How Much Wind Can An RV Withstand?

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Last Updated on September 5, 2024 by Paul Clayton

How Much Wind Can An RV Withstand?

A frequently asked question among RV owners is, “How Much Wind Can An RV Withstand?” Different types of RVs can handle varying wind speeds, but knowing these thresholds is critical to make informed decisions on whether to drive or park during windy conditions.

• RV wind resistance depends on type, size, weight, and design.
• Most RVs withstand stationary wind up to 20-30 mph.
• Class A motorhomes handle higher wind due to weight.
• Class A motorhomes handle up to 50 mph parked.
• High winds make high-profile RVs vulnerable, especially crosswinds.
• Wind direction matters; headwind/tailwind is less hazardous than crosswind.
• Monitor weather, avoid travel in high winds, and find shelter.

Most RV and motorhome owners have undoubtedly experienced the challenges of driving their beloved rides in high stormy winds. It is not an encounter that any driver would look forward to!

One common concern of most RV owners is whether high winds can flip an RV and how much wind an RV can withstand. Keep on reading to find out more.

How Winds Affect Driving an RV

The wind isn’t something to ignore when driving an RV. A common problem experienced when driving an RV during high winds, mainly if it’s being towed or is a travel trailer, is that the tow vehicle could uncontrollably veer into other lanes. 

This presents a problem not only to the RV driver but also to other drivers driving on the same road. The veering of the RV is usually caused by winds blowing on the sides of the RV, known as cross or side winds.

And that veering, unfortunately, adds to the wind’s force and could cause your trailer to tip over eventually. Headwinds, on the other hand, are a different case. Straight-on winds make your vehicle feel quite bumpy, known as bucking.

Even though such winds are considered safer than crosswinds, they shouldn’t be approached lightly.

Understanding how your RV behaves while on the road is crucial because RVs differ in weight and balance. It can, therefore, take varying degrees of wind before things turn sour for different RVs.

Will High Winds Flip your RV?

Every time you cruise down the highway, your RV is constantly battered by the wind. As that air in motion comes into contact with the front of your vehicle, a high and intense pressure that is converted into a force is created.

That force’s intensity is called wind load, and RVs can only withstand a particular degree. You will have to do the calculation to determine the wind load on your RV. You can, however, calmly drive your RV in a straight line since the bodies of RVs can tolerate headwinds at highway speeds.

Note that wind only becomes an issue when blowing against a vehicle in motion; it causes your trailer to sway.

Crosswinds can also create damage when an RV is stationary or parked, but for different reasons. Such winds can destroy slide-out toppers and ruin awnings, among other damages.

Unfortunately, being specific regarding how high winds flip over stationary RVs is still challenging. On the other hand, the good news is that this hardly ever occurs. 

Various studies have investigated the wind speeds that can flip vehicles. According to the majority of them, whether an RV will be converted by severe wind depends on:

• Wind duration and direction
• Shape and weight of the vehicle
• Debris impact
• Progressive damage
• Exposure
• Wind gusts

How Much Wind is Considered Too Much?

Unfortunately, there is no specific or correct answer to this question since there are several rig designs and specific configurations out there.

Factors like the weight of the RV, angle of departure (distance from the center of the back axle to the back bumper), body height, distribution of weight, and tire pressures, together with the presence of steering aids, all affect the handling of RVs in severe winds.

Driver experience and skill also play a role in assessing safe speeds.

If you start feeling uncomfortable when driving in high winds, slow down. A common reaction when driving in strong winds is to over-steer.

Most drivers don’t know that over-steering increases the vehicle’s instability, resulting in possibly dangerous situations. However, Experience and time help form the skills required to minimize this.

Nonetheless, if you are still uncomfortable with the wind despite reducing your driving speed, you should consider pulling over at a suitable place and sitting out the wind.

Let Us Now Talk About Numbers

Winds as little as those moving at 10 miles per hour can affect your RV. The effect, however, dramatically increases at wind speeds of about 15 to 20 miles per hour.

Wind speeds approaching 30 miles per hour might be unsafe for some recreational vehicles to drive in at highway speeds, mainly if the conditions include embedded gusts.

It was lucky that sustained gusty winds weren’t a common occurrence. Such winds are instead linked with short-term weather conditions and patterns, like storms and fronts passing through. It is better to wait these out at the nearest rest stop.

Another wise way of dealing with a windy day is to re-route your entire trip through a service road or a slower secondary highway.

Driving your RV at about 35 miles per hour is not subjected to similar wind effects as those found on highways and higher-speed freeways.

Even though re-routing your trip might take longer, you will most likely enjoy it more and even spare some time to take in the beautiful scenery.

How to Feel Safer in Your RV During Strong Winds

Most RV drivers who have suffered intense windy storms confirm what the studies revealed. The weather is hardly ever strong enough to flip over RVs.

Below are some valuable tips to help you reduce the impact that crosswinds might have on your rig as much as possible:

• Have your rig’s rear point towards the direction the wind is blowing from.

If you can re-position during a windy situation, having the back of your rig face towards the direction of the oncoming wind makes a huge difference.

This considerably reduces the total surface area facing the looming wind, making your rig much more stable throughout the storm.

• Deploy your leveling jacks or stabilizer.

This is another helpful tip. Increasing the number of contact points between the ground and your rig will significantly increase its stability.

• Retract your rig’s slides.

If your rig has pop-outs of slides, retracting them further reduces your profile surface area and betters your center of gravity. This considerably reduces the chances of your RV flipping over.

A lot of rigs also feature slide covers. Slide covers are awnings that roll out on top of slides for debris and rain run-off. The covers are usually quite vulnerable to damage in strong winds, so retracting them during windstorms is a good idea.

• Utilize your tow vehicle as a wind barrier.

This is, in fact, one of the top tips. If you have a toad or a tow vehicle, positioning it between your rig and the wind, preferably broadside, creates an effective barrier that “breaks” the wind before it gets to your rig.

This trick increases the stability of your rig in solid winds, significantly increasing your safety. This trick could even buy you a few hours to nap during a severe storm.

Other helpful tips include:

• Remain hitched up to your fifth wheel or trailer. Remember, any additional contact with heavy objects increases the stability of your RV.
• Always stay informed. You could have a weather radio or alerts from a weather app.
• Move your RV away from overhanging trees. Parking your RV under a tree makes it more likely to suffer damage from falling branches than the wind.

Stabilizing Your RV

Stabilizing your recreational vehicle when it is parked significantly reduces how much the wind can rock it, making routine tasks like cooking, sleeping, and even eating more comfortable and more accessible to achieve.

These leveling jacks stabilize motorhomes featuring hydraulic leveling jacks.

However, use leveling blocks beneath the tires to stabilize your RV. In that case, the body will continue bouncing on the suspension and springs since the wind or internal movements are still rocking it, not unless you include stabilizers.

Most trailers feature scissor-style stabilizing jacks, which you can manually crank down to control any bouncing and help with leveling. You may even utilize the camper jacks found in truck campers to stabilize your RV.

Ensure you have them retracted before moving your RV, or you risk tearing the camper into bits.

Another cost-effective option for motorhomes and trailers is jack stands. Jack stands are available in a set comprising four aluminum pyramids with adjustable extensions at the top.

Placing each of these stands under all corners of your RV to connect the body and frame to the ground considerably increases stability. 

The standard stabilizers usually are not tall enough for most motorhomes. Therefore, you might have to place additional blocks beneath them or require unique high-rise stands for use on some motorhomes. 

Can I Leave My RV Awning Out in the Wind?

Leaving your RV awning in the wind is not recommended, especially during strong, gusty winds. The force exerted by high winds can significantly damage your awning, causing the fabric to tear off its track.

In extreme cases, the entire awning might rip off from the RV. Such incidents lead to costly repairs or a complete awning replacement and pose a severe safety risk to nearby individuals.

Therefore, it’s wise to retract your RV awning in windy conditions for financial and safety reasons.

Wrapping Up

Most RVs can withstand wind speeds up to 20-30 mph when stationary, providing resilience in less severe weather conditions.

Due to their substantial weight, Class A motorhomes are equipped to handle wind speeds up to 50 mph when parked, offering increased wind resistance.

However, it’s important to note that high winds can pose a significant risk to high-profile RVs, with crosswinds creating a vulnerability due to their impact on stability.

The direction of the wind also plays a critical role in the level of hazard it presents; a headwind or tailwind is generally less dangerous than a crosswind.

Therefore, RV owners and users should monitor weather conditions closely, avoid travel during high winds, and seek shelter if necessary, ensuring safety while using an RV.

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