Driving in Wyoming safely means paying attention.
A few years ago driving East on I-80 MM 129 (Arlington Exit) saw a couple standing forlornly in front of their new pickup and 5th wheel camper lying on the right side. Because of the wind they had stopped on the shoulder and got blown over sitting still. This was in the summer.
There are other highways where the wind can hurt you. I-29 from Sioux Falls to Fargo comes to mind.
Sisty’s work as an Insurance Adjuster takes her to these wrecks from time to time. 0300 when the call comes in? A nasty storm is in progress? She fires up the 4x4 and goes.
13 comments:
The big toy haulers and long rigs never appealed to me, WSF. Too expensive, too much work, too much trouble filling up with fuel, maneuvering here and there, wind, flat tires. And when you aren't using them, in many cities, you must pay to park them, insurance bills still roll in, etc.
LL
We are in total agreement. What I would like is a Class C 4x4 SRW. Not a six figure Earthroamer but something off road capable and innocuous to the general public.
Not interested in those rigs, either. Even an Airstream is too big for me, let alone the cost...
Well shucks.
Now I feel really stupid.
DRJIM
Not for me but I am getting too long in the tooth to sleep in a pickup bed with a camper shell. I had a small folding tent trailer that was ideal but wasn't robust enough for where I liked to go.
GB
Why? Go with what works for you and yours. Just as you wouldn't whirlybird into known icing, you pay attention to the weather.
Concur with WSF, GB. You're like me, the FIRST thing you check is the weather... Knowing and being able to ballast down those things does also help with towing.
Old NFO
Nothing like surviving your first really bad weather encounter to make you want to check conditions before you launch.
Alaska winds too! New Years we had a wind storm in the MatSu valley that was blowing tractor trailers over on there side and the roofs off stores in both Palmer and Wasilla. I never much was interested in campers. I did some family car camping with a tent, some tent camping from a river boat, hunting and a little hunting from a camp in the back of a pickup cap. By the way, the New Years weekend priest who was supposed come from Anchorage to say mass in Glennallen had to cancel because the road was closed in the Valley
HB
After living in tents for weeks at a time while an army engineer in Germany I never had much interest. One time at a rifle range I was late getting back from running the mail and no one saved me a spot in the tent. I slept in a 2 1/2 covered truck bed. That night the wind blew all the tents down. Hearing the commotion, looked out, smiled, and crawled back into my sleeping bag. Next morning I was all nice and dry while everyone else was wearing damp clothes, not that I said anything (like hell I didn't).
I live in the mouth of the Columbia Gorge. I get so sick of wind. UGHHHHH.
A few years ago the news showed some footage of a guy up at Crown Point. Windy day. He opened the door of his car, a huge gust came up and the door slammed backwards, breaking off.
Oops.
Ami
I've been in that Gorge many times. One scary plane ride was Portland to Pendelton - wish I drove.
I like LL's comment, practical and solution oriented. Then I read drjim and saw "Ashram" instead of "Airstream."
Hmmmmm. My mistake.
LSP
Different strokes for different folks. A lot of people working away from home base use them instead of motels which makes sense. Years back my parents lived in an Airstream while building one of their houses.
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