Well the good old british weather has turned bad again with very strong winds and plenty of rain forcast. The strength of the wind here in yorkshire got me wondering just how easy it would be for the wind to turn over a caravan. Does anyone have any expirience of this sort of thing happening to them or has anyone whitnessed a van been blown over.
Do you mean moving or sited? We survived a hurricane in Scotland with 125 mph gusts. That was really unpleasant, and no awnings were left on site, but no caravans went over.
On the road, we have never failed to get where we were going. You just need to slow down and be careful.
I used to do this professionally, so deciding not to go was never an option. Just take care.
Jim
Hi jim. The post was just a general topic for both moving and sited units. Our van is a very lite 1982 sprite muskateer weighing in at 850 kg. We dont tow it as we have it in storage in selby that has a small site for us to pitch up. So we only tow the unit approx 100 ft to get to our pitch although we would be nervous if we had to tow in strong wind
I recall seeing several statics blown over when I was knee high to a grasshopper. I think it was on the Suffolk coast. My own worry about high winds is the 'van getting hit by flying debris. I'm in Norfolk at the moment and the wind is gusting to about 50mph. Small twigs are being broken off the trees and there are a lot of people looking very nervously at their tents and awnings. Looking at the forecast for the rest of the day I think we have just about reached the peak of the wind. I'm glad I am in Norfolk on a sheltered site rather than further north as at least it is dry here although we do have a lot of dust and leaves blowing about.
With regard to towing I think it is a matter of common sense and taking things at a sensible pace and if the unit feels unstable due to the wind then it is time to park up asap and get the corner steadies down.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
I suppose if the wind is strong enough, the caravan will be blown over be it static or moving. Remember the pictures on the news of lorrys blown over a few years ago? I recon its very rare it gets that windy but never say never...
------------- Why am i doing this instead of camping??!!
We cancelled our weekend away back in February when the wind was really bad, we didn't feel it was worth risking just for a weekend away. Do you invalidate your insurance if towing in bad winds? Caravans were being told not to head towards Scotland this morning. I'd be very tense just being a passenger towing the van in high winds!
Drove back 100 miles towing yesterday, and yes, you could feel it, especially the side winds.. Even though the motorway signs were warning ppl to slow down because of high winds, there were still some loonies towing caravans who were exceeding the speed limit, how dumb is that.
A branch broke off and hit the roof of the car, but no damage done.
Years ago on a caravan site in N. Wales, there were very strong oncoming shore winds, the little tow caravans were fine, and right at the front practically on the beach, but some of the static vans further back had their roofs torn off, just like sardine cans.
Really bad here in Scotland just now, they have closed the Forth and Tay bridges and Scotrail have withdrawn some services. We towed on Friday and it was quite windy, glad to be home now. Havent heard about caravans being blown over in the wind, just a couple of lorries. Hope the drivers are okay
Were away on Friday morning, but i'll go no matter how bad the wind is, like what somebody as already said just pace yourselves and if you feel uncomfortable towing stop and take a break!!
We came from hunstanton to bourne yesterday and we could feel the side winds but not too bad really but twigs and bits of branches were breaking off the trees
I've seen 2 caravans on their sides in the past, both in strong wind conditions, both on a downhill slope. You can only assume it was due to a comination of going too fast and strong side winds. One was on the M62 bridge at Howden which is sometimes closed to highsided vehicles and caravans when windy, and the other on the A64 at Whitwell on the Hill. I didnt see them actually blow over, but arrived at the scene in a long tailback of traffic delayed due to the caravans being across the road on their sides, burst open at the seams like a cardboard box with belongings strewn everywhere. Not a pretty sight and as a result Im a bit nervous about towing when windy, its no way to start or end your holiday. I expect once it starts to go there is little you can do to stop it. If wind can blow an HGV lorry over, then a caravan will be a piece of cake.
I would never cancel because of weather. Like I said, when it's your living, you have to go, no matter what. It's OK if you take your time and avoid obvious hazards like high bridges.
I'm due to change my caravan on Thursday and gales are forecast, but I'll still be making the 30 mile round trip. If you let the weather dictate to you in this country, you won't get out much.
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Topic: Caravans and Strong winds
although we would be nervous if we had to tow in strong wind 
