Small problem..well maybe a Large problem.

REO6205 · Feb 8, 2018

scottied67 · Feb 9, 2018

Lepton1 said: ↑

This is important advice @Gently

@scottied67 you might want to post a video about passing in a high broadside gusting wind. I run these kind of winds regularly.

Here's a thumbnail of the challenge.

Traveling in the right lane the crown of the road (at the zipper) would normally have you pulling the steering wheel slightly to the left. However, with a gusting broadside wind from the right you have to have a loose grip on the wheel and noodle arms to quickly make adjustments to the right and back left again to track a straight line.

Now you need to pass another truck.

You "dip your toe" into the hammer lane, to borrow Scottie67's phrase, get all the way in the left lane, and now you are wanting to pull the wheel to the right if there is no wind and then right a lot more if there is a gust.

As you approach the truck you are passing you start hitting the vortices coming off the back of his trailer. Those vortices are being pushed downwind, into your lane. You will start getting really active with the steering wheel to track a straight line ON THE LEFT FOG LINE. I don't care if the pavement drops off just on the other side of that fog line, you stay ON THE FOG LINE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PASS.

Why? Because you have no idea whether you are passing a rookie, an overconfident driver with one hand on the wheel, or a distracted driver. Stay WELL CLEAR until you complete the pass.

As you get even with the trailer you are passing you will then get hit by vortices coming over the top of that trailer. It will knock you both left and right. Stay loose, concentrate on your line on that left fog line, and be ready to move the steering wheel dramatically at times to keep your line.

Now you approach the nose of the truck you are passing. That's when you get hit by a hard blast, the wake of the nose. DON'T OVER CORRECT, but do be prepared to pull hard right.

Then you come even and that wake disappears for a moment. Then the second bow wake hits you just ahead of him. HOLD THAT FOG LINE.

Now you are coming clear and the gusting wind starts hammering you again. Hold that fog line until you are clear of the truck you are passing. I never look in my passenger side mirror until that truck disappears from my hood globe mirror. I can see it out of my peripheral vision without turning my head. Only when it disappears from that mirror do I look into my passenger side mirror to start judging when it is safe to get back over.

Be aware that going under bridges or other wind barriers the sudden absence of wind can suck you back to the right.

Never ever over correct. It's a good idea to practice lane changes if there's no traffic around. Get used to riding the fog lines on both sides in all conditions.
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