Don't understand

Johno02 wrote:
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 Nebraska) today.

Ummmmmm...wouldn't that warning also apply to your Dear Daughter?;)

ken56 wrote:
Since when did people start reading signs on the highway? Speed limit, lane closed ahead, merge. Common sense isn't all that common. I won't tow if winds get over 40mph, and that is bad enough.

You have a point.. I recall years ago. I mean YEARS ago.. I was riding shotgun in a F-350 Custom (10K straight truck) as we went down the highway.. Our plan was to pass the closed entrance ramp to the freeway turn left and go about a quarter mile to the next ramp (about 1/2 mile total) Radio had reported closure of ramp as had TV news. Multiple signs going back about a mile said "RAMP CLOSED AHEAD USE 11 MILE RAMP" (Which was our plan) Two women in a convertible to our right had the most amazing "When did they put up that barricade" look on their faces.

Johno02 wrote:
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 Nebraska) today.

“Light-weight” is a very relative term, a 7,500 pound RV is a heavy vehicle to someone driving a 1/2 ton pickup, to someone driving an 75,000 pound semi it’s not.

colliehauler wrote:
I think it has more to do with truck drivers have to be at a destination at a certain time and push the limits and the number of trucks on the road compared to RV'S.

So if they are on a schedule, the laws of physics don't apply?

These are "professionals" who have much more experience and training knowing what their rigs can handle...but they still fairly regularly blow over.

I've seen no evidence that RV's blow over in at a higher rate (not absolute number) than commercial trucks.

Did you ever think that more trucks turn over because there are thousands more trucks on the road? While on vacation last June, my wife and I were traveling on a I-69 in Michigan headed east. We had about a 40 mph quartering wind (coming at us) and the semi's and I were doing about 50 mph. A driver in a DRW truck pulling a very large 5th wheel blew past us probably doing 70 mph. Several trucks in our little convoy blew their horns at him as he drove by. About an hour later, we passed what was left of his rig that looked like it blew up in the ditch. It is never a good sign when the emergency personnel are putting up tarps to shield people from seeing what happened.
But it can't happen to anyone here. After all, driving a one ton dually means you can pull anything at whatever speed you want.

ItsyRV wrote:

Johno02 wrote:
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 Nebraska) today.

Most do not understand the meaning of " High Profile " as it relates to vehicles and wind. Even my little melon is High Profile when the wind catches the broadside of the body. No matter where my weight distribution or center of gravity or anything else is located, in strong and high winds, it can be toppled over or blown sideways.

Yes ... but a high profile combined with high center of gravity combined with narrow tire track-width makes toppling over much more likely in high winds.

However ... on sheet ice high profile can cause sideways slipping motion regardless of center of gravity or anything else.

On a dry highway surface we feel much more secure driving our RV in high side-winds with it's small sidewall area, low center of gravity, stiff suspension, and wide tire stance where the bulk of the total weight is - the rear duallies.

In my forty some years of driving a truck it was instill in my brain to get the load delivered on time an safely, I did so for over a million miles or more ... But I would not drive on ICE an very high winds an the companies I drove for new such an thus didn't push me ...

Not all RV's think about ICE, or high winds an think they can drive in such an thus end up in a ditch or on their sides ... Look at the amount of TT an 5th wheel owners now on the road for the 1st time, read here an on other forms were 1st timers are asking questions about hitches an other things an you will know why you are seeing more an more TT an 5th wheels wreaked ... On one form a person was asking how they could lift there 5th wheel to match their jack-up truck, why would anyone want to rise the center of gravity on a 5th wheel so the wind could get under it quicker ...

Same with as stated tires, owners wanting to drive 75 an 80mph on tires rate at 65mph an wonder why they blow out, what in the world are people thinking, thats the problem they are not !!!! It's all about them, they need to get to the camp grounds ahead of everyone else so they can get the best spot or relax an have those ten beers before sundown Ugh !!! No matter of the people around them on the road, they are on a mission an to hell with safety of others around them on the road ...

I think there should be a sign that you have to put on your dash every time you hook to your trailer that states "SAFETY FIRST AN FOREMOST FOR YOUR FAMILY AN OTHERS AROUND YOU"

May you all drive safely :)

Many people just don't think of RVs as light weight

The problem is all physics, it is weight vs center of gravity vs profile (square footage of wall presented to side wind)

Even with heavy stuff below the belt line, wind can gust under and provide lift, and side wind will push you over

Yes towed RVs are more susceptible than motorized vehicles which have much more weight for the same size RV

Even though I have 36ft eight wheels coach, I pull over and take a nap or something

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.).

CarnationSailor wrote:


I'll continue to check road conditions before travelling, but I will cross-check sources rather than rely only on the DOT.

DOT, local weather, and everyone else is relying on the National Weather Service.