never felt the need to run with open curtains, keep em taut (tautliner ) and a steady 45/50 mph . thats how they are designed to cope with side winds.
In 33 of years I’ve never run with curtains opened ,your asking for problems
nick2008:
In 33 of years I’ve never run with curtains opened ,your asking for problems
I once traveled back from East Kilbride to Merthyr with them opened and nothing happened but that was in the days of heavier sturdier trailers.
I will say it was a more common sight years ago compared with today.
AndrewG:
Radar19:
AndrewG:
Thats what i was expecting as well, tassles and baubles…
Suppose its what you get used to but id have a tilt anyday. Curtains pulled back, doors open and tied, the whole lot look very flimsy especially euroliners. As mentioned newer trailers just dont look as sturdy as older ones, they have their good points re lightweight but at the expense of strength.Our trailers, I would never run with the curtains open. The whole lot would collapse!
Seen quite a few curtainsiders doors open/ tied back and thought the same, probably wouldnt happen but theres a lot of flex in some of the really light, weight saving ones.
Different trailer entirely but we run nothing but VanHool and Gronewegan tilts, theyre all old and most are a bit battered through ex ferry life but theyre as tough as old boots, something that cant be said of some newer stuff…
The newer ones are from Krone but we have lots of other older trailers from different makes from Europe. We do have these nasty old trailers from Lag/Hallens, the worst being the ones with flappy backs not doors.
Evil8Beezle:
robroy:
^^^^^^^
Agreed, the older trailers were much more sturdier built, modern ones are much lighter and flimsier.
Especially Euroliners, they bend like bananas on a good day never mind in a storm.And there I was expecting you to suggest some tie backs, pelmets and tassels! Curtains being your specialist subject and all…
I thought for moment on seeing the thread title it was tips for Scania drivers.
nick2008:
In 33 of years I’ve never run with curtains opened ,your asking for problems
In 34 years of running with curtains tied back on very windy days…
I’ve never had a problem.
yourhavingalarf:
nick2008:
In 33 of years I’ve never run with curtains opened ,your asking for problemsIn 34 years of running with curtains tied back on very windy days… I’ve never had a problem.
in 35 years of running flats 
I’ve never had a problem with curtains and windy days. 
Fatboy slimslow:
yourhavingalarf:
nick2008:
In 33 of years I’ve never run with curtains opened ,your asking for problemsIn 34 years of running with curtains tied back on very windy days… I’ve never had a problem.
in 35 years of running flats
I’ve only ever ran with curtains open tied back twice in 30yrs. Having said that, I spent more time on tilts and containers than anything else. When I was doing general on tautliners, I did the mega tight curtains thing, until one day when I was going over gate17 M4 and I felt the trailer wheels hit down on the deck, which means they were in the air, so I dived into the truck stop and opened them up, the other time I was tesco at weybridge, I was tying the curtains back and a tesco driver says time “its illegal to run with your curtains open” I replied “its illegal to fall over n the queen highway, I’ll take my chances like this” .
Never tied them back. Even towed empty 16ft 3in double deckers over Shap when its been real bad and never tied them back. Just knock the speed back a bit on exposed sections when its really bad.
I was taught by an old hand many years ago to take no notice of the easing off in high winds thing, but just to keep it going. Rightly or wrongly I have always done just that, and I have never had a problem since I started.
Even pulling 40’ single axle box van high step frame foam carriers in the 80s.
Maybe I’m doing it completely wrong, and just been lucky all these years, who knows.
Just close the cab window problem sloved
eddie snax:
I was tying the curtains back and a tesco driver says time “its illegal to run with your curtains open” .
Theres always the nerdy ones who’ll tell you its illegal to do this and that…company H&S box tickers… no doubt he was wearing his hi vis and steelies whilst dishing out the diatribe… 
best way ive found to deal with this are to not even acknowledge them, just completely ignore and carry on and do things your own way.
AndrewG:
eddie snax:
I was tying the curtains back and a tesco driver says time “its illegal to run with your curtains open” .Theres always the nerdy ones who’ll tell you its illegal to do this and that…company H&S box tickers… no doubt he was wearing his hi vis and steelies whilst dishing out the diatribe…
best way ive found to deal with this are to not even acknowledge them, just completely ignore and carry on and do things your own way.
Yeh, and just drove all day in his hi viz as he always does.
I usually reply with ‘‘Yeh? Is that right mate’’ and just carry on doing what they are telling me I shouldn’t be doing.
robroy:
AndrewG:
eddie snax:
I was tying the curtains back and a tesco driver says time “its illegal to run with your curtains open” .Theres always the nerdy ones who’ll tell you its illegal to do this and that…company H&S box tickers… no doubt he was wearing his hi vis and steelies whilst dishing out the diatribe…
best way ive found to deal with this are to not even acknowledge them, just completely ignore and carry on and do things your own way.Yeh, and just drove all day in his hi viz as he always does.
I usually reply with ‘‘Yeh? Is that right mate’’ and just carry on doing what they are telling me I shouldn’t be doing.
Agree with both of you, when all said and done what’s it matter to those type its my licence.