Spent the weekend at a COE Park on Canyon Lake in Central Texas. About 2:30 on Saturday, the kids were down for a nap, and we thought we would do the same. We knew a storm was coming in, but has no idea how big of a storm it was.
We were in a family site with 2 other trailers on a peninsula on the lake, so there was nothing to break the force of the wind. The wind picked up so fast, and the lightning was cracking all around us. I pulled a window shade to see how bad it looked outside, and it was literally raining sideways. The wind and rain was coming so hard that the window frames were filling with water from the water coming in through the weep-holes.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED! The trailer started vibrating, and we could feel it moving. One kid was now awake, and we grabbed the other 2, heading for the truck to get them buckled into their carseats. As much movement as we were experiencing, I just knew we were getting ready to go rolling over. The other 2 families with us were calling us to "chat" about the storm, and had no idea it had moved our 5er. All of us ended up in our vehicles to wait out the remainder of the storm, which was only about 15 minutes.
Once the rain stopped and we were able to survey our site, we found that the front of our 5er had moved about 4 1/2 feet. My right front stabilizer leg was now in the mud, my king-pin stabilizer looked like it was been run over by an 18-wheeler, and our slide was about 18 inches from the power station.
Park was a camper's nightmare. We saw probably 2 dozen awnings ripped off, and scores of the little shade canopies mangled. I think our 5er was the only sizable trailer moved. We did see one pop-up that was spun 180 degrees, and a pontoon boat moved trough a parking area on its trailer, but the folks who used to be tent campers were devastated. The dumpsters were full of shredded tents. Even blew the door off the men's side of the comfort station.
Felt fortunate to have made it out with only a bent rear stabilizer jack (torqued to the side when the trailer spun, and a kingpin stabilizer that some campers down the way were able to repair to usable status. Kids were obviously scared to death, but were sad when we left today and wondering when we were going camping again. Thank goodness the experience didn't ruin camping for them (yesterday they were ready to just leave the trailer at "this awful park!").
So we chalk it up to experience, and count our blessing for only loosing our outdoor mat, one orange stabilizer foot pad, and a table cloth that looked like it had been in a playpen with a new puppy.
Husband & Wife married 9 years - 38 & 32
Boy - Boy - Girl Triplets that are 5 years old.
2009 Heartland Cyclone 3795 Toy Hauler
2006 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 CC LT LB Duramax w/Allison
Was in Kanasas last summer and heard reports that a storm with heavy winds was coming my way. I started filling the holding tanks as fast as I could, wanted all that underslung weight. Then set back in my underwear, drinking beer, and watching television (big tough, tornado alley me, wasn't skird.) Let me tell you, when the wind hit, I was rethinking the whole situation.
A buddy of mine was in about a 37'er with 3 slides and the wind hit so hard one night, he opened the door and they had been turned 90degrees. Now that'll scare you.
Glad you and all else where ok. There are still a couple things better about a stick house.
Thankfully, none of you were hurt. Those orange blocks are not at all good under your front stabilizers; as a matter of fact, I wouldn't recommend putting anything under them. I do use them sometimes under my back stablilizers if the back is so high that I have to have something, otherwise, I don't use anything back there either. I use them under my tires to level, but that's all. Again, glad you weren't hurt, or that you didn't get blown away going from your camper to your truck.
It's really been a year for storms, and just very strong wind. We are going out for the first time this coming week. I've had eye surgery for a torn retina, and can't change elevation, so we will just stay in a camp ground in Amarillo. Hopefully the storms will stay down. We were there about 4 years ago, and they got a storm that bear a lot of the windows out of the hospital. Just don't want to do that again.
AFChappy wrote: Glad to hear that all turned out well. Sounds like a good reason to look for possible shelter locations in case a stronger storm arrived.
Yes, glad everyone is okay! Quite a storm!
And now ..my Friendly Public Service Reminder for everyone reading this post
With all this weird weather, it may be a good idea to buy a Weather Radio that you can turn on to hear of any upcoming storms. This would give you time to decide on a plan of action.
I say this because...Weather Radios do work -- our radio sounded the alarm for a tornado and we were able to seek cover in our home. Nothing hit us, thank goodness.
And while camping, I heard of rough weather approaching and we made our informed decision on what to do.
Anyway, it is a $20 investment and peace of mind that you can go to bed and know the alarm will sound if the weather service picks up severe weather.
Stay safe and Happy Camping!
Livin Lite Quicksilver 8.0 (Folding Tent Camper) only 900 lbs!
Did you ever discover how strong the wind was...that is what was it's top speed...there have been several posts that have asked what wind speed it took to move a trailer. You would definitely have the answer to that question!!
Glad everyone is OK...by the way, we too use a weather radio...gives you at least some sort of warning.
TravelWithTriplets wrote: Spent the weekend at a COE Park on Canyon Lake in Central Texas. About 2:30 on Saturday, the kids were down for a nap, and we thought we would do the same. We knew a storm was coming in, but has no idea how big of a storm it was.
We were in a family site with 2 other trailers on a peninsula on the lake, so there was nothing to break the force of the wind. The wind picked up so fast, and the lightning was cracking all around us. I pulled a window shade to see how bad it looked outside, and it was literally raining sideways. The wind and rain was coming so hard that the window frames were filling with water from the water coming in through the weep-holes.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED! The trailer started vibrating, and we could feel it moving. One kid was now awake, and we grabbed the other 2, heading for the truck to get them buckled into their carseats. As much movement as we were experiencing, I just knew we were getting ready to go rolling over. The other 2 families with us were calling us to "chat" about the storm, and had no idea it had moved our 5er. All of us ended up in our vehicles to wait out the remainder of the storm, which was only about 15 minutes.
Once the rain stopped and we were able to survey our site, we found that the front of our 5er had moved about 4 1/2 feet. My right front stabilizer leg was now in the mud, my king-pin stabilizer looked like it was been run over by an 18-wheeler, and our slide was about 18 inches from the power station.
Park was a camper's nightmare. We saw probably 2 dozen awnings ripped off, and scores of the little shade canopies mangled. I think our 5er was the only sizable trailer moved. We did see one pop-up that was spun 180 degrees, and a pontoon boat moved trough a parking area on its trailer, but the folks who used to be tent campers were devastated. The dumpsters were full of shredded tents. Even blew the door off the men's side of the comfort station.
Felt fortunate to have made it out with only a bent rear stabilizer jack (torqued to the side when the trailer spun, and a kingpin stabilizer that some campers down the way were able to repair to usable status. Kids were obviously scared to death, but were sad when we left today and wondering when we were going camping again. Thank goodness the experience didn't ruin camping for them (yesterday they were ready to just leave the trailer at "this awful park!").
So we chalk it up to experience, and count our blessing for only loosing our outdoor mat, one orange stabilizer foot pad, and a table cloth that looked like it had been in a playpen with a new puppy.
Hey TravelWithTriplets we were there at Potters Creek Park, right accross the cove from you, by the boat launch. It was pretty wild, there were some big wind bursts, I would say close to 70 MPH. it tosssed my portable BBQ like it was nothing. It is heavy, probably 40 lbs, it landed about 30 feet away. We had 3 people on our loop that got their awnings tore up, one was laying accross the roof, half on one side of the trailer, half on the other. Several tents were destroyed, and a pop up camper got tore up pretty bad. A motorhome pulled out because it tore his door half off. We also had the rain coming in sideways thru out kitchen window. We felt out trailer blowing in the wind like crazy, it wwas kinda scary, but it did not move from it's orignal location. Countless pop up shelters and other things were destroyed. It looked like a war zone for a while. On the bright side, it cleaned a lot of those moss balls form the oak trees, they were laying everywhere oin the wooded areas. After the storm, the lake sure was smooth as glass, we had to get the boat out for that, Canyon lake is never that smooth...Glad you are OK.
06 Jayco 31RLS
07 Dodge Dually Cummins SLT Long Bed - 6 Speed Manual
We were up there as well. In site 102, not to far from Triplets family area site. I estimate the wind speed for that brief moment was in the 70-80 MPH area.
My wife and I were napping, and when the rain woke me up I was going to roll up the awning--unfortuantely I didn't get to it in time, and we were one of the ones who lost thiers. Luckily no real damage to the trailer. Just one of those things, no rain was forecast, and it hit like a ton of bricks, LOL.
Across the road from us a couple of tenters lost an EZ-Up shade--it traveled behind a Jayco fiver, but hit the next trailer over and took out a tailight. The EZ-Up ended it's journey about 1/2 mile down the way, mangled and stuck in the bushes. The neighbor next to me lost a tent--he told me he just purchased it for the trip--he had an Alfa Gold fiver, but the kids wanted to stay in a tent. It was a mess--snapped poles, torn up nylon, they just threw it out.
Other than that brief storm on Saturday, it was a great weekend!
Joe
2003 Silverado 2500HD
2008 Forest River Cardinal 32TS
Pictures here, on the TT Forum: More Cardinal Pictures
When I was stationed in TX many years ago, the locals always said, "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute, it will change."
The weirdest change I saw was when I was in tech school at Sheppard AFB in February.
It was a nice sunday morning about 70* and we had just returned from the chow hall for breakfast. The wind started blowing from the north and by noon it was snowing! Too weird.
Glad all made it OK.
Lady Vixen and the Rat
2006 Arctic Fox 29-5T (Lady Vixen)
2002 K3500 w/8.1 "It's a gasser!"(The Rat)
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