Towing speed

[jasin1]

Just want to get an idea of what is considered safe top speed for towing.

Just returned from Florida keys and most of the way the speed is 70 mph.

My Carlyle radial trail HD tires are rated for 78 mph top speed.

Is it ok to tow at 70?

What is the speed that most of you tow at if the speed limit is 70?

[chuckster57]

Out here the posted speed limit for vehicles towing a trailer is 55. That said I try to stay at 62-65 MPH. The hardest part of towing a trailer is stopping it all IMO. The faster your going the longer/harder it will be to stop everything in a hurry if necessary. YMMV

[Javi]

99% of the time I tow at 62-65 mph

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

Out here the posted speed limit for vehicles towing a trailer is 55. That said I try to stay at 62-65 MPH. The hardest part of towing a trailer is stopping it all IMO. The faster your going the longer/harder it will be to stop everything in a hurry if necessary. YMMV

Ditto! These are the speeds where my truck & trailer "feel right". RPMs are about 1,700, the engine isn't stressed and the suspension "feels capable" ie no sway, no sway when changing lanes, stopps well, etc. That's where my rig "feels right".

I've been passed by larget rigs going well over 75 mph and in my opinion they are fools. I don’t care how talented a driver someone views themselves the trailers are just not built for that.

[rhagfo]

I am still working at finding the sweet spot for towing our 5er, best combination of speed and mileage, interstates 65 seems good, although if I don't set the cruse I easly creep up to 70+. We run LT's on the 5er, speed rating 103 mph.

[curtiscapk]

Mines a small TT but we like between 70-75, I don't use cruise as I wasn't sure how well it would handle while towing. Seems like you all do. Maybe I'll try it.

[ChuckS]

I run 14 ply G rated ST tires that are "rated" for 75 mph .. or so they say....

I tow at 62 mph... Have with this RV for the last 8 years... I get an average of 13.5 mpg with my Duramax and 6 speed Allison at this speed provided the wind is not blowing like a banshee.. and it usually does in Idaho and Montana where i primarily tow these days..

I have sped up occasionally to pass a slow moving hay hauler, etc but I have found over the last 8 years with "my setup" 62 mph gives me the best mpg, the tires run much cooler according to the TPMS, and I have more time to react to road conditions and ignorant drivers...

I always run in tow haul mode and yes... I use cruise control except when in the Mtns where the elevation and grade are constantly changing...

[jfk69]

I tow at 65-68. I generally will set the cruise at 65. If I’m on open roads with minimal traffic, I’ll bump the cruise to 68. That seems to be the sweet spot where everything feels “right” and I feel comfortable. If I don’t use the cruise, I’ll find myself creeping up, so when the road is busier and I don’t feel comfortable with the cruise on, I keep a close eye on the speedo.

[DavidAndDonna]

Originally Posted by jasin1

Just want to get an idea of what is considered safe top speed for towing.

Just returned from Florida keys and most of the way the speed is 70 mph.

My Carlyle radial trail HD tires are rated for 78 mph top speed.

Is it ok to tow at 70?

What is the speed that most of you tow at if the speed limit is 70?

We've got G rated tires with 14 ply however, I run about 62. It's safe, stop faster, AND fuel mileage is better @ 62. The faster I drive well, just watch the fuel gauge. Not to mention if you stop for a break you've just lost the "time" you gained if you were running 70.

[sourdough]

I try to run about 65 max. Truck likes that speed and so do I. In TX folks are driving approx. 80mph everywhere but it makes no sense to me to go that fast with a big RV behind you. The "killer" is trying to stop it or control it in an emergency situation....because you can't. Maybe you'll be able to "ride herd on it" and get it down but it is going to go where it wants to because the truck is not going to "make" it do anything - just hope you're not hanging over the edge of Mobile Bay bridge.

As far as cruise, I won't use it when towing. I've driven well over a million miles and never hit the brakes with cruise on that there wasn't a slight lag. In general driving that's fine, with a big RV behind me in an unexpected situation where the slightest lag could be catastrophic I just choose to not use it.

[peanut]

Just because the speed limit is 70mph, it doesn't mean you to have to do it.

After 10 years with this truck and trailer, another vote for 60'ish mph. That is were I get my best fuel mileage and where I feel confident and safe.

I think that is the key for anyone - - where do you feel safe and confident and get the best mileage.

Of course, if your personal safety zone is 75-80 mph (or more - which I have seen) in a 65 mph zone, don't expect sympathy from me.

[pawpaw]

I pulled the toyhauler and then the conventional 5th wheel usually in the 62 to 65 mph range. Usually used the tow/haul mode and kept the exhaust brake on the help stop these close to 17K pound trailers in control. Towed with a '17 F350 DRW with 4.10 gearing. Rig grossed out at close to 26K pounds and trailers rode on 14 ply G rated tires. Also drove many miles in the 70's and 80's when the speed limit was 55 mph hauling fuel. Rig grossed out at 80K pounds or sometimes over on short hauls. Tachographs in the company tractors so 55 mph was where speed was red-lined. Early 70's we ran nylon tube type tires with some re-caps so I wouldn't trust them over 55 mph anyway. Last truck I had assigned to me was a new 1980 W900 KW with a 903 Cummins. Also pulled a 9,200 gallon Trailmaster tank that would blind you in a bright sunlight! Made many runs over the 24 mile long Lake Ponchartrain Causeway bridge hauling to Texaco stations on the Northshore. People should drive per weather and road conditions instead of speed. Drove many times in dense fog at night and that would scare the crap out of me!

[jasin1]

Should have clarified …ideal conditions …not talking about bad weather or in heavy traffic or nighttime driving

[dutchmensport]

My tires (Hercules) are speed rated (L) which is 75 mph.

My towing speed is usually around 55 mph. With a diesel dually you ask, why so slow?

It's because for ever 5 mph faster I drive than 50 mph, I loose about 2 mile per gallon of fuel. With diesel prices being right at $5.00 now, and the truck / trailer averages 10 mpg at 50 mph, I'm squeezing every bit I can.

At 55, it drops to 9.5
At 60, it drops to 8.5
At 65, it drops to 7.5 or less.

That front sail on the high fifth wheel really causes drag the faster I travel. So, 55 is just about "it". Now, when fuel prices were much lower and not near as threatening, I travel 60-65. but no more!

When not towing, that truck will get 17 mpg at 50 mph.

[UKLimey]

I have the Carlisle tires as well and, even though they are rated for 80mph, I usually keep top speed for cruising at about 65. That is the sweet spot for MPG on my truck and the most comfortable for us. It also gives an easier stop than when going 70 or above.


We got used to 65 when we had our old trailer with Maxxis tires that were rated for 65. We got comfortable with that and it stuck.


We do slip up to 70 or so if needing to pass something, however.

[travelin texans]

My last setup was the pair in my signature.
The 16.5k lb 5er came w/ GY 614s 16" G rated, after 3 years approx 55k miles I upgraded to Sailun S637 17.5" H rated tires & disc brakes so tires were a non issue towing at any speed I planned to drive.
The trucks sweet spot while towing was 1700 rpm/68+/- mph which resulted in good mileage & great towability. When towing I pressed the tow/haul, the exhaust brake, got up to 1700 rpm & set the cruise. Set in this way I very seldom had slow down, speed up or worry about grades, let the truck work as it was designed to do.

[DaveAlb]

I drive 60. It’s a relaxing speed for me and fairly easy on my equipment. I get passed quite a bit though, but they seem to be able to get around me if they want👍

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

My tires (Hercules) are speed rated (L) which is 75 mph.

My towing speed is usually around 55 mph. With a diesel dually you ask, why so slow?

It's because for ever 5 mph faster I drive than 50 mph, I loose about 2 mile per gallon of fuel. With diesel prices being right at $5.00 now, and the truck / trailer averages 10 mpg at 50 mph, I'm squeezing every bit I can.

At 55, it drops to 9.5
At 60, it drops to 8.5
At 65, it drops to 7.5 or less.

That front sail on the high fifth wheel really causes drag the faster I travel. So, 55 is just about "it". Now, when fuel prices were much lower and not near as threatening, I travel 60-65. but no more!

When not towing, that truck will get 17 mpg at 50 mph.

Interesting on your tow speeds versus gas mileage.. My 2007 LBZ .. after many miles of testing different speeds gets its best average fuel mileage at 62.. One would think.. as I did that 55 would get me better but it actually is almost 1.5 mpg less..

100% stock engine running Delo 400 oil... Synthetic oil is not needed and I wouldnt run it anyways in my year engine...

Running OEM size tires 245/75R16 Cooper HT series... I switched from my tried and trusted Toyo AT series to the Cooper HT.. Much much longer tire life and my traction is almost as good in the snow as it was with the At tread pattern...

Must be the dually you are running thats making the difference in the power/torque curve...

I think at 62 I am turning around 1550 to 1650 but thats a guess as I cant remember for sure... old age...

I also get 19.5 to 21.5 without the fifth wheel running at 62 to 65 mph..

[Pull Toy]

Safety / Fuel Economy for me = 65

[pawpaw]

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

My tires (Hercules) are speed rated (L) which is 75 mph.

My towing speed is usually around 55 mph. With a diesel dually you ask, why so slow?

It's because for ever 5 mph faster I drive than 50 mph, I loose about 2 mile per gallon of fuel. With diesel prices being right at $5.00 now, and the truck / trailer averages 10 mpg at 50 mph, I'm squeezing every bit I can.

At 55, it drops to 9.5
At 60, it drops to 8.5
At 65, it drops to 7.5 or less.

That front sail on the high fifth wheel really causes drag the faster I travel. So, 55 is just about "it". Now, when fuel prices were much lower and not near as threatening, I travel 60-65. but no more!

When not towing, that truck will get 17 mpg at 50 mph.

I agree with all you said. When I had the Fuzion and then the Solitude I would get up to 10 mpg at lower speeds 55 mph vs 9 mpg at 62 to 65 mph on a fairly calm wind day. Nudged over 19 mpg at 50-55 mpg not towing on a 2 lane hwy. This was in a '17 F350 DRW with the 6.7 and 4.10 gearing. Drove it daily for 4-1/2 yrs and took the bait when a contractor bought it from me for what I paid for it. Wish I would have kept it. Never a problem with it except it had the turning radius of the USS Nimitz!!