kathy22
dothan
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Is a TT grounded from lighting?
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emsdad
Va
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I would think its like a car. It has rubber wheels that would act like a ground.
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Traveling Texans
College Station, Texas
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I would think if the tongue jack or any of the stabilizer jacks were on the ground it might be more prone to lightening strikes. I don't really know if putting a wooden pad under the jacks would prevent it or not.
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mikehart92
Oklahoma
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emsdad wrote:I would think its like a car. It has rubber wheels that would act like a ground.
Rubber wheels have nothing to do with it. Lightening just traveled miles across the sky, it can and will jump that foot and a half on to the ground.
The electronics in the trailer may be susceptible, not sure on that. You are safe do to "Faradays Cage"(not sure I spelled that correctly). This means that you are surrounded by metal. The lightening will go around that metal, not through it, and on to the ground.
On edit: this is, as admiral below stated, you have a metal frame or aluminum siding.
There is a museum somewhere, that a guy gets inside a metal cage while it is hit with simulated lightening. He is perfectly safe do to the nature of the cage and electricity.
Mike
Boilermakers Local 592
* This post was
edited 06/21/08 07:47pm by mikehart92 *
2005 Chevy 2500HD.............6.6 D/A, 4x4, Crew Cab
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Admiral
Lodi, Ohio
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Nothing is completely safe (disclaimer) but if it has a metal frame, as most do nowadays, that will channel the lightning around you if the rv were struck. Having metal touch the ground will make it that much safer. If not, the bolt will jump the gap from the rim to the ground anyway.
You, (skin and bones) don't want to be the conductor when it strikes. As in holding an umbrella.
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winkyb
Florida
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Most of the time if there is lighting it is or has been raining so tires, ground and wood blocks are wet.So yes most of the time you are grounded by water if nothing else.
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KC8WX
OH IO
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If you are connected to Shore Power (the Post) it's a good idea to have a good Surge Guard Inline. If Lightning hits the campground electrical system, it's going to be looking for outlets along the way and can and will take out your electronics/appliances. Plenty of stories out there about that. I use a Surge Guard now. Before I got it I went out before the storm arrived and pulled the plug and retracted it into the storage area until we were in the clear.
As far as the skin routing the current around and down that is probably true if it is aluminum skinned, but don't be leaning against a window or door frame during the storm or doing dishes. The results could be Shocking! 
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nhshep
New Hampshire
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The number of lighning fatalities is minimal.
Enjoy the beauty of the storm from indoors and Happy Camping >
Most cars are reasonably safe from lightning. But it’s the metal
roof and metal sides that protect you, not the rubber tires. Thus convertibles, motorcycles, bicycles, open
shelled outdoor recreational vehicles, and cars with plastic or fiberglass shells offer no lightning protection.
Likewise, farm and construction vehicles with open cockpits offer no lightning protection.
But closed cockpits with metal roof and sides are safer than going outside.
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