rvs and lightning

[timnsusie]

How safe (or unsafe a sit may be ) are you in a travel trailer during a thunder and lightning storm?
Tim

[WinnieView]

Probably the same as being in any vehicle with rubber tires contacting ground. We would probably disconnect any external power as a precaution.
And don't touch the vehicle when outside if live electrical wires have fallen onto it.

[timnsusie]

2008Seneca,
I was thinking that too, but the metal hitch jack is in contact with the ground too even though I generaly have a couple wood blocks supporting it.

[2lane]

Lots of info:

https://rvtravel.com/rvdt881/

[timnsusie]

Thanks 2lane lots of great information exactly what I was looking for thank you

[jpgale]

I imagine quite safe, if in a conventional build then everything is wood and it would be like in a house. Rubber tires are not what protects you in a car the amount of power in lightening it would simply arc to the ground. So what protects you in a car may protect you in a metal frame trailer. The frame itself would become a Faraday cage, you would be quite safe.

[RetiredLEO]

Fiberglass over wood a lightning strike could make you a crispy critter. Got to unplug shore power also.

I had a great aunt years ago who was taking a shower in a storm. Lightning hit the well pump house............did not end well for her.

[farnik78]

Can anyone provide a documented occurrence when a person was struck inside an rv? Because I’m sure every year thousands and thousands of people survive severe lightning storms inside of their rv and to my knowledge nobody has ever been struck.

[norty1]

We have had lightning damage while in the camper during a severe Thunderstorm. Lightning struck somewhere nearby and came in thru the power pedestal.

We lost all power, it came up so fast we could not get outside to throw the pedestal breaker. We had a TRC 38350 surge guard unit plugged in at the pedestal.

I removed it after the storm passed thru and then removed the TRC. It was smoking and fried. Power was back on.

Our Microwave and the surge protector were fried. No other damage to us or the electronics.

Called TRC and they told me to buy another one. I now have a Progressive PT-50C.

[Mustang65]

Here is a link to an earlier thread I did on document that I downloaded. The sources are listed at the end of the document. Very interesting! You can make your own decisions.

Here is the link... scroll down to POST #1 for the paper on Lightning and RV's

As for being safe in my TT.. odds are no #1 it is not an AirStream (Faraday affect). Mine (2013 EAGLE28f4BHS) has wooden trusses in the roof with NO metal cross beams. So all the lightning sees is the wiring, microwave...… We would be safer in the TV,or bath-house.

Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[shadester]

Someone I know got a direct hit to his Class A while parked next to the beach in FL. Hit the roof (fiberglass) directly in the center almost perfectly. No injuries but it puffed the roof up like one of those disposable jiffy pop popcorn makers. There was a little smoke also. Apparently his model has post sticking up so when you remove the hardware the whole roof will slide to release it and replace it. He had to drive it all the way to the factory for the repair and he said it was over a 13,000 ins. cost but at least there wasn't any other damage related to the incident.

[Seann45]

Disconnect the power cord from the pedestal and you should be OK. If you have a flag pole take it down too...

[rockaw]

Aluminum planes get hit frequently,

another post mentioned a lightning bolt travels a great distance thru the air to hit the ground, if it hits a vehicle or RV, those 6-8 inches of rubber tire aren't going to stop it, it still goes to around the metal to ground. (google, videos: car struck by lightning) Electrical is probably fired.

you're just trying to "direct" it to the ground with the least amount of damage, hence lightening rods on buildings, they are trying to take the lightening bolt from the sky, down the side of the building to the ground without messing the building electrical/water pipes up.. remember electricity takes the path of least resistance.

Like others, unplug you're power, maybe water and cable (at home i've had a strike come in on the cable, I lost 2 TVs, 2 cable boxes and 1 computer, my other computer and TV's there are wifi were not effected)

[vcbice]

Just as safe as inside a house.


I would mention lightning rods, but, there is a lot of controversy over their effectiveness.

[2edgesword]

I would be more concerned with wind than lightening as long as my surge protector is working.

[Mustang65]

A few other items that need to be remembered.
- Of course the Shore-Power connection as mentioned.
- The stabilizers and jack stands (if they are in contact with the ground)
- The power jack in the front (if it is in contact with the ground)
- The COAX cable for cable TV (this one could really get you, especially if it is mounted to the pedestal)


Don

My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[SkyBound]

I've been hit inside a plane before. Although no one was hurt, it still made one hell of a bang and caused burn holes in the skin where it entered and exited. It also can/will mess with the avionics which can turn into a bad day in a hurry.

As far as the trailer is concerned, I unplug the shore power to make sure nothing gets fried, even though I have a surge protector EMS.

[RetiredLEO]

When we lived in the country many years ago our barn sat on high ground. It had lightning rods on it. It was not uncommon at all with a good electrical storm to get the instantaneous flash of light and what sounded like a explosion. Always kept track of what side of the roof ridge cable was on..........after the flash/boom it would be on the other side of the ridge. Also had them on our ranch style house.....very glad to have them.

[Marmot]

Concerning lightning strikes-

It’s easy: Fiberglass shell with aluminum frame: protected.
Aluminum shell with wood or aluminum frame: protected.
Fiberglass shell with wood frame: NOT protected.
Fiberglass shell with no frame: NOT protected.

Rubber tires offer no protection.

I was very disappointed to see Jayco building some new Jay Feathers with fiberglass shells and wood frames. I’ll bet most buyers of these units don’t know him much danger they are in.

[Marmot]

[QUOTE=vcbice;664775]Just as safe as inside a house.


This is false. You must have either an aluminum frame or an aluminum shell for lightning strike protection. Fiberglass over a wood frame or straight fiberglass: no protection.

Rubber tires offer no protection.