Shaky towing experience, please advise
Just returned from a recent trip, comprised of three legs, each much longer than our previous trips. Leg A: 275 miles, mostly on 4 lane divided highways through the Texas hill country. I ran 55-60...
Forum Discussion
4x4 Dodger writes "Well his "white Knuckle" response is a PERSONAL reaction to external stimuli that I or someone else may feel perfectly comfortable with. IN FACT the scene as he describes it indicated NO REASON for this response. Thus my answer."
Lets take this step by step as to what the OP first posted?
OP..
Leg A: 275 miles, mostly on 4 lane divided highways through the Texas hill country. I ran 55-60 mph on average, rarely getting to 65. It was a windy day (30 mph) and there were a few times when the steering felt "slippery" or "light" on the front end (that's the best way I know to describe it). Overall I would say this was an okay-to-good towing experience.
Me.. OP towing 55-60 in 30 MPH winds rarely getting to 65 with a FEW times feeling "slippery or light" steering.
THIS IS NOT "NORMAL"
OP should not feel like they are loosing control, if they do ther IS a problem.
I have driven through a micro burst storm (straight line winds of 60+ MPH) and was able to maintain complete control without the feeling of a light front or slipping.
OP..
Leg B: 350 miles, mostly on interstate (I-10) in moderate (15 mph?) winds. This was my first extended time towing on the interstate with a TT. I now know what "white knuckling" means! I began at my usual 55-60 mph and worked up to no more than 65 mph. The steering felt very light on the front end and slippery---like I was on ice or hydroplaning.
When a tractor trailer truck would pass me, I wouldn't even need to look in the mirror to know when it was 10 ft off my left rear bumper: I could feel a strong pull then push as it came alongside me. I don't mean a small pull-push, I mean severe as if I might lose control.
I slowed to 60 mph and this helped, but it was still uncomfortable. I had to slow to 50-55 to feel comfortable, and I don't believe I am a chicken driver. Thankfully, the last hour of our drive was in stop and go (but mostly go) traffic on a 4 lane divided highway running 50 mph at most. This was an extremely welcome relief compared to the previous 5+ hours.
Me.. SEVERE FEELING OF LOOSING CONTROL, STRONG PUSH/PULL WHEN VEHICLE IS PASSING, REDUCING SPEED HELPS SOMEWHAT.
NOT "NORMAL" AT ALL, Some push pull can't be helped, it is the nature of the beast.. BUT it shouldn't be severe and typically reducing speed often CAN make the feeling stronger due to the higher difference of speed between the two vehicles (stronger bow wave).
OP..
Leg C: About 250 mi, 25 or so on interstate, the rest on 4 lane divided highway but wide open where the speed limit was 70 and 75 mph. The driving experience on this leg was similar to leg A, except on the interstate it was more like leg B. On the divided highways I could run 65 mph and felt comfortable although the push-pull occurred when a big rig would blow by at 75 or 80. I just learned to slow to 55 and scoot to the right of my lane before they reached me.
Me.. OP is HAVING to slow to 55 MPH to maintain control..
THIS IS NOT "NORMAL".
There is no reason that the OP must slow down unless there is a problem with the TV/trailer setup or match (IE mechanical or a poor match/overload)..
I HAVE NEVER FELT THE NEED TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID THE PUSH PULL OR HAVE FELT A SLIPPERY FEELING when other vehicles pass.
Slowing down to 55 to maintain control when the speed limit is posted at 70 MPH is now putting the OP's life in danger.. The OP becomes a slow moving hazard that OTHERS may not realize that they are approaching the back of the OPs rig to quickly.
To be very clear 4x4, I use a F250 with a 1980s 26ft TT about 7K lbs loaded WITHOUT WD OR ANTI SWAY DEVICES.. My RIG DRIVES STRAIGHT AND TRUE and I can confidently drive 70 MPH EASILY..
Lets take this step by step as to what the OP first posted?
OP..
Leg A: 275 miles, mostly on 4 lane divided highways through the Texas hill country. I ran 55-60 mph on average, rarely getting to 65. It was a windy day (30 mph) and there were a few times when the steering felt "slippery" or "light" on the front end (that's the best way I know to describe it). Overall I would say this was an okay-to-good towing experience.
Me.. OP towing 55-60 in 30 MPH winds rarely getting to 65 with a FEW times feeling "slippery or light" steering.
THIS IS NOT "NORMAL"
OP should not feel like they are loosing control, if they do ther IS a problem.
I have driven through a micro burst storm (straight line winds of 60+ MPH) and was able to maintain complete control without the feeling of a light front or slipping.
OP..
Leg B: 350 miles, mostly on interstate (I-10) in moderate (15 mph?) winds. This was my first extended time towing on the interstate with a TT. I now know what "white knuckling" means! I began at my usual 55-60 mph and worked up to no more than 65 mph. The steering felt very light on the front end and slippery---like I was on ice or hydroplaning.
When a tractor trailer truck would pass me, I wouldn't even need to look in the mirror to know when it was 10 ft off my left rear bumper: I could feel a strong pull then push as it came alongside me. I don't mean a small pull-push, I mean severe as if I might lose control.
I slowed to 60 mph and this helped, but it was still uncomfortable. I had to slow to 50-55 to feel comfortable, and I don't believe I am a chicken driver. Thankfully, the last hour of our drive was in stop and go (but mostly go) traffic on a 4 lane divided highway running 50 mph at most. This was an extremely welcome relief compared to the previous 5+ hours.
Me.. SEVERE FEELING OF LOOSING CONTROL, STRONG PUSH/PULL WHEN VEHICLE IS PASSING, REDUCING SPEED HELPS SOMEWHAT.
NOT "NORMAL" AT ALL, Some push pull can't be helped, it is the nature of the beast.. BUT it shouldn't be severe and typically reducing speed often CAN make the feeling stronger due to the higher difference of speed between the two vehicles (stronger bow wave).
OP..
Leg C: About 250 mi, 25 or so on interstate, the rest on 4 lane divided highway but wide open where the speed limit was 70 and 75 mph. The driving experience on this leg was similar to leg A, except on the interstate it was more like leg B. On the divided highways I could run 65 mph and felt comfortable although the push-pull occurred when a big rig would blow by at 75 or 80. I just learned to slow to 55 and scoot to the right of my lane before they reached me.
Me.. OP is HAVING to slow to 55 MPH to maintain control..
THIS IS NOT "NORMAL".
There is no reason that the OP must slow down unless there is a problem with the TV/trailer setup or match (IE mechanical or a poor match/overload)..
I HAVE NEVER FELT THE NEED TO SLOW DOWN TO AVOID THE PUSH PULL OR HAVE FELT A SLIPPERY FEELING when other vehicles pass.
Slowing down to 55 to maintain control when the speed limit is posted at 70 MPH is now putting the OP's life in danger.. The OP becomes a slow moving hazard that OTHERS may not realize that they are approaching the back of the OPs rig to quickly.
To be very clear 4x4, I use a F250 with a 1980s 26ft TT about 7K lbs loaded WITHOUT WD OR ANTI SWAY DEVICES.. My RIG DRIVES STRAIGHT AND TRUE and I can confidently drive 70 MPH EASILY..
