Scared of the wind
I have been towing fifth wheels for about 13yrs & never was concerned but I now know of two ppl who lost their rigs when blown over by the wind. Anyone know what kind of wind gust it takes to do that?
Forum Discussion
25 Replies
- Update: WE MADE IT. Did have some wind on the way home but for the most part we were headed into it so not too bad. Thx again to all for your input. I thought a lot about all you shared. ML
- VEEBYES I about lost my TH TT East of Rock Springs. The wind was out of the South and I was heading East. A Rouge gust hit the trailer and truck and I went from the outside lane to almost going off the road on the inside lane. The truck and trailer acted as one unit. Glad you were ok.
- A big gust. I lost a 5er in 2009, Elk Mtn Pass on I80 west of Laramie, WY. Lucky us. The trailer was torn right out of the back of the truck stretching open the 18,000# rated 5wheel plate in the process. It then barrel rolled down a 50' embankment. Almost took the truck with it. We left tire marks inches from the edge of the embankment. Had we been a class C or an A we would have been history.
It was a breezy but not especially windy day. Highway warning signs were not lit & there were plenty of big rigs on the highway before & after.
Wrong place. Wrong time for us. Huge sustainded gust came down the valley & hit us broadside. My estimation a 60-70mph gust. Dirt & gravel was in the air traveling horizontally.
These days we are very observant & very concious of wind speed & direction, especially traveling over open ground or have very high or open bridges to cross.
Forecast wind speed at under 30 gusting a little higher is not much call for concern. Higher, we are watching out for flags, tree movement, tall grass movement, wavelets on ponds, anything to give an idea of what is happening. - If you are just toolin along and see folks parked under overpasses? That, right there..is a sign....
Gary Haupt 2gypsies wrote:
If you can feel the wind that much stop at the next exit and call it a day. It's not worth driving in it.
Easy (and best) answer!..:C
~- Slowing down puts you at less risk. We have had about 200 travel days and on two of them I didn't exceed 50 mph. Stay off the interstates on extremely windy days.
- Thx everyone. Guess we are gonna keep a close watch on things as we go, be prepared to lay over & PRAY. ??
- Not all that big a gust depending.. Now I've driven my class A with no problems in winds gusting to 100 mph.. From DEAD ASTERN (that is important) had they been side or quarting winds I'd have been in trouble.
The same storm I was chatting with another ham going in the same direction a ways behind me... He stopped for gas and decided the storm was too scary (I got to where I was going first) and called the campground to tell them he'd be late.
They said not a problem he could not come in as scheduled anway.. A Class A pulling out (Now at this point you are in the single digits MPH wise) took a gust of wind and layed over to take a nap and it was going to be after check in closing before they got it back on its wheels and out of there.
I've taken several 60 MPH hits parked, and one night 110, but as I said, From dead astern.. If you got to take a gust, that's your best profile.
