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yaho



Member Since: 26 Nov 2008
Location: Bialystok
Posts: 200

Poland 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Keswick Green
Roof tent & thunderstorms
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
Post #348342 30th Jul 2014 6:40am
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ken



Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

United Kingdom 
Never worried ever I was taught a long time ago if its your day to go its your day to go

No help at all really
Post #348343 30th Jul 2014 6:59am
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5408

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
I tend to open a side door, lay back and watch it Thumbs Up

Andy
Post #348344 30th Jul 2014 7:11am
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Laurie



Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
You're more likely to win the lottery than be struck by lightning.
So, as long as you haven't won the lotto............. 
Post #348374 30th Jul 2014 11:55am
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 19453

United Kingdom 
The higher you are the higher likelyhood / exposed ground too.
Post #348376 30th Jul 2014 12:07pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
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
Post #348384 30th Jul 2014 12:38pm
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5084

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
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

Post #348385 30th Jul 2014 12:43pm
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Lishlandy



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: High Wycombe
Posts: 941

England 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 X-Tech LE Orkney Grey
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
Post #348391 30th Jul 2014 1:23pm
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Sphere



Member Since: 26 Apr 2013
Location: Midlands
Posts: 725

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Keswick Green
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.
Post #348452 30th Jul 2014 8:17pm
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Pickles



Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 3748

Australia 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Keswick Green
gilarian,..magnificent,...Wifey was wondering what the background music was,...on CD?
Pickles.
Post #348502 30th Jul 2014 10:25pm
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Samblers



Member Since: 29 Jan 2014
Location: Perth, innit
Posts: 63

Australia 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Fuji White
gilarion wrote:
Also never shelter in a cave as their entrances are dangerous during thunderstorms.


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! Thumbs Up
Post #348510 31st Jul 2014 2:24am
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familymad



Member Since: 13 Dec 2011
Location: Bucks
Posts: 3459

 2016 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black
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
Post #348516 31st Jul 2014 6:23am
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5084

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
Pickles wrote:
gilarian,..magnificent,...Wifey was wondering what the background music was,...on CD?
Pickles.


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
Post #348574 31st Jul 2014 12:43pm
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Mac22



Member Since: 22 Nov 2013
Location: Merseyside
Posts: 675

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 DCPU Santorini Black
Wow! fantastic shots Gilarion.... Thumbs Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjI8AxZnrx8

Lucky boy.... Whistle
Post #354712 31st Aug 2014 10:44am
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