Sway/Buffeting Question

[Willis]

Also dicey is when you are in a very windy area such as you find out in the plains of the Dakotas and are passed on a two-lane road by a semi coming from the OPPOSITE direction. One time the wind was so strong (probably 30-40mph) from the left that I had my steering heeled over almost 90 degrees just to go straight. Then a truck coming toward me would BLOCK the wind for about 1 sec. Scariest day of my life! Shoulda just pulled over but the wind never stops out there so it would have been a long wait...

[52Dodgeman]

I have to agree with all of the above. The bow wave from a passing truck will vary depending on the style of the tractor and of course the type of trailer it is pulling. Last trip we took on I-30 and I-40 I was like and dead tired at the end of the day untilI learned to just pay attention to what is coming up from behind and be prepared for the wave. You will adjust with experience. Note: I drive in my comfort zone which is between 55 to 60 when pulling the TT. I get passed a lot.

[revrnd]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

Did you go to the Superbike racing at Indy? Awesome show.

No we don't leave until Wed' for the NHRA drags in Clermont (west of Indy).

[Mr. Black]

I don't have any experience towing TTs larger than 20 feet. They always seemed fine though. TVs were heavy which helps.

We must have an exceptionally well handling combination now. The last two have been large and larger fifth wheels and I can sit here and honestly say I can't recall feeling movement from a near by semi truck. I am sure it happens a to some degree so don't get me wrong, I just don't recall it ever startling me in any way.

I am usually the crazy bastard doing the passing anyways, safely.

[mtnguy]

I was reluctant to get a conventional travel trailer because of all of the horror stories I heard concerning cross winds and passing semis. I now know that I worried needlessly. I can feel the trucks passing, and make a slight adjustment for that. Sometimes a truck will sneak up on me (how does a 75 foot, 80,000 lb truck do that ??) and will catch me off-guard, but most of the time I am prepared. I head to the right a little to lessen the bow wave, and a slight steering wheel correction is all I need. I understand that even semis can feel another truck passing, so it is not unique to just campers.

[Hipshot]

All of the above. I can feel when there is a semi or an rv behind me. The TT gets a little squirlley, it's not bad or startling. I just know it's there and get ready for it to pass. As stated before I move to the right but stay on the main road. I will not move onto the shoulder. I saw a TT move onto the shoulder some years ago and drop a wheel off the road. He ended up in the ditch with a totaled TT. Just be aware and you will be OK.

[crocus]

Just came back from picking up our new Flagstaff 8528CKSS, first day out had a 30-40 mph crosswind on the left. We had no problem with our fifth, but I watched the trucks passing bumper-hitch campers in front of us, and every one swayed to a certain degree. The worst was one of those that is shorter in the front than the back, and it must have swung a good two feet as the trucks passed it, pushing over with the bow wave, swinging back as the truck passed, then getting pushed over again as the crooswind was reapplied. I sure wouldn't have wanted to be that guy.
I think the worst situation is on a two-lane, meeting semis pushing into a quartering head wind, as that creates a very strong bow wave coupled with the crosswind pushing on your own unit. Our old fifth handled that with ease, as it was a streamliner, but the new one will probably require a bit more attention. But again, far better to have a fifth than a bumper-hitch from what I have witnessed.
Oh, on that stretch where we had the crosswind, a few years ago I saw a big suv and a large bumper-hitch jacknifed right in the middle of the interstate, still on the highway, but mangled. I have no idea what the heck happened there.

[revrnd]

I made it home last night from IN. The racing was good & the weather fine (a bit cool for the locals ).

The only problem was the wind. There was a bit Weds' in western Ontario, but yesterday it was VERY windy from south of Ft. Wayne all the way to Kitchener.

The truck traffic didn't bother me as much as the wind. We hit Toronto around 6 PM & the 401 & 400 wasn't bad.