another towing in the wind question

[ww2nut]

i am towing from south wales to Trowbridge tomorrow morning (sunday) the forcast is giving the wind speed as 16-20 mph winds, i understand that giving me a safe wind speed to tow in is a bit 'how long is a peice of string' but is this a safe wind speed?? i will be crossing the newer severn bridge. any advice most welcome,

 

[Lutz]

It's less a question of wind speed that affects they way the outfit handles, more from which direction and, above all, any gusts. If the wind is always coming from the same direction and there are no gusts, especially from the side, you can tow quite safely in almost gale force winds.

 

[RayS]

So long as your outfit is a suitable match and your nose weight more or less as it should be, you should be fine. If the wind at the bridge is too strong they won't let you cross, but this does not happen very often.
Keep an eye on flags, smoke etc. so you know which way the wind is coming from and if very strong then reduce your speed. HGVs passing can be disturbing if the wind is coming from your right hand side as you get a short period of 'shelter' when they are alongside.
As you say, the whole question is a variable as a piece of string, but with a well matched and well loaded outfit I would be ( and am) happy towing in winds up to 40 or 50 mph and have towed in much higher. If you travel any distance into a stong headwind you will notice a considerable increase in fuel consumption - again, slowing down a bit helps.

 

[ww2nut]

thanks for the advice most helpfull, the wind tomorrow is directly behind us all the way so should be a nice tow really, cheers

 

[ww2nut]

thanks for the advice most helpfull, the wind tomorrow is directly behind us all the way so should be a nice tow really, cheers

 

[Lutz]

the wind tomorrow is directly behind us all the way

Really? Never a bend in the road?

 

[hgv dave]

the second severn bridge is not too bad because of the high barriers on the side of the bridge,it does help a lot.
as my name suggests,i drive a hgv for a living and i remember one time going over thelwall bridge on the m6,i was one of three hgvs side by side going over the bridge when it was very windy

hgv dave

 

[emmitdb]

Greetings,

If there was one "thing" that I would like to be introduced as the norm on UK roads it would be the introduction of a system of "wind socks" on all major routes throughout the land.

Whenever we are in France it is the one thing that stands out as a bonus for towing. How many times when out in the UK do we think we know where the wind is coming from, but local geographical conditions alter the status quo. The installation of Wind Socks would give an accurate assessment of the prevailing conditions.