove and fridge. A tornado passed less than 5 miles south of us and you could definately feel the rocking, it made me nervous enough to think get the heck out but the trailer held strong in spite of the rocking . I got out of bed and sat "downstairs" in the living room..somehow that made me feel safer lol. Take some dramamine and put your nose to the wind!

[wakeupandwander]

From another site, the size and weight of your rig will come into play but this is an example.

“The few instrumented vehicles exposed to severe winds indicate that stationary vehicles in open terrain are not upset by winds of about 45 m/s (100 mi/hr). . . Thus, it appears unlikely that a stationary vehicle will be upset by winds on the vehicle of less than 52 m/s (115 mi/hr). The probability of upset, and thus the percentage of vehicles upset, will increase as wind speed increases above 52 ms (115 mi/hr). At some wind speed, perhaps greater than 81 m/s (180 mi/hr), most vehicles in the wind field will be upset.”

[tortise]

I thought I saw a thread on this last year but I can’t seem to find it. I’m sure there is a mathematical calculation that factors in length, width, height and weight of the trailer, wind speed, trajectory etc.
I’m also curious if anyone has witnessed trailers being blown over and if so, at what wind speed?
Obviously hurricanes and tornadoes wouldn’t have a problem doing this but I’m curious about the minimum wind speed that would be considered “dangerous” to someone in... say a 9,000 pound 27’ fifth wheel that is boondocking in the desert.

: )




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I don’t know and never want to find out!

I have towed in an estimated 50 mph wind. Didn’t realize how windy till I hit a rest stop and it nearly took the doors off my truck. Mini weather station in the rest stop was recording steady 40 mph and gusts over 50.
Oddly the biggest issue we had was gas truck struggling to maintain 55 and mileage dropped to 5 mpg. We could feel the wind while driving but were very stable. CGVW ABOUT 20,000 lbs.

Lucky I guess.


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[arhayes]

We have been stationary in thunderstorms with gusts at 50 mph and had no issue. But I was all puckered up the first time.


Alan

[Second Chance]

I suspect that the study cited by @wakeupandwander was not for high profile vehicles like RVs. We have a few personal experiences that may offer some anecdotal evidence, though (we scale right at 14,000 lbs. consistently - all instances are with truck unhitched except for the ones when driving):

1) 60 MPH sustained winds with gusts to 75 MPH (measured) from the starboard quarter. Rig rocked but remained stable. The wind bashed the door into my head when I tried exiting to take something to my wife who was teaching a cooking class down at the clubhouse (Escapees co-op park in California).

2) 35 - 45 MPH sustained winds with higher gusts (measured) broadside in the Texas hill country. Again, rig rocked but remained relatively stable.

3) Driving in 35 - 45 MPH crosswinds with gusts to 55 MPH (per NWS for the area) in west Texas. I watched class A motorhomes having trouble maintaining their lane. Our rig tracked straight down our lane without wavering. I did have to put some extra pressure on the steering wheel in some of the gusts.

4) Not nearly as relevant as it was a tailwind... 45 - 50 MPH sustained with gusts to 65 on I-10 between Palm Springs and Indio in California. I was elated with the fuel mileage! I was "shooting the breeze" (sorry, couldn't resist the pun) with two UPS drivers who where waiting to swap trailers at the rest stop. They said it was like that through that slot quite frequently (perhaps that's why there are so many wind farms in that area). Standing outside, we had to keep our feet spread apart and lean into the wind to stay upright. Reminded me of my sailing days.

On travel days that are forecast to have high winds, I keep the fresh water tank full for an extra 560 lbs. of ballast down low. Our current DRW truck is more stable towing in high winds than our previous SRW truck was, too.

Rob

[Jims94vmx]

We had a pretty intense wind storm last year in the Poconos. We actually went to my wife's sisters house. I left rv at the park, closed the slides and had all tanks filled. 60 plus mph gusts with sustained winds around 35 or so. RV came out fine. I get nervous when it rocks with strong winds.

[sande005]

First trip out with the Imagine, we had all jacks down, in the front on a small stack of lego blocks, and the wheels up on blocks for leveling. Big thunderstorm came, and the whole trailer rocked hard. Between water soaked ground and the wind, the whole trailer was pushed sideways about a foot. No damage, but was pretty scary to be inside. Next morning, three trailers around us that were seasonal - up on cement blocks, decks, etc. had been moved off their foundation, with varying degrees of damage.

[Likes to tow]

While traveling on Interstate 70 in Utah three years ago we encountered winds that actually deployed the steps. The wind was blowing from the drivers side of the truck/5th wheel and I looked back as saw the steps were out. I stopped and could barely get the door open on the truck because of the strong winds coming from the south. After putting the steps back up we started out again only to see them come back out a mile or two down the road. I stopped again and tied them up with a rope. Later that evening we saw on the news where two 18 wheelers were overturned north of us in Salt Lake City. We had never encountered winds like that while pulling a 5th wheel. It was really scary and the truck was guzzling diesel fuel like crazy. This section of I 70 has no services for 70 miles or so and we barely made it to a fuel stop. This was the most stressful day of traveling I have ever experienced. Now we watch weather reports before setting out on a trip!!

[jim1521]

Last year we rode out TS Alberto in our 313RLTS. We we’re about 10 miles from the storm’s center. It buffeted the trailer a bit, bit I had sandwiched ourselves between two other vehicles. Barring a tornado, I didn’t feel like we’d get blown over.