Pulling travel trailer in Wind

[bobby314]

I'm stating the obvious, but I don't tow a whole bunch out of the Houston area. Anyway, I had a first pulling a 4500 lb 26' travel trailer in Wind (30mph sustained and up to 60mph gust) and my truck and i got our butt kicked. Have about 1,000 lbs in bed too. Basically, a stretch in between forth worth and Amarillo, and I was getting between 5.5 and 6mph average. Plus I'm in a 3/4 ton gasser with a 28 gallon tank so we stopped a bunch for gas. No real reason to this post other than I truly under estimate what panhandle folks have to put up with driving in big wind!

Bobby

[Drycreek3189]

Been there ! I pulled a 28' travel trailer from Williston, ND to East Texas in '82 and leaving Fargo I headed into a 30 mph wind until somewhere in OK. Just about burned my transmission up ! Ford F250 with a sick 351 gas engine (although it was new). That was the most gutless truck I ever owned !

[Playa]

Yep it sucks, and it has been unusually bad this year

[DaveC]

Yikes!

Is that 5.5-6mph supposed to be MPG ? or were you having to drive 6 mph?

Sounds terrible either way.

[BigL]

Sounds terrible. I pull my bumper pull with a 1/2 ton. In winds like that it is slow and steady or I will check weather and wait if it's going to let up in the next day or so.

Around 2013, I had an F250 with the V10 and pulled in a 30+ mph head wind. Was getting in the 4-5 MPG range. Had to stop for gas 2x on a trip that usually didn't require a stop.

[bobby314]

Sorry. That's mpg. I was driving about 50-55mph

[Double D]

I feel your pain. Almost 2 weeks ago I pulled my 33' bumper pull with my F250 Diesel from Hebbronville to Somerville into a steady north wind. Per the truck I averaged 7.6MPG. If that perfect storm arises again I will wait it out until better conditions. Just to hard on the truck and my nerves.

[TX03RUBI]

I see you were in the panhandle Saturday

[RJH1]

That sort of stuff is why i no longer own a travel trailer. Big winds and it feels like you have worked all day when you were just driving. Seemed like every time i took mine out the winds were like that

[jmeghunts]

The family and I were returning from Red River, NM last year and the winds picked up to a level that made the news that day. Trucks and trailers were turning over on the interstates. We got an RV spot in Amarillo for the day and did some sight seeing. I would rather get home a day late and spend a little extra money than to fight that wind for 7-8 hours.

[miket]

Yep. At least it didnt turn bad. About 2 weeks ago my dad was coming back from south texas and the wind turned his camper over on 59 near Edna. Turned completely around facing the wrong way on the highway. Now his wife doesnt want to replace it, too scrared to pull it.

[John Paul]

I pull a 32 ft travel trailer usually once a month and to CO or NM once a year. It was absolutely draining and would wear me out until I switched my pulling gear out. Went from the chain weight distribution with separate sway bar to the 3 way sway weight distribution with no chains. Holy cow what a difference. All works off friction and if it’s set up right 30 mph winds are nothing. Just my 2 cents.

[jmeghunts]

I pull a 32 ft travel trailer usually once a month and to CO or NM once a year. It was absolutely draining and would wear me out until I switched my pulling gear out. Went from the chain weight distribution with separate sway bar to the 3 way sway weight distribution with no chains. Holy cow what a difference. All works off friction and if it’s set up right 30 mph winds are nothing. Just my 2 cents.

What brand do you have?

[RedRaider323]

Winds have been brutal up here lately. If you were pulling on the days of the 60 MPH winds, count your blessings all you had was a higher fuel bill! Can't imagine having to pull something like that through here!

[Mike D]

That sort of stuff is why i no longer own a travel trailer. Big winds and it feels like you have worked all day when you were just driving. Seemed like every time i took mine out the winds were like that

A 5th wheel pulls much better than a bumper pull. I agree it’s a beating with a bumper pull.


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