Question re: RTTs and Wind

[Koabean]

Hi all --

I am new to the forum and have a question for the RTT users out there. I have long been interested in one for a trailer build, but this weekend's wind (sustained 35 mph, gusts much higher) tested my four season dome tent and caused some concern about the durability/stability of an RTT in such conditions. I popped stakes all afternoon and don't see how you could even rig guy lines for an RTT to help spread the wind load.

So, how do they do in big wind?

Thanks from Colorado.

 

[007]

35 mph will make for an annoying sound, but it won't even begin to test the structure of a quality RTT. I think it would have to be over 60mph to start getting bad in my ezze-awn. Its a rigid floor, bolted to a truck, supported by steel bars that makes the difference.

 

[Colin Hughes]

That's the cliff edge behind us in this photo on Grand Manan Island. It was a fairly big drop. First night was calm, we heard the whales below us all night long. The second night, the wind and rain came in from the ocean and it was blowing pretty good. We stayed high and dry in the RTT. When my brother was out there in his ground tent, he had to attach it to a tree to keep it from blowing away.

 

[PBnFJ]

If you look at the internal frame for an RTT you will see they have much larger diameter frame than a ground tent. The Maggiolina I have does pretty well in high winds as the walls are held taught by the internal frame when open. I have been on Pismo Beach during a nasty storm where the rain was vertical and did not feel the need to add any guy lines to the tent.

 

[Koabean]

Thanks, guys. Just the kind of information I was looking for.

 

[brentbba]

I'll add a little more high wind info. I own an Eezi-Awn Globetrotter that sits atop my M101CDN trailer that's had a spring over, so the tent platform is easily 65" plus off the ground. Was out in Anza Borrego this past weekend with that set up. Buddy had a 10-14' Springbar ground tent completely staked down with 12' stakes into decent decomposed granite gravel. Springbars are known for holding up in the winds. I used to own one and used it during some pretty heavy wind and rain at Pismo Beach a few times and was impressed. My old two pole nylon tent would have been horizontal to the ground in those winds.

Early Sunday morning the freight train winds arrived. Short story - buddy's Springbar got blown over!!! My Globetrotter, while rocking and rolling atop the trailer did just fine. Only lost one buckle clip that tore loose from the back window. Sewed it right back on when I got home. I've camped, when back east in tornado warning (not watch - warning - tornados in the area spotted type weather for you California folks) and those winds were nothing compared to what hit us this past Sunday.

As stated above, a good quality RTT will hold up, I'm now thoroughly convinced of that!!!

 

[Dusty Grin]

I have an Eezi awn 1200 and a Maggiolina and both hold up excellent in the wind. The soft shell tent is a bit noisy if you leave the rain fly extended out on the spring poles. I intentionally took mine to the beach in our biggest wind storm of the year. I buttoned down the rain fly and it held up great. It was surprisingly stable in the 60mph gusts with no bending or anything. Just the sides sucking in and out occasionally.

The Maggiolina is quieter in heavy wind and because of the low profile, I would venture to say can handle heavier winds. No leaking at all on either in sideways rain.

Besides, I like the sounds of storms outside.

 

[Lemsteraak]

Both the Maggiolinas and Columbus are designed to be comfortable in high winds.

About ten years ago it was observed in the Columbus that it would suck in and then billow out right after a gust so the tent fabric would snap and make noise. There actually is a one way valve that was put in so the pressure inside the tent is slightly lower than outside so the fabric stays quieter and you get a good nights rest. It is a very subtle design feature that isn't documented, and it works.

That being said, you may not be able to sleep in those conditions because of the vehicle movement. I take the jack and lift one side of the truck to get some of the weight off the springs and to minimize the rocking. The outside noise is something else. The only thing I have done is to close the tent and drive to a more protected spot if it is that bad.

I agree with you Dust Grin, my roof tent is for winter and camping in the storms, love it by the ocean.

 

[Paul Davenport]

I've had my ARB Simpson III in 30-40 MPH winds many nights. It sits on a Campa trailer so it's about 70" off the ground. I won't say I get much sleep as it can sound like a freight train, but the tent has held up perfectly. They are, as others mention, built much stronger than most ground tents (particularly the five or six I went through before choosing quality over cheap).

 

[WeeJeep2]

Same experience as the previous responses. Eezi-Awn on a trailer and no problems with wind. If it is just dry wind we remove the rain fly to cut down on the flapping. Depending on wind direction a strap from the top of the ladder down to the tire on the trailer keeps the wind from trying to fold it up. Picked that tip up from someone at OVX who had it happen. Generally we set up with the ladder into the wind so the kitchen on the opposite side is protected. That puts the wind into the sloped side of the tent and makes it a little more streamlined.

 

[Ranchero]

I had my first experience in the wind with my CVT Rainier in Fruita last weekend. It was not pleasant. Tent held up fine, but it was quite noisy. My Westy is much quieter in high winds.

Most of the noise seemed to be the rainfly. May start thinking about ways to better tension the fly.

 

[kingg5]

Went through a big winter lake storm this year on harrison lake bc. tent barely moved. (not sure how strong winds were, but enough that i packed up at 6 am on sunday and we left)

only damage was my own fault (didnt batton down the outside window covers and one grommet ripped)

only pic of the tent and spot the day before the storm