How safe are we in the HTT in the lightning? The strikes seemed so close and I was so worried being on the bunk end. How safe is the camper during a thunder storm?
Lightning needs a ground...and an RV has several ground points like power cords, metal jacks, etc. Plus all those aluminum tubes in the walls, floors and roof! Unplug and turn off all electrical appliances including the main power cord, and lower the TV antenna.
And get out!
A car would be a safer place to be because the 4 rubber tires are the only grounded areas...and they won't act as a ground conducter.
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen.
I have "lived" through many pretty violent storms in tents, popups, travel trailers, and a motorhome. The only thing to really be concerned with is wind. If it is howling like a hurricane, or there is a tornado nearby, I'd seek shelter in a building, or your vehicle, otherwise just sit back and relax!
Todd
Todd
1993 Ford E-350 pushed by a 1988 Wilderness 24' TT
The tires of a car don't even come into play during a direct lightening strike. The potential simply jumps from the wheel to earth. As long as the trailer has an aluminum (or metal) skin, you will be perfectly safe in it. The voltage will flow around the skin and jump to ground where ever it's handy. Unplugging from the utility pole is a good idea.
When your talking that much voltage, a direct path isn't important.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
Unless you are located at the top a hill and form the only prominant path to the ground, the odds of the trailer getting hit by lightning are extremely low. If it makes the kids feel better, go to the building and wait until the storm has passed.
I'd be more concerned about wind when parked under large trees, as the canvas would not do much to stop a big branch, deadwood or otherwise, falling straight down.
Bruno, Carol, Thierry and Julien
Sankei the fox terrier
Starla the Gordon setter
97 Dodge 2500 4x QC diesel
2006 ROO19
If lightning is REALLY close (you don't hear a boom, you hear a crackle), then stay inside TT IF it is aluminum skinned. If not, your vehicle should be safe.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
Your HTT or TV is about as safe as anywhere. Your talking millions of volts, a direct hit will be spectacular in any case. If it's storm season I don't camp in open areas like meadows or under the taller trees in the forest. Nor do I go outside. I just have a cup of coffee and watch out the window while Mother Nature demonstrates who is boss.
If you don't have time to make it to a shelter before the storm hits, I'd stay put in the RV. You aren't going to catch me out unplugging cords & cranking up stabilizer jacks in the middle of a thunderstorm!!
2005 Sierra 285 BH
2003 Dodge 2500 Diesel, quad cab, short bed
We've been through several pretty good storms and never had a problem. If time permits, unplugging would probably be a good thing, but surely wouldn't do that in the middle of a storm. We have been known on one occasion to move onto the couch and dinette rather then the bunkends only because of very strong winds.
One thing we learned the hard way, was if you know it's raining and likely to get pretty heavy, either put the awning at a steep tilt or better yet, just roll it up. We went to bed knowing it was raining pretty good, but never gave a thought to the awning until about 2:00 AM when it collapsed from the rainwater accumulation. Sounded like a huge tree had fallen on the ROO - sure wakes you up in a hurry! Also a good thing that DH always packs a 4' folding ladder because we had to totally remove the remains of the roller and awning before we could come home. We took a ton of pictures before he and DF removed it and our insurance agent took one look at the pictures and was completely satisfied.
2007 ROO 23SS
2003 Ford F-150 with Equalizer and Prodigy
5 doggies - We support Adopt/Rescue
Sam, you were the best!
Foxy is our new camping buddy
Offline
