Avoiding Hail Damage - Advice?

[h2opup]

I am wondering if anyone uses a physical means of protecting their campers (and trucks) during hail storms. I live in coastal Oregon, so not a big problem here, however it seems like large, damaging hail storms are not uncommon in MT, CO, TX, and other places where I may be wandering soon...

During a visit to Austin earlier this year, I heard about people there putting inflatable cushions or pads on their cars and trailer/camper roofs during hail storms. [I believe this was true, and not merely Urban Legend - lol].

I'm not seeking a bubble-wrapped life, but several posts here mention camper roofs sustaining hail damage, and I am concerned about possible hail damage to solar panels.

Apart from watching the weather and avoiding the situation as best as is possible, does anyone have a clever solution? Or do folks just buy insurance and leave the rest up to fate?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ski3pin]

I was also concerned about hail damage to solar panels................................until I visited many active mountain fire lookouts that also serve as communication sites. Most, now have large banks of solar panels. I've not seen a broken panel on mountain tops so I figure they are pretty darn tough. And I've put them on two camper roofs and drove over 235,000 miles without damage. Knock on wood, of course.

 

[Vic Harder]

We live in hail country here in Calgary. Most rigid solar panels are designed to withstand hail that would break your windshield. So, if you wanted to protect your camper, you could cover it with solar panels!

 

[pawpaw]

I have lived in "Hail alley" for 63 years and while I am an avid weather watcher I don't lose sleep over Hail storms. Typically Hail storms are confined areas of the storm that cover small areas. I have seen storms cover 1/2 Mile wide or less. With todays technology from weather.gov tracking hail storms is easy. I have actively dodge large thunderstorms while both camping and driving with that said Insurance is our answer. "Hail Alley" encompasses a large swath of CO, KS, NE and WY. As you say Texas is also included.

See this map: Hail | National Risk Index

Colorado is notorious for frequent and large hail up and down the I-25 corridor pushing out east over the high plains. I purchased an Alaskan camper from Pueblo CO in 2016 that had significant hail damage but luckily no leaks The camper was sitting in a storage lot for a couple of years and just happened to be in the path of a severe hail shaft. This was some large hail probably > 2-3 inches.

 

[h2opup]

Great input, thanks. pawpaw that CO camper has some stories to tell...!

 

[BBZ]

I also live in CO front range and it hails a lot.. but like it was said before, its usually pretty isolated. My camper is a 2014 and it is pretty dimpled from hail, but not issues. Heavy blankets can help protect from hail, but just better to find some cover if possible..