Do you look up before you setup?

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Do you look up before you setup?

chaslib · Senior Member

Gums can be more than a nuisance, they can be downright fatal. It is a know fact that the branches can fall in all weather conditions and there are recorded incidents of people pitching tents under the trees or just being there being killed or injured by the falling branches. Steer clear of them if you value life and property.

-- Edited by chaslib on Thursday 27th of June 2013 09:30:37 AM

Sol · Senior Member

We went for a drive out to Murray Falls for a look around and to see how many Nomads were out there enjoying the place.

Walking around and having a chat biggrin to some of the lucky travellers, I noticed a large branch had broken off the Bluegum Tree next to the couple we were talking to.

I pointed it out the guy and he just looked up and said " na she'll be right mate"

The large piece would have been at least 2 metres long and 200 mls thick. If it came down it would have went straight through his van disbelief .

Just a quick look up only take a few seconds blankstare

Cheers Sol

Grams · Guru

Good point. Its not something you really think about, but it's something you should. Thanks for the warning.

I guess most of us are so busy looking where we are going we forget to look where we've been...lol

Cupie · Guru

Excellent advice.

It is always tempting to set up under an inviting shade tree especially in the summer.

I am very aware of the dangers of gum trees shedding massive branches (especially the river red gums .. but gums generally). This is not to forget the problem of birds & flying foxes gathering in the trees & depositing their droppings on your rig. Then there is the issue of 'gum' dripping down from some gums at various times of the year.

We always resist the temptations, but we set up close enough to use the shade safely.

Magnarc · Guru

Park under a tree if you like cleaning bird droppings from your van

Duh · Guru

Cupie wrote:
Snip...
It is always tempting to set up under an inviting shade tree especially in the summer.
I am very aware of the dangers of gum trees shedding massive branches (especially the river red gums .. but gums generally). This is not to forget the problem of birds & flying foxes gathering in the trees & depositing their droppings on your rig. Then there is the issue of 'gum' dripping down from some gums at various times of the year.....snip

Also ants drop off the branches onto your van (blown off from the wind I think), I call them "paratroop ants", and of course try to avoid touching branches for the same reason.....

kandagal · Guru

We never park under a tree as we need the sun on our solar panels not shade.

GaryKelly · Guru

Me too, kandagal. Solar before shade.

neilnruth · Guru

We find we look for shade thrown by trees rather than shade under trees. We noticed the park we were in last weekend had signs all around 'Beware of falling tree limbs'

NeilandRaine · Guru

They don't call them Widow Makers for nothing

Mobi Condo · Guru

Yep us too! Learnt the hard way on one trip, now Solar is 1st, we can make our own shade!

Cheers Mobi Condo aka Ian & Sally

shekon · Guru

Reminds me of my first MH trip. Not a gum tree, well aware of them and their dangers, but a TV satellite dish.
Directing my cousin reversing the MH, suddenly was yelled at by the lady behind us, pointing out that we were very close their dish that was positioned on the top of the caravan and the arm fully extended, obviously for best reception at Kings Canyon. Had not even thought about that, but learnt a very valuable lesson.
Certainly had us looking up from there on, a good lesson to a novice from a well seasoned traveller. We were lucky she was a really nice G N.

Duh · Guru

Was in a caravan park with a couple of friends, both of us had A'Van camper trailers. We were parked in bays under these huge gum trees, some pretty strong winds came up so I decided to move my van and vehicle to another spot that only had a reasonably small tree at the back of the bay, friend said he wouldn't bother. hmm

Went for a shower and could hear all this laughter outside the ablution block, went outside and saw a large branch from the small tree had fallen onto my tug, luckily the heavy base of the branch had hit the ground behind my vehicle, then it toppled and the rest of the branch came to rest on the top of the tug. furious

Only a few minor scratches on the vehicle, but gave the others a good laugh at my expense, they did help me remove the branch though! smile

justcruisin01 · Guru

Dont like to park near any tree , let alone a widow maker. Seen to many that just drop limbs on a calm day.

JC.