driving in strong wind

If you are Westbound and that electronic sign over the highway at Laramie is restricting light trailers, I would get off and contact your dispatch. If you are still unsure after talking to dispatch ask to speak with your safety dept. They will know the Wyoming regs and assess the risk factoring in your very limited experience.

 

mostly it is how you feel
one guy feels safe doesn't mean you do
contact dispatch that your not feeling safe they can't say anything to you

 

It also depends how that trailer has been loaded, but always think about your career and future. If that tips, it is all your fault and it's on your record. Unless I had 40K+ in the box I wouldn't drive in the 50mph winds. A sustained 50mph wind will have gusts that are much higher.

 

if you don't feel comfortable with that light load, I would park it.

those winds up there can flip ya in a heart beat.

used to live in Green River, Wyo.

 

You can call 511 periodically, and using the prompts, you can check on the highway restrictions. I experienced exactly the same thing a couple weeks ago right there. After about 5 hrs they lifted the restriction and I made it on to Wamsutter. I was MT, so it was a no brainer for me.

 

Wy is one state that's always windy.If you take it nice and slow you shouldn't have any trouble.Ive hauled light and heavy loads many times thru Wyoming.I didn't think about it being windy which probably got me thru many windy days.Just make sure to hug the shoulder because your trl does fish tail.

 

Hmmm at 3:02, intellicast reports 14 MPH winds WSW'ly at Laramie ... Yes that weight is "light" but it mostly depends on the angle the wind is generally hitting your truck if you're going "east" and if the wind is blowing due to a NW origin cold blast, much of the wind should be hitting the back of your trailer meaning you are given a bit of a lee-way. When the wind is a guartering head wind or straight from the side, that's when you should be really concerned when they are gusting over 45 MPH concerned. Try and use the crown of the road to "lean into" the wind where possible if it gets really bad to get you to a safe place to stop.

 

A 30 mph gust, straight broadside, can flip an empty trailer. I've seen a lot of trucks blown off the road on that stretch of I-80. If you're going east, it usually gets much better once you get past Cheyenne and into NE, but as others have said, if you don't feel safe then park it.