Winds near 30 mph and higher may not be safe for some rv s to travel at highway speeds and this is especially true if the conditions include imbedded gusts.
Rv awnings and wind speed.
Otherwise the wind can rip the awning fabric off and sometimes even send the awning flying clear off your rv.
Your rv can be effected by as little as a 10 mile an hour breeze.
If the winds exceed 20 to 25 miles per hour and the wind is consistent then it s time to roll up your awning for the day especially if it s self supported.
The wind force on your rv is.
A slight breeze is ok but wind is not.
D on irv2 forums for example.
After making the rv awning the manufacturer tests it against a wind of 20 25miles hour.
There are retractable products like retractable roof pergolas that have been rated higher and will withstand wind speeds of 55 63 mph beaufort 10 when open and 150 mph when closed.
Having an awning out in a variable wind it can be quite risky.
If this is more than the weight of the rv it will likely flip over.
At wind speeds of 15 to 20 mph the effect increases dramatically.
Benefits of rv awnings.
If a gust comes or the wind is from the right direction damage can occur.
At one moment there is lesser wind the next minute the wind is high.
When extended rv awnings can collect puddles and become heavy with rainwater.
Since awnings are vulnerable to wind you require an electric awning that has a wind sensor.
The wind speeds that most self supported awnings are tested to is about 20 25 miles per hour but that does assume a steady wind and not a buffeting irregular wind which can be far more dangerous.
Wind force lenght x height x f.
More commonly used now are the motion sensors as they detect movement in the awning rather than the wind speed which can be irrelevant.
The wind catches the awning and tends to rock the coach.
Motorized retractable awnings often use a wind sensor or motion sensor that automatically retracts the awning to prevent damage to the arms if the wind speed gets too high.
It can also have a motion center.
For example a 30 ft rv 8 ft high the sheeting only will have a 7154 lb force pushing on it in a 110 mph wind gust not average.
So let s talk numbers actual wind speeds.
We were in fresno at a friend s house in 2014 had the awning out and realized it was raining hard.
20 at 90 mph 29 8 at 110 mph 41 8 at 130 mph.
The newer models with a spring type system will billow and let the air out and the normally retract based on wind speed or motion.
The best time to use the awning is when the day is calm and sunny.
Use the awning but do so while paying attention to the wind and how it affects it.
As far as 20 mph i would be scared at 10 mph.
Traveling at 65 mph with a quartering headwind of 25 mph gusting to 40 mph would produce a vectored effect of around 80 to 90 mph of wind energy acting upon these 5 square feet of awning.
