High Wind Road Condition Question

[luforia]

Hi All, currently parked at RV park in Roswell on our way home to San Diego, there's a high wind advisory, 15-40mph thruout the day in the local area. Wind is currently 17mph, will be in 30mph range in a couple of hours. Better to brave the wind and get out of area or stay put?

[cabinetmaker]

Which Airstream do you have and what is your tow vehicle? I have towed in gusty winds up to 40 mph with no problems...but I have a heavy duty 3500 4x4 megacab cummins srw towing a 26U.

[Lily&Me]

Be sure your awnings are rolled in, and consider sitting tight.

These are fairly mild, as high winds go, but driving in these would seem more dangerous than waiting them out.

Good luck.

Maggie

[luforia]

Originally Posted by cabinetmaker

Which Airstream do you have and what is your tow vehicle? I have towed in gusty winds up to 40 mph with no problems...but I have a heavy duty 3500 4x4 megacab cummins srw towing a 26U.

1/2ton on 25' safari

[Isuzusweet]

If you are a motorhome you shouldn't have a problem; even a trailer shouldn't be an issue as long as the gusts are below 50 mph; however a wind in conjunction with a passing semi or an accelerated wind gust from a funnel valley or series of buildings could scare the bejeezers out of you.

If I were you I'd park the TV beside the AS to act as a wind block and leave when you feel comfortable.

Maggie is right about the awnings and small items that may blow away or blow over into the trailer.

Cheers
Tony

[rbs]

another issue could be the possibility of dust storms, check for advisories, you don't want to get caught in zero visibility

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

. . .
. . . leave when you feel comfortable.
. . .

This is the best advice in many cases, as it lets each person factor in their own comfort level. Setting out on a journey, about which one feels uncomfortable, is a recipe for stress, indecision and less-than-perfect results IMO.

Lots of excellent advice given, but the suggestion above may be the best final filter.

Stay safe -- and -- happy trails!

Peter

[khollister]

40 MPH gusts or sustained are absolutely no issue while parked as long as the awnings are up and the front window rock guard is down. I have been in much higher winds with no issues at all.

Towing is harder to answer because much depends on your hitch setup, terrain and traffic.

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by luforia

Hi All, currently parked at RV park in Roswell on our way home to San Diego, there's a high wind advisory, 15-40mph thruout the day in the local area. Wind is currently 17mph, will be in 30mph range in a couple of hours. Better to brave the wind and get out of area or stay put?

We are currently in a park 10 miles south of Roswell weighting our options. The worst has passed with the 50+ mph gusts. It looks windy all day, but nothing like what just went through.

[mojo]

Southern NM, especially on I-10 is a high dust storm area. Sit it out.

[Lumatic]

I am in central NM. Local forecast calls for wind gusts up to 55 mph. I would stay put unless I had no choice. If I had to tow I would go slow.

The dust storms on I-10 are in western NM in the Lordsburg area.

To reopen a can of worms, high winds is when sway control becomes real.

[Boxite]

If everybody else who travels I-10 sits it out...I'd probably travel.
But if the usual crowd travels I-10 in windy conditions.... I'd probably sit it out. The winds won't last that long and a day off reading, etc. isn't a bad thing.

[Mollysdad]

If your schedule allows, I'd stay put.
I had my awning unfurl while driving through western Kansas. A gust got under the roller and Zoop! out went the awning. Luckily, I was a mile from an exit and pulled into a parking lot, no damage was done. Others weren't so fortunate, torn awnings.
I watch the grass on the roadside as well as tree branches, to estimate direction and strength, but sometimes it's just a freak gust. Also, coming out from behind a stand of trees into an open section can easily cause a sudden jump sideways. Bad time to be alongside a semi.
Since an AS doesn't have slab sides and end caps, it's somewhat more slippery in the wind (Air STREAM) but why push it?

[Mattirs]

Or the slack and then gust of wind as you go under overpasses. That can be very dangerous as you adjust for the slack that puts you in a bad position when you come out and get hit by a gust.

[Wingeezer]

I have found the Hensley hitch is a real plus in high wind situations - certainly Pro pride would be the same.

Had no idea winds were so strong - until opening the door to exit the truck and nearly losing the door!

[luforia]

Update: made it out of Roswell, things really calmed down when we got on the road, it was worse at the park. Planning on heading SW toward Las Cruces then to Tucson. I have Reese hitch and sway bars, appear to be doing their job. Noticeable dip in gas mileage but doable. Now more worried about how I-10 will look as we head to Tucson.

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the update! If you feel uncomfortable at any point, no shame in pulling into a rest area or truck stop for a while.

[paiceman]

Pretty simply answer - if you have to ask and have the option stay put.

[abqdor]

We make the trip from ABQ to Tucson a couple of times a year and when the wind is blowing
on I-10, it can get pretty scary. In addition to wind affecting the tow, the visibility because of dust can make it almost impossible to travel. Just keep an eye on the weather. Deming or Lordsburg can be stopping points for you.

[urnmor]

there is an old saying when it come to food: "When in doubt throw it out". IMO the same applies here: "when in doubt sit it out"