Community Forums

Joe II · 10-12-2011, 06:11 PM

Are there any studies/statistics on Class C motorhomes being blown over while going down the road.

OSSKOBRET · 10-13-2011, 12:56 PM

i look at it this way...... if you are white knuckled and have crap in your pants it might be a good idea to pull over somewhere safe you gotta use good judgement if your being tossed out of your lane then you are in a bad situation. to windy is relative to your mecanical state of rig screw the stats

Perry White · 10-13-2011, 12:59 PM

I don't know about class c's, but I watched tractor trailer's blowing over out in Vegas. I think it was about 1989. I had a van and I found a road that I could drive in a headwind.

OSSKOBRET · 10-13-2011, 02:17 PM

yeah this summer coming home from havasu i was going through palm springs area wind was gusting 40-60 at times ,i could see my boat wiggle around in the camera , i slowed to thirty mph and i was still getting tossed but never lost my lane . even though my rig is well maintained i hope i NEVER get caught in a situation like that again

Luckiest Dreamer · 10-15-2011, 09:35 AM

Back when I was driving 18 wheelers the the trailer tires would occasionally be off the ground when the wind got up around 55MPH. Thats the magic number that I use. That was a target that told me to not be there! Of course that did not mean that I would of had control of anything, even at 40. Having the wind directly on your side will change the characteristics from a wind just slightly off the front or back. I usually found I would have better control going into a steady wind but one with strong gust would get you into trouble quickly as in moment you would find your self oversteering. Over correcting in a gusting wind probably causes most of the roll over rather than pure wind speed.

Senior Chief · 10-15-2011, 09:58 AM

We used to live in a little town on top of a steep grade going down the canyon into Lewiston Idaho.

Frequently our streets would be lined with semis waiting for the winds to die down enough to risk the highway down the grade.

Yes, big rigs and RVs can and have been blown over; I'd say watch the 18 wheelers. When they pull over, I pull over.

Gatordude · 10-28-2011, 05:58 PM

I pull over when I don't feel comfortable driving. I've got more time than money, so I stop.

wardy · 10-28-2011, 06:12 PM

Not sure you can use a "rule of thumb" as so much depends on the yaw or wind angle, gusting vs steady etc. I've driven in a steady 40 +- hr wind with little issue but had great difficulty in 20 mph gust's. 20 mph may not sound like much but if a semi's bow wave hit's you at the same time... not fun. I moved up from a trailer to gasser (or down depending how you look at it) to a heavy diesel with tag due to drive comfort.

w6pea · 10-28-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luckiest Dre

Back when I was driving 18 wheelers the the trailer tires would occasionally be off the ground when the wind got up around 55MPH. Thats the magic number that I use. That was a target that told me to not be there! Of course that did not mean that I would of had control of anything, even at 40. Having the wind directly on your side will change the characteristics from a wind just slightly off the front or back. I usually found I would have better control going into a steady wind but one with strong gust would get you into trouble quickly as in moment you would find your self oversteering. Over correcting in a gusting wind probably causes most of the roll over rather than pure wind speed.

A couple of months ago my DW and I were going to Lone Pine on us395, The wind was terrible. I told my wife that when I was still driving Cross-country in a Semi I got paid to drive in weather like that. But now I don't we stopped at Coso Junction and parked behind the Chevron Gas station
there were two dozen rigs sitting there.

I talked to one of the drivers he said that about 10 miles north of there almsot to Olancha, Ca. that there were two rigs blown over. One time when we were coming home from Reno, Nv, We saw a rig over on it's side. I find a place to stop now. I don't get paid now to drive in weather like that. When the signs say wind conditions ahead or chains required ahead. I stop. It doesn't cost me money to set back and have a cup of coffee or spend the night in a rest area.

If We Can't Haul It....You Don't Need It ! Motor-T

Mr_D · 10-29-2011, 07:54 PM

We've been in 75mph winds with a Type C at the coast when a storm came in. No rigs blew over but we sure didn't get much sleep either!! When we woke up we found our pad was the low spot for the campground!! Had to wade through water almost over my boots.