To Tow or Not to Tow? – Is it Safe to Tow in High Winds?

Updated with new information 31/7/22

“He’s not the Messiah. He’s a very naughty boy!” Storm Brian prompted a lot of posts on caravan forums as to whether or not it is safe to tow in high winds.

Since Autumn, the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness – and the Autumn gales – is also the season for windsurfers to be jolly, I thought that I would share some windsurfing wisdom with you!

Over 200 years ago, Mr Beaufort kindly came up with his scale for wind speeds describing the OBSERVED EFFECT of wind, rather than simply the measured mph. Besides providing a means to estimate wind power without instruments, the Beaufort Scale helps put wind speeds into context;

Force	mph	Description	Observed Effects
0	0 – 1	Calm	Calm. Smoke rises vertically.
1	1 – 3	Light Air	Wind direction seen by smoke drift but not wind vane.
2	4 – 7	Light Breeze	Wind felt on face; leaves rustle, ordinary vanes move.
3	9 – 12	Gentle Breeze	Leaves & small twigs in constant motion; wind extends light flag.
4	13 – 18	Moderate Breeze	Raises dust & loose paper; small branches moved. A 27 foot caravan could start to slide – see data tables below
5	19 – 24	Fresh Breeze	Small trees in leaf begin to move. Crested wavelets form on inland water.
6	25 – 31	Strong Breeze	Large branches in motion. Whistling heard in telegraph.
7	32 – 38	Near Gale	Whole trees in motion. Inconvenience felt when walking. Sufficient to flip a 27 foot caravan – see data tables below
8	39 – 46	Gale	Breaks twigs off trees. Impedes progress.
9	47 – 54	Severe Gale	Slight structural damage; chimney pots & slates removed.
10	55 – 63	Storm	Sedom experienced inland. Trees uprooted; considerable structural damage.
11	64 – 72	Violent Storm	Very rarely experienced. Accompanied by widespread damage.
12	73 – 83	Hurricane

Beware the Non-Linear Progression!

The progression of wind speeds up the Beaufort scale is not linear, it is exponential. This reflects the significant increase in force on sails (or caravans!) as the wind speed creeps up. For example, a Force 4 is not twice as strong as a Force 2, it is SIXTEEN TIMES more powerful!

What else can affect the impact of wind?

1. Sudden Gusts – wind speeds (forecast or reported) are always stated as an average. Gusts, caused by all manner of things (see below) can easily be one or more Force greater than average. Gusts happen suddenly; they can upturn the unwary caravan or knock it quickly into a snake!
2. Climate – the same wind speed in a nice hot country will pack less of a punch than the cold, damp and much more dense air that we have in the UK.
3. Wind Direction – a strong headwind is catching only the narrowest face of a high-sided vehicle. A side wind has a big target – it will hit you like a steam hammer!
4. Terrain – Wind will funnel through narrow spaces, such as valleys or between buildings. It will be blocked by or accelerated around obstacles. Both of these effects will strengthen gusts. In view of the photo below, I also feel bound to mention katabatic winds – cold air tumbling down mountainsides.
5. Size and Weight of your vehicle – the larger and lighter it is, the more likely it is to be affected. The data below shows the size of the wheels makes little difference.
6. Distribution of Load – your caravan is much more likely to go into an irretrievable snake if the weight is concentrated at the back, and is more likely to overturn if weight is placed high up. Check out this video on YouTube for a quick demonstration of how loading can affect sway.

What Windspeed is Dangerous for Towing?

Published research is difficult to come by, but I have found a study by the Western Transport Institute at Montana State University which ties the sliding and overturn wind speeds of various recreational vehicles and combos while being driven at highway speeds. Note that for a large (27.5 foot) caravan can start to slide and sway with a side wind speed as low as 16 mph. A 34 mph gust can overturn it.

Recreational vehicles are more stable when stationary. A study by Kent State University determined that wind speeds of 53 mph could overturn a stationary 18-foot caravan, whereas it took 65 mph winds to affect a a 20-foot motorhome.

Sliding and Overturn Wind Speeds for RVs With a 3-Foot Wheel Diameter

RV Type	Empty Weight (lbs)	Length (feet)	Height (feet)	Overturning Wind Speed (MPH)	Sliding Wind Speed (MPH)
Motorhomes	9,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 15,500 22,000 27,000	26 30 34 36 43 40 45	10 12 12 12 11 12 13	80 65 67 70 74 84 81	35 31 32 33 34 40 40
Camper Vans	4500 7000	17 20	7 10	101 80	38 35
Travel Trailers (Caravans)	1800 2200 3300 4000	27.5 18 27.5 28	9 9 9 10	39 53 52 51	16 22 22 22
Fifth Wheel Trailers	4500 5000 6000 8000	34 36 31 36	10.2 10.5 11 12	37 37 41 41	21 22 25 25

Sliding and Overturn Wind Speeds for RVs With a 2-Foot Wheel Diameter

RV Type	Empty Weight (lbs)	Length (feet)	Height (feet)	Overturning Wind Speed (MPH)	Sliding Wind Speed (MPH)
Motorhomes	9,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 15,500 22,000 27,000	26 30 34 36 43 40 45	10 12 12 12 11 12 13	79 65 67 70 74 80 83	34 30 31 33 33 39 39
Camper Vans	4500 7000	17 20	7 10	100 80	36 34
Travel Trailers (Caravans)	1800 2200 3300 4000	27.5 18 27.5 28	9 9 9 10	38 52 52 51	16 21 21 22
Fifth Wheel Trailers	4500 5000 6000 8000	4500 5000 6000 8000	10.2 10.5 11 12	37 37 41 40	21 21 24 25

Data from  (Comparative Evaluation of Wind Warning Systems, 2006 – pdf)

But There are Lorries on the Road…

In high winds, sailors have the option to reduce the number of sails or reef (fold) the sails to present a smaller area to the wind. Windsurfers simply select a smaller sail. An unladen Tautliner lorry can remove its curtains. Caravanners have no way of reducing the area of caravan available to catch the wind!

Caravans are large and tall, but they are relatively light. My rig is similar in size to an articulated lorry, but the caravan weighs in at feeble 1.5t, so it is much more likely to be buffeted and thrown off course by the wind than a fully-laden HGV, which weighs in at 40t!

I’ll be OK if I keep my Speed Down, won’t I?

“You’ll be FINE if you drive at 50mph.” There is no doubt that speed has a lot to do with safety, but it is misleading to suggest that simply reducing speed means that there is no risk when towing in wind, or in adverse weather of any kind.

The study above shows that a 27 foot caravan could start to slide at wind speeds of 16 mph, and flip at just 34 mph.

The Western Transportation Institute

High winds will significantly increase the risk. But it is just a risk. There is always a chance that you (and the other road users that you put in danger) might get away with it.

On the other hand, you might not!

The Dangers of a DEADline

“But I’ve got to get there by…” Disaster Analysis almost always points to poor decision making and/or an arbitrary deadline of some sort as the root cause.

When a deadline comes into play, people tend to take risks that they would not otherwise even contemplate. “It’s the last day of my holiday. I have GOT to ski that avalanche-prone couloir. It’s my last chance!”

The awful disaster on Mt Everest in 1996 happened because the weather window was not quite long enough for the groups of climbers to make it to the summit and back. They knew that, but decided to chance it anyway. After all, they’d climbed for days, acclimatised, paid lots of money to be there, and might never get the chance again. Unfortunately, either descending or attempting to rescue their fellows, that decision cost eight of them their lives.

What are the Risks in High Winds?

1. Snaking or Overturning – Storm Brian delivered wind speeds of 40-50mph across the country. As mentioned above, gusts WILL be significantly greater than these averages. We have all experienced a sudden buffeting as we are hit by a gust or come out of a wind shadow; eg when overtaking a lorry. Just the sort of thing to knock you off balance – and your corrective actions are very likely to start a snake.
2. Flying Objects – Actor Gordon Kaye (who played René in the comedy “‘Allo ‘Allo‘) was critically injured when a lump of wood was blown through his windscreen during a storm. There is always a risk of branches or trees being brought down or other objects blowing around.

How Can I Live to Tow Another Day?

Personally, I would not choose to tow in what Mr. Beaufort describes as a ‘Severe Gale’ with the potential for gusts into the realms of ‘Storm Force’.

So is your journey really necessary or would it be more sensible to postpone? If you’re already asking the question as to whether or not it is safe to tow, you clearly have some doubt in your mind! A saying that has kept me safe through many of my adrenaline-fuelled adventures is “If you look at it and think you’re going to die, you probably will!”

There are lots of fun things that you can do on a windy day. If I were desperate for a weekend away, I would book a B&B not too far away and eliminate the risk. That way, I would be sure that I would live to tow another day!

Alternatively, I would rig a very, very small sail and get me straight out windsurfing!

Obviously, this is my humble opinion but I hope that it helps you with the decision making process.

Please also see my related blog, The Knowledge – Towing Safely & Legally

Mark and I have been touring Europe for a couple of years now and have driven and towed on some of Europe’s ‘Most Dangerous Roads.’ If you follow my blog (click follow or enter your email address) our towing tales and advice will drop straight into your inbox weekly! 

XC Weather is a very useful weather forecasting website which shows wind maps of the country and also gives an idea of the likely strength of gusts. 

Thank you to my friend Wayne for allowing me to use the photo of him enjoying Storm Brian on Chesil Beach. Wayne is a driftwood demon, who makes beautiful mirrors and furniture from the wild, wooden bounties of the ocean. Wayne was featured on Ben Fogle’s “Harbour Lives”. If you would like a unique piece for your home or a custom-made present for someone special, check out his website at Surf Mirrors

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