Towing Speed - Am I Going Too Slow?!
I'm currently camping on our first long trip in our trailer (previous two trips were only 5 - 10 mins away). We went from Littleton, CO up 285 to Buena Vista, CO, which is about 2.5 - 3 hrs towing....
Forum Discussion
I have the same truck and tend to tow in the 65-70 mph range. The max torque for the 8.1 is at 3200 rpm, and when I hit the bottom of the hill and downshift into 3rd at 65 mph, that brings the engine right at 3200, the torque converter re-locks and I can hold that speed up most hills.
Bear I mind I have a Hensley Arrow hitch and LT tires on the trailer. I also have the trailer brake controller dialed up to aggressively lead the truck brakes, so stopping distance is excellent.
If the pavement is wet, I dial back the trailer brakes so the TT doesn't skid and I will run 60-65 in bad weather.
As my Dad always said when I was learning to drive, "just remember that you can't go faster than the car in front of you."
Bottom line, drive the speed that's most comfortable for you and best suited to your equipment. Things happen a lot faster at 70 than they do at 60, and by a factor of 10 when you're towing a big RV.
Bear I mind I have a Hensley Arrow hitch and LT tires on the trailer. I also have the trailer brake controller dialed up to aggressively lead the truck brakes, so stopping distance is excellent.
If the pavement is wet, I dial back the trailer brakes so the TT doesn't skid and I will run 60-65 in bad weather.
As my Dad always said when I was learning to drive, "just remember that you can't go faster than the car in front of you."
Bottom line, drive the speed that's most comfortable for you and best suited to your equipment. Things happen a lot faster at 70 than they do at 60, and by a factor of 10 when you're towing a big RV.
