High Winds - Take Precautions!

Poptop and A-Frame camper owners should be acutely aware of the dangers of high winds, particularly during erection and pull down. The photo above graphically illustrates what can happen in sudden gusts during pull down. It can even happen with the van just standing there as in some vans it appears that the hold down plate just screws into the ply roof and could pull out. Dangerous windy areas are mostly signed, and the worse ones, such as high bridges and high ridges, usually have a wind sock mounted on a pole. We have found the most dangerous areas to be exposed headlands jutting out into the ocean, as the wind continually changes direction. We saw a fellow camper blown out the door whilst lowering an A-Frame camper. A nasty spot in Sydney is emerging from behind a pylon on the Harbour Bridge. We avoid using the outside lanes when towing. The Gateway Bridge in Brisbane is another hairy spot but it has an electronic system in place warning caravan owners - great stuff Brisbane!