How fast do you honestly tow?

[et2]

And if over 70 mph do you really feel safe? I was traveling in my car on the freeway today. I trailed a rver who seemed to be moving pretty fast. I matched his speed at 77 mph. He was pulling about a 32' aluminum travel trailer which had the axles flipped, so it road pretty high off the ground with the nose angled down to the knuckle. The pickup was a short bed F150.

Just my perspective, but man that was way to fast, especially for the setup he had. I'd wager he had his foot buried in the pedal.I started thinking about all the things that could go wrong. Why do so many push he envelope? If I had to be in that much of a hurry I'd give up camping. I tow at 65 - 68, maybe that's too fast?

So what say you is really a safe speed?

[rockportrocket]

In most states, I can understand driving slow (55-60) but here in Texas, if you try to take the surface roads, you will be driving for 10 days. Out across WTex. it is 80 and 85 mph. And there aint no alternate roads. Going south to Rockport, I drive 65-70 mph, but I also stated I have high speed G rated tires on my fiver and my truck.

Actually from I-8 west from Tucson, Ive hit 105mph and no problems. Try pulling your rig down I35 at 55, they will run you off the interstate.

Yes , in Tex they have a towing speed...........what ever you want until they stop you.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

zman-az wrote:
I have no problem towing 7,000lb trailer at 75mph with my Dodge Diesel and did it with my 2004 F150 in the past as well. NEVER HAD A ISSUE OR FELT UNSAFE.

Well pin a rose on your nose buckwheat!

C'mon across the AZ / CA line into CA, and the CHP will be happy to furnish you with a "greetings" for your "no problem".

Ya can't fix stupid - but "stupid" can pay up !!..:S

~

[Scott_s]

Speed limit and gas MPG stinks slow or fast so I just don't worry about it. My tires on my fiver are rated for 87 mph. Max speed in my areas are 75. I don't like to be that guy that's holds the rest of the world up.(I hate being stuck behind slow people that don't care if 40 cars are stuck behind them and can't pass) I've never felt nervous at posted speeds.

[Tom_Diane]

KD4UPL wrote:
In the 18 wheeler: speed limit plus 5 or 10.
With the boat or cargo trailer 70 or 75 before I learned ST tires were only good for 65 mph.
Now, 65 because of the tires. When I replace them with LT tires I will go back to towing at 70 to 75.
No white knuckles, no blow outs, no problems. Yes, I am in a hurry. I have a job and limited time for recreation. I want to spend it at my destination with my family. Not poking down the road tying up traffic.

In the 18 wheeler limit huh? Plus 5 or 10 more? 18 wheelers are the same as 4 wheelers for the most part. Our RVs are not built like the big trucks and the speed limits are set to follow. I try to practice the rules of the road and start earlier if I need to be there on time. If Im doing the speed limit, or just under and others cant abide by it then they will just have to follow me. If there's going to be an accident then it will happen because the other guy cuased it from his impatienece! FWIW, I drove a big truck in another life and never ever gave any thought there to compairing an RV to a big truck and in fact,RVers get cussed at by truckers but they are the truckers that want to drive hard for the mileage. I got paid by the hour so I didn't rush. I had to pay my own tickets. So truckers aren't RVers and RVers aren't truckers in the professional sense.

[timjcarter9]

I can't believe people think it is safe to tow at 80 or 90. Anything goes wrong at that speed and you die. Especially with most tires for trailers rated for 65. Insane. Staying under the rated max decreases the chance of a blowout. Even if your tires are rated faster a blowout at high speed will leave you just as dead.

I think a lot of people who tow don't know about the tire ratings.

I however drive at 100 all the time. Canadian style (kph).

[KD4UPL]

In the 18 wheeler: speed limit plus 5 or 10.
With the boat or cargo trailer 70 or 75 before I learned ST tires were only good for 65 mph.
Now, 65 because of the tires. When I replace them with LT tires I will go back to towing at 70 to 75.
No white knuckles, no blow outs, no problems. Yes, I am in a hurry. I have a job and limited time for recreation. I want to spend it at my destination with my family. Not poking down the road tying up traffic.

[John___Angela]

57 to 62 depending on grade etc.

[wski]

1. I try to remain in the sweet spot for my diesel, which is usually 1750 to 1800 RPMs. This usually equates between 60 and 65 MPH. This allows me to tow at a comfortable speed while maximizing my fuel economy.

[kennethwooster]

I use to pull at speed limit and still dont have a problem with it but we de ided to slow up a little. We live in a very flat area so its easy to get too fast. Ill run between 60 and 65. Sometimes the wind gets so bad we have to slow up.

[cekkk]

My truck seems to like 62, and I understand ST tires are rated at 65 max.

[travelnutz]

58-60 on Interstates in states where over 55 mph towing is allowed. 55 max on non-limited access (non-Interstates etc) highways. driving a 20,000 lb rig as weighed with us in it is too much weight to be driving faster. Speed kills and that means others on the road or your and your family and you are the one responsible for all their safety. What's the hurry anyway?

[JiminDenver]

On the flat 60-65 max. In the mountains, whatever the warning sign on the next curve says. We are in no hurry.

[deleted-2]

No reason to white knuckle it when towing.
I was a leadfoot in a former life so towing slow kind of sets the mood for the whole outing.
Take it easy and enjoy.

[LaunchnRetrieve]

rockportrocket wrote:
I have high speed tires on my truck and trl. In Texas, the speed limit is 80 and thats for the slow lane. I tow up to 90 and feel quite safe. Going south on 35 or 45, if you don't go 70-75 u gonna get run over. I see them all the time doing 55 in a 75-80 speed limit interstate, and they do cause problems.

Having only traveled in California I only know a 55 mph speed limit for towing. I always assumed it was based on safety. Is that the case? Is it not the case? Does texas have a max towing speed limit? If so what is it?

I've also seen reference in this thread to not using the interstate. Here that means surface streets and you aren't going anywhere but across town on those, not some trip. So what do posters mean by avoiding the interstate?

[Coyotecprs]

I rarely drive about 65 most of the time a little below.