[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"LiveBlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/towing-a-travel-trailer-in-high-winds\/#LiveBlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/towing-a-travel-trailer-in-high-winds\/","headline":"Towing a Travel Trailer in High Winds","name":"Towing a Travel Trailer in High Winds","description":"Pulling out of an RV campground only to find yourself towing a travel trailer in high winds is no joke. For people who regularly end up needing to tow their trailer (or camper for that matter) when the storms are predicted, we\u2019ve put together this guide to keep your family safe. We also advise when […]","datePublished":"2021-06-29","dateModified":"2024-01-05","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/author\/pete\/#Person","name":"Pete","url":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/author\/pete\/","identifier":2,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/30c83c48d82c080140bb064c7762d28a.jpg?ver=1776229828","url":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/30c83c48d82c080140bb064c7762d28a.jpg?ver=1776229828","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Living Pioneer","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/living-pioneer-icon-logo-50x50-1.png","url":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/living-pioneer-icon-logo-50x50-1.png","width":50,"height":50}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/road-3075966_1920-600x400r.jpg","url":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/road-3075966_1920-600x400r.jpg","height":400,"width":600},"url":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/towing-a-travel-trailer-in-high-winds\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iQwahPcx8tk#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iQwahPcx8tk","name":"2017 F450 TOWING HUGE RV in High winds with NO Sway Control! Plus forgot a HUGE step!","description":"Please take a moment to subscribe to my channel! 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Table of Contents                                    show                                                Towing a Travel Trailer in High Winds                            How Much Wind Can a Travel Trailer Withstand?                            How Much Wind Does It Take to Flip a Trailer?                            What is a Safe Speed to Pull a Travel Trailer?                            Towing Travel Trailer in 20 MPH Wind?                            What Wind Speed is Dangerous for Towing?                            Is a Larger Travel Trailer More Stable Than a Smaller One?                            How Do You Pull a Trailer in High Winds?                            Closing Thoughts                            Related Articles        Towing a Travel Trailer in High WindsTowing a trailer in high winds or even when the outdoors is fairly breezy might give you pause.However, the good news is that it\u2019s not as bad potentially as handling fifth wheels in high winds. That\u2019s typically worse because the greater length and especially the added height creates substantially greater wind resistance.How Much Wind Can a Travel Trailer Withstand?A travel trailer should be securely hitched to the truck. Something like a Ford F150 or F250 truck is ideal for towing. It does depend on how heavy your travel trailer is when fully loaded and the pulling capacity of your truck too.When it\u2019s securely hitched, then that provides added stability when stationary. However, what\u2019s it like when towing a travel trailer in strong winds?How Much Wind Does It Take to Flip a Trailer?Overturning a trailer only requires strong gusts of wind of over 30-35 MPH to do so.Sometimes, RVers get lucky driving over 60 MPH with a steady crosswind of 30 MPH without any difficulties. However, other drivers may find that too unnerving to attempt it themselves.It can be easier to drive with a strong crosswind than with an equally defiant headwind. Certainly, a good tailwind is less of a problem, and among the three types, it\u2019s probably the easiest to drive through.Getting a pair of sway bars can help to stabilize and avoid sudden shifts in position when towing due to high winds.The thing to look out for is whether the travel trailer has begun to wiggle as it\u2019s being driven down the road. You\u2019ll know how the hitch and trailer usually behave under normal towing conditions, so how is it behaving differently?The greater the movement, the more you should be slowing down because higher speeds can exacerbate the problem.Read Also: Driving Class A RV in Windy ConditionsAlso Read: How to Secure a Travel Trailer in High WindsWhat is a Safe Speed to Pull a Travel Trailer?The max speed of towing a trailer is 50 MPH or below. It\u2019s sometimes possible to ride (or glide) at 60 MPH, but that\u2019s not for the faint of heart.We would say that if you\u2019re new to towing a trailer or camper, then air on the side of caution. Don\u2019t be in a rush to get anywhere!Slowing your roll to 30 MPH or so is going to be far more comfortable for the driver and other passengers than trying to push any RV speed limits.Besides this, all that bouncing around at higher speeds with the wind buffeting the trailer is going to make a mess inside. You\u2019ll probably spend a while cleaning up if everything isn\u2019t properly secured before heading out. So, it\u2019s not worth towing any faster.Towing Travel Trailer in 20 MPH Wind?For reasonably modern travel trailers, a wind speed of 20 MPH isn\u2019t so bad.Many trailer owners living in states where the wind is regularly this gusty think nothing of it. However, it can be understandably unnerving for inexperienced people.If it\u2019s your first time, just drive slower than you normally would do. This can help to deal with potential potholes in the road that could put the trailer off-balance for a moment.Combined with a sudden gust with the trailer off-balance, it could lift one set of wheels completely off the ground. It\u2019s best to avoid that.What Wind Speed is Dangerous for Towing?If the wind speed begins to edge nearer to 50 MPH, we will pull off and wait for the storm to pass.It is just not worth risking the safety of the driver, passengers, and other vehicles and people on the road to get somewhere that little bit sooner. Also, there\u2019s a good reason why many states have informational displays on the side of the road advising all drivers to slow down due to high wind speeds. Heed this warning, otherwise, you may have an expensive repair bill come the morning.Read Also: Single Axle vs Double Axle Travel Trailer?Is a Larger Travel Trailer More Stable Than a Smaller One?Not necessarily and often it\u2019s not the case.Wind resistance is the main problem when towing a trailer. A strong headwind when driving on the highway can cause the trailer to buck about. The larger the trailer, the greater the resistance. That\u2019s even truer with crosswinds.While logic suggests that a camper or small travel trailer is lighter and so will bounce around when towing in high winds, it\u2019s also true that they offer less wind resistance.The towing vehicle also takes the brunt of any headwind, so it\u2019s felt less than you might think. But we\u2019d also suggest driving more slowly with a lighter travel trailer or a camper of some kind because they\u2019re not as heavy.https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iQwahPcx8tkVideo can\u2019t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: 2017 F450 TOWING HUGE RV in High winds with NO Sway Control! Plus forgot a HUGE step! (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iQwahPcx8tk)How Do You Pull a Trailer in High Winds?Here are a few tips for doing it right:Get Sway bars installed: To benefit from greater stability when towing, purchase a set of sway bars. One is okay and will make a difference; two will make a more noticeable difference in keeping your travel trailer in the correct lane.Monitor Weather apps: Have a reliable weather app on your phone to check the local wind speed. Also, ensure that you have a decent 4G LTE or 5G cellular package with sufficient data capacity too.Head into the wind: Don\u2019t try to drive on highways where you\u2019re getting battered like a fish by a crosswind that\u2019s blowing your trailer all over the road. Try to reroute your journey to a more circuitous one to strategically head into the wind.Locate back roads: Using back roads rather than highways may reduce your exposure to the full strength of the wind\u2019s power. That\u2019s assuming the back roads won\u2019t become a dust blizzard or off-roading is so bumpy that it\u2019s doing more damage than good.Plan places to stop: In case you reach a point where the wind speeds have picked up and it\u2019s necessary to pull off the highway, plan for several places on the route to stop. If these have a form of shelter that the travel trailer can be parked behind, whether that\u2019s a tall building or other structure, all for the better.S-L-O-W   D-O-W-N: Speed quickly multiplies the problems associated with windy driving conditions. Don\u2019t make it worse. Don\u2019t be so heavy-footed.Closing ThoughtsDo not consider towing a travel trailer in high winds of 50 MPH or greater.Stick to towing speed of 20-30 MPH to be on the safe side of the weather. Keep a good eye on the weather reports from your smartphone too.Wind speeds can change quickly as a storm gathers pace and ferocity.Also, when you\u2019re traveling and crossing either country lines or state lines, the weather can change surprisingly fast. Be mindful of that to not get caught out by it.By leaving a margin of safety between the acceptable wind speeds that you can safely tow and the maximum wind speed that your travel trailer can handle, these give you a useful margin of safety for those times when the wind picks up speed quickly.Related ArticlesDriving Class A RV in Windy ConditionsHow to Secure a Travel Trailer in High WindsFifth wheels in high windsSingle Axle vs Double Axle Travel Trailer?"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Towing a Travel Trailer in High Winds","item":"https:\/\/livingpioneer.com\/towing-a-travel-trailer-in-high-winds\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]