My husband and I are new to towing. We are preparing to tow our travel trailer for the first time, and we have a few questions.First - the specs:Trailer - 1974 23' ProwlerTruck - 1989 Chevy SuburbanMy husband is going to be the one driving, and he would like to know how we can find out the max. speed he can drive on the freeway. We're not filling up any of the tanks, so max. tow weight probably won't be an issue. We don't have the manual to the trailer, so we're kind of clueless to the standard operating procedure of this year and model.

Max speed is 65mph, but I would stay below at that at a max, sustained speed of 62mph.Bruce

Look for signs that say "Speed Limit"

Run 55 mph in "drive" gear ... not the "overdrive" gear. Stay no faster than 55 until you (or your husband) feels 100% comfortable towing. You might even want to stay off interstates and take secondary roads so you can initially tow at even a lower speed. The important thing when towing the first time is to NOT assume anything. The rules for towing are far different than when NOT towing. Until you feel 100% comfortable and have 100% confidence in the ability of your tow vehicle AND the trailer ... ABSOLUTELY do not push your speed! Learn ... get the feel of the "entire" rig" ... and don't get in any hurry. You are not driving a sports car when you have the trailer attached! You're driving a monster! Getting there SAFE is more important than getting there FAST!Congrats on your new purchase!

If you did not replace the tires on the trailer when you got it, the first thing you should do is a google search on how to read the date codes on tires. After verifying that the tires are not real old, make sure they are properly inflated. If they are ST tires in good shape and properly inflated, the max speed is 65 mph.

In most states the speed for vehicles towing trailers is 55MPH unless posted otherwise. In WA I believe on some of the interstates the towing speed is 65MPHIn California it is 55MPH everywhere on the interstate hwys.That being said, I usually travel at 60MPH on the interstates when no traffic, 55MPH with traffic.A note of caution, back in the 80's I saw a setup like yours weaving in and out of traffic on I-10 near Palm Springs. The driver was doing at least 70MPH when he passed me. About 10 miles down the road after going through a curvy mountain pass he was pulled over to the side of the road. His full water tank was laying on the road next to the TT. It had broken loose and smashed through the sidewall of the trailer. If he hadn't been such an aggressive driver that would not have happened.

New to towing. Speed? Weight? | Good Sam Community

34 Replies

shakyjay
Explorer II
Jan 02, 2015
deltabravo wrote:
the bear II wrote:
In WA I believe on some of the interstates the towing speed is 65MPH

Washington doesn't have a separate speed limit for towing.

In some areas the speed limit on the Insterstate highways is 70, but 65 is all the faster I drive while towing.

If the tires on the trailer are more than 5 years old, they should be replaced.
I'd highly recommend getting the wheel bearings serviced and the brakes inspected as well.

According to the Washington State Patrol they do
http://www.wsp.wa.gov/information/releases/2013_archive/mr051713b.htm

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.410
deltabravo
Nomad
Jan 02, 2015
the bear II wrote:
In WA I believe on some of the interstates the towing speed is 65MPH

Washington doesn't have a separate speed limit for towing.

In some areas the speed limit on the Insterstate highways is 70, but 65 is all the faster I drive while towing.

If the tires on the trailer are more than 5 years old, they should be replaced.
I'd highly recommend getting the wheel bearings serviced and the brakes inspected as well.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 02, 2015
transamz9 wrote:
nomad297 wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
Take the back roads!

How about you taking the back roads to avoid all of these hazards you are so concerned with?

Bruce

I don't understand what the problem is? If you are wanting to take your time then why not take the scenic route. When people get caught behind you running slow and people are flying by and these people can't get out in the lane then you are being just as disrespectful as the guy that's going to get in front of you and start slowing down making you to try and go around and then speeds back up driving side by side. I just don't understand why you want to run highway speeds on the interstate. Take the highway or run with the flow of traffic instead of being a traffic jam.

There are laws prohibiting speeds so low they are dangerous or impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic.
And the Interstate Minimum Speed Limit is 40 MPH.

So as long as traffic is moving above that minimum speed limit they have as much right as you do to use the Interstate.

Dang.....ain't it just wrong when others have same rights as you??
shakyjay
Explorer II
Jan 02, 2015
transamz9 wrote:
GeoBoy wrote:
I tow at 60 mph, better safe than sorry.

Just how safe is it when you have cars and trucks going 20+ mph faster having to fight over lanes to get around you? Take the back roads!

transamz9 wrote:
I don't understand what the problem is? If you are wanting to take your time then why not take the scenic route. When people get caught behind you running slow and people are flying by and these people can't get out in the lane then you are being just as disrespectful as the guy that's going to get in front of you and start slowing down making you to try and go around and then speeds back up driving side by side. I just don't understand why you want to run highway speeds on the interstate. Take the highway or run with the flow of traffic instead of being a traffic jam.

As I recall, in Kentucky the maximum interstate speed limit is 70 mph and that is only in rural areas. So if GeoBoy is driving 60 mph that would mean according to your own post you are driving 80+ mph. Clearly a violation that could get you a ticket. Since interstates have multiple lanes it should not be much of a problem to simply go around them, unless traffic in the other lanes is bumper to bumper. If that is the case then driving at 80+ mph would be terribly reckless.
Sport45
Explorer II
Jan 02, 2015
transamz9 wrote:
nomad297 wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
Take the back roads!

How about you taking the back roads to avoid all of these hazards you are so concerned with?

Bruce

I don't understand what the problem is? If you are wanting to take your time then why not take the scenic route. When people get caught behind you running slow and people are flying by and these people can't get out in the lane then you are being just as disrespectful as the guy that's going to get in front of you and start slowing down making you to try and go around and then speeds back up driving side by side. I just don't understand why you want to run highway speeds on the interstate. Take the highway or run with the flow of traffic instead of being a traffic jam.

If anybody gets "caught" behind a slower vehicle it's their own fault. If you pay attention to what's going on ahead of you there's usually plenty of opportunity to move into the passing lane. Its the drivers who look no further than the back end of the car in front of them that get trapped.
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
nomad297 wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
Take the back roads!

How about you taking the back roads to avoid all of these hazards you are so concerned with?

Bruce

I don't understand what the problem is? If you are wanting to take your time then why not take the scenic route. When people get caught behind you running slow and people are flying by and these people can't get out in the lane then you are being just as disrespectful as the guy that's going to get in front of you and start slowing down making you to try and go around and then speeds back up driving side by side. I just don't understand why you want to run highway speeds on the interstate. Take the highway or run with the flow of traffic instead of being a traffic jam.
ken56
Explorer
Jan 01, 2015
Drive at what you are comfortable with. On our trip out west, even when the limit was 80 I was doing 60 to 65. Its not your problem what the guy behind you thinks of it. We never had anyone take issue with it. Keep a good following distance between those in front of you. Its not the speed that kills you in an accident, its the sudden stop. Get very familiar with the stopping distance your setup needs. Just be cautious and courteous and you will be fine. Most of all ENJOY IT.
GeoBoy
Explorer
Jan 01, 2015
Thanks Bruce.
nomad297
Explorer
Jan 01, 2015
transamz9 wrote:
Take the back roads!

How about you taking the back roads to avoid all of these hazards you are so concerned with?

Bruce
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 01, 2015
GeoBoy wrote:
I tow at 60 mph, better safe than sorry.

Just how safe is it when you have cars and trucks going 20+ mph faster having to fight over lanes to get around you? Take the back roads!