Driving a hire van in windy weather asks for more care than the same journey in a car, because the tall, flat sides of a van catch crosswinds in a way a low car body simply does not. If you are arranging van hire in Warrington for a job that lands on a blustery day, a little planning around the local road network is what separates a tense drive from a straightforward one. In strong winds the van you choose and the route you take both matter far more than most first-time hirers expect, and a few sensible decisions before you set off make all the difference.
How High Winds Affect a Hire Van
The first thing to understand is that no two vans behave the same in a gust. The taller models, the long wheelbase high roof van and the extra long wheelbase van, present the largest flat surface to a side wind and are the most affected of anything on the fleet, while a lower short wheelbase low roof van sits closer to the road and stays noticeably steadier. Knowing which van you are in tells you how much allowance to make, and in genuinely severe weather it is always worth asking whether the job has to be done that day at all.
Plan the Route Around the Exposed Crossings
The roads around Warrington include some of the most wind-exposed structures in the North West, and a high-sided van feels every one of them. The Thelwall Viaduct, carrying the M6 over the Manchester Ship Canal just east of town near Thelwall van hire territory, sits high and open and is regularly among the first stretches to see speed restrictions when the wind gets up. To the west, the Mersey Gateway and the older Silver Jubilee Bridge carry traffic across the estuary between Runcorn van hire and Widnes van hire areas, and those crossings are every bit as exposed. Before you leave, check whether any high-sided vehicle restrictions are in force on your intended route, and keep a less exposed alternative in reserve so a closed bridge cannot strand you mid-journey.
Slow Down and Leave More Room
High winds affect a van’s handling and braking long before they feel dramatic, and strong gusts have a habit of arriving exactly where you cannot see them coming. Easing off the accelerator buys you time to correct if the wind nudges you toward the lane line, so leave more space than usual in front, stretching the normal two-second gap to at least three or four seconds, and remember that a laden van needs a longer braking distance than an empty one. The point that catches people out is that an empty high-roof van is actually more likely to be shoved sideways than a fully loaded one, because there is less weight pinning it to the road, so do not assume the unladen return leg is the easy half of the trip.
Overtaking and Reading the Traffic
High-sided vehicles are difficult and risky to overtake in strong winds, so do not attempt to pass one unless you are certain there is the room and the time to do it cleanly. Keep half an eye on what the traffic around you is doing as well, because cars, caravans and other vans can all be pushed off line by a sudden gust. Motorcyclists and cyclists are especially vulnerable on open ground, so give them a wide berth on exposed roads rather than passing close.
Holding the Wheel and Anticipating the Gusts
Keep a firm but relaxed hold on the wheel. Wind arrives in gusts rather than a steady push, so it can catch you out the moment you relax, yet gripping rigidly only leaves you tense and slow to react. With a little practice you learn to anticipate where the gusts will hit, typically at gaps in roadside hedges and buildings, in motorway cuttings, and as you emerge from the shelter of an embankment onto an open viaduct. A few seconds of forewarning is enough to steady the van before the wind does it for you. It pays to run a proper walk round before you leave the depot too, and our guide on what to check before driving a hire van covers the essentials.
Parking a High-Sided Van Safely
Where you leave the van matters as much as how you drive it. Park well clear of trees, overhead lines, scaffolding and temporary hoardings, any of which can come down in high winds. Where you can, point the nose or tail into the wind rather than leaving the full side exposed, and take care opening the doors, because a strong gust can wrench a rear or side door clean out of your hand. At the start and end of your hire, you are welcome to use the secure on-site car parking at our central depot.
Hiring a Van in Warrington for the Conditions
Our depot sits right in the centre of town at Cockhedge, by the main entrance to the shopping centre and Asda, and is easy to reach on foot from the station and the bus interchange. We run a fleet of over seventy vans with no deposit required on most vehicles, on short and long term hire, open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 4pm. If your job falls on a windy day and you want help choosing a vehicle that suits both the load and the conditions, whether that is Warrington van hire or a collection from one of the surrounding towns, call us on 01925 396 222 or get in touch through the contact us page and we will point you at the right van.
