Towing in Wind? Advice

Cavalier Caravaners
Cavalier Caravaners Forum Participant Posts: 88

We are set to visit a club site on Saturday when the weather forecast is predicting 50mph to 60 mph winds. Hubby is excellent at towing and done if for 2 years now but it did prompt a discussion of how windy does it need to be to think that towing is not sensible or safe? Is 50mph winds safe? anyone have any ideas or advice?

Comment from the Community Manager

Thanks for your post. Following concerns that have been raised about towing in windy conditions we offer guidance, in our blog post "Ready for Storms". This post delves into helpful advice and tips including towing situations during stormy or windy weather. It's a great resource to ensure your safety and the safety of others while on the road.

Remember, staying informed and prepared is key to safe towing practices. If you have any specific queries or would like to share your experiences on this topic, feel free to engage in the discussion below.

Rowena smile

Comments

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited October 2017 #2

    It's not the general wind strength which causes challenges, it's the strength of the gusts.   Best advice is if you are uncertain or uncomfortable with weather conditions don't venture on to the public highway.

    K

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited October 2017 #3

    Check the weather bulletins(locally) if they say-'dangerous for high sided vehicles' that includes LV's. It's best to delay your journey than potentially wreck your LV & damage the Carsmile. The News on TV during 50-60mph winds invariably show flipped Trucks on the roads. Hubby may be the best tugger in the World but He can't control Nature.

  • hallagather
    hallagather Forum Participant Posts: 62
    edited October 2017 #4

    hi i am due to go away on Saturday but if the winds are going to be 50 mph i will leave till Sunday not worth the risk and i used drive HGV class 1 that's my advice 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,856 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #5

    We were once in Scotland and we were concerned about the remnants of Hurricane Katia which was due to make landfall the day we were due to leave! We decided to delay our departure for a day so that we wouldn't be towing in such conditions. Trouble was that the next day was perfectly calm but the day we eventually left was very, very windy. Whilst it was uncomfortable in exposed places, by taking it easy we were fine. I think you need to look at as comprehensive weather forecast as you can find to see where the likely path of the wind is going to be. If it looks as if you will be towing through the eye of the storm maybe readjust your plans.

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2017 #6

    Is it better to travel in the eye of a storm? as the winds are on the perifery not in the eyewink

  • Hedgehurst
    Hedgehurst Forum Participant Posts: 576
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    edited October 2017 #7

    Difficult predicting if this'll move in your direction at the right speed, however wink

    We once spent a half night on the Lleyn peninsula with the tent straining one way, then all went to sleep during the calm which must have been the eye, as I later got up & moved the car to t'other side as a windbreak, and the tent spent the following hours straining the other way. Our then tiny daughters slept blissfully through it all!

    Far more recently, this year, we towed across the Forth Bridge hoping we were in front of the predicted storm, but it was still worryingly interesting, as the HGV in front was definitely swaying. We took comfort that they hadn't closed the bridge -  yet - and also in having a pop-top with the top down, so it's much less prone to catch the gusts.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2017 #8

    I was delayed by an hour yesterday on the M40 between Cherwell and the A34 Bicester junction following a collision between a car towing a caravan and two other cars. They were all in the outside lane with front end damage and, whilst it was difficult to be certain, it appeared to be probably due to jack-knifing. Given the blustery conditions yesterday, I was surprised to be passed by a fair number of tuggers rattling along with little regard to the conditions.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2021 #9

    Who has just "liked" this thread and resurrected itsurprised

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #10

    Somebody I’ve never heard of liked it but you are the one who has resurrected it and brought it to the front page, JV.😀

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2021 #11

    The "like "brought it to the fore look at earlier postssurprised

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #12

    The 'like' only pushes it up Latest Activity but a post brings it up the pages of threads so it appears on the forum front page. If folk didn’t post, it would stay buried. The moral is to stay shtum👍🏻

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2021 #13

    Strange then it appeared as I noticed after a like this morning , when looking at CT it had appearedundecided

    Yet again as per my theory as to why very old posts appear, in latest activity

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #14

    Whatever, JV. I’m sure you'll be right.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,585 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #15

    🤔😉😂

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2021 #16

    Thankscool

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,636
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    edited November 2021 #17

    He is TW. It happened to another post earlier this week, which I commented on.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited November 2021 #18

    Is your theory-someone is surfing the back catalogue to resurrect threads Tinny?🤔

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #19

    My lips are sealed but it wouldn’t be the first time, Rocky.

    You know the scam - like a post thus bringing it to notice in Latest Activity then, when someone bites and posts to keep it alive in the current pages, remove the like so all trace of the instigator is lost. Why folk play those daft games beats me🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited November 2021 #20

    It’s certainly odd for sure. It’s not as if the thread is all that interesting to many🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2021 #21

    It takes all sorts but keeps them happy🤷🏻‍♂️. It’s all a lot of wind really😄

  • KHHammy
    KHHammy Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited October 2023 #22

    I'm supposed to be going to Wales tomorrow winds are predicted at 26-28mph, it is my first time towing a caravan.  This is a folding caravan (gobur style), so drops down into a trailer style to tow.  Will this be safe to tow?

    Many Thanks in Advance.

    :-) 

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2023 #23

    You should be fine with your folding caravan, just don't expect to put up an awning.

    One year coming back from France with our pop top Eriba we had phone calls from friends in the UK warning of the weather. The Dartford Bridge crossing was closed ,Cross channel  ferries were cancelled delayed and the rain so bad we lost site of the caravan behind us. 

    Another time we travelled to an exposed Devon location in the middle of a storm where awnings had been ripped of caravans.

    The only difference I noticed on towing was a higher fuel consumption and lower than expected speed.

     

    Colin