Rigs that handle like cars in the wind?

[aerbus32]

High wind warnings have been posted the last few days for a large areas of So Cal. Driving on CR-V yesterday, wind was severe enough in some areas that even cars were slowing down. Yet a variety of RV"s were on the road. I know I've become overly cautious in the wind having been caught in unexpected storms occasionally in my 150k+ miles of RV driving over the last 3 decades. But even in conditions where I've pulled over & waited it out, I've seen others keep right on going. If you have a rig that easily handles winds like were predicted for So Cal this weekend, please share that with me. Might just be our next. I'd love to stop being so paranoid.

[Smitty77]

I've been told that Prevost based conversions handle the wind pretty good. No 1st hand experience:)!

The mentioned Comfort Drive, and I believe Foretravel also now has an option for this TRW based system (possibly others too), does provide an added edge in shifting cross winds.

I also agree that Tag units also provide added stability.

And being heavy does also help too.

On smaller coaches, especially with longer rear overhangs, Airtabs does help on the shifting cross winds.

And yes, each of us makes our own decisions about our levels of comfort driving in various weather conditions. Our 40' Tag Allure, is relatively lightweight compared to many DP's. (We're at `36K pounds fully loaded and and add another 3.5K for our toad bringing us to a rolling 39.5K heading down the road. (Our coach has the mid size block ISL and MH3xxx series tans, vs say a BIG BLOCK engine and MH4xxx series, along with related heavier cooling and drive trains. And the Allure is also the entry level into the higher end CC's that day, and have less 'goody' content too. Including a smaller QD8000 vs 10-12.5K generators. 42K, 43K, and or - are all quite common in other 40' DP's. And of course, add length and add weight all the way up to 45'.) Our coach has had Road Kings, Source Engineer Control Valves (Air Checks/Dampeners) and we run PSI above the minimum required. All of this has resulted in a very stable and I feel good handling rig. We still pull over and wait, when the passenger (My Dear Wife:)!) feels uncomfortable in strong winds. Not just for us, but also because we have seem times where other cars, trucks, vans RV's, trailers have been moved around by the wind.

We're never in such a hurry that we feel we need to push on and take a risk. So though I feel our coach is still safe and handling well enough to proceed, we may still be parked and waiting as others continue going. And that is OK...

Best to all, be safe, have fun,
Smitty

[Kayteg1]

It is the weight that keeps you on the road while side surface let the wind push you out.
Comparing my vehicle.
Wagon is 3000lb, while 5x16 side makes 80 sq-ft. That makes 37.5 lb/sq
Conversion is 30,000 lb, while 10x40 side makes 400 sq-ft. Makes 75 lb/sq.
What vehicle sits on the road harder?
That is theory, while each vehicle configuration can be day or night.
When I started my driving carer, my grandma bough rear engine VW 411.
The car had short rear with engine under rear seat, with long front trunk and jack in it.
Any side wind would require immediate reaction. Still remember my grandma driving with bag of sand in her trunk year around.

[RayChez]

Wind is very powerful and the bigger the target, the more wind resistance, the more the possibility of that large object moving. It is just common sense. Tag axle does help, but I have seen big buses flipped over by strong winds.

Some coaches do handle 25 40 mph winds better then others, but it is best to just stop somewhere, open a can of beer and just wait it out.

My diesel pusher handles the wind pretty good, but the gasoline motor home I had before was a nightmare. That is why I got rid of my gasoline motor home.

[wa8yxm]

First I have heard of winds so strong in Southern CA that a Class A, checking out of an RV park, rolled in the driveway.. now consider this, Speeds at that location approach DEAD STOP as you stop at the end of the driveway (By law).

On the other hand, later in the same batch of wind storms,, I was driving my 2005 Intruder (This was in 2007) and it was stable as a rock, getting 13.8 MPG per the dash display and purring like a kitten...

With as it turns out a 100MPH tail wind.

[norwestie]

When the economy was going great, we purchased a new 2009 Tiffin Phaeton 40'. Beautiful coach. Drove it for 18 months until the economy tanked. We sold it and then bought a 2000 Monaco Dynasty 40'. Both coaches were about the same length, height and weight but the Dynasty is MUCH better at handling crosswinds, big rigs passing in either direction and varying road conditions in general. Whether it is due to the 8 air bags vs 4 or the chassis, I don't know. We love our Dynasty!

[frankdamp]

I agree on the comment about the Rialta and I think a Vixen might be even better. Unfortunately neither will work for 6 passengers, no matter what the wind is.

This year's winds seem to be stronger and more gusty. NAS Whidbey Island measured a gust of 72 mph last week.

[becker]

We have a 42 ft Monaco Dynasty with tag axle.... around 44,000 lbs.... towing a Jeep Sahara....I have been in high winds (50+mph) when I should not have been.... with those types of situations gusts will surprise you and you never know how high or when they will be..... high bridges are the worst it seems.... generally I will either slow down to around 15mph or so and/or pull over at the first opportunity and wait it out.... I figure 2 or 3 hours or so of inconvenience on a pleasure trip is a small price to pay when the alternative is something much worse. I can have a cup of coffee or better yet, take a nap.... I generally err on the side of caution and common sense..... and besides what's wrong with getting there a few hours later.....

Be Safe!.... and enjoy..... and again "it's the journey, not the destination".

Becker

[aerbus32]

Appreciate the feedback. Couple of relevant conversations I've had. One guy had a 45' Mountainaire. Our as my wife & I call them . . . Millionaire. Another guy said his 5'er was terrible until he got a dually. Another said there is always someone who will be driving when/where they shouldn't be. When the time comes to replace our current coach, most likely it will be a gently used Newmar tag axle. Until then, I watch the weather apps like crazy & wait for a window of opportunity to open.

[larry_barnhart]

I can tell this as It was funny to us. Our first trip south we were in rain and heavy wind. Even saw a deadly wreck. Stopping at a rest stop along side of a 40 ft

MH that driver said to me wow that wind really blows you around. Not really was my answer. No more was said as he walked away. I know he did not believe what I said.

chevman

[MrWizard]

No such thing as a class A that handles like a car
Maybe something like a Rialta, will handle the wind like a car
Best thing in wind, is pull over and play safe
Just because somebody with a 40,000# coach decides to fly by at 75mph
And looks OK, doesn't mean it's not going to flip over 5 miles down the road

[45Ricochet]

azdryheat wrote:
My current toy hauler and previous 5th wheel handle severe winds pretty well. Might be all the tires on the pavement. Been in 40 mph crosswinds and never felt like we would lose control; always stayed in our lane just fine. Not saying we don't slow down with the rest of the traffic but have never felt the need to pull over and wait it out.

X2 Our last RV never had a problem with wind. Those days are now over as this MH frontal area is a giant kite.

[bluwtr49]

I think everyone has to find their own comfort level with the coach they drive. Our 40' was just fine under most conditions but there were times when stopping for a bit just made us more comfortable.

Now with the 43' and tag axle it's definitely more stable and I can handle much higher winds than before but I'm sure the time will come that stopping is more prudent than continuing on.

It's all a matter of understanding your limitations and comfort zone.

[RedJeep]

FW dually in my experience is very resistant to bring pushed around by the wind.

[Tom_Barb]

Some days and in some places out west, the tumble weeds were passing us. I figured they knew where they were going so I just tried to keep up.
Really the problems in high winds is where are the winds are coming from? direct head winds just slow us down, just the opposite for a tail wind. The left side isn't too bad it will sway the coach but I've never had the wind blow us out of our lane. but the right side has our awning, three different times we have had it unfurl from its rolled position, plus once on Deception Pass bridge we were hit with a 70MPH gust that tore the awning completely off the Newmar, and put us up on two wheels, really it left stuff marks half way up the side walls of the front tires. Same place, same story, we lost the awning off our 25' big foot trailer. (completely tore it off) This trip in Odessa Tx, over night we were required to pull the slide in due to winds flapping the slide topper really hard. I feared it would get damaged, plus it was making a racket.

I guess bottom line here is some winds aren't so bad, other are, it then becomes a judgement call with what you know at the time.