I found my RV, and I'm so grateful for everyone's help!

[rvlifer]

I'm not here to scare the original poster, not at all, but that term "frightening" did something to me! Never under estimate that the odds are against you, every time you drive a public highway. These folks never expected this either. Frightening .... yes....

No brake lights and the guy never slowed down. Probably didnt have a proper hitch and wasnt paying attention. Looks like the guy tried to correct the sway by turning the wheel back and forth instead of trying to slow down.

Things can happen even if you never leave the house. No fun living in fear. You get what you get so you might as well take advantage of it and live.

 

[JudyJB]

Wind is also very scary, so really slow down and possibly just park for a day if wind gets strong. (That can be only 25 mph in mountains where there are gusts ). I know about this because I once came up over a hill in Arizona and found myself and rig about 60% in lane next to me. Luckily no traffic.

When I started off with my new motorhome 12 years ago, my son said I would die in a fiery crash 200
Miles down the freeway. (Had never driven one before I bought mine ) I told him I could sit in my recliner and watch tv for the next 20 years and someone would find me dead in my chair. Much better to take the chance of a crash than spend rest of your life sitting!!!

 

[rvlifer]

If anyone is concerned about driving your rv i would highly recommend an advanced driving course. To really hone your driving skills try the stunt driving course

https://www.greatamericandays.com/experience/driving/advanced_driving

 

[DutchmenSport]

Maybe to clarify ... there is a good balance between a "healthy" fear (or a concern, or a caution) when we become RV owners (of any type). We can never become so comfortable in our tenured experiences that we feel invincible and feel nothing will ever happen to us.

A heightened "awareness" is a good thing. Maybe the term "frightening" is a bit over dramatic, but when you think about all that is riding on those tires, including your own life, please ... never, never, never become so complacent you are the exception and the laws of physic don't apply to you any more. THAT's when things happen.

Always be somewhat paranoid! Or overly cautious. But, never let your guard down with your RV. If that means when actually driving on the road, or sitting in a campsite. Things do happen when we don't expect.

 

[Kirk]

Wind is also very scary, so really slow down and possibly just park for a day if wind gets strong.

I have seen far higher winds than that along I25 & I80 in CO and WY. We once spent 4 hours traveling from Cheyenne WY to Rawlins (150 miles) with winds that were in the 40 mph range, gusting to more than 60 mph. We were traveling with the big trucks and seldom getting up to 45 mph, most of the time more like 30 mph. Upon reaching Rawlins we went into a campground to stay for better weather. If the wind is moving you around you need to slow down.

 

[Larry N.]

I have seen far higher winds than that along I25 & I80 in CO and WY.

Certainly that happens periodically on many segments of that road, plus along a number of other roads in those areas. My first RV encounter with those winds was in the 34' Bounder I had many years ago when about 25 miles or so north of Trinidad, CO we hit sudden strong winds and stronger gusts. That F-53 chassis wasn't fun then, and I had to slow down to about 30 mph on I-25. I kept worrying about getting blown over until we got to Walsenburg where we parked facing west and spent the night in a motel. It was bad.

I've seen similar winds in other areas along I-25, too, both north of there and south of there, even in New Mexico, plus in Wyoming as you did, Kirk.

That was part of the reason we went to a DP (I'd seen one pass me while fighting that wind, and he obviously was a lot less bothered). Some years later I encountered similar winds in that area in my DP and though I could feel those winds, the extra weight, the lower center of gravity, and the much reduced sail area behind my rear wheels meant that I didn't need to slow much, if at all, and was able to continue on my route home (north side of Denver area) with only minor additional exertion for the drive.

So the vehicle you're driving (and your experience in that vehicle) can make a lot of difference and the DPs I've had experience with can handle those conditions way better than gas class As, class Cs, semis, etc. more like a bus in that respect. That doesn't make it immune to the winds, of course, but it improves the situation a lot.

 

[MN Blue Skies aka Max]

It didn't occur to me, when my house was poisoning me from toxic mold, and I packed my bags and fled, and decided to reframe it as an opportunity for adventure, that it would be opening a doorway to a whole community of supportive people. I've been so grateful to everyone who has put really thoughtful comments on my posts, which has helped me consider different aspects that I did not necessarily think about before. I gained confidence and insight, and yesterday I found the perfect RV for me. I have decided to buy it. It is an arctic fox 29 5k. I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who put in the time and care to help me out. That's really cool. It also occurred to me, in the last few days, that my whole life, I have been a free spirit and misfit, and I just might find my tribe among you other roaming nomads.

Congratulations and welcome to the Tribe! Don't forget to stay in touch with this Tribe. As you've learned there's lots of knowledgeable, friendly RV folks here. It's also an opportunity to meet up with many like minded RVers.

 

[JudyJB]

I had watched a lot of Rv driving videos on YouTube, and those really did help. At least they taught me about tail-wag and how to avoid hitting curbs. (With the two feet of tail wag I gave, I always am looking in my right mirror if I turn left. This mainly applies to multiple lanes of traffic stopped at a light. Ditto for looking in left mirror if turning right.)

Another thing I do to avoid hitting curbs and messing up an expensive tire is to keep my mirror selection set to right. That way, I can drop that mirror to see my rear duallies as they approach the curb. With it set to the right mirror I can do it without taking my eyes off the turn.

And this may sound silly, but make sure everything is fastened down when you are driving a motorhome. Ford test track director who helped me with a course I wrote said even an apple can be fatal in a rollover. And those knife sets that attach to a wall with magnets look really scary to me!!!

The good thing is that after a few miles most of us become aware and careful drivers, and it really isn’t that hard.

 

[JudyJB]

I have seen far higher winds than that along I25 & I80 in CO and WY. We once spent 4 hours traveling from Cheyenne WY to Rawlins (150 miles) with winds that were in the 40 mph range, gusting to more than 60 mph. We were traveling with the big trucks and seldom getting up to 45 mph, most of the time more like 30 mph. Upon reaching Rawlins we went into a campground to stay for better weather. If the wind is moving you around you need to slow down.

This is an excellent reason why you should plan an extra day on a long trip or extra time in a short one. If you aren’t rushed, you are less
Likely to take chances.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Got home with all new tires and $2300 less.

Wow, that seems like a lot of money for four new tires. STs or LTs?

Wind is also very scary, so really slow down and possibly just park for a day if wind gets strong

Some of the other guys beat to the quote, but it is worth repeating.

Eastern I70 through Kansas and Colorado can be an experience on a very windy day. In 2022 while crossing Kansas on 70 the wind was over 50 mph with stronger gusts. We found a Harvest Host and got off the highway onto a network of dirt routes to travel 5 miles to the HH Winery. This place was great and by the end of the day, there were around 11 RV'ers there that got off 70 for the same reason. The next day still heading East, now in Colorado (The Worst Stretch of Interstate We Have Ever Traveled On in 17 years) the winds picked up to over 60 mph. They were so strong they ripped apart my main slide, 16', slide-out awning unraveling some of it from the roller tube. When we got to our campground in Longmont, CO I had a bourbon to settle my nerves, then went for a steak dinner. The next day I had to climb up to the roof and cut away the fabric with a razor knife. The awning was brand-new, installed about two weeks before it ripped apart. Upon returning home, the roller and mounting brackets were damaged also so the entire "new" awning had to be replaced.