Caravanning with High Winds

None cyclonic winds buffeting the van does not pose a danger, flying debris does. I would clean up around the site and roll up the annexe and then curl up with a book and a cuppa.

Also, keep in mind where you are parked, big gums love to lose branches in high winds.

In a cyclone, follow local advise re: shelter and deal with the insurance claim when it's over. In other words, run for cover (not necessarily with the van in tow).

Don,

About 20 years ago, Wife & I, together with 2 ankle-biters, lived in a van for 6 years, working around far west Qld & Barkly Tablelands NT.

Almost always used an annexe because of the shade, and reduction of glare, but also because we usually camped in one spot for a minimum of 3 days, building Dams with an elevating scraper. The Laundress needed shade for her twin-tub w'machine too!!!

We always parked the van east-west, to reduce heat build-up, but also because prevailing winds are from SE. The winds can be strong, but the annexe usually only gets a flap up. Its whirly-winds that using get the annexe folded up over the roof of the van, and the pegs & poles scattered everywhere.

We rarely put the walls of the annexe up, unless it was bitterly cold, or rain was beating in. If you're going to sit under the annexe drinking an ale, or a rough red, then you want to see what's going on around you, eh?

In wet weather, problems start to occur when the ground becomes saturated, and the pegs pull out, or the annexe poles sink into the ground thereby reducing the tension on guy ropes. The poles can be put into large fruit tins, or the like, and you can always substitute the small pegs, for cut-off lengths of steel fencing pickets. Only thing is if these put out, they could become missiles.

As for cyclonic weather, head back south of the Tropic, and go to the Alice or Winton, somewhere like that. Would never try to outlast a cyclone, while in a van, the van will always off 2nd best!!!

Enjoy your trip, and don't forget to stop a few days in Winton. Plenty to see, Don.

Hooroo,
Bob.

I asked the same thing a year or so back and the advice was to keep the car connected and park it into the wind.