How light is too light?

[doug hodder]

While many of us strive to build "light"....I don't believe that it has been discussed as to what is "too light", and is there a "too light" point. I've been on 2 lane roads, with the driver window open, and had the back window blown out of a hatchback by the pressure from a passing large truck at speed. It pushed my utility trailer all over the road and with a light tow vehicle, made it a handful at the moment. I'd also bet that many of us have experienced being pushed about by either cross winds or passing vehicles.

I would think that a super light trailer while giving excellent gas mileage, may be an issue on the road in less than perfect conditions. Crossing I 80 in Wyoming at times, it's not uncommon to find both large trucks and RV's on their sides and at times, they flat close the road to trailers because of winds. While our trailers aren't as large as a semi trailer, many of our tow vehicles don't have the weight to control the sway either. Is anyone concerned about too light?...sort of thinking about the foamie type builds. For me...I hate towing in cross winds even with a standy at 1400#. Any thoughts? Doug

[Catherine+twins]

Oh, oh, wait, I know this one!

We have indeed discussed this in the Foamie section. The general thought is lower and wider is better. My first build was the first test case. Too tall for its wheel base and weight. It's a HF trailer, and I hadn't weighed it but it was between 400-500lbs and the camper box was just over 6 ft.

I was in southern New Mexico, north of Carlsbad, steady winds of 45-50, gusts probably 65-70 mph.

Penguino II is on the same trailer frame, but is shorter (4' 4").

Catherine and twins :woo

[doug hodder]

Sorry about your "blow over". I knew someone had it happen, but couldn't remember just who it happened to. So it appears that there is an elusive "sweet" spot for weight vs height vs width depending on wind conditions. That's a real tough one to counter. I'd also think that in addition to a lower profile, that something like a custom frame with a larger/heavier/axle, wheel/tire combo which may provide a lower center of gravity weight might be an asset. Just sort of thinking in advance. Doug

[asianflava]

I guess we need to ask Roly how the stacker behaved when he encountered an oncoming semi. It's (or was) the lightest trailer I can think of.

[Roly Nelson]

Hmmm, good subject, Doug. Come to think of it, encountering a semi has never evinced any concern, while towing any of my trailers. If it even gave my little Stacker a slight wobble, I might be a bit anxious, but at 280 lbs, 40 inches wide and only 4 ft 6 inches from the ground, it's been no problem. The same goes for my 450 lb 1/2 Nelson Woody, which is a bit higher at 5 ft 7 inches from ground to roof. Now the "Shrunk-Bunk", that's a different issue. I hardly know it is behind me, since I can't see it in my rear view mirror. It's a little over 3 feet high and weighs slightly more than 300 lbs. Dispite it's 48 inch length, I love it's 7 foot long bed!

On the way to Shasta last year, I swerved to avoid slamming my little Chevy Cruze into a 2 ft chunk of semi tire, that had flipped up from below a big truck. I did manage to avoid a direct grille hit, but the Stacker did a few brodies, both left and right before finally tracking correctly behind the car. The hole in the wooden fender has since been corrected. BTW, the new trolley top on the Stacker has been a welcome addition, and now it doesn't look like it came out of a Walt Disney parade. Sorry about stealing your stuff, Doug.
Roly, with 2 tears standing on end in the shop, along side of the woody and another weird one on the drawing board. Hey, it keeps me off of he couch, out of the bars and fends off the advances of sweet little 80 year old chicks, yeah, right. :-)

[Breytie]

NOOOOOOOO I do not want to hear this please Now that I finally got my mind to accept I will be building a plane and not a tank, I hear my "plane" may want to fly away?

[wagondude]

I also have been in the wind on I-80. Between Gillette and Buffalo I was sure my parents' class A was going over. It leaned hard over several times, but I never saw the tires lift (I was following). The next day we had a beautiful drive through the Bighorns on our way to Yellowstone. Dad commented that he never remembered the wind being that bad around Buffalo (he grew up there). He said he always remembered the wind being like that more in the Casper area. Remember, the purpose to building light is to allow headroom against the towing capacity for gear. The (probably mistaken) assumption is that the trailer will be loaded to near the TV tow capacity. In Catherine's case, she had stowed gear in the car that may have been of more help if it had been in the trailer (IIRC). If it were me running into high winds towing, I would get off the interstate and move to roads with lower speeds. That alone will reduce the tendency to blow over.

[GPW]

[GPW]

SC, I’ve lived/painted out West for some time ... Loved it !!! Been caught in those winds before ... not Fun at all !!!
I’d love to come on up for a visit , but we’ve got other things going on that time of year... Would be fun , thanks for the offer !!!

[Mary C]

I saw the wind sheer in GA on I20 lay an empty 18 wheeler on its side so it can happen anywhere, any time so as far as I know and can say one word......................Ballast!!!!!!!!


Mary C.

[rebapuck]

When it's windy, I leave the VWs at home. They tend to change lanes on breezy days.

[Mary C]

during my scouting days I had a 12 passenger van......Wind could be very bad at times. once took the back end into the other lane I followed without a wreck. I don't think how light is a worry, I think it is a worry when you take anything out when the wind is blowing too hard, I believe it is common sense and being mother nature smart. I have a friend who's house is gone, no really, they were not home and in less than 24 hours their home ,the whole thing was gone. there was only concrete boxes that held up the corners, but there were over 800 homes in various states of being gone. So don't take it out if it is bad weather.

Mary C.

[Wolffarmer]

The first trip I took my TD on I got in some side winds. Not fun to look in the mirror and seeing 6 inches extra TD in one mirror. It is mostly light vs volume. If you have light and low volume not so much a problem. But go the other way light and large volume you have more problems. Also the shape/angle of the sides. Most of our TDs have nice flat sides with squared off corners. But making a rounded corner adds complexity to the build, even though we would lose very little usable space inside. ( like an Airstream )

Randy

[GPW]

Wonder how many TD’s have actually blown over in the past ? We know of only the one , and there wasn’t really much damage ...

[robfisher]

Just came across Wyoming on I 80. Winds were as usual. I made sure to load most of our "midwest loot" into the the tourette and it towed great. We had extra people with us who were tenting. Trying to set up a tent in 55 MPH wind is quite a task. Made me appreciate our tear just a little more.