Got answers on wind today:( - Montana Owners Club

**DQDick** · 06-05-2014, 02:37 PM

Had a severe thunderstorm arrive at 5am so we hit the shelter and didn't get to change anything. Storm went by, we came out and then the wind hit. We managed to have a very rare pressure gradient wind event. As I understand it, the big storm formed both a high and a low behind it. Both were very strong and so the winds going between them reached 80mph. As a result we lost 1/3 of a 30 foot elm tree, all of a full size pine tree and a dump truck full of limbs from other trees. The good news is that there appears to be no damage to the rig even though the Traveler was up and the solar panels were up and facing away from the wind. We had level-up down, stabilizers down and the fresh water tank completely full. Several of us have wondered how much wind a Monty can take. Real glad the number is higher than 80mph but would much rather have been back in the shelter than trapped in the rig watching the trees come down.

CORattler · 06-05-2014, 02:48 PM

Sounds real scary! Glad you're both OK.

Petmoose · 06-05-2014, 03:10 PM

Scary story! Glad you had the shelter to get into. Did you close the slides ? We saw the reports of golf ball hail too in the Omaha area, did you get any of that ?

HOOK · 06-05-2014, 03:26 PM

Glad it worked out better than it could have.

**DQDick** · 06-05-2014, 04:13 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Petmoose

Scary story! Glad you had the shelter to get into. Did you close the slides ? We saw the reports of golf ball hail too in the Omaha area, did you get any of that ?

No we didn't close the slides, I'm not convinced that's a good idea other than to protect from hail. We were lucky in that. No hail for us this time. 35 miles south of here they had 31/2" hail. We had enough excitement without that. Still have more chances, however. Severe storms are a possibility thru the weekend.

**DQDick** · 06-05-2014, 04:13 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by CORattler

Sounds real scary! Glad you're both OK.

Thanks, we appreciate that!

**DQDick** · 06-05-2014, 04:14 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Petmoose

Scary story! Glad you had the shelter to get into. Did you close the slides ? We saw the reports of golf ball hail too in the Omaha area, did you get any of that ?

No we didn't close the slides, I'm not convinced that's a good idea other than to protect from hail. We were lucky in that. No hail for us this time. 35 miles south of here they had 31/2" hail. We had enough excitement without that. Still have more chances, however. Severe storms are a possibility thru the weekend.

DarMar · 06-06-2014, 02:45 AM

Glad you are reporting this and not us??? Here is for the best this weekend, stay close to that shelter, unbelievable weather.

Bigboomer · 06-06-2014, 03:44 AM

Phew...close call....

We know and you confirmed it that Monty's can take the wind...we survived 75 to 80 MPH winds during hurricane Sandy...

But would not recommend doing that on a regular basis

!

Glad you are OK.

JandC · 06-06-2014, 04:49 AM

Close one...scary....we are thankful for everyday that we don't have to experience a severe weather event. It just seems like it is so common anymore.

bigskyjimmy · 06-06-2014, 06:20 AM

Glad you are O.K. ,that's Scary stuff, we have been in 65MPH winds at the Ocean and it is quite the experience but the Monty hangs in there although the slides move in and out I cannot imagine 80MPH...YIKES!!!

good question on whether to suck the slides in,on our last Monty without the 6 point auto level we had to suck the slides in one time in high winds and it seemed to help

woodtic · 06-06-2014, 09:13 AM

Glad your both OK. Been through a few nasty storms in our trailers over the years. Never anything like what you went through.

A couple questions for you Dick. Do you have toppers on the slides? what direction was the wind coming from in relation to how you parked? I'm courious as to if the trailer may have rolled on the tires a little if the wimd was from the front or back. Slides out gives a lot more sail area.

**DQDick** · 06-06-2014, 03:57 PM

Here is my thoughts on this and so far we've been thru two bouts of 60+mph and now the 80. Our RV home base has us pointed North so our full street side is exposed to the west where up until that night has been where all the bad winds come from. Around here the bad stuff comes from the West or Southwest in summer and Northwest in winter. This event was unique and the big winds came from the East and that's what caused so much tree damage they just never have to deal with that. Since we tend to take the brunt of the wind broadside I leave the slides out for two reasons. First our slides are very heavy. We have a couple of file cabinets in one and pantries etc on the other side so they can act like outriggers. Second, I believe (with no scientific evidence whatsoever) that the three slides break up the winds ability to hit the side all at once creating turbulence as the wind gets pushed up between the slides. Yes we do have toppers, but if we don't quit doing wind research or if one of these storms has more hail than we've had to deal with so far we'll be replacing them far sooner than we should have to.

woodtic · 06-06-2014, 06:33 PM

I'm suprized that the toppers took that kind of abuse. Good to know the structure can handle it as well. we get straight line winds occasionally in our area. Last year we had a storm go through about 20 miles south of us. It had winds in excess of 120 mph in spots,and was as wide as 10 miles in some areas. It hit one of our favorite campgrounds, but not with full force. A couple trailers had tree damage, but none were overturned

scott-pati · 06-07-2014, 10:56 AM

Glad everything worked out, and good to know the Montana can take some wind abuse, at least with the slide toppers. I doubt the awning would survive.

**DQDick** · 06-07-2014, 11:41 AM

No, none of our four awnings were out. That would be taking things way too far.

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