When 5ers blow over?

[Mr_Buehler]

If a 5th wheel trailer blows over will it take the truck with it?

Just thinking out loud,
Ron

[laknox]

FWIW, out here in the SW, most sudden gusts you'll likely encounter in otherwise fairly calm weather, are dust devils. Nasty critters and they sometimes like to sneak down a freeway, parallel to the lanes of travel. When they do that, they don't kick up much dirt, so you can't see them. I was on a full-sized bus that nearly went from the curb lane into the median when we hit one out near Apache Junction on AZ 60 about 20 years ago.

Lyle

[jevanb]

my neighbor lost his toy hauler a few years ago, the hitch ripped out of the bed of his 3500 ram and the cab was smashed up at the rear pillar, he jackknifed it because someone pulled out in front him at 55mph, but his bike (full dress harley) was still attached to the floor at a 90 degree to the ground,

[MrVan]

We have only seen one instance of this and it was just West of Palm Springs on I10. The fifth wheel was in the ditch on the South side of I10 going East and it appeared there wasn't a piece of it left bigger than a match stick. We were going West and traveling less than 25 miles per hour into winds gusting above 60 miler per hour. This observation caused us to immediately get off the road. Never did see what happened to the tow vehicle. Was too focused on getting off the Interstate ASAP.

[richfaa]

We have seen two cases over the years and the truck went with the 5th wheel both times. One in Texas and one in Mew Mexico .Made me think about when we would pull over in a high wind. We did get a gust of wind in Texas that blew us across two lanes. Very scary.

[laknox]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Maybe........maybe not

Any time winds are above 45 mph we park it.

Been in 70 mph winds (parked) no real issues.

But I'm not driving in winds above 45 mph

I would, but only if it were a tailwind. 🙂

Lyle

[Ram4Sam]

Been here....done this:( It wasn't much fun, but got lucky, the hitch broke apart and let the trailer go. Gust of wind came fast and out of nowhere, happened so fast I didn't even have time to say "oh crap"..... Truck was on two wheels briefly, but didn't go over.

Sam

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[Cuffs054]

Amandas, no need to thank me! Seriously, just be careful, expect some bumps and rejoice in the knowledge that you can always sends the grandK's back to mom and dad with the "is this how you raise your kids" smirk knowing full well that the "circle is unbroken"!

[noteven]

If your rig was being blown over, wouldn't you want to have a single rear wheel so you could countersteer the truck like a motorcycle?

[rockintom]

Fifth wheel hitches are design to "fail" at a given point. Not a perfect deal, but in most cases, prevents the trailer taking the truck over too. rockin'

[TXiceman]

Don't worry MON, be happy and enjoy camping. Just use your common sense when traveling.

Ken

[amandasgramma]

oh great.......thanks for the visionary (and pictures)......now I have something ELSE to worry about!!!!!! 🙂 🙂

[Cuffs054]

Not quite the same. I75 north threw OH. Look down at south bound (we were higher). Could see TT being pulled by nice 66 Buick. The TT was swaying wildly. Watched as TT flipped on side and literally riped the frame hitch and rear end out of Buick. One of the scariest/saddest thing I've seen.

[Gsturner]

I came across two in very few miles--I-70 in Eastern Colorado. Wind blown snow from the south melted on the roadway by traffic, then immediately re-froze into a nasty glaze of ice, sometimes visible, sometimes not. The first 5th laid itself and the TV on the right side. The second just a few miles later, had the 5th on its side and the truck completely upside down with the cab buried in the deep snow in the ditch--no glass visible, all under snow. Hopefully the cab wasn't crushed and the occupants survived. Clearly the TV and 5er did not.

[Francesca_Knowl]

In this blown-off-the-road case, the hitch "failed"- thank heavens!

Here quoting the victim:

Forum Member "Veebyes" wrote:
Luckily the trailer broke free of the hitch & did not take us down the 50' embankment with it. I have to wonder what might have been if we were not riding in a dually? The truck got a shattered right side fender & of course the crushed bedrail as the trailer went over.

Link to whole thread, more pics.