I was just reading a closed thread on trailer tires that can go faster. I wanted to reply, but it was closed. This also probably has been discussed, but towing faster doesn't mean your going to get there faster! I was towing a 28' enclosed car hauler from Orlando Fl to Long Island. The trip down was long, 23 hours. Hit rain, wind, and traffic, wasn't really pushing it. I left Orlando to head home at 2:00 am. I was driving alone, the road was flat, level, dry, and there was no wind. The road was completly empty. I looked down and I was doing 83 mph. I thought hey this isn't bad, riding straight and smooth, under perfect conditions. So I kept at it. The problem was I had to stop in Jacksonville.....my tank was empty. I wasn't paying for the gas, so it didn't really concern me. As the morning went on I definitely slowed down because the conditions didn't allow that speed. On 95 I believe somewhere in Georgia, I noticed two school busses that said Boston Schools on the side, I'm assuming they were purchased somewhere down there and were being driven up. At this time I was keeping it at about 75-79 mph. I guess the busses had governors, they were doing under 65 mph. I passed them pretty quickly and thought how much it would suck to have to drive that slow all the way to Boston. A while later I pull off to fuel up. Get back on the road and about an hour later I pass the same busses again. So again, I have to stop for fuel. Get back on the road and guess what, about an hour later I pass the same busses again. I think it happened 4-5 times. Now I know the busses have a much bigger fuel tank than my truck, and they don't have to refuel much. But, the faster you drive, espically towing, the quicker your tank is going to drain. You may be driving faster, but your going to be stopping more. You won't get to you're destinination any quicker.

You do get to stretch your legs more often.

Sounds like our travels. We get passed by the same vehicles 4 to 5 times a day when traveling. We drive 55 to 63 per GPS and average 50mph at the end of the day. The faster vehicles have not made much better time than us. We also stop every two hours to get out and have the dogs take us for a walk.

copeland343 wrote:Sounds like our travels. We get passed by the same vehicles 4 to 5 times a day when traveling. We drive 55 to 63 per GPS and average 50mph at the end of the day. The faster vehicles have not made much better time than us. We also stop every two hours to get out and have the dogs take us for a walk.x2 on this. Even rushing for our coaster club events, I don't go over 65.

copeland343 wrote:Sounds like our travels. We get passed by the same vehicles 4 to 5 times a day when traveling. We drive 55 to 63 per GPS and average 50mph at the end of the day. The faster vehicles have not made much better time than us. We also stop every two hours to get out and have the dogs take us for a walk.and I thought I was the only one that experienced this phenomena. We stop every few hours at a rest stop, just no dogs.we generally can go all day w/o stopping for fuel, even when towing, at most one fuel stop. and we can usually arrange that for an easy on/off combined stop for rest/lunch/snack etc.

So you're the guy that keeps passing me. :B

My towing "faster" experience. | Good Sam Community

stickdog
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
You do get to stretch your legs more often.
copeland343
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
Sounds like our travels. We get passed by the same vehicles 4 to 5 times a day when traveling. We drive 55 to 63 per GPS and average 50mph at the end of the day. The faster vehicles have not made much better time than us. We also stop every two hours to get out and have the dogs take us for a walk.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
copeland343 wrote:
Sounds like our travels. We get passed by the same vehicles 4 to 5 times a day when traveling. We drive 55 to 63 per GPS and average 50mph at the end of the day. The faster vehicles have not made much better time than us. We also stop every two hours to get out and have the dogs take us for a walk.
x2 on this. Even rushing for our coaster club events, I don't go over 65.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2015
copeland343 wrote:
Sounds like our travels. We get passed by the same vehicles 4 to 5 times a day when traveling. We drive 55 to 63 per GPS and average 50mph at the end of the day. The faster vehicles have not made much better time than us. We also stop every two hours to get out and have the dogs take us for a walk.

and I thought I was the only one that experienced this phenomena.

We stop every few hours at a rest stop, just no dogs.

we generally can go all day w/o stopping for fuel, even when towing, at most one fuel stop. and we can usually arrange that for an easy on/off combined stop for rest/lunch/snack etc.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 28, 2015
So you're the guy that keeps passing me. :B
horton333
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
The power required to overcome aerodynamic drag going down the road is a third order effect. Double your speed when in the range where aerodynamics is important and it takes 8 times the horsepower. The (negative) effect on mileage is almost as dramatic.
To anticipate the objection that wind drag only goes up by 4 times when speed is doubled, don't forget this the rate of doing work going down the road, not a static situation as when drag is calculated.
Flapper
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
Um, it was my thread that got closed - won't make that mistake again!
Next time I'll ask something not quite so controversial, like whether a 1/2 ton can pull a fifth! Blame the question on "Trailer Life", which got me wondering....

As for speed, well...on a couple of trips, we did have to face 450-500 mile days. And after going 55-60 for a very long day, and seeing the mpg at 12-13, we did decide to "put the hammer down" and bump up to 65-70. Getting there after 6 3/4 actual seat time, rather than 8, seemed pretty attractive! The mpg did drop, but it was a price I was willing to pay for the shortened seat time.
All that said - we do try to avoid being in that situation - limit ourselves to 250-300, and go about 60.
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
With all the tire blowout threads we always see, I have decided to keep the cruise set around 65-67 mph. That's what most of the trailer tires are rated for.

Fortunately, the truck seems to like that regarding fuel economy.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
I get my best mpg when towing at 55-60mph..but I tend to run around 65 mph in 65-70 mph speed limits on interstate. Tires were GY G614 tires rated for 85mph, (but won't do that).
korbe
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
Over the years, I have noticed that I drive "the pace of my life". The more hectic, the less patience for getting there. As I age, every thing slows down a bit. Less hectic, more patience, better golf swing.