wind

[snowball]

I tow a 5th wheel...36 foot and planned on leaving Thurs just looked at weather.com and the winds have changed
to where they will be much stronger...
Question is what is too high for you?
just not sure what to do
hate winds
sheila

[Colliemom]

Depends on how much wind is wind. I have towed in gusts over 40 with no problem, but have a travel trailer, so a lower profile and also sway control bar. A lot depends on wind direction. A cross wind being harder to deal with than a headwind or angle winds. I just slow down. But I'm towing in MI too, so trees help a lot.

[Pooker]

Hard to know what to tell you, Sheila. Many of us have had wind disasters in the past and you are definitely a high profile. You aren't coming out this far, but gusts are expected to reach 60 mph in our passes and canyons. May or may not be as bad east and north. I guess I would say if you HAVE to leave this week, stop often and if you can, check the weather just ahead of you. And plot out a few hidey holes along the way to huddle behind a building or wall if needed. A lot of the routes you take don't have a lot of places to do that (huddle behind something), but if it gets bad at least get off the highway, put your back to the wind, and wait it out. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Bethers]

I just did the dance with wind heading north. First, it's usually much less overnight into the morning, so if you can get early starts, even with dawn or just after, you can usually get some miles in. If you feel uncomfortable, stop.

[MelissaD]

There is no magic number when it comes to wind as every vehicle behaves differently. Direction of wind is also important. A head or tail wind is not the issue a cross wind can be. You also need to keep aware of areas that can "pop you" like coming out of a tunnel and catching a cross wind or out from behind a bridge or some other object or structure that shields the wind.

In 2013 we got caught in a storm coming through Ohio. Later I found out a tornado came through the area behind us. The storm broke the posts holding a big highway sign and blew it into the road. We found a gas station and parked into the wind and watched the storm pass on the weather app on my phone. Honestly my 36' 5er behaved better than several semi's I've driven in windy and crappy weather.

If you feel uncomfortable park it, into the wind if possible or park it behind a wind break if you can find one. A gusty wind is more dangerous than a steady wind.

Good luck but it's a personal call. Above 30-40 mph I get concerned. Was in MT once and watched the wind (60+ mph) suck the panels off a fuel pump. Not a good day.

Don't know if these links will help.

https://www.forthroadbridge.org/weather

http://www.nevadadot.com/Traveler_Info/ ... _Tips.aspx

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/dsp/element ... RONG_WINDS

From https://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/50675.pdf
Based on this literature and research, we make the following suggestions for inclusion in Fujita Scale damage descriptions. These may be useful where vehicles are struck by a tornado but few buildings are struck, or where only mobile homes are struck and an F-scale rating above F2 is not possible without using this additional guidance on vehicles. For F0 wind speeds of about 34 m/s (75 mi/hr), there should be no reference to vehicles in damage descriptions because they are not expected to be moved or tipped by the wind. For F1 winds speeds of about 43 m/s (95 mi/hr), “Semi-trucks and other high profile trucks, trailers, and buses may be tipped over; cars, vans, and pickups are not tipped.” At F2 wind speeds of about 56 m/s (125 mi/hr), “Cars, vans, and pickups may be moved but fewer than 10% are tipped over.” At F3 wind speeds of about 70 m/s (155 mi/hr), “Cars, vans, and pickups are moved and 10% to 50% are tipped over. Vehicles that are tipped over may be rolled or lifted and thrown.” At F4 wind speeds of about 90 m/s (200 mi/hr), “More than 50% of cars, vans, and pickups are tipped over. Vehicles that are tipped over may be rolled or lifted and thrown.”

[snowball]

that state above 30-40 statement caught my eye ...I think I'm a wimp saw some rigs out today
but not many of course that could be because most of them have gone!! right now I am hoping to leave on
Friday haven't looked at weather.com tonight so that could have changed...
sheila

[BirdbyBird]

I saw on the news what the winds in Utah and out west did to the trucks and vehicles out your way. Did not look like anything someone wants to experience....

[asirimarco]

glad you are waiting the wind out. we are in Vegas in the Rv park and the wind was up to 55 gusts. we were rocking so bad the satellite kept loosing its signal. and we're sandwiched between two big rigs. and it looks like it is going to be almost as bad today. by Friday supposed to let up some. yesterday we couldn't even see the mountains around the city because of the dust in the air.
keep checking the weather - don't start out if it is still SO windy. take care Carol and Bill

[snowball]

Glad I waited it out as well...looked at weather.com and if they are correct should be ok on Friday perhaps if I
get stuff finished I can leave late Thurs and get to Needles...but still have a lot to do...so much is very last moment
we will see its one of those got myself into a need to be at a certain time situation...I appreciate all your thoughts..
I think part of the issue isn't just the weather but FEAR yes I know I've done it can do it...but the truck broke down and
it scares me perhaps if I wasn't alone it would be different but I just dread hooking up and leaving
that said can't do anything else but pull up my big girl panties and do it...
sheila

[bikerchic777]

I'm glad you waited, Sheila. I'm sure you're getting the same winds we've been getting here in the high desert towns of 29 Palms, Joshua Tree, and Yucca Valley, CA. They have been subsiding in the night and then gradually increase after sunrise. Lots of dust in the air and my eyes are itchy and ears pluggy. I sure as heck wouldn't drive in these winds. I'm planning to leave here next Wed. or Thurs., so will be watching the forecast closely. My GF, in Joshua Tree, left for Tahoe at 5:00, this morning. She said she was fighting strong winds the whole way up...and she drives an Exterra and no RV! Said her gas mileage sucked with the headwinds pushing against her. Nothing is so important as to have to drive or pull an RV through that.

[snowball]

I'm glad I waited as well..had thought that I'd try and get ready to leave today late but the winds still
felt brisk and I coped out and didn't push it...a couple of weeks ago a couple I know offered to
go with me (him driving) the offer came up again today. I told them that it was really nice of them but couldn't
afford the extra gas...was assured that it wouldn't be a problem...so I thought it over talked with one of my
dd's got her input...I've not towed the 5th wheel since the tranny was replaced and then having had so problems
that had to be addressed I've lost a lot of trust with the truck...my dd said that perhaps with someone driving it
that later I will think he did it I can do it....part of me thinks I'm really a not sure the term but I've lost a lot of
the feelings I've had I'm more relaxed about the trip...how ever due to a commitment that he had on Sunday here it is Friday almost
and he saying he needed to be back Sunday I thought oops think we can leave Monday hopefully the winds won't be so bad
Each trip I've taken I've had things that have had me worry it will be nice to have someone to help me worry about it
I feel good about this choice realizing most of you wouldn't have made the same but it's one I feel good about
we also said that if we get part way and I feel I can trust the truck I can head off and they will turn around we will see ...I'm basically
lazy will be good to be a passenger
sheila

[Bethers]

Sheila, I think it's a great choice for you at this point in time. Glad you have this couple who can help!

[asirimarco]

I'm glad you've got someone to help you with the trip. It will ease your mind - and when it goes well it will help restore your confidence. Have a safe trip. Wave when you go through Vegas - we'll still be here!

[bikerchic777]

Sheila...Sounds like a great plan! Will take off some stress that none of us need. I will be towing Penny with a U-Haul tow dolly, so that will be a new experience for me. I won't have to worry about penny dragging behind, or ruining her tranny, but it's something new for me. I plan to leave Wed, so please pray for me!

[Bethers]

Linda, you shouldn't have any problem towing on the dolly - used one when I got my rv to move my van to Alabama. That said, having to use one all the time and store it at a cg, etc isn't for me. If you do decide to go that route, you might want to put a hitch on Penny so that you can easily move the dolly around after you unhook. That's what a friend of mine did and it helped her with using one, somewhat.