How much wind is dangerous?

We've driven across Western Kansas with a steady 35 mph crosswind with 45 mph gusts. Our trailer is fairly low slung as well has a tad heavier than some, and our tow rig is heavy too, and even though we didn't get pushed around much at all, beyond those wind speeds I would pull over. There are plenty of other people on the road, and often the wind diminishes after sunset.

rockhillmanor wrote:

downtheroad wrote:
I don't need to know the wind speed....I can feel when it's too much through my hands on the steering wheel.

X10

The first time I 'feel' any push from any type of wind I pull off the road.

IMHO There is no sense to the attitude to prove that one can drive thru anything. It simply is just not safe for you AND others around you on the road.

So do you quite driving in winds above 20 mph? I've felt those winds driving......Then again, not sure what the cross winds were going over the columbia river on I205 many years ago, other than most of us moved a half of a lane to the left/west. Cars, semi's, myself with a 24' travel trailer.....I moved as one unit with a sway/wd system attached...
As noted by many, how strong will depend upon many things, going into, with, sidways, gusty vs steady. Some places like in the mid west, it seems to be ALWAYS blowing 20-30 mph! You feel it too! Should I quit driving because I feel it? or keep going at a slower pace so that it does not effect me as much.....
No right or wrong answer to this question. For me, over 50-60 mph steady, will be stopped, hopefully someplace quieter than not.

Marty

As I type this several semi's were blown over on 135. Weather said winds were running 70mph no telling what the gust's were.

as soon as any 2 of the 4 tires are off the ground .

downtheroad wrote:
I don't need to know the wind speed....I can feel when it's too much through my hands on the steering wheel.

X10

The first time I 'feel' any push from any type of wind I pull off the road.

IMHO There is no sense to the attitude to prove that one can drive thru anything. It simply is just not safe for you AND others around you on the road.

I worry more about side gusts than anything else. Steady side winds can usually be countered until they start pushing you. We also have weathered out some storms by nosing into the wind and waiting for it to pass.

I tow often in KS where the winds are regularly over 20mph and 30+ is far from uncommon. Anything over 30 can be uncomfortable and 35+ I believe is dangerous for just about any setup. I have a Hensley arrow and never get sway even in the high winds, but it doesn't change the fact that the entire rig can be moved around quite quickly in those kind of winds. I do everything I can to not tow when I see the winds over 30mph. Usually will stay a day longer or find the right time of day when the winds are lower.

Long answer short, I don't like towing in winds over 30mph as I don't feel the juice is worth the squeeze. I've done it and never had anything scary happen, but I avoid it.

lets put it this way, a family from washington rented a MH and they had about tem family members init and a 35 mph wind blew them off the freeway and into an overpass drop off. killed everyone except the 15 yr old boy. even 35 mph can be dangerous, it is hard to tell just what happened with them, the boy wasn't driving so he couldn't give much details

Was in Las Vegas a bit ago during a huge wind storm. We drove in when it was blowing about 30 and were set up when the main storm hit. 4 semis ended up blowing over, some friends had their closed awning ripped off their coach while deiving1 and another friend took a rock thru the windshield.

Both of them said they didn't want to pull over.

Among boat captains there is and old adage...

The only weather you can control is the weather you choose to leave in...

After ignoring this wisdom three times and nearly dying all three times it finally sank in. It is just as applicable to RV'ing as boating. With today's internet/smart phones etc., there is no excuse for being surprised by the weather.

But, to answer your original question once the winds gets got be consistently above 35 mph I generally start looking for some place to hunker down. Keep in mind that a steady wind of 35 will often generate gusts of 50 or more. My 24'Class C will handle a lot more wind than most RV's but that does not mean it is always fun.

As always.... Opinions and YMMV

:C