By J.R. Montigel
Many of us have endured a stormy night camping in a dense forest with high winds whipping tree branches above every which way. Our imaginations can run wild with thoughts of a big branch or a tree trunk itself blowing down on our RV—and us!
Are our fears justified? The answer is probably “sometimes.” Every year, falling limbs and tree failures damage RVs and injure people in campgrounds. And it’s not just in violent storms. It doesn’t take much wind to take a tree down or its branches.
I have personally known two people who died from falling trees. One was a high school classmate who died when standing near her husband as he felled a large fir tree that dropped the wrong way. The other person, a neighbor, died when a tree fell on his car while he was driving home during a violent New Year’s Eve thunderstorm.
I experienced a tree falling on my motorhome while camping on a windy night in Massachusetts. When the tree hit my RV I thought it had surely knocked a big hole in the roof. But lucky for me, the eight-inch trunk just glanced off with little damage. A more direct hit would likely have not gone so well.
Why trees fail in wind
Even healthy trees can snap or uproot under the right conditions. Wind gusts exert enormous force on the forest’s canopy, especially when leaves or needles catch the wind like a sail. Most concerning are dead trees (snags) or “widowmakers”—dead or cracked branches high in the canopy that can drop without warning. In saturated soil, such as after rain or snowmelt, the root system can lose its grip entirely, bringing the entire tree down.
Some trees are more prone to windfall. Common campground evergreens like pine, spruce, and cedar typically have shallow root systems, making them more likely to topple. Cottonwoods, poplars, and older aspens often rot internally and can snap unexpectedly. And eucalyptus trees are known for shedding large limbs even on calm days.
Why RVs don’t provide much protection
RV roofs are not designed to withstand the weight or impact of a falling limb let alone a full-sized tree. Even a branch just a few inches in diameter can puncture a roof. A mature limb weighing several hundred pounds can cause catastrophic damage to both an RV and its occupants.
Signs of a potentially unsafe tree
Before you settle into a campsite, look up and around. Warning signs include:
• Dead trees or dead limbs in the canopy
• Fungus or mushrooms growing on the trunk (indicating internal decay)
• Vertical cracks or hollow cavities
• A noticeable lean, especially toward your RV
• Exposed, lifting, or cracked roots
• Fresh wood fragments at the base, a sign the trunk may be splitting
If any of these signs are present, the tree is not a safe neighbor.
And pay attention to the weather forecast. If high winds are predicted, pick a spot away from any potentially falling objects, like trees.
When to move
The most important factor is wind intensity. Wind gusts between 25 and 40 mph are enough to drop limbs. Gusts more than 40 mph increase the risk of full tree failure. If strong winds are forecast, move your RV to a site away from tall trees even if it’s just to a parking lot for the night. A temporary move is far better than taking a life-threatening chance.
Although the odds are very slim that you or your RV will be hurt from a falling branch or tree, in inclement weather you may sleep a little better without worrying about being the victim of Mother Nature’s wrath. A few extra minutes spent choosing your campsite, and a willingness to move when the wind picks up, might make all the difference.
RELATED
- How to prepare for RVing weather hazards like tornadoes, flash floods, snow, and more
- RV tornado safety tips: How to survive a tornado when RVing
- It’s dust storm season: How to stay safe if you drive into one
- Are you ready for an emergency? Sure?
- Every RVer should keep this emergency safety item handy at all times
RVT2777
We’ve moved to safer locations several times when big storms were approaching. Open parking lots near concrete buildings are the best just in case those storm warnings turn into tornado warnings. The two times we’ve headed into those for shelter (tornado “on the ground” warnings issued), we were surprised that nobody else left their RVs for shelter. Our RV is a Class B Winnebago campervan, so it is easier for us to move than most.
We were camping once in a state park when a large dead snag fell onto the pop-up camper across the road from us at night. It completely crushed one end of the pop-up. Luckily the older couple were sleeping on the other end and were not injured, but if it had been the next night, their grandchildren would have been sleeping on that end and would surely have been badly injured or killed.
Around 40 or so years ago friends of ours were at a campground in their motorhome when a big oak tree fell near them with some smaller branches harmlessly brushing their RV. They were distressed in that the campground staff took insufficient interest in their wellbeing from the near miss.