As a weekend camper with a full time job I have to take any opportunities I can get to go camping. It's going to be a nicer weekend here but, today during my tow, there will winds of 15-25 with gusts of 35 mph. There are no high wind warning for my area, they just call it breezy. The good news is that the wind is from the NNW and the park I'm going to is SE of here so it would be a tail wind for the most part. I know this is a personal decision and it's up to me to decide if I feel comfortable towing my TT in these conditions.At what wind speed, and direction, do you call it quits?

Nothing like a good tail wind. Really depends on the weight of your vehicle and what you are towing. It's going to be a different answer for everyone, but I wouldn't even think twice about the wind you are talking about. I'll start thinking about it at 45-50 mph gusts.

I've towed in some serious winds where I could feel my rig being buffeted around.I have never had a problem with stability, towing with a dually. My 27' TT does move around a bit in the wind but never any sway.Couple weeks ago I came out of Medicine Hat Alberta heading north to Calgary and was confronted with the worst headwind I have ever encountered in my 43 years of driving. I don't know how fast the winds were but the footfeed was nearly at the floor to maintain speed. Again, no issues with stability.At one point I was broadsided by a massive wind gust so powerful that it tore the awning right off my TT and scattered it on the highway, right in front of a semi truck. My truck and trailer held firm though. I'm not afraid to drive in any kind of conditions, regardless of what they are. Obviously if there was ever a hurricane I'd be heading for shelter.

Not sure how far to get to your campsite, but I wouldn't cancel an opportunity to go camping under those wind conditions, pretty much the norm here in our neck of the woods. If I'm concerned about the wind I will check hourly forecast for the region I'm traveling and plan accordingly. Enjoy your trip!!!

I have towed in 40 mph tropical storm winds across the keys bridges. Wasn't fun but no issues were encountered.

On our trip to FL in February we had head and side wins of 10 to 15 mph every day. It really messes up the mileage. :( We did have wind gusts the evening news reported to be of 25 to 30 mph that would buffet the TT. My trailer is only 26 feet so it does not have the exposer of the bigger units. I doubt I would haul in a sustained 25 mph or 30 mph wind or more powerful gusts. While I would not call them scary, wind buffet can be very annoying. I would quit driving long before they became scary.:B

How windy of conditions will you still tow in | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

wif
Explorer
May 03, 2014
Where we live here in the middle of the North Atlantic, if I wasn't willing to tow in windy conditions, we wouldn't leave the house! Having said that, if it's blowing steadily over 35 mph, I'll think twice about it.........
Ole_Man_Dan
Explorer
May 03, 2014
Towing in the wind depends...
3/4 ton tows better in cross wind than 1/2 ton.

When I sold my F-250 PSD and traded for a EchoBoost F-150,
I noticed I was buffeted about a little.

Part of it is to get used to the conditions.
When you approach a wide open area, expect you will get more wind.
Your speed also makes a difference.

I tow in 30 MPH wind regularly, you just have to anticipate the wind,
and slow down a little.
MontanaCamper
Explorer
May 03, 2014
when we had a 25 footer and a reese hitch, 45 MPH winds would knock me around, so would go really slow..or stop. Now with the 30 footer and a EQ hitch, It pulls alot better.. pretty nice to drive ow.
westend
Explorer
May 03, 2014
Caveman Charlie wrote:
westend wrote:
Average wind speed in Cottonwood County is 19.3 MPH. You should be used to a bit of breeze down there, Charlie.

Sustained wind of over 35 MPH gets me parked or moving real slow if I need to make miles.

Oh ya. That's why we have electric generating wind towers around here. I have one setting on my land. I invested 10000 in the company when they first put them up about 5 years ago. They pay me 5000 a year to rent the one acre it sets on. It's a good deal for me.
Sounds like a great deal. I didn't think SW Minnesota got those kinds of wind, learn something new every day, lol.
Terryallan
Explorer II
May 03, 2014
I really don't worry about it. the wind is ALWAYS blowing straight in to the nose of the truck, no matter which way I go. So it only makes the truck pull harder, doesn't push me around.
Caveman_Charlie
Explorer II
May 02, 2014
westend wrote:
Average wind speed in Cottonwood County is 19.3 MPH. You should be used to a bit of breeze down there, Charlie.

Sustained wind of over 35 MPH gets me parked or moving real slow if I need to make miles.

Oh ya. That's why we have electric generating wind towers around here. I have one setting on my land. I invested 10000 in the company when they first put them up about 5 years ago. They pay me 5000 a year to rent the one acre it sets on. It's a good deal for me.
westend
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Average wind speed in Cottonwood County is 19.3 MPH. You should be used to a bit of breeze down there, Charlie.

Sustained wind of over 35 MPH gets me parked or moving real slow if I need to make miles.
Mr__Camper
Explorer
May 02, 2014
When I turn my head and look out the side windows and see my TT catching up and about to pass me, I figure it's about time to pull off the road and stop.
oughtsix
Explorer
May 02, 2014
Here in Oregon we have a lot of trees which do a very good job of breaking up the wind. On a windy say I am more likely to get into trouble by having a tree run out in front of me and hit me than pushing my Crew Cab Duramax with my 26 foot trailer around too much. But we don't really want to go camping is such conditions anyway so it is pretty much a non-issue.

I have never been blown around in Oregon like I had been in the flat open plains of Texas. Wide open flat doesn't provide any wind break and makes driving in the wind a completely different beast. I am talking just driving here, not towing as I never had anything to tow when I lived in Texas.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
May 02, 2014
When I feel the wind pushing the rig and I'm fighting the wheel to stay on the road, it's time to (A) ... slow down a lot (B) ... find somewhere to park. I can't give a speed for the wind, or the speed I drive. There is a "comfort zone" when towing, and once outside of this "comfort zone" its time to pull over and stop.

Parked at home, even hitched up, we have winds that blow up to 40 mph. Although parked, I've wondered how much the camper could take. With 40 mph winds hitting on the side with the jacks down (and hitched), none of my campers have ever tipped over yet! But towing might be a different thing.