Towing in heavy winds

[gearhead]

^^Thanks. Should have guessed.
Maybe The Cabbage is just as simple?

[Northofu1]

One of the best explanations on sway there is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWJ4Iy6ek24

[rodgebone]

Maybe The Cabbage is just as simple?

the "Cabbage" is Cabbage Hill just south of Pendleton

[RET.LEO]

The solution is easy........ don't drive in high winds. Stay safe and stay put.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by RET.LEO

The solution is easy........ don't drive in high winds. Stay safe and stay put.

Discretion is the better part of valor......

[Ken / Claudia]

Cabbage hill is something like 6 miles up a 6% grade and about the same down with switch back turns. I think there is 2 truck escape ramps on the down grade. Never seen them being used, but seen truck tracks going way up them. For those who do not know DOT places thick gravel on a steep uphill off ramp.
The idea is a truck that lost it's brakes can get off the freeway and not kill someone. They go up the ramp and can finally come to a stop. Some slide back down a ways. They have big tow anchors buried into the ground. A tow truck gets them back on the road.

[ADQ K9]

We deal with winds up here all the time I have a similar set up to Ken /Claudia.
IMO a long wheel base heavy TV is the building block to combat sway. A quality hitch with sway control makes up the second part of the equation.
Some may say that the hitch I have is overkill for an 8800# 29' trailer I say it is just right. The combo remains rock solid when opposing traffic (tractor trailers) passes.
I have never canceled/delayed a trip due to wind, that is not saying I never will though

[bobbecky]

This is a link to a thread posted earlier this year on the Montana forum. The photo in the first post says a lot.

https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...ad.php?t=79849

[Ken / Claudia]

I cannot see the photo, but the guy made the statement about this being his 1st outing as a full timer. Unknown if he ever pulled an RV before that day. He also said the wind blew and where was nothing he could do. If I investigated the crash and got truthful answers to my questions, I bet I could have informed him how he would have not crashed if he did a few things differently.
I have been hit with some really high winds on a motorcycle, car, truck, truck or SUV towing a boat,camper, TT and never crashed. Never even nearly crashed.
Bottom line I bet he panicked and had no idea how to recover.

[JRTJH]

The only way to see photos on the Montana Owner's site is to be a member. Here is the photo linked in the post above: And, yes, it is (was) a Montana fifth wheel.

[bobbecky]

That was a 2012 Montana 3585SA, but no idea how long they had it or what his experience with it was. This is a link to additional photos: https://imgur.com/gallery/Tm1R2mv

[notanlines]

He said in that forum that their only real loss was their cat running away from the scene and has never been found. Said the insurance company was more than fair. No serious injuries.
On a brighter note, I believe there is a crew in northern Indiana that could put that Montana back together.

[ctbruce]

A little duct tape and viola...good as new! Glad they weren't hurt. That had to be scarey.

[flybouy]

That'll buff out, no problem.

[mtofell]

The Columbia River George can be some of the most treacherous driving conditions you'll ever find. +/- 20 years ago when I was a much younger and less experience driver (probably about 25 years old) I was heading through Cabbage Hill in the ice storm at night. Heading west up the hill I probably passed 15 18-wheelers that were crawling along. So, I crest the top and start heading down and it's just flat out scary.... problem was, now all of the trucks that I passed are now barreling down behind me.....no slowing down or stopping unless I was to be a splatter mark on the pavement! That night I learned when to stay home.... and I learned that truckers have no fear!

[dutchmensport]

It makes a big, big, big difference if the wind is pushing from behind, or if driving head-on into it. This will either give you fantastic fuel mileage or horrible mileage.

Side wind is horrible, no matter what your camper or tow vehicle is, or even a Motor Home. Side winds have been known to blow over even Semi-Truck trailers, and even campers set up, not even in tow.

You must have been experiencing a pronounced tail wind. Speaking from experience, driving in all sorts of conditions, and with several different tow vehicles and trailer combinations, when you have a strong tail wind, you barely notice it.

Given enough side wind, and even the best of them blow over. There would be no match going down the road at 60 mph with a strong side wind:

Pop Up camper at a dealership lot (Southern Indiana):



Mobile home blown over, and it had ground anchors, not far from where I live:



In such weather, your absolute best choice is to simply stay put until the winds subside. And staying inside the camper in such winds is NOT a good idea either.