How fast do you tow?

kb0zke

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Jan 20, 2021
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While discussing our move from The Ranch (SE NM) to Graham Cave SP (70 miles west of St. Louis) with some of the guys, I was asked how far it was and how long was I going to take. The distance is about 1000 miles, and I said that we would need five travel days for that. One of the more experienced travelers almost laughed at me. He said he would need only two travel days for that distance. Then he asked how fast I travel. I said I set the cruise for about 60. Again, he laughed. He normally drives about 70 with is Airstream.

He's a few years older than me, and has far more miles under his belt than I do, but I still think he goes too fast and too far in one day. What do the rest of you full-timers do? Am I too slow?
 
While discussing our move from The Ranch (SE NM) to Graham Cave SP (70 miles west of St. Louis) with some of the guys, I was asked how far it was and how long was I going to take. The distance is about 1000 miles, and I said that we would need five travel days for that. One of the more experienced travelers almost laughed at me. He said he would need only two travel days for that distance. Then he asked how fast I travel. I said I set the cruise for about 60. Again, he laughed. He normally drives about 70 with is Airstream.

He's a few years older than me, and has far more miles under his belt than I do, but I still think he goes too fast and too far in one day. What do the rest of you full-timers do? Am I too slow?
You are just fine! Whatever is just comfortable for you. Ignore what other people say and do because it's different for them. Me, I have a 4/6 rule no more than 400 miles and 6 hours in a day. It comes down to what you're most comfortable with. I'm comfortable towing my rig at between 65 and 75, but I've been towing for 30 plus years. It also depends a lot on the train if I'm driving through the high country in Colorado, I'll do much slower than the posted speed limit. I know if I lose control on one of the curves, I'm toast.

So ignore what "the guys" say and do. If you pass them on the side of the road you'll be the last one laughing. Remember, it's about the journey not the destination.
 
Not a full timer but I have no issue running 70 if the traffic permits. 1000 miles is a 2 day trip for me. Our vacations are a limited time so I want to get there asap.

Full timing changes the game. No rush really and 60 would save a bunch in fuel costs
 
I'll give you a quick example. I need to be in Kerrville, TX, in 2 weeks. This Saturday and Sunday I'm driving from Orlando, FL to Beaumont, TX which is about 900 miles. I'm taking a little over 6 hours each day to drive about 450 miles and because I work full time, I stay in Beaumont, Monday through Friday, to work and then leave on Saturday to drive to Kerrville, which is another 450 miles.

I have planned 6 to 8 hours each day for drive time so I can rest as needed and don't get too tired. Timewise, it's a little longer than I had hoped. But I have to be there in this tight timeline. The wife does not drive so she does her best to entertain me with trivia questions, however she's not with me on this trip as she flew to Denver for medical test and is flying to San Antonio after I get to Kerrville. So yes, this trip is going to take longer time wise, but I will be safer and traveling slower.
 
We've been towing for 20 years.
After retirement we limit to 250 miles, going 55 to 60 mph. No need to hurry, we stay at least 2 nights at every stop unless there's absolutely nothing to do in a location.
 
I keep it under 70mph. 9am to 3 maybe 4 pm. 325miles to 425miles. 2 days back to back then stay put for 2 days. But really its what keeps you coming back for more!!
 
Faster than parked cars, as fast as whats in my lane, and slower than my copilots threshold of rage.....

Typically makes for a comfortable pain free trip! Dont want any DWA's..... "Darling Wife Attitude".
;)
 
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Depends on road , weather situation how fast I run. I am usually the guy with a 5th wheel that people are passing. 68 - 70 mph on flat ground if I have wind behind me or no wind (which is seldom). A head wind: I will slow down because of MPG.

Years ago on motorcycle road trips a 1,000 mile day was common for us. The 1800 Goldwing motorcycle will run 35 or 95mph for hours, the Goldwing dont seem to care.
 
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I'm another guy who sets the cruise at 60 mph when we are towing, so you're not alone. We are not full timers, but several reasons for taking it easy. Fuel economy is one, and I find the slower pace more relaxing. We are usually on uncrowded highways where faster traffic can freely move past us. I'll step it up if I need to blend with traffic. For trip planning, I target 300 miles per day +/-50. It's all personal preferences, so do what you enjoy and works for you.
 
While discussing our move from The Ranch (SE NM) to Graham Cave SP (70 miles west of St. Louis) with some of the guys, I was asked how far it was and how long was I going to take. The distance is about 1000 miles, and I said that we would need five travel days for that. One of the more experienced travelers almost laughed at me. He said he would need only two travel days for that distance. Then he asked how fast I travel. I said I set the cruise for about 60. Again, he laughed. He normally drives about 70 with is Airstream.

He's a few years older than me, and has far more miles under his belt than I do, but I still think he goes too fast and too far in one day. What do the rest of you full-timers do? Am I too slow?

David, if 60 mph is your comfort zone you drive it, just try not to speed up when being overtaken by rigs running at 65. Let that "experienced traveler" laugh.
I'd bet the "experienced traveler" actual travel time will be close to yours and you'll have a couple of hundred dollars still in your wallet because you will not be stopping for fuel as often.
 
While discussing our move from The Ranch (SE NM) to Graham Cave SP (70 miles west of St. Louis) with some of the guys, I was asked how far it was and how long was I going to take. The distance is about 1000 miles, and I said that we would need five travel days for that. One of the more experienced travelers almost laughed at me. He said he would need only two travel days for that distance. Then he asked how fast I travel. I said I set the cruise for about 60. Again, he laughed. He normally drives about 70 with is Airstream.

He's a few years older than me, and has far more miles under his belt than I do, but I still think he goes too fast and too far in one day. What do the rest of you full-timers do? Am I too slow?

I'm not a full timer---just a weekend warrior who camps and pulls in the summer. I've been pulling huge and heavy loads for nearly 40 years. We live in CO where the speed limits are higher than other parts of the Country but I am not typically in the right lane when towing unless I have to wait for the right time to pass. My normal towing speeds when the roads and traffic allows are 75-85 MPH. I think each person has to just pull at the speeds where they are comfortable. There isn't a set speed for each person. I have learned to pull at speeds others are not comfortable with even on the winding roads and mountain passes but you have to understand the truck, it's capabilities, your camper, others around you, and the roads for sure. :)
 
I would recommend go the speed you feel comfortable with providing you are not creating any road hazards. Too slow can be a bad thing too, but 60mph is reasonable. As for the fast end, make sure you are within the speed ratings of your tires. For distance in a day, again, whatever is comfortable for you as long as you don't end up driving while you're drowsy. I wouldn't worry what others do, you figure out what works best for you.
 
Just adding to what others have said. Pull at what feels good to you. I rarely go faster than 65, and then it's usually because I wasn't paying attention to the speedometer. My wife usually is though ;). While I have pulled for over 6 hours before, I try not to. Last year was the longest single day trip in years, to Wellesley Is State Park, on the St. Larwance. It was a little over 6 hours, with one stop for fuel, lunch, and the rest room. I planned exactly where we were getting gas and lunch and it worked out perfectly. Much longer than that is not in the cards. Also, I have to drive - my wife will not pull the rig.
 
70-75 mph if towing the RV or gooseneck trailer with equipment on it. If towing the 16' utility trailer or the 24'
Alumna trailer with two RZR's on it I might hit 80-85 on the deserted roads in west TX and NM.

It's 660 miles to our place in CO (from TX). Driving it at 60 would take 11 hours. Driving it at 66mph (vs 65 for easy figuring) would take 10 hours of non-stop driving. Driving it at 70 is 9 hrs 25 minutes, driving it at 75 mph is 8 hrs 48

So driving 75 instead of 60 is saving 2 hrs 12.

By the time we stop for fuel, and pee stops for us and the dogs that adds another hour or more.

Now your trip at 60 mph is taking 12-13 hours which means we leave in the dark and arrive in the dark (unless the middle of summer). Then we had to set up the RV in the dark. NO Thanks

Once my GF retires and we start taking trips to other places we can slow down if we want. On deserted highways I see no issues with going fast. Once the traffic gets heavier slow down

Make sure your tires are rated for your towing speed and of course stay under the speed limit
 
I’m not a full timer, but we camp 80+ days a year atleast, and work from the road as often as we can. Our rig is 44feet and I’m pulling with my F450. I have plenty of truck to run 80, but I do not. I-95 is garbage and so my speed varies but is all about my comfort. I find driving to be zen time for me while my crew sleeps or works from the truck, so I am comfortable doing 600-800 miles a day. Comfort is the biggest factor for me on speed. Sure I would like to get to my destination in FL faster, see my kids, etc… however, I don’t want the stress of worrying about a situation that speed was the factor that caused an error or hurt someone .
when I’m pulling my 40 foot horse trailer I do go a little faster, it’s long but nearly as tall as my momentum 381. I am more comfortable going a little faster but does not mean I always do, the road quality and traffic again play a role here.

lastly… I had to go from NC to flagstaff AZ last may to help my son move his wife and life back from Camp Pendleton to OH. They need a car taken and “stuff”. I pulled my 24foot ATC car hauler there and back in 5 days solo because I had a time constraint. So I ran about 75mph the whole way, burned a ton of diesel doing it, but never felt unsafe or worried. In the mountains I slowed down, and when it stormed of course.

bottom line, I pull a lot, have tons and tons of miles doing it, but have very different ways and speeds depending on the situation. As stated by others it is all about how you feel. I get passed plenty on the road and it’s so much less stressful for me to not worry about speed traps or can I save 5 min going just a little faster.

just sharing my journey and practices. Pulling at 60 if you are comfortable, keep doing it so you remain happy and safe and don’t create stress you don’t need :).

happy pulling to all the the people on the forum!!!

I’m prepping for my Orlando pull in 5 days from now :)

best
jason
 
Being retired and having as much time as needed for travel, I set RV Trip Wizard to calculate 5 hours driving time at 65 MPH and use that as my target for a day’s travel. It is a comfortable length of time on the road for me and a comfortable speed to tow the RV. Years ago I would go a lot further in a day but that was with time constraints because of being on vacation or weekend travels meaning we had to get back in time for work. You have to do what is comfortable for you, not what someone else is comfortable with.
 
1000 miles for me would be 3 days. 330 miles is easily doable in a day. I go whatever speed allows. Being on the west coast that speed is not 70-80 like elsewhere. If I leave at 9:00 am and drive for 6-7 hours then that puts me around the 350 mile range. That averages out to 50 mph with stops. It also depends on where I'm driving. In the mtns the speeds are slower. On the Interstate they're faster. I'll run around 65-68 on the interstate depending on conditions.
5 days to do 1000 miles would be a waste of time IMO. That means you're only driving 200 miles in a day. That's like 4 hours. What would you do the rest of the time?
 

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