spoon059 wrote:
dadmomh wrote:
Fact still remains that if there is an emergency of any kind, you cannot stop as quickly at 75+ as you can at 65ish.
And the fact remains that you can stop quicker at 55 than 65. 45 than 55. 35 than 45. We can go on and on. The slower the speed, the less distance required to react.
For that matter, age influences reaction times as well. An average 35 year old reacts much quicker to a road hazard than a 65 year old does. You could easily argue that a 35 year old driving at 75 mph can react more quickly and safer than a 65 year old can at 65 mph.
Lets face it, you aren't stopping quickly with a trailer. There is ALWAYS a vehicle out there that stops in a shorter distance than you will. If your vehicle isn't a stable enough platform to be safe at 75, its doubtful its safe at 65. I know that my rig is stable and tows great at 75... I just can't afford the gas at 6 mpg towing at 75 vs 10 mpg at 65.
Good post and on the money.
One thing that I found interesting is that when I towed 80 MPH in Utah I didn't get too bad of fuel mileage. Right at 12.2.
When I hit a 15 to 20? MPH head wind at 60 to 65 MPH 3 days in a row it just KILLED my fuel mileage. Dropped my total down to 11.7 for the trip. It made me sick to be in the throttle that hard and go 60 to 65. I was using LOTS of fuel just to get my truck up to the speed of 60 MPH.
And just to remind you safety minded people out there. When you're on the road you are ALWAYS in danger. The longer you are on the road the more you are in danger. It's called exposure time.
On my vacation, driving the way I do, I can stay off the road for 3 whole days and do something else rather than be on the road and be exposed to danger.
There is always more than one way to look at things. :) Be safe out there and happy towing.
