Towing speed

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Wohnmobil

One thing to keep in mind is that the Posted speed limited of any roadway is the Maximum speed allowed for that roadway. You can go as slow as you want as long as you aren’t impeding traffic (usually 5 or more vehicles).

The max speed I tow at is 65 mph. On a multiple lane highway I stay in the 2nd lane from the far right so I don’t have to compete with vehicles entering/exiting. I always check tire pressure on TT and TV before leaving CG and use TPMS during trips.

One of the fastest ways to experience a blowout is to have your tires under inflated. It allows too much flex in the sidewalls, which generates heat causing the sidewalls to fail.

There are lots of highways around the country that have minimum as well as maximum speed limits. Failure to follow either is illegal.

[apachewolf]

I am with "dutchmensport". The 55mph is far safer than 65 or 70, besides I am on vacation so what is the rush? Plus way better mileage than speeding at 65-70. Easier to stop the rig too.

Happy and safe camping.

[Folkie]

We run about 60 +/- depending on speed limit, traffic and road conditions. Rough road conditions in the NE will force me to slow down in an attempt minimize the earthquake effects on the camper.

[Wohnmobil]

Originally Posted by sourdough

There are lots of highways around the country that have minimum as well as maximum speed limits. Failure to follow either is illegal.

True! There are 10 states with minimum speed limits.

[Ellen]

I’ve been doing most of the driving lately. My husband had back surgery about six years ago and again last fall. I’m great going forward. He still gets the privilege of backing up the trailer. We have been taking shorter trips from the San Francisco Bay Area. The speed limit in California for any vehicle towing is 55 mph. Considering the condition of many of the highways around here, that’s a reasonable speed and not as stressful as going faster.

[Todd 423]

My max towing speed is the speed limit or 68mph.

[1tenor]

I drive 60ish. I'm not in a hurry and I feel safer around there. Running Goodyear Endurance 10ply tires, load range E.

[CrazyCain]

I run 65 in the right lane, the people that get behind me and don't like it, to bad
go around.....

[Ellen]

Just run into a couple of issues with 55 in the right lane…the trucks have torn the pavement to shreds and they fly by in the lane to the left at 70+ mph. Haven’t seen too many of them stopped for speeding.

[Life-in-Him]

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?

Just a note 55mph is 88 ft/second.
When I was 16 my reactions were quick. @ 79 they are less than quick.
As a hightime pilot I learned long ago that deer or elk can "appear" out of nowhere, especially @ night.
But I had 3 dimensions in which to avoid interactions. The aircraft also weighed only 1,800#, 3,600#, or 4,200#.
Now with 16,000# of TV & TT, @ 79 yrs, escape can only be straight, left or right & something likely on either side, slower makes much more sense
MHO,
YMMV.

[notanlines]

Average motorists pay about 3-400 per year in road tax. Average truckers pay about 18,000. Who’s driving on whose roads? YMMV

[Badbart56]

Originally Posted by Ellen

Just run into a couple of issues with 55 in the right lane…the trucks have torn the pavement to shreds and they fly by in the lane to the left at 70+ mph. Haven’t seen too many of them stopped for speeding.

Hi Ellen, I was stationed next door to you in Mountain View (NAS Moffett Field) many years ago and afterward went in to law enforcement, retiring in 2011. Now my wife and I are team truck drivers and we used to frequently travel through California, almost weekly.

Not much has changed out there other than there's less SMOG now and more people but at least they did raise the speed limit for cars to 70 mph. Truthfully, it's hard to drive 55 when all the other states allow us to run 70+ and in my opinion it's dangerous to have cars running 15 mph faster, cutting in between the slower moving trucks. trying to avoid getting stuck behind them. And by no means condoning speeding, we just pretty much suffer through it and try to get out of the state as quickly and safely as we can.

Most if not all truck drivers are motivated by money and being paid by the mile vs by the hour, time is money and speed is time. Until they come up with a better plan those factors are what fuels this issue.

Keep in mind though, you have some knowledge of our combination vehicle dynamics. You are less able to maneuver or take evasive action in your rig even at 55 mph, just as we are and we max out the GVW at 80K pounds vs your (maybe) 26K. And you are familiar with steep grades and downhill runs, much like we are. But if your tow vehicle is diesel powered you actually have a power to weight advantage over our commercial rigs and generally have no issue maintaining 55 mph on grades, whereas we need to maintain momentum to try to hold speed. So we do tend to exceed 55 mph when approaching some grades, otherwise we may find ourselves doing 25 mph just to make it to the top. I'm doubtful that any of you run into this issue to the degree that we do with your campers unless you are seriously underpowered.

Yes our trucks are responsible for destroying the roads in all states, and yes, we pay dearly for it. But that's not going to change. Some states are better able to make the needed road repairs and maintenance than others.

And in these times there is a shortage of law enforcement officers in all divisions and quite frankly, traffic control isn't always the top priority other than highway patrol, and their ranks are thinning also.

So not making any excuses for dangerous driving, and while you might catch us running 60-62 mph in between hills out there you won't catch us driving 70+ like some of these "steering wheel holders".

Be safe out there.

[Skillet173]

With my old setup (lifted 2500HD D-Max on 35" tires and 28' bp TH) I'd set the cruise at 63 which was about 66. Can't imagine new setup will be much different.

[hawghauler]

I'm pulling just under 15 with a dually. I set the tuner to #2 ( heavy tow ) , then set the factory tow button. I put the shifter in M and lock out 6th gear then run her up to 60 mph 1750 rpm set the cruise and hold the wheel . my GPS app is called hammer it keeps me from cleaning my roof off with a low bridge etc. It also says I'm doing 58 when my Speedo says 60

[Todd 423]

My max speed is 70.

[bsmith0404]

Looks like we’re going to get this discussion going again. I always found that keeping the truck in the rpm range of max torque for the engine produces the best fuel mileage. That will vary from truck to truck depending on transmission and gear ratios. For my Duramax, keeping the cruise set at 67 is right where it hits that point.

[Camping family]

I run no more then 60 and stay to the right. Pass me if you want it’s up to you. But I’m doing 60 no matter what speed limit is.

[Campermike]

My typical speed has been around 65-68 in 65 zone and right around 70 in 70MPH zone. With the higher gas prices I may try a bit slower on my next trip to see if it's worth it... it depends on distance and my time though. This upcoming trip it'd only take 20-25 minutes longer to drive 62... so I am planning to try it. On our trip to the east coast last year we had multiple long driving days (9-10 hours) and driving 62 would have added at least another hour... not worth it.

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by Campermike

My typical speed has been around 65-68 in 65 zone and right around 70 in 70MPH zone. With the higher gas prices I may try a bit slower on my next trip to see if it's worth it... it depends on distance and my time though. This upcoming trip it'd only take 20-25 minutes longer to drive 62... so I am planning to try it. On our trip to the east coast last year we had multiple long driving days (9-10 hours) and driving 62 would have added at least another hour... not worth it.

I slowed down about 5 MPH on our last trip (only 240 miles) because we were not in any rush. Result was a 1.5 - 2 MPG improvement. Just prior to the trip I also put new GY tires on the camper so I don't know if they had any positive contribution.

[bsmith0404]

It’s hard to slow down much when you have a long drive and limited vacation days. Although many times it may only add an hour or so to total driving time, it’s psychological. Adding additional time to an already long drive just seems like a kick in the gut when you just want to get there and relax. If you think about it, the difference between 62 and 65 mph on an 8 hour day is 24 miles. Less than 30 mins, but that 62 can sure seem painful at times.