Community Forums

chboone · 03-13-2014, 10:19 AM

To me it's not so much the wind, it's the strong gusts that really push you. Just drive at a speed you feels is safe.

Chuck

PyrateSilly · 03-13-2014, 11:52 AM

When the Santa Ana Winds get going they can gust upto 80mph. More often they are between 25mph to 60mph. We would never go anywhere if we stayed off the road at 35mph over here.

Really thou it's all about how comfortable YOU are driving in them. If it feels too strong for you then don't drive till they go down. Everyone is different in what effects them.

Pepper2 · 03-13-2014, 12:14 PM

Like she said, it's all about your comfort/skill level.

HerbZilla · 03-13-2014, 01:51 PM

Just take it easy at a speed you are comfortable with and you will be fine. Also watch for tree lines that end with open fields you can get wonderful gusts from there if you are not expecting it.

jmoffat · 03-13-2014, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomandGloria

Just made the same type trip yesterday from central Texas. It was brutal, but kept speed between 50 and 60 and had no problem with control. I had my toad attached. The only thing that suffered was gas mileage! Take your time and you will be fine.

the one thing that can happen no matter how cardfull you are is losing your awning. If wind gets under it it can tear the awning partially or completely away from the coach
Jim

Fosters · 03-14-2014, 03:13 PM

The worst I've seen were 50mph winds with gusts to 68

. I was pulling a uhaul trailer with a f250 superduty, with the v10... Got 6mpg and wasn't able to hold 3rd gear (1:1 ratio), only 2nd gear at 4500-5000 rpm... That was a full on headwind. This was in New Mexico going towards AZ on the 40.

If it's headwind or tail wind, you're fine. If it's a side wind, I'd wait. Nothing more tiring and white knuckle driving than feeling like you're gonna tip over any moment.

U-2 Pilot · 03-14-2014, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Farmer Steve

OK here's the deal. We have an appointment to take the ACE in for some work today and the shop is 35 mile from home. The bad thing is a cold front went through with a sustained wind of 20mph with gusts to 49mph! Is that too much to go that far or can I take my time with double hands on the wheel?

Has anybody heard of a coach being blown completely over by a crosswind?

tedgard01 · 03-14-2014, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U-2 Pilot

Has anybody heard of a coach being blown completely over by a crosswind?

Yes.

I got caught in a sand storm in southern CA where the Santa Ana winds blew everything off the road off. Even tractor trailers were on there sides.

I was in my car with a large U-Hall trailer hooked on the back, not an RV, but it was bad enough they had to close the freeway. I spent three nights in a disaster relief area in Barstow, CA.

I was traveling to NM. I went to my insurance adjuster and they totaled my car because everything was sand blasted, the engine had sand in it, the windows were all pitted, etc. One guy that came into the disaster area had just bought a brand new car. It started out as burgundy, but it looked like it was silver, because every bit of paint (even the license plate) had been sand blasted off and it was down to the bare metal.

Farmer Steve · 03-16-2014, 07:14 AM

Just to update, I did go that day and true to the posts on the way down with the wind was fine. It even helped a little bit. Now the way back was a different story. The wind was at 11:00 25mph with gusts to 50mph. When a gust hit I had to keep the wheel at 10:00 to counter the wind but jerk it back when it subsided or the coach would leap into the other lane! Not fun and I would stay put if on vacation but doable in an emergency.

I have a CDL and drive tractor trailers all the time but this 14k box was much more susceptible to drift.

As for those 80mph crosswind motorhome drivers, the road is yours.