Wind

[WhiteHawk]

As I'm relatively new to towing TTs, the max safe crosswind is on my mind. Anyone have a figure? Thanks

[Scoutr2]

That's impossible to say. It all depends on how long and tall your trailer is. (It's essentially a big sail.) And what tow vehicle do you have - 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton, 1-ton? Your truck's suspension - standard, HD, etc? What sway control, if any, do you have?

There are lots of variables, but the most important is what is comfortable for you? The faster you drive, the more any/all of these things factor in. Rule of thumb - as the crosswinds increase, decrease your speed. But you probably already knew that! LOL!

[blderman]

I don't know the correct answer but I know that my cap is about 50-60mph. I was coming home through the Columbia River Gorge 10yrs ago towing a 30' trailer with a Ram 2500 diesel. Winds were about 45-50mph with gusts to 60. Well, one of those 60mph gusts hit my trailer perpendicularly and blew it and my truck right into the other lane of traffic. There was nothing I could do to stop it. Scared the heck out of my wife and convinced me that I will not attempt the Gorge during high winds again.

[spoon059]

I concur... it depends on circumstances.
Wind behind me? Virtually no limit as it helps with gas mileage!
Wind in my face? Had that a couple years ago coming back from Florida, my mileage dropped from 10 to 6 because we were heading into 35+ mph winds the whole way. It would have been cheaper to stop and spend another night in a campground.
Wind from the side? Once the wind starts pushing me around, its time to pull off the road and have a snack or find a campground.
Find YOUR comfort level and stick to it.

[DieselX]

I had a wind hit me from the side one time around Nebraska I pulled over to see because I thought my tires had blown. It depends to me if it's really gusty winds or a steady wind and head/tail or side wind. Once you get used to it it's not as bad, starting out if your hitch is set up well 30 mph might be tough, but just take it easy and stop if you don't feel comfortable.

[Seann45]

My rule of thumb is if you can feel the wind "playing" with the RV then pull over and park

[Camper_bob]

We generally won't go if sustained winds are over 20 mph. A bit conservative perhaps, but it's the gusts that I worry about. Around here, sustained winds of 20 mph usually means gusts over 40, and 40 is too much for me.

I towed the trailer back to storage (very short drive) once in those conditions. Most of the trip was perpendicular to the wind (cross wind) and I could see the trailer leaning over and wiggling more than I'm used to. I was able to tough it out for the short trip to storage, but if it were like that on a trip, I would pull over and wait it out. Even for just that short time, I had to pry my fingers off the wheel when I got there.

Cruising across a prairie near a shallow lake in the Texas Coastal Plains, I hit what I'll call a "micro gust". It was a very short, very strong cross-gust, but the weather was completely calm. Something like if you were being passed by a semi, but there was no one else around me on the 2-lane. Or kind of like driving through a wind tunnel perpendicularly. It was SO strange; the sensation was what I imagine having a blowout on one of the trailer tires would feel like. Wind does some funny and scary things.

[TWP723]

Just fyi..I hate crosswinds! Makes a grown man shake like a rattle!

..and Micro bursts are the meanest!

[eldermike]

If wind is forecast to be 20-25 mph I stay put. If I can make a leg of a trip before noon I might give it a shot. I have pulled in much worse because I simply got caught in the conditions, you can't plan for everything that's possible. Two years ago I did a white knuckle trip home from the beach. Looking back on it I should have stayed an extra day. No damage done but its not worth it to your health.

[ninjahbob]

Seann45
That is a very good rule. Serves us well. We also try to travel in the mornings before the winds get up.

[thomasmnile]

My first RV was a 30' fifth wheel I towed with a Ram 3500 Quad Cab with an 8' bed, which translated to the longest wheelbase Dodge offered. I have read how fifth wheels are the superior towing experience in windy conditions. Believed that until I towed through the mountains of West Texas in a God knows how hard crosswind. I was definitely up on the wheel. Once our direction travel changed to towing into the wind, it was just a fuel mileage killer.

I still have the same truck towing a WhiteHawk 27DSRL, not nearly as much surface area presented to a crosswind, but it can still get interesting in a brisk cross wind, even with a WDH hitch. If I'm sawing on the wheel a lot to maintain a straight line, I pull off and take a break or call it a day.

[David472]

If the weather forecast is calling for 30 mph wind or more, I stay put if at all possible. With a forecast of 25 mph winds, I would go, but head out early to be off the road around lunch time. Most of the time, the peak winds are in the afternoon, but not always. Staying current on the latest weather forecast is a good thing to do.

[WhiteHawk]

Thanks all, I think my limit is 20 mph sustained. Not really sure until I experience it and see how the rig handles.
Thanks again for your comments and advice.

[Whitehawkmn]

Drove all the way across South Dakota last summer with a crosswind of about 30-35 mph and it was MISERABLE. If I wouldn't of needed to be home for a Birthday party, we would have stopped. By the time we did get home my hands hurt so bad from chocking the steerring wheel.

[Paintinfool3]

I am of the mindset of a few on here if you leave early in the morning and get on the road winds aren't usually as bad as they are in the heat of the day but a 20 mile per hour crosswind would stop me from going anywhere traveling from Fort Wayne In. It seems there is always wind until I get past Indy and then it calms down most of the time... crossing gorges or high bridges are areas to slow down and be careful as they are wide open to crosswinds .... for me if it is blowing like that one video on you tube of that guy pulling the tt I would stop right there and block traffic lol

[linkbelt]

Originally Posted by Seann45

My rule of thumb is if you can feel the wind "playing" with the RV then pull over and park

A wonderful/smart rule, Mother Nature ain't playing, She was giving a warning!

[SBL9A]

FYI...We had our 26 ft Toy Hauler out this weekend. 20 mph crosswind with 30 mph gusts. I found the 30 mph gusts were over the limit. The "Stability Control" on our 2014 F150 came on twice and applied the brakes automatically.

Short answer...20mph=Ok, 30mph=No Way!