Re: [SilverStreak] towing

["Eddie" <EddieHuffstetter@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ken,
Well, ya got the right truck! I did not intend to suggest never using a sway 
control. I just have never needed it since towing the trailer with the motor 
home. I carry it on every trip, just in case I don't have complete and total 
stability, but like you I use an F350 diesel dually crew, and I have just 
never had the first inkling of a problem. I have towed a 48 Vagabond from 
13,500 feet out of Kremling Colorado to Houston. In route out of Lubbock, 
sudden flat line winds were so harsh with heavy rains, I saw several semi's 
and motor homes laying on their sides. I watched one semi and a motor home 
behind it that had pulled to a stop, blow over as I approached all sitting 
still. They were blown over from the shoulder, into the driving lane which 
was against the shoulder lean. I had to steer out of my lane to go around.

Scary beyond description, I made the decision to not stop and get blown 
over. I completed 80 miles in this at 20 mph, never finding a structure or 
overpass to huddle behind. My F350 and the Vagabond never swayed the 
slightest. I had not used the sway bar. Admittedly my long bed was heavy 
with tool boxes, tires, jacks, and lot's of equipment. Maybe that made a 
difference too. Maybe keeping moving was the key to keeping in a wind that 
varied. I will never know, but I was determined that I was not going to do 
like so many, and just stop and be blown over. That was not working for 
anyone sitting still that I passed ever so slowly to go only 80 miles in 
four hours with almost zero visibility. It was a harrowing four hours of 
constantly making a decision not to stop. I am sure every experience comes 
with choices that have to be made and decisions that may never be clear and 
decisive.
-Eddie-
Houston, TX