High Winds - Lesson Learned

suzhou · 04-06-2017, 06:43 AM

We needed to depart Memphis yesterday for a funeral in Houston. If you watched any of the weather for this part of the country yesterday you would have seen the winds were fierce and constant. I decided to give it a try since they would have mostly been headwinds. Bad idea. About 10 miles from the house I realized I needed to turn back or I was likely to add to the number of funerals to be arranged. I couldn't control the rig and stay in the lane. I've had wind gusts surprise me out on the road before but nothing like this. I was amazed at how the wind could actually move the truck and trailer across lanes and slide it around on the road so easily. I got off the main roads quickly and took a slower back road path home. Plan to depart today - no wind this morning.

Wanted to post since there may be relatively new TT drivers like us that underestimate the impact of the wind and attempt to tackle it or drive through it. Not sure what a good threshold for drive or stay put wind speed but I do know I'll be more cautious now. When in doubt, stay parked.

redsnapper · 04-06-2017, 07:49 AM

Great advice for anyone towing.

Do you know the wind speed at the time when this happened?

National Weather Service reports or an estimate?

BigJohnD · 04-06-2017, 07:50 AM

I think you were very wise. The wind was pretty high here yesterday as well.

newguy · 04-06-2017, 07:57 AM

We are new to travel trailers and on the way back from florida this march we learned about wind.We had to get off the road for a bit.I drove tractor trailers all my life and never had wind problems like that

TxLoser · 04-06-2017, 08:03 AM

Good choice. You successfully avoided a case of "gethereitus" as it's called in aviation.

What's everyone's limits for winds? I know every setup is different as is driver threshold as to when things get scary, but it would be interesting to hear all the same.

JHerzog · 04-06-2017, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxLoser

Good choice. You successfully avoided a case of "gethereitus" as it's called in aviation.

What's everyone's limits for winds? I know every setup is different as is driver threshold as to when things get scary, but it would be interesting to hear all the same.

Here in Texas you have to tolerate up to about 35 mph or you would never leave home. Above that I get nervous and look for a place to pull over.

Jagiven · 04-06-2017, 08:16 AM

I have been in high wind a few times. I have found the worse wind conditions have been head wind.

A few years ago we were coming home from a campout, waited out all afternoon. headwind all the way home, I drove on the freeway 45-50 mph, and I thought I was driving to fast. Every little car that past me pushed me around. I did find my tt tire pressures were low. I now always check our tire pressures. since then, I have been in high wind, but have never experiences such a concerning condition.

Wrascal · 04-06-2017, 08:18 AM

It would be helpful to know your tow vehicle, hitch and trailer.
We too had rain, winds and THUNDER/LIGHTNING. Some had hail/ not us.

306RKDS · 04-06-2017, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHerzog

Here in Texas you have to tolerate up to about 35 mph or you would never leave home. Above that I get nervous and look for a place to pull over.

I can vouch for the wind in Texas. We were on 121 on our way to Caddo Mills once towing our Jayco 24T with a F150. It was all I could handle.It was also the last time the F150 pulled anything. Went and bought a F250, the difference was like night and day.

JHerzog · 04-06-2017, 08:26 AM

F250 is on the acquisition list for September to get 2017 when the 2018's roll out.

TCNashville · 04-06-2017, 08:30 AM

The day I picked up our trailer we had 30+ mph cross winds and I was all over the road as that dogs tail was really waggin'. I figured with that kind of wind this was the way it would be. Come to find out that CW set up my WDH incorrectly and once I had it dialed in it hasn't been nearly that bad towing in high wind. Today here in Indiana we're under a wind advisory with gusts 40-50mph. No way I'm towing in that.

North of 49° · 04-06-2017, 08:38 AM

On our very first camping trip with our new Jayco two years ago, there were severe winds, 60 kph gusting to 90 kph. Six foot waves on the lake, which destroyed the beach and seawall at the small resort town where we were staying. Not to mention the rain and snow. People were packing up and leaving, and I told DW that no, we were staying put. No way was I going to tow in those kinds of winds, especially since it would be a cross wind all the way home. So we hunkered down and toughed it out. The next day, when were actually supposed to be leaving, it was a much calmer 30 kph wind.

Bookemdanno · 04-06-2017, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHerzog

Here in Texas you have to tolerate up to about 35 mph or you would never leave home. Above that I get nervous and look for a place to pull over.

Amen! We had 30-40 MPH winds all day yesterday.

bansai · 04-06-2017, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHerzog

F250 is on the acquisition list for September to get 2017 when the 2018's roll out.

Same here, and it doesn't look like the 2018's are changing anything since the 2017's had major changes.

2nOZ · 04-06-2017, 10:42 AM

Glad everything turned out well. 2 weeks ago we had planned to go camping in OK and wanted to start out early. Got up and the winds were howling out of the south at 30 gusting to 40 at home. In OK the were 35 gusting 45. Just a headwind I thought. Not like it's a crosswind. Wisely decided to wait until 2pm in the afternoon when the winds died off some. Still bucked a headwind in OK with winds 20 to 30. MPG really suffered!

bono · 04-06-2017, 03:29 PM

Well, I have never towed that big trailer (28DSBH) with another hitch than Propride. I experienced some strong winds on the way from Indiana to California. I have no idea how strong the wind was, but I saw semis struggling in front of me with staying in the lane. I was pretty comfortable with my trailer and short wheelbase TV. I felt that wind was pushing me from time to time, but the TV and TT were in one line. No white knuckles, no sway, just a bit slower.

suzhou · 04-06-2017, 07:06 PM

Yesterday the winds were steady 25-35 with gusts up to 50. We were headed west with winds out of the NW so essentially head and cross winds, depending on the curve of the freeway. I have a 265RLSW (30 ft, 6100lb empty) and a super cab F150. It was not manageable and I could feel myself drift quite a bit as the wind would gust. We departed today and they were steady at about 20mph. Much better but still not an easy drive. I know I'll get a fair number of responses that I should have purchased a 3/4T TV and it would have been easier and maybe even doable. Not sure but I agree it would have been better and that may be something I have to consider down the road. Tough since I just purchased the 2016 F150. I did notice that in strong headwinds I felt the front of the TV was light. Not sure if that was due to headwind on TT or TT swinging us around when crosswind pushed on the side of it. I believe my WD hitch is adjusted correctly but I am going to go back through the setup and get to some scales soon. I just don't think the standard setup of using front and back TV height changes is as accurate as it needs to be for a TT this size. That might improve my wind travel capability. When there is no wind it tows just great but even a 15-20 mph wind makes it a more focused drive. No room for not paying full attention and both hands tightly on the wheel. Maybe that's just the nature of it, not sure.

Dustdevil · 04-06-2017, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohnD

I think you were very wise. The wind was pretty high here yesterday as well.

Bingo! The intelligent guy calculates wind speed vs surface area, researches side load capability of tires and suspension, center of gravity, roll resistance, tipping angle, then plays the odds. The wise one knows he can't control wind gusts, and simply waits until he is pretty sure it's quite safe, then leaves.

cekkk · 04-07-2017, 10:17 AM

Coming off Raton Pass a couple years ago on I-25, the cross winds sweeping under our rig were so strong they lowered my front door steps three times in a couple miles! That was my limit. I finally found a way to tie them up, though and was able to proceed at 40 mph, a bit slower than the 18 wheelers. Winds eased before we came to an exit. The 10k # weight of the trailer and the dually were a big help, although we passed two bigger 5th wheels that were taller and had to pull to the shoulder.

eng45ine · 04-07-2017, 10:25 AM

Members of this forum investigate the limits of the tow vehicles, I've learned a ton of valuable information by reading all of the opinions. I also participate on an F-150 forum, I read far fewer posts regarding safe towing practices, there are more posts regarding what a beast their truck is and that they can tow a 36 footer without hesitation.

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