What's your interstate speed

[dstalzer]

We run between 55 and 65 normally. If not in a big hurry we try not to go much faster than 60. At 70, which I think really too fast for the A/S tires, the mileage drops 3 to 4 MPG as compared to the 14 to 15 we get when holding between 60 and 65.

Dennis

[ebair]

Usually in the middle lane at the prevailing speed with the usual caveats about safety, stopping and sight distance. I keep everything in top shape and the tires hard, never had an issue (knock on wood) with the running gear.

"If you've towed something at 100mph,,,you might be a redneck" Jeff Foxworthy

[barts]

Originally Posted by projector

\I'm sure we'll get many one-finger salutes.

California's speed limit for trailers is 55 mph; I generally tow at less than 60 mph for both mileage and safety reasons.

- Bart

[DaveFL]

Speed is set at 65, flat land, have found overdrive and cruise control don't make for best mileage, I shut off cc when hills are numerous. I try to keep rpm's over 2000. when cc is on it will kick down two gears instead of one as it seems to be in a hurry to get back to set speed.

[Minno]

We experimented with towing at 55, 60, and 65mph. There was virtually no difference between 55 and 60. At 65 we went down about 4 mpg over the other 2. Therefore we tow at 60mph. That's with our Excursion and Starstream 24fter. When we towed the A.S. home for AL., we towed 55 or 60 due to worry about blowing those old tires, which didn't happen fortunately. We got about the same mileage wise for her too. We'll re-experiment when we get the A.S. back on the road especially since we'll probably have a new tow vehicle around that time frame too.
You should always tow for the conditions and be safe!
The joy is in the JOURNEY!

Kay

[Paul Mayeux]

We did the speed experiments too. These are towing the 05 CCD. With the 460 gas engine and 4.10 gearing the sweet spot was about 62-65, I can't remember what the rpm was at that speed but it was right at published peak torque for the motor. At 70 the fuel economy would drop to about 8mpg from 9.5 to 10mpg.

With the 6.0 diesel it likes 67 to 70. Fuel economy is worse at 55-60 than at 70. RPM is right at 2,000. Fuel economy drops off above 2,000 rpm to about 10 from 11.5-12mpg

Stress wise, we prefer 65-70. You don't get a bunch of crap from the other drivers and you are moving fast enough so as not to get drowsy. We also run the ST tires at 10psi above the pressure for the load rating as per Goodyear's instruction for running between 66-75mph.

[kmpro]

My cruise is about 64 MPH or depending on wind and load, just below the area that the power section of the quadrajet opens up.

Mike

[AlbertF]

65 mph, hills and headwinds permitting. Get about 16 mpg most of the time. Crossing the country, especially SD, WY, and MT, I would run 75 if the trailer had LT tires and the tow vehicle had more engine.

[dkottum]

58-63 mph freeway or not, but feel unsafe at these speeds on the freeway as trucks and others seem to be 75-80. So I avoid freeways as much as possible, and we enjoy the travel experience much more.

Doug K

[Gene]

Generally on interstates and similar highways, we go 65. It's the speed that feels right to us. We more or less keep up with right lane traffic. Going slowly can disrupt traffic flow and that creates certain danger in the traffic dynamic. Gas mileage is definitely lower than at 55 or 60, but on our usual long trips, over 10 days we probably cover 300-400 more miles. The added fuel cost is partly compensated by getting where we want to be.

On long, steep grades gas consumption skyrockets at 65 and that's when to drive at 55. On 6 or 8 lane highways in urban areas, we stay in the lane to the left of the right lane—because of people entering and leaving the highway, it is the most dangerous lane. It's safer in the next lane and you'll notice a lot of large trucks stay there too.

Every one of these approaches requires some flexibility according to how traffic is moving.

For example, when a cop is driving down the highway at the speed limit, there will be a bunch of drivers behind him clumped up. People are speeding down the left lane until they see him. The traffic dynamic is messed up, cars are too close together and all are hoping he will get off the highway. When he does, many are jockeying to get ahead as soon as he can't see him and creating more dangers. A trailer doesn't disrupt traffic quite that way, but driving too slow for the situation can create problems.

California is not the only state with a 55 limit for trailers—I think Illinois does too. I haven't noticed many people driving at 55. Most seem to be going 65.

Gene

[AlbertF]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

California is not the only state with a 55 limit for trailers—I think Illinois does too. I haven't noticed many people driving at 55. Most seem to be going 65.

I believe Illinois lifted the 55 mph limit for trucks and trailers at the beginning of 2010, as Ohio did a couple of years ago.

55 across Illinois was a real nuisance when you're actually trying to get somewhere. My wife was astonished when I told her that was the limit. She couldn't believe it was so low.

[JFScheck]

Where the speed limit is 75 - usually 70 - 75 (with 50 mph gusts) just slowing from 75 to 70 was enough to bring the trailer back to "is it even back there mode".

In Cali they want you to go 55 - that is too slow as the other cars go blasting around you - so I keep it at the speed limit (65-70).

So - I keep to the posted speed limit on the roads or five below.

[JFScheck]

Oh yea - doing 70 on the straights I get 14.5 mpg - speeding up to 75 drops me to 13.0 mpg....

[projector]

Our trip went great. Kept our speed arround 60-63 depending on traffic/conditions, occaisionally seeing 65 or more. Any faster can get hairy in traffic. People mostly left us alone, but we did get a "That's cool!" from a motorcycle and a thumbs up from a 911. The shocker is that we traveled 228 miles and got 9.9 mpg. Dang! I need to get the dash air working and tune up the generator so we can be more comfortable.

[cruiser54]

In Switzerland: Streets outside to towns and villages as well as on highways 49,71
Special approval Europe highway 62,14
Greetings Werner

[airdreamers]

Well I see that most are in agreement with 60-65 mph seems to be where its at and I agree. I am not an old salt at this by any means but one of the reasons for that concensus I think, is that you are under less stress and anxioty not pushing the proverbial button. My gas mileage towing is 11 mpg at those speeds on our trip back to CT from FL, on the inland route trought the smokeys.

Just a tip if you are ever in a place called Society Hill, NC, watch out they don't play fair, the town makes their income on people going 36 in a 35 mph, EXPENSIVE! They will never see me again.

[barts]

Originally Posted by airdreamers

Just a tip if you are ever in a place called Society Hill, NC, watch out they don't play fair, the town makes their income on people going 36 in a 35 mph, EXPENSIVE! They will never see me again.

The same is true for many small towns in Indian reservations; every year traveling out to Burning Man from Fernley, NV. we see people getting tickets. I solve the inadvertent speeding problem by just doing a few under the limit in town.

- Bart

[TWaugh]

Of course there are legal speed limits which differ from state to state for those of us who always abide by those kinds of rules.
Which is all I would ever admit to.

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

[Paul Dobbin]

I read somewhere years ago that the fuel burning curve changed dramatically @62 MPH due the the amount of energy it took to go
64 as compared to 60 to 62. There up it got worse. All the scientific formulas to displace the air we push and the energy spent to do it.
I try to keep our below 65 and get an honest 11 MPG while towing a toad or a car trailer loaded. (Ours is a diesel pusher)

[MaxAB]

With cruise control engaged at 63mph, flat highway, no wind - my rig gets right a 10mpg. I keep it there because its easier to do the math for time/distance/fuel calculations...