From experience of putting a lorry on its drivers side. I would definitely recommend putting it on the passenger side as even though I held the steering wheel tight my right arm grazed the tarmac when sliding so I lost a fair dent of meat and scars from forearm to shoulder.
Didn’t have to worry about the windscreen as that came out by itself in the crash, so once the ambulance guys got me on my feet I just walked out the windscreen and into the ambulance.
robroy:
Dafproblems:
By doing 35mph you’re exposed to the high winds for a longer period of time. Trucks get blown over at a stand still so speed makes no difference in that regard. But doing 35mph will hurt less than if you go over at 56mph.My motto is flat out, get the [zb] out of dodge.
Yep, I was told the same years ago by an old hand.
I asked his advice when we were pulling max volume single axle step frame box van foam carriers…[zb] awful things they were in the winds.
From that day to this I have gone flat out in high winds, with every trailer, with no probs…(so far.)
I dont know if it is scientifically or aerodynamically accurate or not, but it works for me.
Wheelie 
Experienced that many a time, I have rang the office a few times to tell them that I have parked up and won’t be moving until the weather conditions allow!
Our rigid fleet ( when we had one!) had concrete paving flags fitted as ballast.
I wouldn’t say a constant speed of wind would blow you over, if you drive accordingly and adjust your speed. It’s a gust that would do it.
I was travelling to work the Wednesday when it was windy on my motorbike, so feel the elements. I only cross town so no real speed.
Anything over 40 and It was pushing me to the side and was uncomfortable. when I slowed down, it was fine. It’s the gust’s that really catch you out.
It is possibly worth remembering that the tachograph unit records a speed trace. If something happens it is better to be able to point at the speed trace and say you were doing an appropriate speed for the conditions.
Noremac:
It is possibly worth remembering that the tachograph unit records a speed trace. If something happens it is better to be able to point at the speed trace and say you were doing an appropriate speed for the conditions.
But an ‘appropriate speed’ is not definite, and there are no official rules or guidelines.
As I said, my idea of an appropriate speed is…‘just keep it going’, cos it has worked for me personally for years, so I would have no qualms in presenting the tacho speed,.and would argue my point.
Others, as we have seen, say an ‘appropriate speed’ is to go slowly.
So how would it work exactly ?
Pennineman:
robroy:
Dafproblems:
By doing 35mph you’re exposed to the high winds for a longer period of time. Trucks get blown over at a stand still so speed makes no difference in that regard. But doing 35mph will hurt less than if you go over at 56mph.My motto is flat out, get the [zb] out of dodge.
Yep, I was told the same years ago by an old hand.
I asked his advice when we were pulling max volume single axle step frame box van foam carriers…[zb] awful things they were in the winds.
From that day to this I have gone flat out in high winds, with every trailer, with no probs…(so far.
I dont know if it is scientifically or aerodynamically accurate or not, but it works for me.Our rigid fleet ( when we had one!) had concrete paving flags fitted as ballast.
Yep, they did exactly the same with the foam carrier trailers.
robroy:
But an ‘appropriate speed’ is not definite, and there are no official rules or guidelines.
As I said, my idea of an appropriate speed is…‘just keep it going’, cos it has worked for me personally for years, so I would have no qualms in presenting the tacho speed,.and would argue my point.
Others, as we have seen, say an ‘appropriate speed’ is to go slowly.
So how would it work exactly ?
Everyone makes their own choice and every situation isn’t the same either, just thought it was worth mentioning.
It kind of reminds me of that Sully ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ film, which was a true story of course. (Okay, it was a plane I know.) The Sully guy saved all on board, but was still initially lambasted by the aviation authorities for not making it to an airport. Turned out the pilots they used in the simulator had prior knowledge of what they were attempting and had 17 attempts before they actually made it.
I just thought maybe, if you think there is a serious chance of going over, keep it slow, not because of what you think, but because of what you think the authorities may think.
Noremac:
robroy:
But an ‘appropriate speed’ is not definite, and there are no official rules or guidelines.
As I said, my idea of an appropriate speed is…‘just keep it going’, cos it has worked for me personally for years, so I would have no qualms in presenting the tacho speed,.and would argue my point.
Others, as we have seen, say an ‘appropriate speed’ is to go slowly.
So how would it work exactly ?Everyone makes their own choice and every situation isn’t the same either, just thought it was worth mentioning.
It kind of reminds me of that Sully ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ film, which was a true story of course. (Okay, it was a plane I know.) The Sully guy saved all on board, but was still initially lambasted by the aviation authorities for not making it to an airport. Turned out the pilots they used in the simulator had prior knowledge of what they were attempting and had 17 attempts before they actually made it.
I just thought maybe, if you think there is a serious chance of going over, keep it slow, not because of what you think, but because of what you think the authorities may think.
Yeh, ok, I take your point.
But…
I personally could not gaf what the authorities thought tbh with you.
The way I see it after pulling high sided trailers since… (not saying the year cos it depresses me ) and not blowing over, despite coming very close a couple of times, (including driving over Thelwall the same night Michael Fish lost his reputation in the mid 80s… google it) …I would argue all day long that it is because of the way I have dealt with it.
Now I may blow over next week, who knows, but I still stick to my opinion.
So given the choice of staying shiny side up whilst giving it hell on the throttle with Bon Jovi on full pelt, and letting out mad manic laughs for effect 
, or…
Ending up on my side while driving like Sploomy… in order to ‘look good’ to the ‘authorities’ 
, you can guess which way I’ll be going. 
Rob, you seem to assume that people you talk to on here are Millennials or something. I’m a later Generation X. I remember the storm.
Noremac:
Rob, you seem to assume that people you talk to on here are Millennials or something. I’m a later Generation X. I remember the storm.
Sorry mate, didn’t mean to offend, or patronise you.
Thing is most of my mates who I associate with these days are about 10 years or more younger than me or so, I tend to say things like ‘Do you remember when…■■■’',
And I get the reply usually ‘‘■■■■ off Rob we ain’t as old as you’’
Lads I’ve known all my life, ok I can relate to, but if I tend to meet guys for the first time,.who are the same age as me or slightly older, I find I have nowt or very little in common with them …but that’s just me.
And Generation X ■■?
Wasnt that Billy Idol’s backing band in early 80s.
(I’m confident YOU will remember them being an old ■■■■ like me 
)
I’ve had a few of those “do you remember XXXX moments” and got more or less the same reaction. Bloody kids.
peterm:
I’ve had a few of those “do you remember XXXX moments” and got more or less the same reaction. Bloody kids.
Yes, and they seem to become more frequent as time goes on. 
stu675:
the maoster:
Probably the same as you’d do if it landed on the passenger side but the other way around I imagine.Don’t all trucks have an emergency exit through the sunroof? Every truck I’ve driven did.
What if you don’t have a sunroof ?
Can opener?
Zac_A:
robroy:
Dafproblems:
By doing 35mph you’re exposed to the high winds for a longer period of time. Trucks get blown over at a stand still so speed makes no difference in that regard. But doing 35mph will hurt less than if you go over at 56mph.My motto is flat out, get the [zb] out of dodge.
Yep, I was told the same years ago by an old hand.
I asked his advice when we were pulling max volume single axle step frame box van foam carriers…[zb] awful things they were in the winds.
From that day to this I have gone flat out in high winds, with every trailer, with no probs…(so far.
I dont know if it is scientifically or aerodynamically accurate or not, but it works for me.Instinctively it seems sensible that higher speeds would be better, but the science contradicts instinct.
This guy seems to understand the science of it, but even if you make it past page 1, the maths on page 2 will stop you in your tracks
On the face of it, it’s just dealing with cars, but high-sided vehicles are only going to be more susceptible, not less so.
roperld.com/personal/rollovers.pdf
There was a documentary on the goggle box a few years back on wind and roll overs, they concluded box vehicles with a straight side and an ninety degree flat join to the roof would go over in the wind at a certain wind strength where as vehicle with box bodies with curved joins like pantechnicons etc could withstand another fourteen mph strength winds.
must be something in the speeding up theory , similar to if you are towing a caravan and it starts snaking you should accelerate out of it .Years back used to often see that, not seen any snaking recently though . Whats with these caravans with a black tarp on the front and they never have a rear window now.As a kid i liked looking out the back window when i was on holiday .
corij:
Whats with these caravans with a black tarp on the front and they never have a rear window now.As a kid i liked looking out the back window when i was on holiday .
The black tarp at the front of caravans is simply to keep the fronts clean.
The ‘no back windows’, is simply down to internal layout, and also the fact that the layout with the double berth right across the back is currently more or less out of fashion.
Washwipe:
Zac_A:
robroy:
Dafproblems:
By doing 35mph you’re exposed to the high winds for a longer period of time. Trucks get blown over at a stand still so speed makes no difference in that regard. But doing 35mph will hurt less than if you go over at 56mph.My motto is flat out, get the [zb] out of dodge.
Yep, I was told the same years ago by an old hand.
I asked his advice when we were pulling max volume single axle step frame box van foam carriers…[zb] awful things they were in the winds.
From that day to this I have gone flat out in high winds, with every trailer, with no probs…(so far.
I dont know if it is scientifically or aerodynamically accurate or not, but it works for me.Instinctively it seems sensible that higher speeds would be better, but the science contradicts instinct.
This guy seems to understand the science of it, but even if you make it past page 1, the maths on page 2 will stop you in your tracks
roperld.com/personal/rollovers.pdfThere was a documentary on the goggle box a few years back on wind and roll overs, they concluded box vehicles with a straight side and an ninety degree flat join to the roof would go over in the wind at a certain wind strength where as vehicle with box bodies with curved joins like pantechnicons etc could withstand another fourteen mph strength winds.
If you drive a Transit or Sprinter LWB Van (ie the manufacturer’s steel bodywork), then immediately drive a similar size and weight box/luton van, you markedly notice the difference. The van’s shape and edges, even though they’re minor and don’t affect overall volume too greatly, seem to really help with the stability in windy conditions. No doubt there is a fuel saving too.