New to towing. Speed? Weight?
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' Prowler Truck - 1989 Chevy Su...
Forum Discussion
Being your a new member on here...I'll pass on the following...
Welcome and our state has lots to do in the RVing area. (I'm in your state also).
Towing speed... a 2 or 3 hour trip going 58 or 62 or 65 is not going to make that big of difference when you get there. I usually get on freeway and do about 62 and sooner or later you'll get behind somebody doing 58-60. That is where I'll stay, giving lots of room behind them. That's what works for me. Maybe you drive 70 and like to support tire dealers and tow trucks.
"we're kind of clueless to the standard operating procedure of this year and model" See link below. You'll get the idea.
Tires and speed....If you have tires that have "ST" marked on them I wouldn't go over 65. And there is very few places we've found that going over 65 make any since anyways.
What part of state are you in?
Your TT is 40 years old. If it was maintained you've really got something there. Some older units are better than some new. Every year we camp with our in-laws one or two weeks a year. One of them has a 1983 (I think) TT that is in great shape. They didn't buy it that way, but over the years they fixed it up better than new IMO.
If husband hasn't towed before, my advice is to remember that stopping distances increase with added weight of TT. And (Important) the stresses of added weight of TT you'll need a tow vehicle in good shape. I didn't say "new" but in good working order. But brakes and transmission need to be working properly and maintained and husband needs to know how to up and down some of the grades we have without frying brake pads or transmission.
Here is a good place to start for the many questions that might help. You don't need a ton of money to RV after you've have the basic's. Depending on what type of RVing you like to do, there are many places to go and see and explore or just get away from it all.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/264829.cfm
Welcome and our state has lots to do in the RVing area. (I'm in your state also).
Towing speed... a 2 or 3 hour trip going 58 or 62 or 65 is not going to make that big of difference when you get there. I usually get on freeway and do about 62 and sooner or later you'll get behind somebody doing 58-60. That is where I'll stay, giving lots of room behind them. That's what works for me. Maybe you drive 70 and like to support tire dealers and tow trucks.
"we're kind of clueless to the standard operating procedure of this year and model" See link below. You'll get the idea.
Tires and speed....If you have tires that have "ST" marked on them I wouldn't go over 65. And there is very few places we've found that going over 65 make any since anyways.
What part of state are you in?
Your TT is 40 years old. If it was maintained you've really got something there. Some older units are better than some new. Every year we camp with our in-laws one or two weeks a year. One of them has a 1983 (I think) TT that is in great shape. They didn't buy it that way, but over the years they fixed it up better than new IMO.
If husband hasn't towed before, my advice is to remember that stopping distances increase with added weight of TT. And (Important) the stresses of added weight of TT you'll need a tow vehicle in good shape. I didn't say "new" but in good working order. But brakes and transmission need to be working properly and maintained and husband needs to know how to up and down some of the grades we have without frying brake pads or transmission.
Here is a good place to start for the many questions that might help. You don't need a ton of money to RV after you've have the basic's. Depending on what type of RVing you like to do, there are many places to go and see and explore or just get away from it all.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/264829.cfm
