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Post Info TOPIC: Thoughts about securing a caravan during a storm.


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Thoughts about securing a caravan during a storm.


I know that the answer here will be "pack up and leave before a storm hits", but for those full time on the road, do you have any emergency plans to cater for, if you are caught in the approach of a storm. Emergency services on the net detail securing your van in case of high winds. Do you carry precautionary tie-downs, and earth anchors. Do you have a plan.

Today in Perth the weather has been extreme, and I would be concerned if the van was in an exposed position. With a small camper trailer I would see no problem, but with a big van, you could be caught.

 



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I some times think that there are people (Nomads) out there that are contemplating life on the road but are really not understanding what is required and what is needed to "live the life" on the road.  The seasonal changes will determine what part of the country you will be in and the extreme weather conditions outlined for eg Kiwijim on this site keeps you up to date just for example.

I really think you need to take stock and evaluate your decision to become a "full time nomad"  living the life on the road. You may really need the security of bricks and mortar and the comforts of home.

Only my thoughts based on a lot of your posts.

JohnR

 



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"House sitting Barmedman NSW"



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I have 5\8ths U bolts tied into mesh b4 pouring concrete slab at home for big boat.
Other boat can be strapped to brick house columns of house. BOTH Under carport.
2 cars + 6x4. inside garage.

Van insured for more than costs.. shhhhhh. Puleeeez.

Anywhere else. No matter when. Get the hell out.

OR.
Find someplace with decent brick\Concrete columns. and strap round the columns onto chassis\drawbar
ear bar.

Maybe underground area\Carpark.
But You ALWAYS get weather warnings in civilised country's.

I carry several lengths of decent rope in box in tray.(Like 1\2 a doz)
Along with 3 tow straps. 3 x long ratchet straps.
half a doz decent shackles. And 8 or 10 18in long 1\2 in stainless rods.
Heavy plate on top. with flat 12in long blades welded along bottom ends.
With a 4 lb Mash hammer.

Ex crane driver\Yachtie. Collected lots of choices over the yrs.

BUT. The BEST defence is bolting. Day or night.
Just go in opposite direction. OK. Fast.. and loooong way.

My GPS has a permanent route locked in to Emerald.
in case middle of night and dopey.
350 km's inland should be reasonably safe.

we've been caught in a Cyclone with Yacht once. yrs ago.
Scared the brown out of me.
Carried lots of crap ever since.



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JohnR wrote:

I some times think that there are people (Nomads) out there that are contemplating life on the road but are really not understanding what is required and what is needed to "live the life" on the road.  The seasonal changes will determine what part of the country you will be in and the extreme weather conditions outlined for eg Kiwijim on this site keeps you up to date just for example.

I really think you need to take stock and evaluate your decision to become a "full time nomad"  living the life on the road. You may really need the security of bricks and mortar and the comforts of home.

Only my thoughts based on a lot of your posts.

JohnR

 


Gday...

As a full-time nomad for eight years now, I simply travel in areas that are 'seasonally more stable' ... why would someone who is full-time on the road want to be in the far north during the wet/cyclone season?

Whilst some of the southern areas can (such as SW WA did very recently) suffer 'gale force/damaging' wind and 'severe' weather conditions they are rarely a 'surprise arrival'. Therefore, if they are on the way, then I simply 'get on my way'.

I do not feel, in any way at all, that I have ever felt (or missed) the "need of the security of bricks and mortar and the comforts of home".

cheers - John



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Hello Ian

While out on the road, (part time), I always talk to a few travellers each side of me

Security from a storm has never been raised as a topic

Full time travellers have told me that there is no such thing as the wrong weather, only people wearing the wrong clothes

I would assume that full time on the road travellers, would always be going to where the weather was nice

If I ever did get caught in a storm, I would stay away from under a tree, and possibly go to a caravan park so that other caravans would act as a bit of a wind break



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Tony

It cost nothing to be polite



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Thankyou for the comment JohnR, what about taking that flag pole and jamming it up your fundamental.

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You have NO RIGHT to tell people about 'maybe should think of giving up the road'!!

Iana asked a very sensible QUESTION, so why did you think you should stick your boring beak in John?

 



-- Edited by adreamer on Saturday 23rd of September 2017 12:23:19 AM

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Guru

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Heyyy.
who's happy today then.

Chill out. Let it ALL float over the top as you sip a drop of something.

We ALl travelling. Mostly (sensibly) Seasonal.
The bulk of us anyway.

There Are ALWAYS.... weather forecasts and warnings.

I have the warnings set on alarm on mobile.

So we get enuff warning to pack and bolt.

So it'll NEVER be a problem.

DUMP Points are more of a hassle.
Or the locations of anyway.
Not so bad nowadays though.

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Guru

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I'd say it's a perfectly good question.

Two years ago I was camped in NW Victoria on the bank of the Murray
river, deep in the forest and just rough camped in the bush using my
rooftop tent.

The forecast was for moderate winds about 40kph to 50kph - it was
wrong.

The morning had been a little breeze but nothing of consequence until
around 11am when I saw it coming as it had whipped up a lot of dust
off the Mallee and was advancing with a red haze which blocked out
everything like a fog.

Then it hit.

It picked up my camp table which had 20kg of water and other stuff on
it and threw that across camp. It carried the 3'x2' piece of 10mm
plywood I use for a "coffee table" like a frizzbe for 50m. It blew
over just about everything else in camp. The only reason the rooftop
tent survived was because a massive River Red Gun was directly
sheltering it from the wind. The only place away from the big trees
was down by the water which was where I ran for safety but when I got
there I realised the wind was so strong it may blow me into the river
so I spent the next 15 minutes literally hugging a small gum tree
until the wind abated.

I have been in very strong winds many times before and I estimate
this one was around 150kph - very strong wind can happen in the wrong
place at the wrong time and without warning.

Having a plan to secure a caravan or, at least, turn it front on to
the wind is a very good idea.



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When I was working and had kids and stayed at the beach for a month at a time I had 4 star picket about 400 mm long driven in on an angle which had a fixing point to the caravan on each corner and secured to the caravan , They did not take up much space , I don't carry it any more we try to work the weather .

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Guru

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Its fair enough to say move on, but if you are doing a farm sit for instance, you can't just up and runaway. I am just going through my stuff deciding on what to take and what to bin, the thought I had, was no matter what tie-down gear you have, ground anchorage would be the problem.
As far as the posts is concerned, I just put it in to add content, too many of us are just joining and doing nothing, with out content and participation the forum is dead, there are forums that haven't had posts for several years, nearly dead in the water. However if you find my input boring and unwanted, I can easily move on, it will be no skin off my nose.
I notice JohnR, I have contributed a thousand more posts than your 250, and never once have I responded in the way you have.

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Guru

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Ian.
Farm sit.
There's usually an empty\ish tooool, Tractor shed around.
Even if you get van partly into it.
the bulk of will deflect a lot of wind strength\Direction.

We were down in Adel (Yrs ago. Specialist surgery) Van in "Foreshore van park. second row back from beach.

90+ KNOT wind came through at around 3 am.

Long story short.
Annexe up.
Ripped roll out out of roof clips, half off van roller.

There are NOT always warnings in time.
Strapped it up and had replaced in Brissie at Aussie Traveller. Ins.

YES. They are that good.

Just don't leave stuff outside and half roll awning in. One side down. at night.
Unless annexe etc.

Was their windy season. Not normally there at that time of yr.

Pick your seasons. and be ready to move if poss.


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Guru

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While on our "lap" we stopped at Port Lincoln. Winds were 80kph at the jetty. Luckily while building our timy 450kg caravan I built it with a roll bar, with eyelets on the top and tied these to trees. No problem . Then in Burra 100kph wind at the showgrounds. We tied it to telegraph poles. Our washing was on those ropes and was horizontal!. No problem. Keeping it hooked on the tug helps. Face the front into the wind the wind has to go ober the tug before arriving at the van. You wont have eyelets on your van so consider rope on strong points like bumpers.

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Iana, I have enjoyed your contributions to this forum. Thankyou

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Thank you for starting this topic.Iana

We had never discussed this important  issue until seeing this which was very remiss of us.We now have discussed it and we have come to the conclusion that if getting away isn't possible then we would get out in the open with no trees over us and point the van into the wind,storm.What do otherso think?

Macka17

I don'the understand whar use shackles and ropes would do? Maybe  just my ignorance????  Iterested in what others have to say.

Cheers Chris



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Dizzy10



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I have been a few blows, during our stay in Perth when we first came over we were living in a Jayco Swan, we went through four separate storms, having to Dyna bolt the annex down to the slab, the annex got blown in and damaged in one of those storms. I was also on shore during the Wahine disaster at Wellington airport where there was 275 KM winds, also on the out skirts of Ash Wednesday in the SE South Australia, I know what wind can do.

Like I said, I think the ground anchor points would be the weak link in roping down, the wind on a large surface will have so much power, of course shelter, facing end on into the wind etc. The emergency services have two posts on the web showing how to tie down a caravan, and Macka would be the only one carrying the gear to do as they suggest.

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Sorry Chric.

I have an assortment of a lot of bits. for tieing down Caravans. Yachts etc over the yrs.

just carry a few decent sized shackles. Justin(case) needed.
It's better to want and have.
Than want and NOT have. In my eyes.

Plus. at home.
My tie down loops in concrete.

I have cut to size, short lengths on 5\8ths Anchor chain.
that fit round the vans. drawbar and axles\Chassis rails

Shackles tie them together. to keep, at least.
The chassis of van still there.
After the Cyclone passes(chuckle.)

Prove to ins that you did try.
They pay out no questions asked.

OLD school Construction.
Carry bits of everything that may fit one day.

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Guru

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Have been in a few big blows that I had to weather. One, I was able to pull up next  to a wall  which helped some, others I have kept hooked up to the tug and faced into the wind. At times it has felt like the van was about to take off with no chance of sleep due to the buffeting but never had any damage bar frayed nerves.

Cheers, John.



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Iana I recently stayed at a free camp in the Coorong SA and the first night there There was really strong winds blowing across Lake Alexandria and I kept looking out the window at the van opposite me, had their annex fully out and I thought it would blow away that night, but no when I got up in the morning it was still intact.  I was chatting to the owner that night and mentioned how I thought his annex was a goner and he said 'No, never' I have invented these special pegs that a hurricane couldn't rip out.  He said he sells them on e-bay but never bothered to ask him what they were called, but maybe asking in a well know camping shop they might know.

Anyway Iana I thought your question was very reasonable and you should be able expect a reasonable answer. 

Keep coming back.

Helen



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Guru

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Ian you have a different lifestyle to the vast majority of us. Unfortunately you did not say so and thus got the expected replies. When you have special requirements you should state them to deflect those comments.

For my reply to the majority I would say there is nothing special that you should carry for protection. Flight is by far the best, particularly if you have a tent trailer or pop-top. It is extremely difficult to tie a van down in extreme conditions.

For all of us in high or extreme wind conditions. The only way you can protect an awning is to sow it, forget tying it down. Stow everything outside your tug and van. The biggest problem when sitting out extreme weather is flying objects. It does not matter how well you tie the van down, flying objects do not respect something as thin as a van wall.

For Ian and other extreme weather chasers. I will not attempt to put any advice in my own words. There are a few brochures that will express things better than I can.

Caravan Brochure - Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency ...

Caravan Protection during a Storm - DFES

cyclone safety manual - WORK Caravans

 

 



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Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



Guru

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Ian, PeterD's suggestions of websites are good to follow. I have had a PDF of the Western Austalian suggestions for a few years now, and was ready to deploy while in Mackay earlier this year as Cyclone Debbie approached. Fortunately, we took Option B, which was to do a runner, we out ran to Moranbah, then at the suggestion of the local constabulary, onwards to Clermont.

Best suggestion, if you can, listen to the warnings and be ready to move on ahead of the storm - have an escape route



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