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  1. #1
    Seasoned Camper Tgunter5's Avatar
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    Towing speed?! How fast are you........

    Hello everyone, being new to RV'ing I assumed towing at the posted speed limit was the norm. (here in Texas, highway speed limit is 75 MPH, even 85 MPH on IH30!!!) I am guilty of traveling at 75 with my trailer but after the advice of many, and learning about speed ratings on tires -- another shocker to me-- I have slowed down to 65. The time difference is not that big of a deal and it just makes sense to SLOW DOWN and safely get to where you are going in one piece. I am truly embarrassed that for almost a year now, I was traveling at 75 with my whole family and never gave a second thought about it until I started reading about tires and tire issues on this forum. I have never experienced a blow out and I hope I never do!!! My goal is to bring this to light for others new to the RV life, and let them know that it is NOT the norm to go the "Speed Limit" with ten thousand pounds on your tail. Safe travels to all!!!!!
    2020 GMC Sierra 2500 AT4 6.6L Gasser
    2020 Imagine 2400BH

  2. #2
    Site Team Second Chance's Avatar
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    Without getting into the mass X velocity thing, the faster you're going when something happens, the worse the results are... by a lot. It's also harder to maintain control at higher speeds if you have a tire or traction incident with either the trailer or the tow vehicle - or if another driver pulls something stupid. Couple that with the fact that the speed ratings on the LR D and E tires that come on the lighter trailers are lower than the load range G and H tires that come on the big rigs, and higher speeds are just not that safe. I pay close attention to minimum speed limits (don't want to obstruct traffic) and stay in the truck lanes on steep grades on the highways out west. Other than that, I cruise at 65 - 67 MPH as long as speed limits, traffic, road and visibility permit - even in west Texas which we travel frequently as it really improves fuel economy. In California, the speed limit is 55 statewide for any vehicles towing a trailer. In that situation, I stay somewhere between 55 and the 18-wheelers to avoid expensive tickets.

    Rob
    U.S. Army Retired
    2012 F350 DRW CC LB Lariat PS 6.7
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes,
    Sailun LRG tires, solar, DP windows, W/D
    (Previously in a Reflection 337RLS)
    Full time since 08/2015

  3. #3
    Long Hauler bertschb's Avatar
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    Bend, OR and Palm Springs, CA
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    I tow at 60mph (CA and OR). The max I'd feel comfortable towing for extended periods is 65mph. I'd do 70mph for short distances if traffic required it (don't want to cause a wreck from slow driving) but 60mph is the sweet spot for me. If I was on a single lane road and slowing traffic down more than 3-4 cars, I would pull over and let them by.
    Brian & Kellie
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, 1,460w solar, 540ah BBGC3, MORryde IS w/disc brakes
    2020 F-350 Platinum SRW Powerstroke Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch

    Previous setups:
    2019 Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
    2016 Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch

  4. #4
    Site Team traveldawg's Avatar
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    We're comfortable at 64 to 66 mph on an open highway, even out west where there are higher speed limits. In the cities and metro areas we try to ride in the second from right lane at the pace folks are going at which might be around 68 sometimes.
    Larry KE4DMG
    2022 F-350 KRU SRW LB - Airlift 5000+, ForScan, 37 RDS Aux Tank,
    2019 310GK-R - Sailuns; MorRyde IS; Disc Brakes; 20K Reese Goosebox
    Search kalakamods for my mods


  5. #5
    Long Hauler D2Reid's Avatar
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    I am a 62mph kind of guy. Years ago I had a long discussion with a retired rv'ing aviation engineer. We talked about all kinds of stuff like fuel mileage, tire ratings, bearing wear, etc. He was a lot smarter than me and he concluded the 62mph was the perfect speed for his 40' 5th wheel. I get passed all the time by similar rigs. In places with pull outs I pull out and let folks get past me.

    But I have also had to make a couple of emergency stops. If I had been going any faster than 62 I would have crunched a bunch of stuff. Not worth the risk for me to go faster.
    Dallas
    2017 Momentum 376TH, 2019 Ford F450, Dual Rear Wheel, 4x4, diesel.
    2015 Harley-Davidson Street, XG750

  6. #6
    Site Sponsor
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    I'm pretty conformable with the cruise set at 68-69 on the interstate, mostly for the convivence of not having to pass and being able to relax and motor down the road. It also depends on what your vehicle likes. Before my GD 5th wheel, I pulled a TT with a Volvo that had a v8 Turbo charge gas engine. At 68 mph, my mileage was 12 mpg and at 67 I got 17 so I got happy at 65 which opened a world of roads that I never new existed. All of the major highways before interstates are mostly 4 lane, divided highway having small towns every 10 miles and posted speeds at 65 mph between towns. It was a great experience. If I ever get confident about where my wheels are with this rig, that is where I'm going to be just to enjoy the real America.
    Last edited by wjpatter; 12-30-2020 at 09:22 AM.
    Bill & Marsha
    2020 Reflection 320 MKS
    2018 2500HD Silverado 4x4
    Not All Who Wander Are Lost

  7. #7
    Rolling Along OurNewEra's Avatar
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    I intended on towing strictly at 65 mph. However, my TV has other ideaa. It prefers at least 67-68 mph for a lower RPM. At approx 68 I am turning 500 rpm less than at 65 mph. So for gas mileage I try to maintain the lower RPM at about 67-68 mph.
    Mike & Lisa
    Central Florida
    2021 Imagine 2970RL
    1996 Chevy K3500 Crew SRW 7.4L Gas

  8. #8
    Site Team Redapple63's Avatar
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    I tow at 60-65 with 65 as the max. Kind of right in the middle at 62, if very windy. 55mph.
    2019 GMC 3500 SRW Sierra Denali Duramax
    2020 Reflection 315RLTS

  9. #9
    Seasoned Camper mkevinmarshsr's Avatar
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    I'm in the sweet spot (1800 rpm) between 62 and 66 so I try to stay at 65mph. Maybe hit 70 of I have to pass someone so I'm not clogging up another lane too long. In my truck even when not towing 67 to 75 is a lower gear and a real gas hog so I need to push 80 to get back to the better fuel economy of 14 to 15 mph.
    2021 Reflection 340RDS
    2022 Ram 3500 Big Horn/CCSB//4X4/SRW/HEMI/4:10
    2019 Imagine 2250RK~Sold

  10. #10
    Big Traveler
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    Hmmmm. I usually go 10kmh or so over the speed limit or max at 125kmh (6mph over or max of 80mph). It's the main reason I bought endurance tires...the speed rating of 87mph.
    I keep it at about 70mph max when I'm hauling the boat behind the 5th.
    I'll be retired next year though. I may become more of a "it's the journey" more than "I gotta get there" kind of person. If that becomes the case I'll get one of those bumper stickers that says 'I'm Retired....go around me"..lol
    2018 Dodge 3500 6.7 Cummins SRW w/Aisin
    2021 Reflection 303RLS
    New to RV'ing since 1997

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