Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-26-2016, 06:16 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 242
Garage
Penthouse in high wind

Happy Thanksgiving to all! We'really camped on Red Lake, a playa in SW Arizona. The wind started cranking pretty hard a while ago, 15-25, gusting higher. I turned the right into the wind. We'very got maybe 40lbs in the Yakima rack on top plus solar panel. Also have 2 sticks helping to support roof. Not an electric PH.
Anyway, got to wondering how much wind a penthouse can take. Your experience and wisdom are welcome.
Oh how I hate autocorrect! I turned the rig into the wind.

Makalu1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2016, 06:26 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
larrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Oregon Ciry Oregon
Posts: 2,843
We always put the drivers side facing the wind so that we are not fighting it when we go in and out of the barn doors. Not sure what max wind speed is but we have had no problems with 20-30 mph sustained with higher gusts.
__________________
Larrie
Read detailed trip reports, see photos and videos on my travel blog, luinil.com.
Current van: 2002 Ford E350 extended body camper with Colorado Camper Van pop top and Agile Offroad 4WD conversion.
larrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2016, 07:51 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
LenS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,220
The worst wind we have had was while camping on Newfoundland at Cape St. Mary. Lots of wind gusts coming from all directions. Did not sense a problem with the penthouse (we have corner supports so the scissor mechanism really was not taking the load but the top canvas was taking a lot of it). My wife found it very uncomfortable sleeping with the gusts hitting us like a hammer. So we lowered the top and slept down below. Significantly better. So our limit is us not the top.
__________________
Len & Joanne

The Green TARDIS
LenS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-26-2016, 11:06 PM   #4
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Been in winds about 40MPH. I think SMB says 50MPH but I'd think that is a top with nothing on it. Pointing into the wind helps provided it doesn't change. I always worry more about something flying into the top such as a limb off a tree. I will say it's somewhat hard to sleep with all the buffeting. Helps if you crack PH windows but sometimes that just isn't possible.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-27-2016, 01:30 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
MrHenrietta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Park City, UT
Posts: 693
I have an 1999 SMB penthouse with no mods to my knowledge and have never had any trouble in high wind. Not sure MPH but have been on top of of high canyons in heavy wind and no issues. We have have a roof rack with a Yakima box with about 30lbs of gear usually.
__________________
1999 7.3 4x4 RB50 SMB
MrHenrietta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-27-2016, 09:18 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
boywonder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,046
Similar experience here.....manual SMB top, 3 solar panels up there...

Have slept about a half dozen nights with the wind howling here and there; I pull the top down mostly because I'm a light sleeper and the buffeting keeps me awake.

Hungry Valley OHV park has been the most wind several times, even with the top down it feels like I'm sleeping on a boat the van is rocking so hard....
__________________
2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
boywonder is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.