Driving in storms

[os1r1s]

I have a trip scheduled leaving Memphis to go to Dallas this Thursday morning. Naturally Francine (the hurricane) is heading North and will be making it to the Memphis area around Thursday morning. At least, the feeder bands will be hitting in the morning. I'm have a 2024 F250 and a 2024 27' Globetrotter. I'm comfortable towing and have a WDH. I'm concerned about the effects of wind on the trailer when towing. It looks like the wind will be 20 gusting to 30 mph. Depending on where I am, the wind will vary from a direct crosswind to a tailwind. Would you 1) Leave Thursday morning before 7? 2) Leave late Wednesday night and just make another stop? I'm open to suggestions

[majorairhead]

Get on out of there real early Thursday, or Wed afternoon...it'll put you mind at ease. Looks like you'll be driving away from the path shortly after leaving Memphis, the further you go, the better, right? Some times these things spin up other exciting stuff, hail, etc. I'd either hunker down, or get out of there early.

I think your rig would be fine with 20 or 30 mph winds, but what fun is in towing in that mess if you don't have to? Of course, I'm overly protective of my Airstream skin

Edit, I just checked the path, winds, rainfall, etc. and it looks like if you Thursday morning and head for Little Rock you should be fine.

[rodsterinfl]

If you are willing to drive your truck in the weather then I would say you will be fine. My second camping trip, we left Fort Myers and a Tropical Storm hit while we were camping in north FL. I drove through it on the way home, major gusts continuous winds were about 30 or more. There were semis on the highway with the cab in one lane and their trailers partially in the other lane blown crooked while traveling. The Airstream was amazing with the rounded roof. The only thing is, avoid hail.

[gamakai]

Traffic on your route may be as big a problem as weather. I might go further west before heading south to Dallas.

[SlowPokePete]

I think driving my truck in a storm versus towing an
Airstream in one are vastly different for a number of reasons.

SPP

[rbs]

We never head into trouble, seems like you can find enough without that. We've stayed put, changed locations, altered our route to avoid weather, dust storms, fires and have still managed to be too close to severe weather that included tornadoes, hail storms and heavy snowfall. Heavy crosswinds can be challenging and will wear you out. Tail winds great milage, head winds obviously destroys mileage. Last, will put my fire suit on, the hitch you use does make a difference when faced with brutal crosswinds.

[sfranklin]

I've towed my trailer in 60mph winds with rain at times. Front, side and rear. Rear was the most painless. Front just decreased my MPG significantly. Either side is not entirely comfortable, but it also is nowhere near what a square trailer will experience. As odd as this may sound, even with the awnings, I feel just a few light pushes as the air does stream (no pun intended) around in a more free flowing way than if it simply hits a solid wall.

Don't misunderstand me, by no means do i suggest you purposely drive into a tropical storm type situation as wind is not the only concern....other drivers, flying debris and flooding, at least to me is more of a problem than towing in a storm itself. I would def plan to leave as early as possible to avoid the brunt of it.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Direction of wind matters a lot. Amount of rain matters a lot. Just how insane other folks are getting matters a lot.

Wind numbers are never an exact thing. Head through "this place" and there's a funnel effect, the wind blows harder. Head along past that mountain over there and there really isn't much wind.

We've driven through a number of hurricane tails. It's not a lot of fun. The rain is at least as much of an issue as the wind.

Bob

[kb0zke]

My preference is generally to avoid bad weather and heavy traffic. Of course, we're retired and full-timers, so generally we don't have to be in a specific place at a specific time.


Wind is always an issue. On the ground, it is affected by hills, buildings, etc. Highways rarely are straight and level for more than a few miles, so a slight crosswind can turn into a headwind, then a strong crosswind, then a tailwind within a few miles. Now add larger vehicles (trucks, motorhomes, fiifth-wheel trailers, etc.) and it can get interesting. Slow down a bit and things get better quickly.


If I were dealing with the original poster's situation, I'd probably look at the storm track guess, then think about where people who might be affected by it might go, and plan a route that avoids as much of that as possible.


When to leave? That would be determined by my proposed route. I might tend to leave earlier rather than later, but then I don't drive as far or as fast as other people.

[gypsydad]

Driving in heavy weather towing an AS is not something I look forward to doing. Been in many areas while in Texas, where storms and winds are horrific, and not worth the chance. Hail being the most feared with our AS. I've seen the damage first hand, even to tow vehicles with broken windshield's from hail, in Dallas! If you can wait or leave earlier, as suggested, I would. Few days delay perhaps, but safer trip from the weather.

[AlbertF]

Heavy traffic, heavy rain, even the possibility of hail are reasons to wait or take another route.

However, 20 to 30 mph winds should not be a major factor if your hitch setup is good. That can be a sunny summer day on the prairies.

[BikeCamper]

Outrunning nearby storms is a fool’s errand. There are too many uncertainties about where the storm will end up tracking.

It’s generally best to stay safely put and let them pass. Then set off and duck behind them, when they are moving away from you rather than coming toward you.

[Lily&Me]

I agree with BikeCamper.

Navigating wind and rain is one issue, the ability to dodge a semi or other large vehicle out of control is another.

We sat out a hurricane a few years back on the high ground in a rest stop in NY state.

When the storm had passed and we resumed travel the next morning, the interstate was littered with overturned semis.

Which take anything in their path with them when they go.

Watch the weather, and consider sitting it out.

Maggie

[Daquenzer]

I drove in South Dakota with my set up in 20 to 30 mph winds. But it was a sunny day. That's just South Dakota. BUT if that is combined with heavy rain, etc, that's a different story. Visibility, bad traction on roads, etc are not fun even without an Airstream. I'd either stay put, or get ahead of the storm. What's the hurry? And as said above, if you would be the only one on the road that's different. But other people driving like fools are the dangerous ones. I was driving my truck home one day and the roads were a little glazed. I was being cautious and some old beater came by me, and all of a sudden he is fish tailing all over the place, loses control, and hits the guard rail. Thankfully I had enough distance between the accident that I was simply able to slow down to avoid it.

[gypsydad]

Lets not discount winds, just because we are towing an AS. Wind can be a "big" fac!tor in accidents when towing any TT. Just watched a recent Youtube where the wind whipped a TT flipping the F350 and the TT....see it once, and it will scare the 'heck" out of you!

https://camperreport.com/wind-gusts-in-rv-accidents/

[Daquenzer]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Lets not discount winds, just because we are towing an AS. Wind can be a "big" fac!tor in accidents when towing any TT. Just watched a recent Youtube where the wind whipped a TT flipping the F350 and the TT....see it once, and it will scare the 'heck" out of you!

https://camperreport.com/wind-gusts-in-rv-accidents/

I would agree. I was going to head home from Chicago area, and heard of 40mph winds coming. We got going ASAP and drove all night to stay ahead of them.

[Wayne&Sam]

We got caught towing in strong winds in South Dakota. Scary strong. We got off the highway and parked. The it died down some, but was still coming up strong every now and then, we headed to the nearest campground via local roads, not the highway.

[Frost]

Paraphrasing an old sailing adage. Its one thing to get caught in a storm , quite another to leave port knowing you'll be sailing into one. What's the rush?

[djb75]

I don't think Adm Halsey ever heard that old saying.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

A while back we headed along I-90 in Montana with the signs flashing "60 MHP GUSTS" in big scary letters. The wind wasn't quite that strong before we turned off the road.

On thing I noticed then and also noticed a lot living in Kansas: When the wind picks up, the semi's pull over and wait it out. In Kansas the ones that didn't sometimes could be seen flipped over in the ditch the next day.

Bob