driving in strong wind

Yeah, pulling that grade just east of Laramie always seems to have compact snow and ice on it. The problem is the sun doesn't shine on it except for a couple hours a day in the winter, so any snow and it won't have a chance to melt off. The sun will be on it just enough to put a fine glaze on it, then it refreezes. I went up that hill about 10:00 am maybe two weeks ago and took it at about 20-25 mph with a medium load and interlock engaged, but no chains. There were a few truckers having a "sporty time" of it, and I think perhaps they hadn't engaged interlock because they were torquing a bit sideways. Fortunately the wind was very moderate. With a high wind funneling through those gaps or catching you on the crest at the top all bets are off.

 

Yeah the wind caught me at the top, but climbing the hill wasn't bad. Got on top and the ice was solid for a while. Quite a bit of "pucker factor". I'm sitting in Warrenton, Mo now because the wind is pushing my little light load all over the place. Wind is supposed to die down some this afternoon so we'll roll again

 

a friend just posted she is watching tv. and the tornado rolling through IL. apparently there's some nasty weather expected in the midwest today.

cnn.com says tornado is moving NE at 55 mph. chicago, indianapolis and detroit are on alert.

 

Da Bears game had about a 2 hour delay due to the storm...

 

for the last 2 weeks, randomly Wyo. has been shutting down I-80 and I-25 to light weight high profile vehicles, no exceptions. Rough rule of thumb, if you're under 55,000 lbs with a van, park it, or mother nature will park it for you. High winds are the one thing I will not mess with, I've had one blowover, don't want another one.


From Wyo. Roads text alerts (some very nice to have, available from the Wyo. Roads.gov website. As for 1256 pm 11/17/2013 - I-80 CLOSED TO LIGHT, HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES, BOTH DIRECTIONS, BTWN EXIT 235 WALCOTT JCT AND LARAMIE DUE TO BLOWOVER RISK, GUSTS 65 + MPH. They didn't lift that until 18:17 today.

http://www.wyoroad.info/

Go to this site, there is a text alert link that you can enter your cell number and they will text you road conditions. Personally, I would turn off your notifications for your texts, as I've seen 20 text alerts from Wyo. in less than an hours time.

 

Back in the winter of 2003/2004, (I think it was,) Knight lost about 7 trucks to blow overs on I-25 somewhere between Ft. Collins and Cheyenne. (And my dispatcher still griped at me about shutting down because of wind.)

 

Dec. of '98, I had a 45 mph wind gust (there had been a high wind advisory earlier in the day, but they had lifted it 1 hr before I came through) take an empty 53' container off a chassis, shearing the rear pins off, and lay it on it's side in the median. That had a pucker factor of 12 for me and 15 for the 4 wheeler that was just about to pass me as the container lifted in the air.

 

Wow. I 80 had a lot of blow overs in wyoming tonite...it was bad!!! Looked to me like they were leavi g them lay untill it calms down...it'll be a parking lot in the morning with rubberneckers

 

When I went thru signs said 65+ gusts mph....I had 43k of sugar. And still got moved around .it was a loooonnnggg ride

 

There's plenty more on Youtube.

Is it really worth it?

If you don't feel comfortable, don't chance it.