How to Survive Extreme Weather in an RV

As we hunkered down in the High Desert of Southern California, waiting for Hurricane Hilary to pass, I figured I would write about all of the weather we have experienced over the past two years in our fifth wheel. 

Best Regions of the United States to RV in During Each Season

One of the benefits of Full Time RV Travel is that you can pick up and move with the seasons. Generally we prefer to do the NorthWest in the summer, NorthEast in the fall, SouthEast in the winter, and SouthWest in the spring. 

Although we have had pretty good luck with avoiding weather, we have personally experienced weather that we had never seen before growing up in Southern California.

Hurricanes in a trailer

Who would have thought that our travels back to Southern California this summer would involve a 100 year old storm- Hurricane Hilary? We were in Joshua Tree visiting old friends when we heard the news. We decided to leave the day before the storm was supposed to hit in order to make it to our family’s house as the roads in the high desert tend to flood pretty bad.

How to prepare for Hurricanes in a trailer

• Usually with Hurricanes you have plenty of warning beforehand. My best advice would be to take the warnings seriously and evacuate.  

How to prepare for tornados in a trailer

• Ever since watching Wizard of Oz as a child, I have always had an unhealthy fear of tornadoes. The closest thing I had ever experienced to a tornado before this trip was a dirt devil. We experienced our first tornado warning in Florida. We were driving on the highway between Tallahassee and Pensacola.

• This was the scariest moment of my life, I thought we were all going to die. I sat watching and praying as semi trucks were swaying from side to side ahead of us, rain was coming down in sheets, the sky was changing colors, all while all the sirens were going off. Thankfully, there was a rest stop straight ahead that we pulled off into and all ran inside the building. We were all safe, but I had never been so scared.

• We experienced two more tornado watches in Pensacola that winter. I had no idea Florida even had tornados, that’s how ignorant I was. Tornado watches are less serious than warnings. A watch means be prepared, whereas a warning means that a tornado has been spotted in the area and to seek shelter immediately.

• After leaving Pensacola we went to Alabama.  A few days after staying in Alabama we had another tornado that was supposed to touch down in our area. The camp host came by and said that they were unlocking all the bath-houses for us to shelter in. 

• If the campground doesn't have actual shelters, we were told the bathrooms were the safest places. I told Scott that I couldn't do it again, so we high tailed out of there and headed for North Georgia where we were safe and sound.

• Our final tornado experience was in Arkansas. We were there towards the end of February. We were camping in a Gulch, so I wasn't as scared. We were also with some really good friends, which calmed me and made the experience better. We were all instructed to go to the bath houses. The sky changed, it began to rain, then hail. The tornado touched down four miles from us, but again we were safe, praise the Lord!

How to prepare for tornados in a trailer

1. During a tornado watch, secure all your outdoor belongings

2. Bring in Awning

3. Shut all windows

4. Know where the nearest shelter is

5. Make sure to have water, cell phone chargers, a blanket, and snacks in a to- go bag

6. Consider putting important documents in a to- go bag

7. During a tornado warning, grab your bag and seek shelter ( usually in a bathroom) if you are at a campground.

8. A portable radio would be nice to have as well

Monsoons in a trailer

We have experienced monsoons in Arizona while boon-docking in the forest. I actually love monsoons. I love the colorful skies, the lightning, the sound of thunder, the rain that gives us reprieve from the heat and the wonder of hail that falls from the sky. Although monsoons make everything a muddy mess, we have never had any damage down to us or our trailer. We usually just sit under our awning or inside and watch the rain. 

How to prepare for monsoons in a trailer

1. Seal your roof before hand and use roof tape if you have any leaks

2. Consider digging a small trench in front of your space if water flows through your site

3. Putt out your awning if it is not windy and move all your belongings under it

4. Close all your doors and windows

5. Invest in some Xtratuf Boots

High Winds in a trailer

If it is too windy we don’t drive, period. It is way too stressful and dangerous.We have experienced winds high enough to mention in Florida, the Oregon Coast, Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, and Oklahoma.

We actually stopped and pulled off under an underpass in Colorado, and pulled off the freeway in Florida.

Luckily in Oregon, South Dakota, and Oklahoma we were already camping. In Texas, we were in the middle of Sand Dunes, that was an experience!

How to prepare for high winds while in a trailer

1. Don’t drive or pull off the road

2. Put in your awning

3. Bring in your flag if you have one

4. Put away all your chairs and other belongings that are outside

5. Hunker down and don’t freak out by all the rocking

6. Re-stabilize the trailer after the wind

Earthquakes in a trailer

We have been in a few small earthquakes while in our trailer, but they were so small we didn't feel it. Honestly the trailer goes through an earthquake every-time we drive it down the road, especially those Alaskan roads. 

How to prepare for an earthquake while in a trailer

1. Make sure you aren't under anything that can fall on you

2. Have emergency food and water on hand

Freezing temperatures in a trailer

We try to avoid freezing temperatures, but we have experienced them in California, Georgia, South Dakota, Texas, and Louisiana. We were on full hookups. In Louisiana we bought two space heaters in order to save propane. We always fill up our fresh water tank, and drip the water in the campsite along with the water in all our sinks. We have had no issues doing this.

How to prepare for freezing temperatures

1. Try to stay at a place with full hookups

2. Fill your fresh water tank and disconnect from the campground water

3. Drip the campground water

4. Drip all your faucets until temperatures come back up

5. Invest in space heaters

6. Be sure propane tanks are full

7. If you are somewhere long term, skirt your trailer

8. You can purchase a heating hose, or heating tape

* Since writing this, we our tank actually froze up in South Dakota while we were disconnected. Thanks to my parents generosity we were able to stay in a hotel. We also had to rent an air b n b for 3 nights in Texas.

Extreme heat in a trailer

Again, we try to avoid extreme heat, but we have experienced temperatures over 100 degrees in Utah, California, and Arizona. When it is really hot outside we try to get 50 amp hookups or when we are boon-docking, we make sure we have plenty of fuel to run our generator in order to run both airs. We also bought a box fan that circulates air to the back of our fifth wheel. We stocked up with plenty of water to drink and stayed at a campground with a pool.

How to prepare for extreme heat in a trailer

1. If you have multiple air conditioning units be sure to stay at 50 amp sites

2. If you are boon-docking be sure to have enough fuel for your generator

3. Consider packing your fridge with ice packs to keep it cool

4. Consider buying a dehumidifier if you are somewhere humid

5. Keep shades closed

6. Buy a box fan

7. Stay near water

8. Have plenty of sunscreen and water on hand

9. Consider foiling your windows

While moving around the country to experience ideal weather in every season is an upside to RV living, a downside can be unpredictable weather. When in a trailer, you are more vulnerable to natural disasters. Although this is the case, as long as you do preventive maintenance, make wise decisions on when to leave and drive, and pray, weather shouldn't be a source of worry for you. 

Bible Verse of the Day

James 5:17 NIV

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 

Reflection

• Along our journey, I have prayed earnestly that tornados would change route, that lightning would not strike us, for the winds to die down, for the rain to slow, and for the fog to lift. Every-time God was faithful in answering. God is too good to us.

My prayer for us all is that we will see ourselves as God’s daughters and God’s sons. I pray that we won’t think of ourselves as any less than Elijah in God’s eyes. May we all pray earnestly with faith and then not only notice, but rejoice when God is faithful and answers our prayers!

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