Maximum tow speed for 6500 lbs Toy Hauler with two axles

[Tim_TH]

Hi,
Going to make a 2000+ miles round trip within 10 days time frame and wondering if there is any problem if I tow 75 mph provided road is flat, traffic is clear and normal wind condition.
65 mph sounded like a norm to most people and I like to hear from seasoned RVers.
Tow vehicle is Titan XD with Cummins 5.0 Turbo.
Thanks.
Tim

[Ron3rd]

RTCastillo wrote:

Tim TH wrote:
Hi,
Going to make a 2000+ miles round trip within 10 days time frame and wondering if there is any problem if I tow 75 mph provided road is flat, traffic is clear and normal wind condition.
65 mph sounded like a norm to most people and I like to hear from seasoned RVers.
Tow vehicle is Titan XD with Cummins 5.0 Turbo.
Thanks.
Tim

California has a speed limit of 55mph for trailers and towed vehicles.

Depending on the highway, they might allow up to 65mph even at the same posted speed limit of 55. But you don't want to know which is which as the state has the highest fines for traffic violation.

The most important consideration though is safety: for yourself, your family and other people.

Very true as to the Calif speed limit of 55 mph when towing. I've never seen it enforced though. I usually go 63-65 in Calif and have never had a CHP officer even look at me. As long as you going with the flow of traffic you won't have a problem IMO. Start passing everybody and you will.

I have a friend who is a CHP officer and he said he never looks to enforce the 55 mph towing limit so long as you are not grossly speeding. He said the big thing they're looking for now in Calif is "aggressive driving" and talking on cell phones.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Bobbo wrote:

RTCastillo wrote:

IdaD wrote:
Idaho's rural freeways max out at 80, not 85. Officially, that is - you can get away with a bit more provided you don't have California plates on your vehicle.

Why is everyone envious of California? I got a ticket in Texas and Utah simply because my vehicle has CA plates.

Trust me, it isn't envy.

Lol, still puzzled here as I have this habit of setting my cruise control on speed limit.

Must be the Aventador where you can get an overspeeding ticket even while parked, lol.

[Bobbo]

RTCastillo wrote:

IdaD wrote:
Idaho's rural freeways max out at 80, not 85. Officially, that is - you can get away with a bit more provided you don't have California plates on your vehicle.

Why is everyone envious of California? I got a ticket in Texas and Utah simply because my vehicle has CA plates.

Trust me, it isn't envy.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

campigloo wrote:
I drive 65ish. I look in the rear view to see that piece of junk behind me. Keeps me slowed down.
And I keep mine in excellent mechanical condition.

I assume you are doing that in LA, or states with higher speed limits for trailers.

Do that in CA, Utah, Nevada... and you'll be giving hefty contributions to running their state governments.

[campigloo]

I drive 65ish. I look in the rear view to see that piece of junk behind me. Keeps me slowed down.
And I keep mine in excellent mechanical condition.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

mkirsch wrote:
Used to travel a stretch of I-80 in Ohio from Cleveland to Toledo where trucks had a speed limit of 55 and cars could go 65. Seemed to me like it was an accident looking for a place to happen because vehicles were constantly pulling out to pass; you couldn't just find a "groove" and stay there unless you wanted to putter along at 55 with the trucks.

At 55 to 60 mph, semis and lots of trailers will overtake me -- even in California. Fast 65 mph in California, I would see them by side with the highway patrol later on. Seems my sweet spot for best mpg too at these speed ranges.

I had a few incidents of sway, buckling, trailer jump, high winds lift on trailer and I dread to think what would have happened had I been going faster on those times.

[mkirsch]

Used to travel a stretch of I-80 in Ohio from Cleveland to Toledo where trucks had a speed limit of 55 and cars could go 65. Seemed to me like it was an accident looking for a place to happen because vehicles were constantly pulling out to pass; you couldn't just find a "groove" and stay there unless you wanted to putter along at 55 with the trucks.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Second Chance wrote:
If you're towing a toy hauler with a beefed-up 1/2 ton and Chinese-made ST tires rated at 65 MPH and going 75 MPH, please stay off the roads where my family and I travel. It's dangerous and irresponsible.

Rob

Saying this in milder language having attended corporate safety courses for corporate policy implementation.

My question, referring to semis hauling our products interstate and coast-to-coast, the safe speed for them. Indeed, some are covered here as to road layout and conditions.

But he says, California got in right with multiple speed limits on surface roads, highways and freeways (55 to 65mph which is my self-imposed speed limit too).

His final advice to us driving with our family is to avoid semis or trailer-towing vehicles going beyond 65 mph or not slowing down on adverse road conditions.

He added that these vehicles and trailers are attached by single pivot pin, have unsynchronized braking system... and the many things that could make the driver lose control and for everything to go wrong.

I don't consider myself easily scared, but I do let anyone going faster than me to pass and avoid being side by side with anyone pulling a trailer and won't fault somebody who do the same when I'm on the road.

[RinconVTR]

Too many of you are blanket stating ST have 65mph limits.

One, they do not have limits, they have ratings. If you think that over 65mph, they suddenly fail, you're understanding of ratings is skewed by the internet.

Two, there are MANY ST tires that are rated for 75-87mph.


As far as what speed to travel, its a personal preference and you'll naturally find a comfortable speed for your driving style and rig itself. Of course, high speed naturally add risk but that threshold is not the same for everyone in every condition.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

Bobbo wrote:
I haven't had my TT long enough to compile figures, but here are the figures on my Class C that I had for 10 years.

60 mph = 9 mpg
70 mph = 6 mpg

That was a 17% increase in speed with a 33% decrease in fuel efficiency. Fastest may not be your best choice, for a plethora of reasons.

Thanks for supplying the numbers.

It's actually intuitive and the simple law of physics and aerodynamics specially with flat fronted RVs. I'm still finding the sweet spot of speed and mpg on mine. And with high head wind, I don't even fight and stay on cruise speed even if it drops slightly.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

IdaD wrote:

ktmrfs wrote:
But Idaho has one up'd montana with some interstate sections at 85mph now.

Idaho's rural freeways max out at 80, not 85. Officially, that is - you can get away with a bit more provided you don't have California plates on your vehicle.

Why is everyone envious of California? I got a ticket in Texas and Utah simply because my vehicle has CA plates.

[IdaD]

ktmrfs wrote:
But Idaho has one up'd montana with some interstate sections at 85mph now.

Idaho's rural freeways max out at 80, not 85. Officially, that is - you can get away with a bit more provided you don't have California plates on your vehicle.

[dodge_guy]

Bobbo wrote:
I haven't had my TT long enough to compile figures, but here are the figures on my Class C that I had for 10 years.

60 mph = 9 mpg
70 mph = 6 mpg

That was a 17% increase in speed with a 33% decrease in fuel efficiency. Fastest may not be your best choice, for a plethora of reasons.

I agree with you, but I did a test between fill ups and found that at 75 I`m getting about .3 better mileage than at 67. The reason I noticed is that the engine is making more torque with the higher rpms. I also noticed on my dash command app that the throttle opening is less at the higher speeds.

[Bobbo]

I haven't had my TT long enough to compile figures, but here are the figures on my Class C that I had for 10 years.

60 mph = 9 mpg
70 mph = 6 mpg

That was a 17% increase in speed with a 33% decrease in fuel efficiency. Fastest may not be your best choice, for a plethora of reasons.

[JIMNLIN]

The speed limit is 75 on I-44 near me. I'm on the road sometime 3-4 times a day. Lots of RV transporters use I-44 and most pulling that size trailers (bumper pulls and 5ers) are running 73-75 mph.
Course their using a few 3/4 tons but mostly one ton SRW and DRW diesel trucks.

I wouldn't do it continuously if your tires on the trailer are ST class regardless of their speed rating. Those small probably 13"/14" diameter tires on a trailer that small turn some very high revs.