 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Roof tent & thunderstorms |
 
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| yaho Member Since: 26 Nov 2008 Location: Bialystok Posts: 200   
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What do you do when the thunderstorm comes while in the roof tent?
I count lightning distances and when its less than 3 seconds I evacuate downstairs to the car, but I wonder if there are real risks of being hit - I am isolated by rubber, though aluminium ladder sticks out. Janusz www.yahodeville.com |
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30th Jul 2014 6:40am |
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| landy andy Member Since: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 5655 
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I tend to open a side door, lay back and watch it
Andy |
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30th Jul 2014 7:11am |
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| Laurie Member Since: 22 Feb 2008 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 2897  
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You're more likely to win the lottery than be struck by lightning.
So, as long as you haven't won the lotto.............  |
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30th Jul 2014 11:55am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20292 
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The higher you are the higher likelyhood / exposed ground too.
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30th Jul 2014 12:07pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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If it's a proper storm then I'd be more concerned about the wind than the lightning. Some years ago in Morroco, a friend of mine nearly came a cropper during a storm when the wind tried to close his roof tent it with him inside. Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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30th Jul 2014 12:38pm |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5109  
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Lightning strikes the tallest object usually but not always, so it would be dependent on where you are camping. If in a field surrounded by trees the likelihood is that lighting would strike the tallest tree.
I am a mountain leader and the rule of thumb with lightning is that I instruct people that you are not safe anywhere outside and especially do not camp or shelter under trees. Avoid open fields, the top of a hill or a ridge top. Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects. If you are in a forest, stay near a lower stand of trees. If you are camping in an open area, set up camp in a low area. Remember, a tent offers NO protection from lighting. Stay away from water, wet items (such as ropes) and metal objects (such as fences and poles). Water and metal are excellent conductors of electricity. Also never shelter in a cave as their entrances are dangerous during thunderstorms. Personally if you are aware that a thunderstorm is overhead I would vacate your tent and stay in your car if no other structural shelter is available, a Land Rover will offer sufficient lightning protection. Close the windows and don't touch any part of the metal frame like resting your arm on the window or any wired device in the vehicle including the steering wheel or plugged-in phone. A direct strike to your car will flow through the frame of the vehicle and usually jump over or through the tires to reach ground. Most lightning incidents to cars result in one or more flat tires and damage to the electrical system, but no injury to the occupants. If you are interested I have a video on YouTube where I was caught in a an electrical storm on top of Glyder Fach / Fawr three and half thousand feet up in the air pretty scary stuff. The video shows the build up of the storm with a hammer head cloud as black as night rising from the Ogwen valley then all hell broke loose. The lightening is shown from 3.25 on the video |
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30th Jul 2014 12:43pm |
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| Lishlandy Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: High Wycombe Posts: 941 
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I follow Landy Andy's example and do the same.
First time my girlfriend and I ever stayed in a roof tent was just prior to a massive unforeseen lighting storm and it was quite romantic really, watching all the rain cascading off the window flaps and the lightening coming through the material. No issues, and didn't phase us. =================================== Steve 90 xs sw in Stonoway Grey - Sold 110 USW X-TECH |
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30th Jul 2014 1:23pm |
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| Sphere Member Since: 26 Apr 2013 Location: Midlands Posts: 725 
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Not sure on the roof tent but was knocked down by lightning playing golf one day it was the first crack it a house a few yards from me first I knew I was on the floor. Sant in a bunker for the next 30 min to scared to move (lowest place I could think of)
Think I would vacate to the truck if in a roof tent as not a experience I want to repeat. |
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30th Jul 2014 8:17pm |
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| Pickles Member Since: 26 May 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 3781  
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gilarian,..magnificent,...Wifey was wondering what the background music was,...on CD?
Pickles. |
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30th Jul 2014 10:25pm |
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| Samblers Member Since: 29 Jan 2014 Location: Perth, innit Posts: 63 
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Interesting. Why? I think i'd just get inside the car and wait it out. Isn't the car a Faraday cage? Also i'd get the camera tripod out and take some long-exposure pics! |
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31st Jul 2014 2:24am |
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| familymad Member Since: 13 Dec 2011 Location: Bucks Posts: 3479  
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Defenders are so damp that the faraday cage doesn't work. You are sitting in water effectively!! 1951 80" S1 2.0
1995 110 300TDI 1995 90 300TDI |
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31st Jul 2014 6:23am |
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| gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales Posts: 5109
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The music is by a composer called Thomas Newman he is most famous for being a film score composer for which he has received twelve Academy awards. His film music includes Road to Perdition The Shawshank Redemption The Horse Whisperer Meet Joe Black The Green Mile WALL-E The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Saving Mr. Banks and dozens of others so you I am sure you will have heard his music before. Virtually all my YouTube videos feature his music for which I have permission for to use, many of them have a little thumbnail saying what the music is and a link to the music if you wish to purchase on iTunes |
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31st Jul 2014 12:43pm |
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| Mac22 Member Since: 22 Nov 2013 Location: Merseyside Posts: 675 
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Wow! fantastic shots Gilarion....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjI8AxZnrx8 Lucky boy....  |
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31st Aug 2014 10:44am |
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