Just doing some research

[dmbell502]

Hi All,
I'm interested in to getting back in to TT camping and touring and have some questions I hope to get some answers to. My last trailer was a Jayco pup up and I enjoyed it very much, but I slow it some years back. After 6 years I have convencied the wife that we need a trailer to bug out when the next Ike comes through. I want her to feel somewhat safe at night so that means hard sides. My questions are what wind speed can a TM safely take before it's time to just ride it out in the truck? Does TM still use wood as structural members if not what year did the stop? Thanks Dean

 

[rvcycleguy]

Im in the Ike region of the Texas Gulf Coast and I would use my TM to seek higher ground as soon as the storm was determined definite for my community. I would go 100 miles inland and to the weak side of the storm and wait it out. Just like any travel trailer or mobile home, it will not stay grounded for long at hurricane strength winds. Does not matter if there is wood, aluminum, steel, its not a shelter for wind or flood.

Interesting, this is your 2nd post in over 3 years?

 

[Redtail cruiser]

Hi All,
I'm interested in to getting back in to TT camping and touring and have some questions I hope to get some answers to. My last trailer was a Jayco pup up and I enjoyed it very much, but I slow it some years back. After 6 years I have convencied the wife that we need a trailer to bug out when the next Ike comes through. I want her to feel somewhat safe at night so that means hard sides. My questions are what wind speed can a TM safely take before it's time to just ride it out in the truck? Does TM still use wood as structural members if not what year did the stop? Thanks Dean

Hi Dean,

I would feel comfortable driving in 50 to 60 MPH winds with mine but the most I've been in is about 35 MPH. In 2003 TM started eliminating wood framing and went to metal frame construction.

Good luck in your search

 

[dmbell502]

Thanks for the response, I won't be pulling it in 50 /60 mph winds, the question was about the wind speed once it was set up. I want the wife to be safe around Fredericksburg If I have to stay at the plant when it comes. Thanks Dean

 

[rvcycleguy]

Thanks for the response, I won't be pulling it in 50 /60 mph winds, the question was about the wind speed once it was set up. I want the wife to be safe around Fredericksburg If I have to stay at the plant when it comes. Thanks Dean

If you have hurricane force winds in Fredericksburg, there won't be much left in Houston to come back to for weeks. Get out before the traffic delay. I keep my TM 150 miles out from SW Houston during hurricane season. That's far enough for me. I guess you'd have to contact the factory to know if they have done any straight line wind testing. They may not agree to offer any advice other than to be safe.

 

[Padgett]

Was in a "red" (radar) storm when at Sebastian Inlet & 40-60 mph gusts were reported. We wer behind some trees and pretty much stern on but I felt a couple of gust hit and aelt like it moved but apparently just shook.

Only way I'd take a TM through a himmicane would be in road condition with all for stabilizers down pointing into the wind and with the TV attached and Aircraft grade tiedowns deployed. That said, ANY other option would be better.

OTOH whan Charley came through (eye passed about 10 miles south of me) in '04 most of the damage was apparently from a stream of tornados it spawned. I don't recall ever seeing that before.

 

[TravlinOn]

Hi All,
I'm interested in to getting back in to TT camping and touring and have some questions I hope to get some answers to. My last trailer was a Jayco pup up and I enjoyed it very much, but I slow it some years back. After 6 years I have convencied the wife that we need a trailer to bug out when the next Ike comes through. I want her to feel somewhat safe at night so that means hard sides. My questions are what wind speed can a TM safely take before it's time to just ride it out in the truck? Does TM still use wood as structural members if not what year did the stop? Thanks Dean

Wow. Glad to see that you are thinking of emergency plans in advance. I've been through a bunch of hurricanes and otherwise strong winds here in So. Florida, including a Cat 5 (Andrew) over the last hundred (seems like) years.

I agree with you that the best plan (when seriously needed) is to "bug out" with a TT. Go at least 3 days in advance, go back roads, and go southwest of the storm's projected path if possible. Since the projected "path" is for the storm's "eye" and winds can easily reach out for a hundred miles from the eye, I would try to search out good roads to campsites off the beaten path at least that far away. Remember, you can dry camp on a dirt road somewhere if needed - just take your water and food!

Additionally, if your home site is without power, you can always go where there is power for as long as needed.

 

[wbmiller3]

We've evacuated in the TM, for Rita. We ended up in Sulphur Springs (long story, but the storm ended up turning and heading right into my original safe haven )

Here's a link to plots of the weather we rode out up there. The wind gusts got up to around 50 mph and we were fine.

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/histGraphAll?day=24&year=2005&month=9&ID=KSLR&type=3

We lived in the TM in our driveway for a week or so after Ike. We had a generator used for buddy-breathing between our home's refrigerators and making the TM liveable. (Blessedly, the temperature after Ike was quite pleasant)

So it's been quite useful in the two latest major storms.

 

[tentcamper]

I think it depends on the direction of the wind. Broadside winds is the real issue. I don't think any campers has any tie downs that are anchored into the the ground. I think anything over 70 mph you risk the camper laying on it's side. On a TM if the wind was on the door side, I think you also risk damage to the fold out door hinges.

We were in a strong wind back in the early 90's. Camping on the beach of Assateague Island. The winds came out of nowhere and gusts of 80+ mph for about 1/2 hour. It hit our 31 foot AS near broadside and was rocking it. I think the tires on one side may have lifted off the ground. A few sits downs it laid a 31 footer on it's side. I think the only reason we were not laying over, was the round corners of the AS

Another time camping on the north side of Lake Superior, a storm came up with gusts over 70 mph and broadside to the camper. It was rocking and the floor and at time was visually not level. I moved the full size van between the camper and the wind to break the wind.

Any other time I have been in winds it was at a angle or head on to the front or back and was not that bad.

If I knew a strong storm with 50+ winds was going to hit us. I would put the camper down and weather it out in the van. I would not want to risk it and spoil a trip.

 

[rvcycleguy]

Please remember to the OP, hurricane winds come from different directions based on the rotation of the storm. They will come from the coast while the storm is offshore and making landfall, but the winds will turn around once the eye has passed and the winds will be from the backside. I've been around this area for decades and experienced quite a few named storms. They are unpredictable and its best to heed any warnings.

 

[moaboy]

I was south of virginia beach at Sandbridge once during a storm and high winds as a hurricane was off shore. Feels and sounds worse than it really is, but not my idea of having fun.

 

[Padgett]

Be interesting to put a TM in a wind tunnel and see what happens. Tullahoma is just over 150 miles from Lake City (and real near Lynchburg).

 

[HIKERZ]

just sat out a pretty big storm in st augustine fl. Wind gusts 40mph + lots of rain (awning was down). The performance. Stable-yes. Dry-yes loud-very yes

 

[Laura FM]

I have never camped in a hurricane - I live on the west coast. But I have been in some pretty high winds in both a tent trailer and a trailmanor. I felt much safer in the trailmanor. It felt pretty rock solid - I suspect more solid than a TT of the same length - since there is less surface to pick up the winds, and the stabilizers are much stronger than on a TT.

 

[moaboy]

Are those extensions "wings" on a TM? One wonders how much lift they might provide? Just kidding, I don't want to find out.

 

[Lesherp]

We have weathered two wind storms. The first hit about 2 in the morning and was breaking tent poles forcing people to break camp and go home. Don’t know the wind speed but the TM was rocking. The second was 60 MPH wind with maybe stronger gusts. Someone at the camp had a weather station for their trailer in the camp we were at. Both time DW was very worried and at times I was thinking ”Please no stronger.” There was no damage but little sleep either night. Not sure I would call it safe with those winds but as long as nothing blows into you the TM should remain standing at those wind speeds.

 

[Savage709]

No Sigantue....

We are new owners, and have taken our first 'trial' 2 week trip......LOVED the TM!! I am thinking of getting a supplemental portable refrigerator (not a thermoelectric, but a real portable fridge)......does anyone have suggestions or experience with this? It could set on the dresser, next to the norcold, and would give us real freezer capacity.

Also - I'm new to this site - is there a better way to post a question? I only see a way to post a reply......?

On the top of this page is the header and if you look on the far left you will see "User CP" (or control panel). If you click on that you will see where you can add your signature with your tow vehicle,model and year for your Trailmanor. That way we will know what you have and will be able to address your questions better.

Now as to your question...I have a Chevy Silverado truck, which in the back bed I have installed an "inverter"...or a device that can take the 12 volts DC of my trucks electrical system and change it into 110 volts AC (like what your house runs on). This is all hooked into another 12 volt battery that is connected to the charging system in my truck so that as I drive, it charges both of my 12 volt batteries. I run the inverter off of this and can run a small office size fridge in the back of me truck off this system.

Now when parked at a campground, I have a switch where I can turn off the inverter in the back of my truck and a hook up to my TM's 110 volt AC from the campground to run this fridge from that when I am parked. This fridge is about the same size as the one inside my TM. So yes it is possible to do what you ask provided you have the room.

Lets say you want to ask about an appliance in your TM. At the bottom of the page will be a drop down menu...click on that and chose "appliances"..then at the top of the appliance page is where there is a button to push to "post a thread or reply"...you'll see it. That's how you start a thread or question.

Hope this helps...

Tom