5 Best RV Tie Down Kits For Winter Storage Nomads Swear By

You’ve found the perfect spot to leave your rig for the winter, cleaned it out, and winterized the plumbing. But as you drive away, a nagging thought creeps in: what about the wind? A quality tie-down kit is the difference between returning to your intact home-on-wheels in the spring and discovering a costly, heartbreaking disaster.

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Why Winter Tie-Downs Are Non-Negotiable

Leaving an RV to face winter weather without being secured to the ground is a massive gamble. An RV cover is designed to protect against rain, snow, and UV rays; it offers zero protection against the relentless force of wind. In fact, a loose-fitting cover can act like a sail, catching the wind and adding significant strain to your rig.

Think of your RV as a huge, lightweight, and very expensive box. Its flat sides and curved roof are practically designed to be pushed and lifted by strong gusts. A sustained 50 mph wind can exert thousands of pounds of force on the side of a large fifth wheel or Class A. This force doesn’t just rock the vehicle; it can shift it off its leveling blocks, damage the suspension, or, in a worst-case scenario, tip it over entirely.

Many people think, "I’m parked behind a building" or "it’s in a valley." This is a dangerous assumption. Wind is unpredictable. It swirls, creates vortexes, and can produce powerful microbursts in otherwise sheltered locations. The real threat isn’t always a single, hurricane-force event, but the cumulative effect of weeks of persistent, powerful gusts that work to loosen, shift, and ultimately break things.

Tie Down Engineering Kit: Professional Grade

When you see the kits used to anchor manufactured homes in hurricane zones, you’re often looking at a system from Tie Down Engineering. This is the professional standard for a reason. Opting for one of their kits for your RV is the "buy once, cry once" solution for ultimate peace of mind.

These kits are complete systems, not just a collection of parts. They typically include heavy-gauge, corrosion-resistant steel auger anchors, galvanized steel straps, and robust tensioning bolts. The components are designed to work together to meet specific load ratings, taking the guesswork out of securing your investment. This is what you use when failure is not an option.

The primary tradeoff is the installation. Driving these large auger anchors deep into the ground requires serious torque. You’ll likely need a commercial-grade impact wrench or a dedicated anchor installation machine. It’s more work than simpler kits, but for anyone storing their RV in a high-wind area like the Great Plains, coastal regions, or open desert, the professional-grade security is worth the effort.

Camco Anchor Kit: Accessible and Reliable

For the majority of RV owners storing in moderate conditions, the Camco Anchor Kit hits the sweet spot. It’s one of the most accessible and widely available options you can find at RV supply stores or online. It provides a significant security upgrade over nothing at all, without the cost or installation demands of a professional-grade system.

A typical Camco kit includes spiral-style anchors that you can screw into the ground by hand with a sturdy bar, along with a tensioning rope or strap. It’s a straightforward design that is easy for one person to install in a couple of hours. This system is designed to secure awnings but can be adapted to provide basic, full-body security for a smaller RV or travel trailer in a pinch.

However, it’s crucial to understand its limitations. These kits are best suited for firm, loamy soil. They will struggle to get a secure bite in very sandy, loose, or rocky ground. While it’s a reliable choice for a pop-up in a forested campground, you wouldn’t bet your 40-foot fifth wheel on it through a winter storm in West Texas. It’s a great product when used within its intended application.

Arrowhead Anchors: For Tough Soil Conditions

Sometimes the problem isn’t the wind; it’s the ground itself. If you’ve ever tried to screw a standard auger anchor into dry, compacted, or rocky soil, you know the frustration. This is where Arrowhead Anchors shine, offering a completely different approach to getting a secure grip.

Instead of an auger, an Arrowhead anchor works like a toggle bolt for the earth. You drive a narrow steel rod into the ground with a hammer, and attached to its end is a pivoting metal anchor. Once it’s at the desired depth, a pull on the attached cable causes the "arrowhead" to rotate horizontally, locking it firmly under the compacted soil. The holding power in difficult ground is phenomenal.

Arrowhead anchors are more of a specialized component than an all-in-one kit. You buy the anchors and cables, then pair them with your own straps and tensioners. This is the go-to solution for nomads who store their rigs in the American Southwest, the Rocky Mountains, or any region where the ground is more like concrete than soil. They solve a problem that no auger-style anchor can.

ShelterLogic Earth Anchors: Heavy-Duty Pick

ShelterLogic is a name synonymous with heavy-duty fabric garages and portable shelters, so they know exactly what it takes to keep large objects from blowing away. Their earth anchor kits are a fantastic, robust option for RV owners. They offer a significant step up in holding power from standard RV-specific kits without the complexity of a full-blown manufactured home system.

These are primarily auger-style anchors, but they are built to a higher standard. Expect thicker steel, more aggressive flighting (the spiral part), and greater length—often 30 inches or more. The extra length is key, as it allows the anchor to grip deeper, more stable soil, bypassing the softer topsoil. They are typically sold in sets of four, allowing you to build a custom solution for your specific needs.

This is the ideal choice for the owner of a large travel trailer or fifth wheel parked in an open, exposed location for the winter. The superior grip of a longer, more aggressive auger provides an extra margin of safety in a wide variety of soil types, from firm clay to moderately sandy loam. Pair these anchors with high-quality ratchet straps for a seriously strong and secure setup.

Titan Grip System: Maximum Wind Resistance

For those who want the absolute best in modern tie-down technology, the Titan Grip system is a top contender. Born from the need to secure structures in the most demanding environments, this system is engineered for maximum holding power and relative ease of use. It’s a premium product for those who face serious weather threats.

The Titan Grip often utilizes a unique anchor design that combines the principles of an arrowhead and a stake, providing exceptional resistance to pull-out forces. This is paired with high-tensile, low-stretch webbing and specialized tensioning hardware that provides a mechanical advantage, allowing you to achieve very high tension without the awkwardness of traditional turnbuckles. The entire system is designed for rapid deployment and unwavering security.

This is the system for the RVer storing in a known hurricane-prone area, a tornado alley, or on a coastal bluff where winter gales are a certainty. The cost is higher, reflecting the advanced engineering and materials. But when your RV is not just a vehicle but your home, that extra investment buys an unparalleled level of confidence that it will be right where you left it, no matter what the sky throws at it.

Proper Installation and Tensioning Techniques

The world’s best tie-down kit is worthless if installed improperly. The single most important concept is creating opposing forces that counter both lateral (side-to-side) and uplift forces from the wind. This starts with the angle of your anchors and straps.

Your anchors should be installed several feet away from your RV and screwed into the ground at a slight angle, leaning away from the rig. This ensures the pulling force is perpendicular to the anchor shaft, maximizing its holding power. The straps should then run from a solid point on your RV’s frame—never the axles or suspension components—over the roof to the anchor on the opposite side. This "over-the-top" method is critical for preventing wind uplift.

Tension is everything. A loose strap does nothing until it’s too late. The goal is to have the straps "guitar string tight." Use the turnbuckles or ratchets to remove all slack until the strap is taut and humming when you pluck it. Be firm, but don’t go overboard; extreme tension can potentially warp your RV’s trim or frame. The goal is to eliminate any slack so the RV and the anchor system move as one solid unit.

Final Checks Before Leaving Your RV Stored

Once the last strap is tightened, your job isn’t quite done. A final, meticulous walk-around is one of the most important steps. This is your last chance to catch a mistake that could lead to failure months down the road when you’re a thousand miles away.

Go to each connection point and physically check it. Pull on the straps, inspect the tensioners, and ensure the anchors haven’t pulled up from the soil during tensioning. Pay close attention to where straps go over the edge of the roof or any other part of the RV. If a strap is rubbing against a sharp edge, it will fail. Pad these chafe points with a piece of rubber, a pool noodle slit down the side, or even a folded-up old towel.

Finally, a few last actions can make a huge difference:

• Double-check every single tensioner. Make sure they are locked and secured.
• Take photos of the entire setup from multiple angles. This is great for insurance purposes and for your own memory.
• If possible, ask a trusted friend or the storage lot manager to check the strap tension after the first big storm or about a month after you leave. Soil can settle and straps can stretch slightly, and a quick re-tightening can restore full security.

Securing your RV for the winter isn’t about paranoia; it’s about protecting a significant investment and, for many of us, our home. A few hours and a modest investment in a quality tie-down kit provide the peace of mind that allows you to truly relax during your off-season, knowing your rig is safe and sound.