Rookie driver here...wind and bobtailing

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Be very careful bobtailing in any weather.

 

Bobtails are NOTORIOUSLY twitchy to drive. Slow down and don't yank around on the steering wheel. Make smooth control inputs: brake, throttle, clutch, steering. SMOOOOOOOOTH and EEEEEEEEEEEEEEASYYYYYYY!!

 

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BLOW OVER BOBTAIL IN 30MPH WINDS. You aren't going to blow a bobtail over in 60 mph winds

 

That's the airride talking. You have that airride, airide cab, airride seating and so on. Leans alot.

Bobtail is actually better than having a trailer. Ultimately being absolutely loaded to 80000 is the best in anything beyond 40.

When you are hit with strong gust shoving you. Don't steer into it and lean to where you flip. As soon your steering wheel feel gets from tight to really loose you are losing her fast and on your way over. "Pay off" before the gust, surrender your lane position a few inches over a few seconds, you are moving to one side preferably the paved shoulder. Eventually the gust will pass and you can reclaim the lane you lost.

As long your suspensing has that lean and bounces back a little bit you are ok. Let her dance a little. But when the suspension goes full lean and stays there or begins to creak etc you are already on your way over if you dont pay off. You probably will go over anyway.

As a absolute last resort especially if you are really going, spin that wheel into the wind and get your nose into it FAST regardless of where you are. (Make sure no one is riding next to or behind you for that escape)

Ultimately either it's a NOAA high wind warning or a bridge closure or even your gut in fear you park it and wait a while. Go to sleeper and unwind or get a hotel room.

I use CBBT (Norfolk to Tidewater) rules for wind safety, they are a major ocean going road bridge at which certain wind speeds restrictions go up before closure at 60. You do not want to be on the water at 60. that's near hurricane.

 

You’d probably be okay. But if you don’t feel safe. It’s best to stay parked. A moment of panic, can cause a lifetime of regret.

I can’t speak for your company or dispatch. But I’d rather pass you sitting in a safe place. Than have to sit for hours, waiting on them to clean up the chaos.

 

Like X1 sez, the air ride will cause it to move around, but it would have to blow pretty hard to blow a bobtail over, like a tornado. Empty box trailer, there's your worry.

 

Try bobtailing from Houston to Denver on snow/ice, Texans on ice is not the name of a broadway production, it's scarier.

 

Well...like Lester and Heavy were talking about...Id much rather be bobtail than pulling an empty van trailer.After driving in the wind 1000 times or so,youll get better at "babysitting" the steering. Common mistakes new drivers make is "Yanking the wheel left and right" ,concern about remaining in the 'absolute center" of the lane.Obviously,strong gust will move your lane position momentarily a few inches.Yes,you Dont want to let the wind blow you into a vehicle next to ya,but its usually possible to let er drift a little & get your lane center back.Bobtail does sometimes feel like youre gonna lose it ( but, Not really)...just feels like it...especially 30mph gusts.I drive a lot down by the Dales Oregon,Eastern Washington.Sometimes 40mph winds,combined with rutty roads and lightly loaded (or empty trailer) will really keep you alert.When pulling a hill,will often run one gear lower at 53mph 1400 rpms to keep a"pull" on the nose of that empty trailer.Running downhill is the worst,because,you kinda have the illusion the trailer wants to get in frontta ya.Once you get more experience in the wind youll get better at it.Yes,there is sometimes when "its Best to pull that empty trailer over and wait hour or 2.Most of the trucks blowing your doors off will be decently loaded flatbeds,containers etc.