When is it too windy?

[dshinnick]

We have a 40' DP, and have been on the road full-time for five years, so we're not inexperienced. But here in Laughlin, NV, the wind is rocking us as we sit in our park. We'd planned on heading north today, but now I'm just not sure about driving in wind like this. We have a small tow car, which we can drive separately if needed, but I was interested in opinions about when it's ok to go, or better to sit and let it pass. If I go, I figured I'd fill up with fresh water and gas, to help lower the center of gravity, and drive more slowly than usual. Any thoughts?

thanks-

dave

[dubdub07]

I think that the size and weight of the DP makes a lot of difference, although one DP stated his FW was much better in the wind. I am sure a gas MH is much lighter and will get blown around a bit more than a DP.

My experience, driving Colorado to any point east always generates a lot of wind when we are going, is that my DP handles the wind SO MUCH better than my FW. One of the reasons I ditched the FW for the MH was the wind. So much nicer and if you have all the tanks filled at least halfway, makes it even nicer.

25 sustained wind and pull over??? You would never get out in Colorado. We are consistently 25 - 35 here. I love it when it is only that breezy. I have driven ours with sustained 35 with gusts to 45 just fine. Just south of Pueblo we felt some 50+ and boy does it hit the side of the MH and pushes me a bit but it really does not rock and tilt like the FW did. I would not venture out if the truckers are not on the roads and ever if gusts are above 45.

WW

[MarkTwain]

Strong Winds-
1. Check 2 to 4 weather apps. on your iPhone before starting your trip.
2. Have a CB with weather reporting functions.
3. Buy a weather radio to keep in your RV
4. While on the road, find a 18 wheeler truck to draft when the wind gets to strong.
6. Reschedule your departure date and then have a glass of wine:)

[Cloud_Dancer]

If the crosswind is strong enough to blow me off the road I stay put. If it's a strong headwind I stay put. If it's a tailwind I go.

[RayChez]

Drafting is ok on automobiles, but I have found out that following close to big truck with a box type trailer creates turbulence an will buffet your vehicle. And that is caused by the shape of the box trailer. Now I notice that some have added all kinds of equipment to box type trailers to make them more stream lined and get better fuel mileage. Some have added a skirt around the trailer, covers to the rims, and some kind of other equipment to the rear which look like extended rear doors.

[Ivylog]

One night I was drafting a 18 wheeler east bound across Kansas with a wind out of the south so I was a little over the center line about 100' back. Hippy asked if I was having trouble keeping it in the right lane... No, figure the draft was better a little off center plus I could see what was happening ahead. He had me move up and for several hours we talked MHs and what he was going to do in retirement. Increased the mpg from 7 to 8 until he had to turn south for TX.

It is amazing how much more stable a tag axe makes a MH handle to where you do not worry about winds other than head winds. You do know the two best ways to see Kansas? At night or from 30,000 ft... Sorry I could not resist but it is true after the first five times across if you are a slow learner :B

[MarkTwain]

djgarcia wrote:

dshinnick wrote:
We have a 40' DP, and have been on the road full-time for five years, so we're not inexperienced. But here in Laughlin, NV, the wind is rocking us as we sit in our park. We'd planned on heading north today, but now I'm just not sure about driving in wind like this. We have a small tow car, which we can drive separately if needed, but I was interested in opinions about when it's ok to go, or better to sit and let it pass. If I go, I figured I'd fill up with fresh water and gas, to help lower the center of gravity, and drive more slowly than usual. Any thoughts?

thanks-

dave

Dave,
1. down load some weather apps. to your iPhone. Like : The Weather Channel, Yahoo weather, Wunderground, Wind Alert. I use all of them to get a more accurate over all weather condition report i.e. winds mph and then a 10 day projection. I don't just rely on 1 weather report to make my decision: Under 20 mph I don't worry about if there are no big gusts mph. I also look at the 10 day projection to give me an idea of what to expect. This lets me know if the winds are just starting or ending a pattern.
2. when the winds get up to 30mph with wind gusts , I look at other considerations, can I leave early in the morning?, can I stay put for a day or so?, is there a different route I can take?
3. if needed, I will put a little extra fresh water in the tank for weight.

Red Jeep,
I forgot about drafting behind the big 18 wheelers when the winds start getting too strong. The size and shape of the 18 wheelers creates a much calmer, less turbulent pocket. I always leave a safe but close distance and the 18 wheeler has approx. the same braking distance as the RV. It dosen't hurt your gas milage either.:)

[Kaz]

My little pip-squeak motorhome (high profile and short wheelbase) won't handle wind as well as longer DPs, so my limits are likely lower than most, but so far I've found that up to 15 mph I hardly notice, 20 mph is tiring, and above that I either have to slow down or stop. In the 15-20 range, especially with gusty cross-winds, it's a lot like flying in turbulence: not necessarily dangerous, but it just wears me out. So, I'm guided by the old flying rule: "It's better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground."

Incidentally, a weird thing I've noticed is that quartering crosswinds seem to push me around more than right-angle crosswinds. The physics seem wrong (since the cross-wind component of a quartering cross-wind is only about 70% of right-angle value), but I've noticed the effect several times. It's on my list of things to research someday.

Skip

[mockturtle]

After having a couple of experiences with 18-wheelers being blown into my lane during a strong gust, I try to limit my travel in the wind if more than 25 mph. As others have suggested, if you don't have to, don't.

[GPWayne]

A long, long time ago. I was on US 20 headed west from St. Paul to Seattle in a VW Bus camper. The rain and wind started. Both got worse and worse. The wipers on the old VW were a joke. In anything but a tail wind you had to down shift to even get up to 50 MPH (36 HP). This was on the flat land and was getting way more than was safe to keep going at any speed. So I was creeping along looking for a place to get off the road. Stopped under an overpass, but after the first 18 wheeler it was obvious this was not a good idea. Up ahead I could see a good sized rodeo stadium/arena. So we went there...what a relief. Parked in the lee of the stadium the wind and rain was not bad at all. In a short time it cleared up and we got back on the road. We were happy about our good fortune and tried the radio (small boombox) to see if we could get a local station and get a updated weather forecast. About 30 minutes later there was a NEWS FLASH. The stadium we had parked at was completely destroyed by a twister.(There had been no forecast for that and all were surprised) They said nothing was left standing. Nobody was there so no injuries.(Lucky Us)

So,,,,my point is SITUATION AWARENESS!
Since then I have always had a weather radio and checked the forecasts.
Think about your surroundings when parking. Trees and other things that the wind can blow your way and do damage. Trees in RV Parks have taken out a few rigs this year.

To quote DW "You have been known to break wind yourself a few times in these situations".

Sorry

[Mr_Mark1]

We just experienced the best tail-wind ever about a month ago. We were traveling from the West going East along I-40 with 60 mph gusts. It was literally pushing us eastward. Otherwise, I would not want to drive into a 60 mph headwind....... mainly for gas mileage!

There were two full days of winds where we traveled 750 miles at about 55-60 mph. I averaged 9.1 mpg on that tank at just over 1,100 miles total. At 55,500 lbs., that is quite nice!

We don't seem to be too affected by heavy cross-winds, we certainly have to be aware but I've never been blown around too much to feel dangerous. We are fairly rock solid.

MM.

[RayChez]

LOL! How is Comfort Drive going to save your awning from ripping off? Or the other vehicle from slamming you on the side on a gust.

Stay where you are until it is safe for you. I have seen many awning rip off and it looks like a sail on a boat.

[Ivylog]

If it's a head wind... NO If it's a tail wind... YES

[old_guy]

you can always slow down and get off the road when the traffic behind you builds up.

[ncrowley]

I would wait. The worst are the sudden gusts of wind that move you over. I am OK until around 25 mph and then I wait it out. It is just not worth it to me.