How much wind?

GVWRLOL

Senior Member
Joined
May 8, 2025
Posts
210
Location
glendale,az
I'm sure it's going to differ from brand and type of lift but it should be good to get some general numbers and find out what others are doing. So, how windy is too windy for the canvas? I've heard numbers around 30mph sustained and up to 45mph gusts. I asked a local dealer and he didn't know, he told me, "well if you see a witch fly by on a bike it's probably a good idea to take cover"
Not very helpful to be honest 😆

What do y'all do when it gets windy? Do you have a limit where at that point you drop the top? Do you ride it out? Do you park it "into the wind?"
 
I have seen reports of people driving down the freeway with their top up. I would not do it, but it is tough material.
 
This comes to mind. 😆
So I should be good? We're expecting up to 45mph gusts and around 25 sustained
 
I have been in 60mph winds and she held up fine. Super loud but felt safe”ish”

Not sure I want to see what the too much limit is.

In wind I have found it better to park so the camper can take it head on. I think the solid panels help with taking the brunt of it. And there is also less surface area of canvass.
 
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Have dropped the top a few times (mostly in Baja) due to winds but it was the noise rather than worrying about a collapse.
 
we rode it out, it wasn't at all as worrying as I thought it would be and I learned a couple weaknesses that ill need to address before the next outing. I am very much enjoying this life and wish I had found it sooner.
Scooty didn't like it at all. poor ol girl.
 

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We have had several nights around 60 MPH, not much sleep was had on those nights. In one case we did actually drop the top in the middle of the night as we were sideways to the wind with no option to move the camper. I feel like the issue is typically just how unpleasant it is in high winds more than damage.
 
Try living where I do (Susanville) and having to drive down 395(or back from Reno) on a windy day. For a long time, I lived in Reno and Tahoe and had to face 395 through Washoe Valley on a windy day can be a challenge (in a VW bug). Then and now you always check the wind warnings and even though our pop-ups are (I think) just 7 or so feet high-and just under the 8 feet limit where the high wind warning keeps you (and all those rvs and trucks) off the road)-yah got to be real careful out there.

That said, we have had sessions here where new pop-up owners ask for advice on what to watch out for and someone says just wait until that first real windy night when you think all **** has broken out and you and everything in the camper will be soon rolling across the desert---and much to your surprise you are still alive in the morning;) and you discover how tough these canvas things really are. Now the awning is a different story; try keeping it from flying away on a windy day by yourself sometime! Just part of learning of having a pop-up!

Smoke
 
Try living where I do (Susanville) and having to drive down 395(or back from Reno) on a windy day. For a long time, I lived in Reno and Tahoe and had to face 395 through Washoe Valley on a windy day can be a challenge (in a VW bug). Then and now you always check the wind warnings and even though our pop-ups are (I think) just 7 or so feet high-and just under the 8 feet limit where the high wind warning keeps you (and all those rvs and trucks) off the road)-yah got to be real careful out there.

That said, we have had sessions here where new pop-up owners ask for advice on what to watch out for and someone says just wait until that first real windy night when you think all **** has broken out and you and everything in the camper will be soon rolling across the desert---and much to your surprise you are still alive in the morning;) and you discover how tough these canvas things really are. Now the awning is a different story; try keeping it from flying away on a windy day by yourself sometime! Just part of learning of having a pop-up!

Smoke
Driving south from Susanville on our return from our 2011 Alaska trip
we encountered the wind just north of Hallelujah junction.
At that time our Bobcat was still mounted of the 2006 small V6 Ranger.
Very under powered.I was down to about 35/40 mph at almost full throttle.
This was the last straw for that truck upgraded to the 02 Tundra,great move.
The winds can be very nasty through that area.
Frank
 
Looks like I didn't come out as unscathed as I thought. Turns out about 45 mph is all it can handle. Does anyone have a fix for this? My temporary solution was some tape but that didn't work... So I stitched the plastic onto the tape and the tape onto the zipper.
PS: I'm just a welder not a seamstress, I watched a YouTube video and this is my 1st ever attempt to sew. 😆
 

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I don't know the exact mph when I've "chickened" out but twice I've lowered the roof on my FWC. Both times in WY and of course, it was like 2am. One time in Death Valley, it was howling and it was so windy, the camper shifted in the bed of the truck. No damage.
 

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