Don't understand
Dear Daughter (OTR Semi Driver) called to ask me what part of "CLOSED to High Profile, light-weight vehicles" do RVers not understand?? So far today she has seen four RVs rolled off the road (I-80 in...
Forum Discussion
Towable RVs are more susceptible in high gusting sidewinds when moving down the road because unlike semi-trucks and MHs, they have the axles side by side and about 2/3 the way from coupler to bumper. The 1/3 directly ahead of the axles and the 1/3 behind the axles cancel each other out by the wind, leaving 1/3 of sidewall area that gets a forced exerted on it that pivots around the axle location. Every strong wind gust causes the TT/FW/TH to be suddenly rotated at the axle location thus forcing the driver to make a steering correction. Then when the gust stops, the driver has to make another steering correction. If the wind is continuously gusting high/low, the driver has to constantly work the steering wheel to try and stay in a straight line which can make it very difficult to control.
If a vehicle is stationary, other than weight, I don't think there's much difference between a semi or RV and then it's just a function of sidewall area and height. A towable RV, when moving has the area & height as a factor plus the effect of the wind wanting to spin it around the axle location.
We once got caught on I-90 between Spokane and Seattle when there was high gusting winds. That was not fun and OMG, it felt like driving on marbles. We slowed way down and still other TTs passed us at high speed. We pulled into a rest stop and a semi driver told us that when winds get that high, even semis pull over. Got to our destination CG and someone there who drives I-90 regularly for work said he has seen many FWs blown over.
Like many things about RVs, nobody is required to instruct owners about safe operation of RVs (like not exceeding a tire's speed rating for ex.).
If a vehicle is stationary, other than weight, I don't think there's much difference between a semi or RV and then it's just a function of sidewall area and height. A towable RV, when moving has the area & height as a factor plus the effect of the wind wanting to spin it around the axle location.
We once got caught on I-90 between Spokane and Seattle when there was high gusting winds. That was not fun and OMG, it felt like driving on marbles. We slowed way down and still other TTs passed us at high speed. We pulled into a rest stop and a semi driver told us that when winds get that high, even semis pull over. Got to our destination CG and someone there who drives I-90 regularly for work said he has seen many FWs blown over.
Like many things about RVs, nobody is required to instruct owners about safe operation of RVs (like not exceeding a tire's speed rating for ex.).
