Towing into the Wind

[skidooman93]

Just returned from a 1200 mile one way trip to Glacier National Park and back. We were fortunate to not have to deal with head winds to often.

My question is, how does everyone deal with days when you have tows with lots of hills and strong head winds. How do the diesels perform when towing up the rolling/semi steep hills of Montana while heading into a strong head wind.

[womps]

Gas engine = 425 pounds torque. Diesel engine = 925 pounds torque. Question answered!

[Campfire_Time]

It's rare to have no wind on North/South on I43 in WI between Milwaukee and Green Bay. 30 mph head winds are common. We go that way a lot into Door County. It's equally rare to have the wind pushing us. It seems when we head north it's a northerly wind, and a southerly wind when we head home.

That said it's only a 22' 4500# trailer, I get about 8.5/9 mpg heading into the wind. I get 10/11 with no wind. Occasional downshifts when heading up a hill in the wind. The dreaded "P" rated truck tires (Not the same as the "P" rated tires on your cushy Buick) don't wobble or sway. If I had a 30' trailer, then yeah, LTs are called for.

[Learjet]

skidooman93 wrote:
But just curious how the new diesels perform with a large 12k lb full frontal 5th wheel, a strong headwind and long hills?

Well that is me, 12,000 lb tall 5th wheel. Like others have said... my signature rig just uses more fuel...still has plenty of power. My previous f250 gasser would struggle big time with a headwind. I went up I70 through the rockies in 4th at 60 mph. Power is incredadiable.

[1320Fastback]

Its scarry to say the least. We pulled into Vegas earlier this year just as a monster wind storm hit. Lucky we were sheltered behind a big Class A but as people arrived at the show grounds you could tell it was a war zone on the freeway. Many broken windshields and awnings missing on coaches and trailers.

[Durb]

My truck struggles more with the mountains than the wind. My guess is it takes more energy to pull 10,000# up a 6 percent grade than buck a 25 mph headwind in the gorge. The headwind tanks the fuel economy more but then again you aren't climbing 6% for 70 miles! The wind has never moved my rig but I have never experienced the 50-60 mph stuff. Hope I never do.

[1320Fastback]

We get them sometimes coming back into san diego county from the imperial desert area. I just put the pedal down a little more and move to the left one lane so as not to be constantly merging past slower rigs.

It does drink a bit more fuel but if your worried about mpg RVing isnt for you.

[Grit_dog]

Deal with it by drinking more. Me and the truck!
Seriously they really stink with the TC. Just the noise and the wind trying to s uck the doors off the truck is annoying. Have to slow down.

[Redwoodcamper]

Even with 500+ wheel horsepower, you feel a headwind. Just uses a bit more fuel. Still would have no problem accelerating quickly to pass if necessary.

[Bedlam]

Trade winds run west to east. If you didn't hit them going to Glacier, you will either have no wind or a tail home.

Your engine will run harder to keep the same speed which will result in lower fuel economy. If your engine is marginal when towing in no wind, it can be enough to cause overheating. You either need to slow down or wait out the heaviest wind.

[skidooman93]

The OP does not have a diesel didn't buy one on purpose. Sway from wind has never been a problem nor has power. However I can see power being an issue with my gasser bucking a strong head wind and having to deal with decent sized hills. Just wondering if the diesels struggle too or its business as usual. Until this summer all of my towing has been in the flat lands of Minnesota where wind direction is predictable and hills are relatively mild. And the hills we have are few and far between. But just curious how the new diesels perform with a large 12k lb full frontal 5th wheel, a strong headwind and long hills?

[bailer6334]

Seems when I come west from Albuquerque, MN on I-40 to Flagstaff, AZ (which I do often) I'm always bucking 30 plus headwinds. I have done this in both gas & diesel 3/4 ton trucks, and while I use a little more fuel the diesel does not notice the wind. Doesn't even down shift gears. It just keeps moving right along. Sadly I can not say the same thing for the gasser. It was a constant fight to keep the truck doing 62MPH.

[mrw8i]

Head winds help when going downhill, don't have to use the brakes as much if at all. Seems like in So Cal Deserts we are always dealing with winds of one kind or another and rarely is it a tail wind.

[time2roll]

OP has a diesel? How bad can it be?

I just set the cruise and deal with it.

[2001400ex]

I had one stretch thru the Columbia River gorge with my diesel but I had my old 27 foot bumper pull that was probably 10k. I was getting around 6 mpg even after I slowed down to 55. I was stable and never worried about sway, but my fuel took a hit. Coming back a few days later I got over 10 at 65 going the other direction.

[theoldwizard1]

Some trucks/large SUVs do NOT use LT rated tires. Changing to LT tires on your TV make a big difference in sway.