Question about parked in high winds

You are solid, nothing to worry about at that weight.

 

You’re not going to blow over. Try & get some sleep, that wind in WY is no joke. Your learning same way everyone else did, now you’ll know what to be prepared for.

 

You’re good. I’ve ran I-80 Wyoming nightly for over a decade.

 

I parked in those conditions one night north of Casper. I was at a truck stop that had a large gravel yard and hardly any trucks. I positioned my truck so that it was facing into the wind to minimize the rocking.
In the morning as soon as I hit the highway there was a class A motor home lying on its side.

 

You will be fine with the landing gear up, however, I'd say put it down if it gives you piece of mind and helps you relax.

Then put a note on your steering wheel to go raise it before driving off....you are stressed enough by the sounds of it that you could forget that little detail later.

With the weight you have you will be fine. Think of the motion as the same as on a nice swell on the ocean and hit the bunk for a nap.

 

Use another truck & trailer like a wind breaker.

Park with your trailer doors facing the wind.

Park with the tractor bent, compared to the trailer for more crosswind resistance.

Stay out of Wyoming.

 

I rode-out Hurricane Hugo at a Flying J (was brand-new at the time...), with my JB Hunt rig. Trucks were parked in marked boundaries in the lot; my load was fairly light (around 20k), and I did wind my landing gears down, but kept the trailer connected to the tractor. After spending the night inside the driver's lounge with candles and lanterns once the electricity died, in the morning I went out to survey the damage. My tractor was undamaged, but at some point during the night, my 53' dry van had come in contact with the reefer parked next to me. his was heavier, so I assume it was my trailer that had tipped. We took pictures, exchanged info, and I waited for phone service to be restored (and for I-85 to reopen), to call my safety department. So, during a cat 3 storm, a rig at roughly 50k CAN tip.

 

On a windy chilly night you're better off parking with your butt to the wind or your engine will have a hell of a time staying warm if you're idling. That's what shutters or winter-fronts to cover the radiator used to be for.