Just heard of Airstream crash.

[59toaster]

Talking to one of my customers and this weekend they saw a Airstream on it's side on I75 around Adairsville GA. From what they described the tow rig stayed on it's wheels so the owners should be fine.

Anybody know if anyone from the Forum was traveling through here this weekend? Tow rig was a Suburban.

[53flyingcloud]

Sorry to hear that...

[MW64OVERLANDER]

While returning from Eureka Springs Arkansas last weekend, we could have just as easily been in the same boat. We were southbound on I-35 in the middle lane of a three lane interstate, within miles of home, when a trailer hauling square bale hay and traveling in the lane to the right of us, lost six bales directly in front of us. Your immediate reaction is to steer away from the problem, but given the traffic on both sides of us and the disaster that could happen with over reaction, I gritted my teeth and hoped for the best. The F-250 4X4 shreaded three of the six bales without sustaining any damage allowing the 64 overlander to pass through unscathed. The other three bales remained on the interstate causing a traffic jam and very dangerous situation until removed by the guys pulling the trailer. Be careful out there, it can happen any time and really have nothing to do with anything you have done.

[InsideOut]

Glad you guys made it unscathed...

Shari

[Chas]

Good quick thinking there Mark,

There was a tragic accident here locally a few weeks ago with similar circumstances. A carload of teens were heading down the road and swerved to avoid an ice chest in the road. It was awful, I think four of the five in the car died after they lost control of the car and had a head on collision with another vehicle. The only good thing was the other driver just got a broken leg. All over a stupid ice chest in the road!!

I would much rather replace a few suspension parts, tires, sheetmetal or whatever and hope that if I ever get into an unfortunate situation as you I can make the same wise decision.

[dscluchfc]

Almost as bad as the seen obstacle is the unseen obstacle..... in West Texas...and the desert Southwest....it is the whirlwind.
Coming back to Lubbock, TX from Carlsbad, NM....near the TX-NM line I encountered one of the most enormous whirlwinds I have ever seen. It was totally invisible until it crossed from grassland to over a plowed field about 30 ft from the roadway and headed directly at my Yukon 2 dr 4x4 tow rig and 31ft 84 Excella as we travelled at about 65 mph.
I am here to say this was an incredible whirlwind/gustnado that only became a visible votex of a large amount of dirt when it crossed over into the field only seconds before crossing the road.
At it's base, it was probably 100 yards wide sporting winds in the 50-75 mph range would be my guess.
I gripped the wheel, told the wife to hold on, and hoped the working of the Reese Dual Cam anti sway mechanism did what they advertise. We got whipsawed pretty good, but no significant sway was introduced that was not instantly diminished as I kept my foot on the acclerator and even pressed it a little harder to maintain forward momentum and not give into any potential effects of trying to slow down.
Came through it perfectly, but it is the closest I have ever come to losing a trailer due to wind induced sway.
A passing semi is NOTHING compared to a huge Texas sized dirt devil!

[87MH]

Amen to your experience!

Having grown up in the Ozarks, I was in awe of the frequency and strength of the West Texas "mini-tornadoes" when I worked out there in the early 70's.

Truely a unique phenomenom, they do demand respect whenever they are encountered.

One of the things to add to your list of experiences when you go to "....see the USA".

[joe hall]

This post reminded me of my trip from Melbourne, Florida, to Valdosta, Georgia, last Thursday afternoon, 10/23/03. I left Melbourne at about 12:30 P.M. Between Melbourne and Jacksonville, Florida (168 miles), I saw a total of 9 Airstreams and what I believed to be an Avion (or, perhaps an older, painted Airstream. I didn't get a great look at it). 8 of them were heading south on I-95. They were not travelling together. 1 was headed north, and disabled on the right-hand shoulder. Traffic was too thick and fast for me to pull over. Does anyone know what was going on in central Florida? Perhaps a rally, or just the Fall migration? I've never seen more than 2 or 3 Airstreams on that leg.