How much wind is too much wind ?

[homer1959]

Jayflight 29 RKS 2019 pulled by a F150 eco 3.5 max tow max payload, equalizer hitch.

Im heading for new orleans and san antonio from quebec canada. I looked at the windy app and the forecast for wind and gust alternate between 15mph for steady wind and gusting 30/35

So you guys with experience how much wind is too much wind ? I am not a fan of white knuckles thanks

[craigav]

Do you also have anti-sway bars with the equalizer hitch as the winds are less concerning with an anti-sway bar setup in place?

I have owned many different RV's over the years and they all had different characteristics when in the wind. The wind that is most concerning is the cross winds, so something to keep in mind to check for your route (windy.com). Tail winds are great for fuel mileage, side winds are very irritating and potentially dangerous.

In any case, with my similar sized TT many years back pulled by an F150, and actually not much difference in my recommendations for all RV's, is that I try to avoid towing on days where the side wind is forecasted to be gusting 30mph or over. However, most of my past RV life was with being employed and that required I returned by a specific date, and under those conditions I have driven in higher winds successfully (~40mph gusts), but you have to slow down and be prepared for the next gust of wind past every bridge and every big truck. Even then, I had to call in once and take another day off when I was headed back as the winds were 35mph steady and gusting much higher... so you are at the limit with 30~35mph gusts for what I would set for myself.

It is really hard to judge another RV setup though, I have had RV's that 35mph gusts would be very challenging, and other setup where 35mph would not be much of an issue. ~CA

[skids]

Originally Posted by homer1959

Jayflight 29 RKS 2019 pulled by a F150 eco 3.5 max tow max payload, equalizer hitch.
,
Im heading for new orleans and san antonio from quebec canada. I looked at the windy app and the forecast for wind and gust alternate between 15mph for steady wind and gusting 30/35

So you guys with experience how much wind is too much wind ? I am not a fan of white knuckles thanks

I have an F150 ecoboost and most of my wind experience has been with my Bullet 248RKS instead of my 195 jayco. I can say that crosswinds, getting passed by semi trucks and passing under overpasses are the big deal for swaying. I have an E2 hitch and I biased a little more weight to the steering of the F150 because it is such a light truck. What really kills is when you face the wind and get like 7 miles per usgallon. I say, take your time (slow to 60 mph when needed), tires properly inflated and be aware of things that will cause sway. Your trailer is 4 ft longer than my 25 ft trailer so it may be more sensitive to side winds. If it gets unbarable, grab a motel!

[skids]

PS, put some fresh water in the tank for traveling stability.

[craigav]

Originally Posted by skids

PS, put some fresh water in the tank for traveling stability.

Just a thought, if the fresh water tank is aft of the axles then I would keep the tank empty (or close to empty), if fore of the axles then I would fill it... at least in regards to the cross winds and sway aspect. ~CA

[Jagiven]

Partial tank of water sloshes badly. I would not add water unless you need or want it. Then it will be only a few gallons.

Equalizer e4 has integrated sway control. So your good there.

I strongly recommend checking your cold tire pressure. Fill the tires to max tire rating. I have towed with low tire pressure and it was a horrible sway experience even little sports cars pushed me around.

15-30 mph wind, i would say is normal wind conditions, we see a lot of that around here. My worst wind conditions, was a 50 mph headwind. High head wind was my old trucks nemesis. Been in high cross wind conditions, with no issues or concerns.

Have fun, wish we were going camping

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by homer1959

snip...... how much wind is too much wind ? I am not a fan of white knuckles thanks

Here's a couple more JOF threads on the topic, good read:

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...ind-86789.html

https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...d-92516-3.html

Bob

[homer1959]

Hey thanks to all for sharing your experience and advice .

Sometimes our imagination is making thing worst than the really are, so yes we will take our time , we are leaving for 4 months so , its not 1 day or 2 that are going to change a whole of a lot .

we surely hope that we wont get a strong headwind for the whole 2500 miles ... if so Ill have to take a mortgage for the fuel :-)

[ARoamer]

50-60 mph crosswind gusts were too much for this trailer. I believe it was a brand new unit that disassembled itself. It wasn't fun driving that day, let alone towing anything.

[Jerry713]

Originally Posted by homer1959

Hey thanks to all for sharing your experience and advice .

Sometimes our imagination is making thing worst than the really are, so yes we will take our time , we are leaving for 4 months so , its not 1 day or 2 that are going to change a whole of a lot .

we surely hope that we wont get a strong headwind for the whole 2500 miles ... if so Ill have to take a mortgage for the fuel :-)

You have a massive trailer for that tow vehicle so I think your concerns are for sure valid. I know your truck has plenty of power. I had a 2017 F150 with same engine. It pulled our 28 footer fine in terms of power but winds created a tense pulling experience. As mentioned speed will determine your success. Keep it as light and balanced as possible.

[LuckyDuck]

I can’t add much to what’s been said other than to continually watch the weather ahead as things can change quickly. And, don’t be too proud to stay an extra day or so until it’s safer. We’ve been through some stretches with gusts (side winds) up to 40 mph and a good anti-sway hitch was invaluable.

One huge help to me was an app called Weather on the Way. You can map your route snd it will show temps, rain, wind and gusts for every part of the route, updated as you change your departure time. It also provides real-time NWS advisories, alerts etc. There’s a small fee for the full-featured version but I found it well worth it. Saved my bacon more than once!

[Kim Gass]

Homer its really doubtful you will have a strong headwind going to NO or back home.. We have gone from Maine down to the Pensacola FL area and sometimes NO in early Feb and the most challenging winds are crosswinds on 1 26 going over the Smokies or fog on 1-77 going from VA to NC.

East West travel is another issue entirely.. You usually will have strong headwinds going to the Far West.. And tailwinds going East.

You might consider going down the flatter interstates like 71 65 and 20, Thats the shortest anyway. Its a little flatter too.

[homer1959]

Not a bad idea but as you know, we need a good first day to clear the bad weather , and for us I81 is the fastest way to get out of potential trouble ,,, heading toward Buffalo on I90 to get to I71 is never a good idea :-)

[Kim Gass]

On the Tug Hill of course you need good weather! I was never thinking of the Thruway.. We lived in Central NY ( to most , they think it is upstate..it is not called that by locals) in Syracuse. SIck and tired of that expensive boring stretch between Syr and Buf.

Now there is I 86. Just go to Binghamton and west on 86 and it lands you on the NY PA line avoiding all the ick around Buffalo. And it is FREE.

401 is another option ... Just kidding . NOT.. the most awful expressway through Toronto.. it wins the award for the most mess in case of a fender bender.

[colby]

Originally Posted by homer1959

Not a bad idea but as you know, we need a good first day to clear the bad weather , and for us I81 is the fastest way to get out of potential trouble ,,, heading toward Buffalo on I90 to get to I71 is never a good idea :-)

Saw that your original post was the 19th, glad you didn't travel on the 20th. I headed to Kingston from Ottawa for the day, and it was a mess between Prescott and Brockville with multiple semis in the median and cars all over. I did see several 5th wheels and trailers on the move even with the crazy winds and road conditions. One motorhome ahead of me was blown halfway across the lane to the left. I wouldn't have wanted to be pulling the trailer.

Be safe, watch the forecast and plan for stops. It's a crazy time of year for weather.

[homer1959]

Originally Posted by colby

Saw that your original post was the 19th, glad you didn't travel on the 20th. I headed to Kingston from Ottawa for the day, and it was a mess between Prescott and Brockville with multiple semis in the median and cars all over. I did see several 5th wheels and trailers on the move even with the crazy winds and road conditions. One motorhome ahead of me was blown halfway across the lane to the left. I wouldn't have wanted to be pulling the trailer.

Be safe, watch the forecast and plan for stops. It's a crazy time of year for weather.

Yeah it was super ugly :-)

We are leaving tomorrow , all seems to be good so far , road weather etc etc ... I f I can make it to Hagerstown Maryland all will be ok I guess :-)

Then we have to survive 4 days in new orleans .... scary , so ill stop reading about this place .....lol

[JFlightRisk]

snip...

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

On the Tug Hill of course you need good weather!

Good weather on Tug Hill is....the 4th of July!

[Kim Gass]

New Orleans is awesone but I fear the weather the next four days is not going to be as there is a big southern storm bringing snow to sone of Texas before moving east and north through GA and Carokibas bringing lots of rain

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by ARoamer

50-60 mph crosswind gusts were too much for this trailer. I believe it was a brand new unit that disassembled itself. It wasn't fun driving that day, let alone towing anything.

It doesn't even look like a trailer, it looks like a flatbed with a container on it

[TxLoser]

Originally Posted by Bill Johnson

It doesn't even look like a trailer, it looks like a flatbed with a container on it

Funny that of the all the trailer to survive, it was the slide out. Probably not a Schwintek.