Trailer Blowing Over

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CrazyDog

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Does anyone have experience with a trailer overturning because of high winds? When would you be worried? Is there anything you can do to limit or prevent this from happening? I am concerned as I need to trailer my horse on a dual carriageway tomorrow night. My trailer is large (Equi-Trek) and we have very high winds at the moment.
 
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Is there anything you can do to limit or prevent this from happening?

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Yes - don't travel if you think the winds are too strong.
 
I know 3 people who have turned their trailers over but it was on the same stretch of road and probably due to going too fast. There are warnings there for towing vehicles to slow down as it is down hill with crosswinds. The horses were all ok.
If you drive slowly you should be okay.
 
Can't give specific advice on trailer with horse, but we have been away in the caravan and had to come home in high winds as couldn't really abandon it.. If you had to absolutely had to do the journey, and I'd think long and hard before doing it. Then, avoid open roads like motorways and dual carriage ways, stick to a more sheltered route, take your time, SLOW down and be patient, allow double the time for your journey and be prepared to call it a day if after first few miles. When possible we'd try to stay behind something bigger than us so we can travel in their slip stream. If you don't like it, don't do it, go home.. I would have huge reservations about traveling in high wind with horse on board..
 
I haven't had any bad experiences in trailer/lorries but I'm a wreck at the best of times re travelling. I just wouldn't travel if it was that windy. It is extremely windy where I am now (Lincolnshire) & there's no way I'd contemplate travelling my horses in it. There's ALWAYS another day.
 
havnt had any experience of it myself but have been told lots of horror stories of accidents my partner has seen as he is a lorry driver and seems to see them often dont risk it if winds too strong
 
I won't tow in very high winds, especially if open/fast roads. I have towed when it's been fairly windy but only on sheltered local slow roads. My car/trailer combo was very stable, in fact then I got to show the wind nearly took my door off when I opened it, yet my trailer didn't feel any different towing (Disco/Ifor 510).
Meant to be towing on Sunday so fingers crossed wind drops
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I personally would not risk it. Apart from for emergency treatment I cannot think of any good reason for risking it if you are already doubting it.
 
I find it bad enough driving my 7 1/2 tonne lorry in high winds which is far more stable than a trailer... A couple of times on motorways I've been really worried when it's been windy. Ok so a lorry is higher up than a trailer and therefore will catch the wind more, but is has more weight behind it which makes it more stable. Personally, I think anyone who travels a horse in high winds in anything other than a decent lorry is mad. It isn't worth risking your horses.
 
The car is definitely up to the job (Range Rover) and I would be driving slowly, but I would still be worried. Thanks for letting me know that I'm right to be concerned about this.

Forecast has the wind dying down overnight, so tomorrow should be all right but I will give this evening a miss.

Any ideas for when the wind speed and/or gusts make it dangerous? 20 mph? 40 mph?
 
No idea about "ideal" wind speeds etc but for the sake of a day or two surely you would be better to postpone the trip? Unless a case of absolute life or death it just simply isn't worth it.
 
Equitreks are quite stable, having a wide base and a strong reinforced hitch. (Spoke to dealer a lot as its quite a high trailer, I know theres a proper word for the bit Im talking about!) I never feel mine snake or waver , except when it unladen and we are somewhere stupidly windy.However I wouldt ever risk my horses or my safety .
 
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