How fast do you tow?

[houtrz]

Today while driving home from work a truck towing about a 36 foot fifth wheel blew by me. I was already going 75 so I sped up and followed him for about three miles. I was pacing him at between 87-93 depending on him slowing down for cars of which he basically pushed out of the way.

Obviously that was excessive but even at a fast speed what is considered ok and
what would you have done if this guy blew by you on the freeway

[Desert_Captain]

fj12ryder wrote:
Please stay in Arizona, don't need any self-appointed "Speed Police" around here. Exceeding the speed limit is not "driving like an idiot". Just cause you don't like it doesn't mean anything.

If I call 911 and the authorities deem my call unwarranted, and accordingly decide to take no action, then who has been harmed? Exceeding the speed limit, as most folks do on occasion, is not the same as towing a fiver at 87- 93 which IS clearly driving like an idiot. If you cannot see the difference welcome to the idiot club.

:S

[Sprink-Fitter]

fj12ryder wrote:
Please stay in Arizona, don't need any self-appointed "Speed Police" around here. Exceeding the speed limit is not "driving like an idiot". Just cause you don't like it doesn't mean anything.

x2

[fj12ryder]

Please stay in Arizona, don't need any self-appointed "Speed Police" around here. Exceeding the speed limit is not "driving like an idiot". Just cause you don't like it doesn't mean anything.

[Desert_Captain]

A couple of years ago while driving our Class C my bride an I witnessed an obviously impaired driver. We called 911 and hung back reporting her location as she weaved and sped down highway 77. Thanks to our reporting she was stopped and arrested before killing anyone. She was so drunk/stoned she could not even get out of the car without falling down. :S

I went back to the scene of her arrest to give a statement and the police could not have been more grateful for our willingness to "get involved". If anyone flies by me pulling a fiver going 87 - 93 you can bet your a$$ we will be on 911 in a heartbeat and looking forward to seeing them in custody down the road.

Everybody and their dog has a cell phone these days so don't be surprised at the blue lights in your rear view mirror if you are driving like an idiot.

:B

[Mile_High]

NC Hauler wrote:

Mile High wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:
We all drive different speeds and methods with or without a trailer.

Drive at the speed you feel comfortable. That's all that matters.

So if I feel comfortable driving at 90-100 mph, it shouldn't matter:h

If that's where you feel comfortable, that's probably the speed you are going to drive anyway, regardless of the law or what anyone tells you.

No, simply asking a stupid question..I do that quite often in here...It was stated by one poster that thy didn't care how fast one drove, as long as it was comfortable to said driver and didn't cause an accident. It was sarcasm a\on my part..so my bad, I don't think one should exceed posted speed limits....period..( that's why I used the "scratching head" picture t end of my post, as in, I don't get it...

Doesn't change what I said. People are going to drive where they feel comfortable, regardless of law or opinion. I for one rarely even look at the speedometer, I could care less what it says. I just watch traffic in front and what the road is doing.

[firstime_rver]

Hi there 🙂
I'm new to this forum and am amazed at the variety of opinions on this thread.. Just bought my TT in November and have spent very little time towing it.. but I think that you have to address each point..

I spend a lot of time on the interstate and surface roads because of my job and tend to have a heavy foot..

So I'd like to address a couple of points:

1) driving faster than the rated speed of your tires is looking for trouble, especially when heavily loaded.

2) move with the traffic if you can but if not, get over to the right.
I've seen 2 and 3 mile backups because of people driving significantly slower than the speed limit, sometimes in the left hand lane, frustrating other drivers, who do stupid things !!!

3) make sure you have enough stopping distance. Tail gating is suicidal. Are your brakes in good shape?

4) Try not to ride along-side of cars or 18 wheelers.. giving yourself and the others some room to move if you encounter a pot hole or road hazard.

5) sometimes it just makes sense to slow down. Slick roads, pot holes, high winds, heavy traffic. Why stress yourself out trying to fight the road conditions?

I like to drive faster than the speed limit without my TT and was pretty comfortable pulling the unloaded TT home from the dealer at up to 70 in the interstate, but that was on an "open road", Sunny day, slight wind gusts, with TT tires rated at 75 mph..

But I pretty much stayed between 60 and 70 primarily because of the traffic flow..

So I guess that the answer to the question as to "what is a safe speed" is to ask yourself what am I risking driving this way? I couldn't live with myself I my actions caused some one to be injured or even worse, lose their life!! So let your conscience be your guide.. 🙂 You will get there when you get there.

That's my 2 cents worth



Just remember you don't quit playing because you get old, you get old because you quit playing!!:B

[Corky12]

JustLabs wrote:
I've ran 70 a bunch. Times going to Yellowstone I would run 75.

I'd feel safer running 90 in Montana or Wyoming than trying to run 60 anywhere near Seattle.

Since the speed limits in MT and WY have been raised to 80 on the interstates there is zero tolerance for exceeding and it is pricey.

[cdlaine]

...lots of verbage here....

My take, 2 points.

1) that driver don't care what you think.

2) time for recitation of the serenity prayer. :C

Charles

[Arcamper]

Mile High wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
LT tires on my 5er. I usually set cruise around 70. Sometimes a little higher. I have been known to run with traffic at times. Highways we travel have speed limits of 75 and sometimes 80.

Unless there were some extreme extenuating circumstances, I wouldn't run 85+.

And I woulldn't think about calling 911 in the situation you were in either.

X2. I have the Goodyear G614s, disk brakes, and a stable dually so don't worry too much at 75. I don't try to keep up on the Wyoming 80s.

I'm not retired, and I refuse to slow down to a retiree's pace just because he is in my lane, prepare to be passed 🙂

X3

[DutchmenSport]

Coach-man wrote:
WOW.... If you insist on going that slow, then get off the Interstate, use the secondary roads!

Coach... this is EXACTLY what I do. I avoid interstate travel as much as possible, only when absolutely no other choice, then I'm in the right lane.

I did my best here to point out everyone's individuality, skill level, and safety, but the bottom line is, everyone is going to drive the speed they want. In my opinion, there are too many "crazies" "out there".... too fast for my blood. I've NEVER driven in a HOV lane, I really don't even know how they work. Where I live, we don't have them. When I'm traveling around some larger cities that have them, I'm in the right lane or the second to the right if multiple lanes. Usually the far right is for exiting.

But, if this is the case, most times, the speed limit had dropped to 55, so no problem running a speed with traffic in that lane.

Personally, I don't like going much faster than 60 even on the best roads. But 99% of the time, we're towing on secondary roads, not interstates. We like the slower, scenic routes. But, even with that, there is ALWAYS someone who want to go even faster, regardless of how fast we go. So, in the end ... you can't win anyway. So, drive the speed that works for you and don't worry about the other guy.

[Bionic_Man]

Mile High wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:
We all drive different speeds and methods with or without a trailer.

Drive at the speed you feel comfortable. That's all that matters.

So if I feel comfortable driving at 90-100 mph, it shouldn't matter:h

If that's where you feel comfortable, that's probably the speed you are going to drive anyway, regardless of the law or what anyone tells you.

Level of comfort hopefully varies depending on the circumstances. If I am towing my 5er in heavy traffic in the mountains I am much less comfortable at speed vs when I am driving my Porsche on the wide open interstate with no traffic and good weather.

I take into account a lot of different factors to determine speed. And sometimes I honestly am comfortable driving at a speed that is higher than the posted speed limit. And I am also comfortable knowing that there could be repercussions to me driving that speed.

I have seen plenty of posts on this forum about how people should never tow above 60 or 65 MPH (unless it is during a towing test up Ike, but that is a different story). I don't think there is an absolute clear cut and dry answer. There are times when towing 50 MPH could be irresponsible and dangerous. And there are times when the same can be said about a speed that is much slower or much faster. Sorry, but I don't think it is your role to decide what the appropriate speed is for everyone in the world.

[NC_Hauler]

Mile High wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:
We all drive different speeds and methods with or without a trailer.

Drive at the speed you feel comfortable. That's all that matters.

So if I feel comfortable driving at 90-100 mph, it shouldn't matter:h

If that's where you feel comfortable, that's probably the speed you are going to drive anyway, regardless of the law or what anyone tells you.

No, simply asking a stupid question..I do that quite often in here...It was stated by one poster that thy didn't care how fast one drove, as long as it was comfortable to said driver and didn't cause an accident. It was sarcasm a\on my part..so my bad, I don't think one should exceed posted speed limits....period..( that's why I used the "scratching head" picture t end of my post, as in, I don't get it...

[Mile_High]

NC Hauler wrote:

RinconVTR wrote:
We all drive different speeds and methods with or without a trailer.

Drive at the speed you feel comfortable. That's all that matters.

So if I feel comfortable driving at 90-100 mph, it shouldn't matter:h

If that's where you feel comfortable, that's probably the speed you are going to drive anyway, regardless of the law or what anyone tells you.

[Mile_High]

laknox wrote:

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Maybe they where having a medical emergency?

Or delivering a new trailer. You get paid by the mile, and say you are getting $1 per mile, less fuel costs, this guy was trying to break a record and make $70 an hour profit?

Who knows. Let the speeder blow by you. . . You are not law enforcement, and they are probably going to be fine anyway.

Good luck,

Fred.

IF this was a delivery or hot shot driver, what do they say if they show up with the side of the FW they're towing ripped to shreds when a tire fails? Always wondered this...

Lyle

I can tell you what one of them does. A fella just joined our forum that bought one out of state. It was used, but none the less he paid the Dealer to have it transported from FL to WY. During transport, the trailer had two blow outs that damaged the sides - he replaced the 2 tires, and the other 2 blew and did more damage. He replaced them, but then his truck broke down in Nebraska and he called the Dealer and told them they were going to have to come get it because he just quit.

[ford_truck_guy]

Or mechanical failure... At high speeds , its harder to recover