High Winds - how much is too much?

[Big_Blue]

Heading tomorrow - weathe forecast is for winds are out of the WNW at 15 - 20 MPH. (May be over thinking, but with all of the issues over the past four weeks, my anxiety needs a rest)

The first part of the route will be into a headwind - 50 miles? State route, two lanes, hills and passing lanes

Then another 50 miles of side wind.

Then after that pure tail wind the rest of the way home.

Any advice, guidance, or ideas. (I would take another day off, but am running out of 2016 Paid Time Off..

[Big_Blue]

I made it home, sans lane integrity violations, at a lower rate and minus 0.6 MPG in fuel economy.

Great advice about the turbulence around over and under passes. I'm going to add in power lines.

Tnx for the advice.

[Blaster_Man]

Tag axle makes a big difference in a crosswind.

[Big_Blue]

The overnight forecast has dropped the winds from up to 20 MPH down to low to mid single digits. I have two efficient routes picked out, One is primarily interstate, the other overland. The time difference is six minutes. The problem with the overland was the Penobscot Narrows bridge, a two lane wind funnel from inland to the sea.

With the changed forecast, my concern level has ebbed towards reasonable comfort.

Thank you each and all for the sound advice. My Class A season runs from May to October, so I never get enough time on the road to gain sustaining experience.

But that will change.

[Tom_Barb]

Strabo wrote:
Our rig doesn't feel winds like that.

Neither does our's

[ArchHoagland]

Let us know how you made out.

[Strabo]

Our rig doesn't feel winds like that.

[J-Rooster]

Like most of the posters stated just slow down. Before I retired I was driving a set of doubles (a 36' trailer and a 28' trailer) across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, I was driving 10 MPH and the side wind was blowing 66 Knots, according to a news radio reporter who was standing on the bridge with his hand held wind gauge. A UPS driver behind me radioed me saying my rear trailer tire was 6 inches off the pavement. It was very nerve racking but, I limped across the bridge safely. I don't know how to read wind in knots but, I never crossed that bridge again with 50 MPH winds or stronger in a set of doubles.

[Ivylog]

Start early so you can take advantage of the tail wind later. Like MM earlier today I had a nice almost direct tailwind today increasing my mpg from 7 to 8 but I outran it and had to put in 20 degrees of crab into the side wind. When going under a overpass or into the Lee of a hill, you know you will not need as much crab so antisapate it.

[rgatijnet1]

Start off early in the morning when the winds are usually lighter. As the day progresses and if you start to feel uncomfortable behind the wheel, start looking for an RV park for the night.

[Tom_Barb]

Big_Blue wrote:
Heading tomorrow - weathe forecast is for winds are out of the WNW at 15 - 20 MPH. (May be over thinking, but with all of the issues over the past four weeks, my anxiety needs a rest)

The first part of the route will be into a headwind - 50 miles? State route, two lanes, hills and passing lanes

Then another 50 miles of side wind.

Then after that pure tail wind the rest of the way home.

Any advice, guidance, or ideas. (I would take another day off, but am running out of 2016 Paid Time Off..

Just go, deal with it, shouldn't be a big deal.

[Mr_Mark1]

Boy, I sure hate winds when driving. Certainly, at 55,500 lbs., we can handle winds but I still don't like them.

We were lucky once and had a 50 mph gusts pushing us east on the I-40.... we honestly got over 9.0 MPG's on that tank. Normally, we would get around 6.5 mpg at 60 mph with little wind.

If we were getting head or side winds, I would have parked it.

MM.

[MarkTwain]

rk911 wrote:

Big_Blue wrote:
Heading tomorrow - weathe forecast is for winds are out of the WNW at 15 - 20 MPH. (May be over thinking, but with all of the issues over the past four weeks, my anxiety needs a rest)

The first part of the route will be into a headwind - 50 miles? State route, two lanes, hills and passing lanes

Then another 50 miles of side wind.

Then after that pure tail wind the rest of the way home.

Any advice, guidance, or ideas. (I would take another day off, but am running out of 2016 Paid Time Off..

doesn't matter what I or anyone else on this forum thinks...you're the only one who can determine whether you're in a mental and physical condition to safely drive. if you think you need an extra day or two of rest then take it. if you're on deadline well, then that's a different set of conditions.

OR, the question "how long should a man's legs be? ANSWER "long enough to touch the ground"

[Terryallan]

you have 60 MPH wind running across your rig as a matter of travel. Or what ever speed you are driving. the side winds are the only problem. Slow down, and see how it goes. I bet you will do better than you think

[wa8yxm]

How much wind is too much depends on where the wind is coming from. Dead astern you can take a whole lot. I've handled 100MPH, but I stress DEAD astern, not 1 degree off. The Tumble weeds were going STRAIGHT down the road.

Headwinds.. I recommend against high wind. But so long as it is straight on you should be ok moving, but a motor home in a Head wind you do not ask MPG you ask GPM (ok, not quite that bad but not far from it)

Side winds... 50 MPH I'd be parked.. in fact. I just was, Friday night.