Ideal Speed In Class A Gas MH

[FULLTIMEWANABE]

Care to share what your "optimum" travelling speed is when moving/travelling to a different location in your Class A Gas MH?

Taking into account consideration of: what's best for the vehicle, most cost effective balancing everything out, and most importantly what you feel is best for safety.

Looking forward to the responses and of course how prudent you are during your travels of sticking to that deemed optimum speed.

Much appreciated folks 🙂

FTW.

[LVJ58]

gbopp wrote:
58-62

X2

[sdianel_-acct_c]

63

[Mr_Mark1]

I like 55-60 mph but have gone 70 mph on those 80 mph Texas/New Mexico interstates. Our Michelin tires have a 75 mph limit recommendation. Our tow vehicle has a 65 max tow limit that I have exceeded a couple of times.

99% of the time, I'm 55-60 mph in the right lane letting those in a big hurry pass me. I flash the truckers over and about half the time they will blink their lights in appreciation. I have not noticed anyone irritated at my speed.

I also keep my CB on and rarely hear any comments from the truckers.

Safe travels,
MM.

[cvbdsl]

Don't forget that your upper limit could be set by your toad.
Many people seem to forget that most manufactures set a limit on the towing speed of a vehicle (my Edge is 65 MPH).

That doesn't mean that I haven't exceeded it occasionally but I try to keep it down to short periods as there is probably a little fudge factor in the manufactures recommendation? I will not run at well above the speed limit to satisfy some morons who think they know best. Just because you speed is no reason for me to speed.

If I run at above 65 all day long, any damage to my toad is my own fault. Lots do it with no concerns or don't even realize there is a limit on towed speed and never have an issue, but that's their choice.

Stay safe and run at a speed you feel comfortable at, and if you get cocky, try an emergency stop (in a safe area) some time. Getting a few tons of motor-home to stop quickly is an eye-opener.

Chris

[cooper841]

Around 62 63 pulling with or without toad.

[s_N_s]

62 to 64 is the most comfortable for us.

[FULLTIMEWANABE]

Wow, thanks for the feedback folks. I have to admit reading some comments here caused quite a bit of head shaking? Why should I be forced for one to go over the speed limit (it's obviously there for a reason and if it's too low, then why doesn't it get changed?) plus get speeding fines in the process, in addition our governor cuts in at 80mph. Personally we don't have much time for folks that "think they own the road or the rules don't apply to them" and or drive dangerously fast, tailgate to try and get you to go faster or otherwise, equally it's plain rude for folks not doing the speed limit to be in the outside lane. From some of the comments here, if you've ever seen someone close to you go through a windscreen or be crushed in a car under a semi, you might have a different outlook! My mother was taking glass out of her face from 1960s when the accident happened (dad was driving at 30mph speed limit) until the day she died in the 1980s!

Of course we understand that driving conditions come into play naturally, but again thank you for the general consensus shared. It seems that there is a sweet spot with most in that 55 to 65mph range based on the 3 criteria we referenced in the OP.

FTW.

[tatest]

I travel a lot in places where the traffic moving over the speed limit (which might be 75 or 80 mph out here on the plains) is a whole lot faster than my gas RV comfortably manages, so on these high speed highways I try to keep up with the heavy trucks in the right lane, and if they want to go past me, they can take their chances on the passing lane where someone might be coming along at 100 MPH.

Actual speeds, if I have no wind or a decent tail wind, my cruise speed might be as high as 70-75 mph not towing, 60-65 mph towing. Into a 15-20 mph headwind, or bucking strong crosswinds, I might be down to 55-65 mph on rural highways.

For me, it is about adjusting to conditions. If it was about "best MPG" I would have to cruise at 35-45 MPH which would not be safe on highways, not legal on most limited access highways, and not very useful for making progress on a road trip.

You have to find your own MPH niche, and it will vary with conditions.

[Lwiddis]

"At one time we drove 70 plus which kept up with most traffic but it really wore us out so we would stop more."

Keeping up...why? Wore us out...no kidding! And what did you see, enjoy while wearing yourself out and keeping up?

[Thunder_Mountai]

In our '07 Endeavor, I drove 63-68. Seemed to be the sweet spot for both handling and mpg. Did occasionally drive around 72 but paid a big penalty in handling and mpg. It was somewhat of a pig.

Our current 2016 Journey drives like a big pickup truck. It is just rock solid. It has a smaller mpg penalty for speed. On the open highway, its sweet spot is between 68 and 71.

If the speed limit is 55, I drive about 58 because most of the traffic running 60+. That lets me drive in the upper middle of the pack. I would rather be overtaken rather than passing.

One thing I do in places like I40 between Flagstaff and Albuquerque is let the 18 wheelers clear the way and surf their wake. That sometimes requires running a little faster for short periods of time. You let them in and they do the same. I would rather dance with them than the idiots who are weaving traffic at light speed. I love watching the rabbits trying to weave the needle between trucks. They get cut off and stuck, and I just smile to myself and flash my lights to the truckers. They do appreciate RVers who know how to drive.

It is all about your comfort level, equipment, traffic and weather conditions and traffic flow. Sometimes is requires you to be a bit uncomfortable and sometimes not.

[Goldencrazy]

Considering speed limit is not a barrier and roads are reasonably good I like 65 or a bit more. It seems I get my lowest engine noise and road noise at that speed. I think fuel economy is certainly better than going faster. At that speed I can stay to the right and generally not impede faster traffic and most highways range from 65 to 70. At one time we drove 70 plus which kept up with most traffic but it really wore us out so we would stop more. Didn't get us there faster, Mine is gas so I assume the DP with engine in the rear is quieter at higher speed but even then I would think it is tiring going faster in such a big vehicle that does not stop or manuever quickly.

[Gooding__R]

After putting in 38 years as a truck driver I found out that 8 mph ain't going to get you there in time to eat without me, so with that being said my MH never goes over 68.

[Heisenberg]

62

[Tinstar]

I'll play like there is no traffic. I drive 60-65 but creep up every now then when the ride is really smooth.

[Jim_Norman]

A) define Optimum Speed? Are we talking MPG, Comfort driving, or how long it takes to get there?

If MPG, you will need to look at the torque curve and shift points of your engine/trans combo. Usually this will fall around the 59-64 MPH mark. As an example I THOUGHT 62 was mine, learned that my Cummins likes 64 better or more tot he point regardless of MPH it likes 1750RPMs so if I am doing 64 in 6th that is about right, but if I have to slow don, then 5th gear can actually give better mpg at higher revs than 6ht at lower.
If you are nervous driving at 65 but more comfortable personally at 55, then 55 is your speed, just make sure you try to stay out of the left lanes in higher speed areas.
Lastly if it is how long till we get there, then 5 over where it is safe to do so, but be extremely cautious on curves, down grades and with braking distances.