It is blowing like crazy here in SoCal right now. I just went up to the roof of the 6-story apartment building that I manage and found the heavy pool furniture blown all over the place.
I came back to the apartment and started thinking about being out in this, in our PUT.
What is it like inside the PUT when the wind is blowing hard?
We are camping at Point Mugu next weekend and New Years weekend. The wind can blow pretty hard there and it just got me thinking about all the windage on that light trailer.
We have had 50+mph winds when we camp at Assateague Island National Seashore. We don't use the awning unless the AAR is installed to help hold the awning in place, and that the awning is kept on an angle. We also make sure that the awning is tied down very securely and we tie it/stake it out at the ends (parallel to the camper) so that the awning doesn't stop the roof from swaying. The roof will sway. One trip we have sustained 30+mph winds for over 24 hours, the roof swayed back and forth and our hanging basket was moving non-stop too. We sort of got used to the top moving after a while, but you had to watch out for the basket. It would wack you in the head if you weren't paying attention.:)
I have camped on the Outer Banks of N.C. during a strong nor-easter (sp?). The top rocks back and forth quite a bit. I didn't use my awning, though. If you will be using the A/C unit for cooling or in heat mode, be sure to set up your camper so that the condenser fins are facing away from the prevailing wind. I didn't know that, and the wind would slow down the fan almost to a stop. It was cold and I needed the heat. I will know next time!
That would effect only the AC, the Heat Strip is just that, doesn't use the condensor...just the fan mode with a heater strip inside of it. However, in a windy situation, the warmth that is generated is likely sucked right out of the trailer as PU's are far from airtight...
I really appreciate the feedback. For some reason, I just pictured that thing blowing over in a high wind :eyecrazy:
My A/C unit is a heat pump, so the compressor does run while heating . The heat pump has a solenoid that reverses the flow of the freon so that it ads heat to the camper instead of removing heat.
As far as the top & plants swaying......hey, I lived on a sailboat for 14 years. That should make me feel right at home. :p
Would it be advisable to stake lines to the top corners of the PU?
Is there any chance of the support columns being damaged by the swaying?
By tieing the top off, you may put a strain on some other part that you didn't mean to. I would just let it sway.:)
Quote from: tlhdocBy tieing the top off, you may put a strain on some other part that you didn't mean to. I would just let it sway.:)
Be very careful on what you park under in any campground that you camp in. We learned our lesson one night when a big wind/thunderstorm came over and a huge dead branch came crashing down on top of our pop-up. Luckily it hit on one of the main frame posts and put a crack on the corner of the roof instead of a crack on one of our heads. From then on I have always looked up when ever I pull into a campsite.
WOW!! You guys are really helpful :) . I guess I will not stake the top. It doesn't seem that others have and so far, no one has posted problems.
Not much chance of getting hit by anything at Point Mugu. You camp right on the beach and the closest tree or structure is about 3 miles away :D .
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=630
A roof top heat pump? Never heard of one before, please tell us the make and model of the unit, I'd like to check that out?!
We have camped through some pretty horendous storms in Iowa. Ditto on previous posts about checking what is above where you park. The wind and sway will rock you to sleep, but there is nothing worse than being woke up by "nuts" being blown off the tree on your rooftop!!! Make sure you batten down the hatches outside too, so you don't find yourself scouring the campground for belongings in the morning. Course it is kinda fun to walk outside and treasure hunt what others have lost. We never did have anyone claim a pair of red bikini undies after one storm. LOL
Quote from: RVMOMNDADWe have camped through some pretty horendous storms in Iowa. Ditto on previous posts about checking what is above where you park. The wind and sway will rock you to sleep, but there is nothing worse than being woke up by "nuts" being blown off the tree on your rooftop!!! Make sure you batten down the hatches outside too, so you don't find yourself scouring the campground for belongings in the morning. Course it is kinda fun to walk outside and treasure hunt what others have lost. We never did have anyone claim a pair of red bikini undies after one storm. LOL
Looks lie I will get "trial by fire" this weekend. We're going to Point Mugu and there is a cold front coming thru.
http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/USCA0885.htmlI'll let you know how it goes. There's
NO WAY that my wife will hear of canceling :eyecrazy: .
Thankfully, we don't have to worry about trees or anything else blowing down on us. I am just concerned about the darn thing blowing over in the middle of the night. :yikes: Also, it's gonna be darn cold for us Californians :frosty:
Our first time out in our pup was a very windy weekend and the only trouble we had was "ME" I found it hard to keep from getting dizzy....The pup swayed one way and I the other( spent most of this camping trip sitting at the table while inside)......However after I got my wind legs it was alright and we have camped lots of times in the wind now.....Happy Trails, carol
We camped at a beachside campground up north that we were told about, and it was as beautiful as they said, especially at sunset. However, as soon as the sun started going down (about 4:30 maybe), it was so windy that we coulnd't stand to be outside. We didn't dare try to light a fire. Fortunately we had brought the little TV/VCR for the kids for the long drive, and on a oh-I-forgot-something-honey-stop-at-Wal-Mart stop, we bought a new movie. So we spent the evening huddled in our rocking pop-up, eating jiffy pop and watching "The Cowboys" with out kids. In the morning we packed up and were out of there. It was just too windy and miserable.
We knew we were in trouble when the guys in the 5th wheel near us responded to my husband's question about hte wind, "OH, yeah, it rocks our trailers pretty hard." YIPES We're in a pop-up! I was sure it was going to blow us over! I'll take camping in a rainstorm over wind any day!
Wellllll.......A little late now :D . We're leaving tomorrow. We'll let you know how it goes. :p
Quote from: waveryWellllll.......A little late now :D . We're leaving tomorrow. We'll let you know how it goes. :p
I too have camped in 50+ hour wind. We have a saying in Idaho that it is windy because Utah Sucks and Montana Blows. Ditto on the looking up for branches if you do camp away from the coast, but as far as swaying or blowing over, a salty-sea-dog such as your self shouldn't have problems.
Keep us posted on your "trial by fire/wind"
Well........we found out all about wind camping this weekend.
Took the PU to Point Mugu State Park. It was drizzly and cold when we got there on Thursday. Friday was OK and Saturday was absolutely spectacular with long beach walks, Frisbee throwing, rock hunting, an amazing sunset with Dolphins jumping and playing in the surf, then a beautiful camp fire. Last night, we went to bed exhausted. We were rudely awakened at about 2:AM by a crashing sound. We had been vaguely aware that the wind had picked up but were lulled into a deep sleep by the sound of the ocean waves breaking on the shore about 200 feet outside our door.
The wind was blowing about 15-20 miles an hour but all of a sudden there were heavy gusts up to 50-60, for just a few seconds at a time. The heavy gusts were causing something to crash up side the PU but I couldn't figure it out. I went out and took off the insulation blankets over the beds, thinking that may have been it. Then, one of the gusts hit, just as I was getting back in the camper. It lifted the awning carrier and slammed it (repeatedly) against the top. I tried everything but just couldn't get it under control. It went on all night.
The awning zips into a 12' long pouch that hangs from the top. I guess that I will have to figure out how to fasten that thing down. Anyone have any suggestions?
Also, one of the "J" shaped brackets that holds the tent top over the bed was bent like a pretzel from the gusting wind hitting that end of the camper square on. Does anyone know where I can buy a new one?
Now I know what you guys are talking about with the top swaying back & forth. It was so severe, that I fully expected the top supports to be bent.
I'm thinking of building some "X" braces to fit on both ends of the camper top. Supporting the top from the inside under these windy conditions. It would make it awkward to get in and out of bed but it would certainly control the swaying under strong winds. The top of the "X" would go up into either end of the top and the lower parts of the "X" would go on the top of the body of the PU, right across the bed openings.
It sure is nice to be home. On the way home, I saw a couple of TT/Pick-up rigs that had a hard time staying on the road. I could hardy even tell that the PU was behind me. They sure are a joy to tow.
Quote from: Gone-CampingThat would effect only the AC, the Heat Strip is just that, doesn't use the condensor...just the fan mode with a heater strip inside of it. However, in a windy situation, the warmth that is generated is likely sucked right out of the trailer as PU's are far from airtight...
True, the heat strip would keep on heating, but if the fan slows down to a very slow speed in the wind gusts, it's not distributing the heat very well in the PU. I believe my unit had just one motor that drove the fans on both the evaporator and the condensor sides of the unit (may be the case for all units). When the gusts would blow into the condensor coils, the fan motor would slow way down almost to a stop, then as soon as the wind let up, the motor would spin back up again. It was a LONG night!
Quote from: fallsriderTrue, the heat strip would keep on heating, but if the fan slows down to a very slow speed in the wind gusts, it's not distributing the heat very well in the PU. I believe my unit had just one motor that drove the fans on both the evaporator and the condensor sides of the unit (may be the case for all units). When the gusts would blow into the condensor coils, the fan motor would slow way down almost to a stop, then as soon as the wind let up, the motor would spin back up again. It was a LONG night!
Oh Ya!! I forgot to report on the heating situation.
That darn propane furnace burns a lot more fuel than I had anticipated :eyecrazy: . We ran out of propane at 11:PM (3rd night out) and our 2nd tank only had enough to run the fridge. We were off by ourselves, so I started up the Honda EU2000I generator and turned on the rooftop A/C-heatpump. That thing is awesome. It really kept us toasty warm and the heat distribution for the bunks was puuuurrrrrrfect :D .
I have to plug the A/C unit directly into the generator. If I run it through the camper's wiring, it will overload the generator when the compressor kicks on for the 2nd or 3rd time. That doesn't happen when I run the A/C, only when I run the heat. I'm not sure where the extra draw comes from :confused:
I also noticed that I am only getting 11.8v out of my 12v outlets, even when my batteries are at 12.6v. I think that my power converter must be going out. I just don't see any need for that thing. I'm thinking of getting rid of it and wiring my 110v directly to the 110v cord (through the breaker box) and wiring my 12v directly to the batteries (through the fuse panel). It makes more sense to me to just hook a battery charger up to the batteries on the odd occasion that I have a campsite with hook-ups (which will be practically never).
Does anyone else have that set-up? Are there any pros to having that troublesome power converter?
If you are not plugged into shore power than your converter is not being used. The battery power is going directly to the 12 volt outlets and appliances.
Quote from: mlslocksIf you are not plugged into shore power than your converter is not being used. The battery power is going directly to the 12 volt outlets and appliances.
HMMMM!! My battery is wired to the converter then there are wires coming out of the converter to the fuse panel. I just checked the voltage on the wire as it goes into the converter and it is 12.8. The voltage coming out of the converter, going to the fuse panel is 12.O. The voltage at my 12v outlet in the galley is 11.8. I seem to be losing voltage all over the place.
Isn't there a relay or something in the converter that switches over when it senses 110v input?