Proper Towing speed.

mavrick8019 · 06-10-2019, 08:08 AM

I have 2004 5th wheel mountaineer that is 29.7 feet long and weighs around 10k pounds according to the gentleman I bought it from. I have a 2014 Chevy 2500 LTZ with the 6.1 gas engine. I was wondering what is the speed everybody tows there camper. People I have spoken to at the campgrounds tell me no faster than 65. Others have told me they go around 75 to keep up with traffic.

What is every ones opinions.

Thanks
Phil

Mongoose9400 · 06-10-2019, 08:17 AM

I tow 70-75 mph. Trailer tires are rated for the speed and my truck has no issues sustaining the speed without sacrificing mpg. I leave plenty of following distance and adjust the speed as necessary for weather, traffic, etc. Out West most of my towing is straight and flat.

Laredo Tugger · 06-10-2019, 08:44 AM

When I towed with a 6.2L gasser and a 27' TT I was at 70-75 mph.
Now with a 35' FW and a 3500 SRW diesel I cruise 68-69 in the truck lane. I find that speed is what most the trucks are traveling and it gives me time to plan a pass around a slower truck or move over for on ramp traffic. My TV will add speed very smoothly if I need it,but the "pucker factor" (not sure if you will find that on the "terminology" page or not?) does kick in around 80 mph. The extra speed/power is no problem for passing or grades.
On most 3 lane highways I travel the middle lane to avoid the slower trucks and on ramp traffic.
RMc

mavrick8019 · 06-10-2019, 09:25 AM

Thank you for your quick replay

notanlines · 06-10-2019, 08:55 AM

We tow at a weight of a little over 30K and found that 62 meets our needs. 80? Kindly stay away from us as best you can. Your kind scares me.

linux3 · 06-10-2019, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

We tow at a weight of a little over 30K and found that 62 meets our needs. 80? Kindly stay away from us as best you can. Your kind scares me.

I so agree.
After all time is meaningless.
I will do 65 if pressed but I'm not happy.
I get much better MPG at around 65 or less and we just are not in that much of a hurry.

Scott902 · 06-10-2019, 08:59 AM

I tow based on the conditions and the speed limit. Windy/raining, slow down. Nice day, go with traffic/speed limit. 110km/hr is the max around here, just under 70mph.

Laredo Tugger · 06-10-2019, 09:07 AM

Learn to read there Jimmy!!
Cruise in the slow lane under 70. On occasion I will get up speed to pass a truck or open the on ramp lane.
Not a regular thing I like to do but it's a thing called "traffic flow".
RMc

**sourdough** · 06-10-2019, 09:07 AM

I tow at 65mph or less. Generally stay at 65. I have no issues with "blocking" traffic even though the speed limits in our part of the country are 75-80 mph. Towing a large RV at 75+ is just dangerous. Can I tow that fast? Assuredly. Can I handle the rig running down the road at that speed? Absolutely. Can I avoid that guy that pulls in front of me at that speed? Absolutely not. Can you make a quick evasive maneuver to avoid catastrophe? Same answer as the previous.

When pulling a rig of any size you aren't in a sports car; even if the tires are rated for 200mph - you're equipment, the truck nor you are. In an emergency situation everything happens in slow motion with a big trailer behind you; you aren't going to stop on a dime....or a football field. You aren't going to quickly change lanes or anything else. IMO driving 70+ with a large trailer just endangers yourself, your family and everyone else on the road because there is no possible way you can react safely to an emergency situation happening in front of you. JMO/YMMV I'm sure.

Logan X · 06-10-2019, 09:25 AM

I tow at 65mph or less. In California, the speed limit when towing is 55mph. I believe most ST trailer tires are speed rated for 65 mph max.

Pull Toy · 06-10-2019, 09:36 AM

60 to 62 works fine for me.

One blow-out at speed, or panic stop will convince the non believers!

Good Luck

msubobcats · 06-13-2019, 08:07 AM

Our tires are rated for 65 mph so that is our max... Would much rather be safe than sorry...

jsmith948 · 06-14-2019, 06:47 AM

If we leave our house in California's central valley and drive 373 miles @57 mph to our usual lay over point in Mountain Gate, Ca., our travel time will be 6.5 hrs. The towing speed in California is 55 mph.

If we travel the same route @65 mph, our travel time will be 5.7 hrs. In both scenarios I have ignored stops for fuel, bathroom breaks, etc. as they would be the same in either case.

So...why not drive a little faster and get there 48 minutes sooner?

Well...getting there sooner might be okay, but, is it worth the risks? I will be the first to admit that there are a lot of folks out there running well beyond the legal speed limit. But, if you are stopped, the officer will tie you up for at least 15 to 30 minutes. So now you are only going to "save" 15 minutes. The fines and fees, depending on the County, will be well over $200 and you will receive a point against your license which will result in an increase in your insurance premiums.

I drove the big rigs for many, many years and was ALWAYS in a hurry. Now, I just don't see the point in taking a chance to save a few minutes. So, if I'm holding you up, feel free to pass when it is safe to do so. JMHO

KeithBook · 06-16-2019, 08:50 AM

I keep it under 70. I prefer around 60-65. My tires are rated for much higher speeds.

Keep in mind you are pushing a sheet of plywood into the wind when towing or driving an RV. Your mileage drops off quickly as you go over 45. Test driving at 55 vs 65 or 70 and check your mileage. This has a greater impact on a gas engine as you start out with lower MPG

TJTx · 06-16-2019, 10:20 AM

I pull a 2017.5 Alpine 3401RS with a 2017 Chevy 2500HD Duramax crew cab. The L5P engine and Allison trans can easily pull it at 80 or 85, let alone 75. However, I always keep it at 65 in the right lane regardless of higher speed limits (operative word is limit and not minimum). I will speed up to 70 to 75 to pass someone more quickly who is going even slower than me and then let cruise take me back to 65. As my fellow Texans can attest, the real issue is not so much how fast your McBeast can pull your trailer, but how fast you can stop. Highway traffic in Texas (and probably everywhere else) can stop very suddenly for almost any reason under the sun.

Hoodlatch · 06-16-2019, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJTx

I pull a 2017.5 Alpine 3401RS with a 2017 Chevy 2500HD Duramax crew cab. The L5P engine and Allison trans can easily pull it at 80 or 85, let alone 75. However, I always keep it at 65 in the right lane regardless of higher speed limits (operative word is limit and not minimum). I will will speed up to 70 to 75 to pass someone more quickly going even slower than me and then let cruise take me back to 65. As my fellow Texans can attest, the real issue is not so much how fast your McBeast can pull your trailer, but how fast you can stop. Highway traffic in Texas (and probably everywhere else) can stop very suddenly for almost any reason under the sun.

I would follow you at those speeds anywhere. Texas is a pleasure to drive in, the most courteous drivers I’ve seen.

apachewolf · 06-16-2019, 10:33 AM

This is an eternal discussion, never ending. Each and everyone here has their own opinions as to how to tow. Who is right and who's wrong? We live in Arizona and mostly travel there, but from time to time we go to California. Guess what..California rule is that if you tow a trailer the max speed is 55 MPH. that goes for truck too. Yes I know not many trucks do that, but they do get pulled over a lot of times. When traveling at 55 one has a better chance to keep control of the rig, the tires are 50% less stressed than going faster and you have a chance to see where you are going, which is why we also stay away from interstates as much as possible.

But more than once have I been passed by a fast moving rig only to meet up with them a few miles further when they were parked on the side of the road with a blown tire.

Happy camping all.

Tbos · 06-10-2019, 11:06 AM

65 or less. As stated previously many of the TT tires are rated 65. My current ones are rated for higher but I still prefer to keep it at 65 or below.

travelin texans · 06-10-2019, 11:10 AM

My Duramax had its sweet spot at 1700rpm which was about 68 mph on the flats so that's where I set the cruise. I upgraded to disc brakes & although I couldn't stop on a dime, but could on a nickel & for sure on a quarter.
As mentioned when there's multiple lanes I was chose the middle, that avoids the idiots at the on/off ramps & gives others lanes on either side to go around.
I've met & talked to folks that 55 is max speed while towing & IMO unless that's the posted speed for towing that's TOO slow & more dangerous for everyone.
As far as "proper towing speed" that's totally up to each individual doing the towing, there's nothing written about it, except in California.

NH_Bulldog · 06-10-2019, 11:27 AM

We prefer 65 mph for the fuel mileage, but occasionally push upwards of 70 or 75 depending on whether traffic and road conditions dictate the need. Everything handles great and the truck has power to spare. I just don't like watch the fuel gauge go down that fast, so we try to run at 65 whenever possible, even when some of our highways are posted to 70 mph.

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