Is 70 the age to stop towing

[Supercharged]

I think maybe if you drive a motorhome at 70 you are safe, but pulling anything behind it is not safe.

[samsontdog]

I turned 81 today and there is no way in hell that I plan to stop towing my 30 ft TT all over the Southwest until the Good Lord tells me it is time

[Dutch_12078]

Supercharged wrote:

ppine wrote:
I am about to turn 70, and now is the time to get serious about getting a better trailer. My girl will soon be working less and we will have some time for longer trips to places like BC.

It is just about to late to start. And with a trailer you better think about it, that is hard to pull after turning 70.

Who are you to judge how physically and mentally capable someone you've never met is? The fellow that very neatly backed his 38 ft 5'ver into the site next to me last week in one pass without a spotter was 87 for instance. Even getting hooked up and setting up his other gear, he showed few signs of his age. A little slow getting back up from kneeling perhaps, but I have that problem at just 75.

[Greyghost]

No, not a toll or a troll. I've just enjoyed watching your fishing expeditions on the Net. I was just following the thread to see where it would go and who would get cranky when I noticed who the OP was. Good to see you're still active.

[Supercharged]

ppine wrote:
I am about to turn 70, and now is the time to get serious about getting a better trailer. My girl will soon be working less and we will have some time for longer trips to places like BC.

It is just about to late to start. And with a trailer you better think about it, that is hard to pull after turning 70.

[Supercharged]

Greyghost wrote:
I called him out on the 3rd page:B

I give you credit Mr. Ghost you follow me on the Net. Are you maybe one of those tolls by doing that?

[Cloud_Dancer]

If you want to keep on doing it, don't tell anyone.
In aviation, there's a saying: "Kick the tires, and light the fires"....:B

[Horsedoc]

nineoaks2004 wrote:
I am 73 and I still pull my TT and will continue to do so..I have no problems driving, pulling and backing up or setting up..Why should I quit doing what we love ?

Precisely! We are both 72 (in March) and just purchased a handicap accessible Newmar Canyon Star. We intend to continue to RV and travel until I am unable to do it any more.

[free_radical]

Imo Youre only as old as you feel,, 🙂
Its good to know your limits.

https://youtu.be/Q1AL5fCScRc

[road2002runner]

Well- I will be 85 in May 2019. I took my original drivers test @16 driving a tow truck thru downtown Toronto, Ont. Since then I have driven over a million miles, some towing 3 or four trailers - Toronto to Fla far more than a dozen times and since retiring at 59 and moving to BC have traveled (towing) across Canada & USA at least twice - PLUS 20 years of towing to Calif./Araz. During that time I have been in 2 accidents ( neither my fault Someone hit ME while I was on a parking lot) and have had 2 speeding tickets? Maybe not a record - - BUT not a bad average - I plan on taking a SENIOR driving test BEFORE my 85th
in May. I still feel confident on the road - BUT I hope to have the sense to quit when I feel it is time.

[wa8yxm]

I do not recall if I ever posted in this thread but.. A thought comes to me

Is 70 the age to stop.. No set age some folks at 70 or 80 are still good to tow
Some .. Well I know of a couple of brothers. my Troopers first met 'em when they were in their 20s and they should WALK wherever they go. They should NOT drive a vehicle (I will not mention their names) Their drivers licenses are "Suspended, Denied, Revoked and So on.. Last time I checked (I retired in 2002 I think) they were both revoked well past today.

[Route_66_Travel]

Supercharged wrote:
I think maybe if you drive a motorhome at 70 you are safe, but pulling anything behind it is not safe.

Makes no sense to me. Today's my 75th birthday and I'm still traveling with my 30ft TT. I've seen quite a few RV'ers much younger than me who obviously should not be on the road.

[Cloud_Dancer]

I'm not really a "planner", except that I was trained to be a good flight planner. But, I finally bought me a truly comfortable and stable, long-wheelbase, diesel pusher. Its good power-to-weight ratio makes it a safer vehicle as well IMO. As a retired commercial pilot, I'm still a good SCANNER (enhances positional awareness). When driving my Dutch Star cross-country, I stop every couple of hours, walk the puppies, and exercise my legs. I listen to my cardiologist every 6 months (heart good, no obstructions). I love fishing, I'm a happy camper. I can see myself doing the same for the next 6 years (to the age of 86).

[DustyR]

I'm 78 and still towing. I have had a few doubts over the years, not so much about my reaction times. Visual acuity raised its ugly head a couple years back and a visit to an ophthalmologist revealed the cataract on my left eye needed to be removed, problem solved. I usually plan a 500 mile day and if the body says 300 miles is enough that is okay also.

I retired as a CDL driver ten years ago and at that time my goal was a 600 mile per day average. Since then I have did a couple 800 mile days and the cost was too high. Exhausted when I finished the day and highly fatigued the next. Not worth the cost to my body or mind.

The main thing is listen to what your body is telling you, don't delude your self on an established goal. Remain flexible in your driving expectations and enjoy the journey. The destination will always be there the next couple of days.

I was trained to SCAN, a method of constant eye movement ahead, behind and inside the cab glancing at your instruments. This eye movement keeps you aware of your vehicle and the traffic around you. The added advantage is it also keeps your blood pressure normal and no fixated driving.

Be safe, enjoy and arrive at your destination with no harm to yourself or others.

[pnichols]

Cloud Dancer wrote:
I'm one year away from age 80, and I'm wondering if anyone cares to know how good a driver I am? Well, it doesn't matter does it? I know I can pass the vision test, AND a driving test.
So, the question remains the same, who will determine the method for eliminating substandard drivers?
BTW hooking up and towing my GMC Envoy behind my Dutch Star, in a safe manner, is a piece of cake. I even know the science behind the procedure for maintaining control in event of a front tire blowout. How do you test for that?

After vision, and knowledge, and driving test results, and other good-health criteria ... how's your brain-to-muscle and muscle-to-brain communication/reaction time?

That age-related declining communication/reaction time is beyond your and your doctor's control, but critical to being a truly good and safe driver. Fast actions and reactions are especially necessary given the way other drivers act - and expect you to act - when they're in their SUVs buzzing around you in an RV.

[BarneyS]

I love Supercharged's posts! They are usually good humored and good for a belly laugh most of the time. Very few should be taken seriously but responded to in the same "tongue in cheek" manner in which they are posted.

Personally, I hope he continues to post for a long time to come.:) . We need some good natured banter around here now and then. :B
Barney