| Re: [GMCnet] Our GMC handled 80 mph side winds better then I thought last night. [message #320828 is a reply to message #320803] |
Sat, 22 July 2017 07:52  |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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We have a wind story that will live with us for a while more.
This was back when Mary was still working and we often had to do a Bonsai run to a rally. This was one of those. It was 1108 miles to Shawnee and we had a day and an half to do it.
We had just taken on fuel in Terra Haute and I had taken over driving. The sky turned ugly and then the winds came. It was spring and the trees were still bare. I was looking at those bare trees bent way over and having to pay attention to stay in the lane. Then the rain hit. It collected on the road surface such that I was having trouble with the one year old tires (we had 6ea 1-year old tires at that time) hydroplaning. I had about 30° of wheel to hold the lane. Then I looked in the mirror and realized that rear was so loose that the back of the coach was half in the other lane. (Remember this is a light 23 and it has barely 5Klbs on the rear.)
Then the rain got heavier and harder. I hadn't though it could. (I have sailed in real hurricanes.) I had to concentrate on keeping Chaumière on the road at this point, but I saw a row of lights leading away from the highway. I said to Mary I see lights.... Then I shouted at Mary "I see lights I'm going that way!" She shouted back, "It's a rest area!" Shouting was required with the wind and rain noise on the coach.
I had some trouble negotiating the ramp at the now much reduced speed and then saw a slot between a semi and a monster coach. That was where we hid until the coach stopped shaking. The windshield was leaking on the horn button (again). When the sky cleared and we stopped shaking, I got us back on the road. We were about 45 minutes late at the next waypoint.
Experiences like this have taught us just how good our coach is and as such, we fear very little other than other people doing stupid things in front of us.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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