Ram Goes to Stunning 900 lb-ft of torque
The 2016 Ram 3500 breaks the towing record previously held by the old Ram 3500 (at 30,000 pounds) by moving up to 31,210 pounds,more than two tons beyond its closest rival. To get there, Ram went from...
Forum Discussion
Almost no one tows at 55 in California. I tried it the first year we went south and it was not comfortable feeling like a moving obstacle. Now I do 60 and only get passed by around half the 18 wheelers.
Agreed, but that does not change the law. And even at 60 or 63 mph there is still a speed differential between what is being towed and what virtually every car and motorcyle is doing for their speeds. I tend to believe going too slow is an impediment to the flow of traffic regardless if it is the law or not enough power and too much hill and weight. As cars come up behind they have to pass, change lanes, adjust their speeds that are set on cruise, etc. It might not be all that unsafe when an 18 wheeler is ahead as they are big, easy to see, and most drivers expect them to go slower up hills. But, they still need to be negotiated around by faster flowing traffic. I think RVs are in a little different category as to perception by other motorists. They may not think an RV is going as slow as it is until the last minute. How many RVers use the Hazard lights when pedaling up a hill as fast as they can and still not being able to make the flow of traffic either because it is the law or the hill is too steep to get the speeds up?
Caltrans understands the speed differential issue at least on IR 80 between Reno and Sacramento as there are dedicated lanes for slow trucks. Motorists see trucks in the truck lanes and expect them to be slower than the flow of traffic. No problem, the trucks are in their own slow lane and no impediment to the flow of all the other traffic. And some of the truck climbing lanes are marked with a max speed of 50 mph or so. It is safe and it works. The California legislature further addressed the issue of speed differential
on multilane highways by 18 wheelers and anybody else that tows to be in the most right lane (slow lane) on a multi lane road except when passing or when the next exit is a left lane exit. Speed differential is definately an issue. How safe/unsafe it is, I don't know.
