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switz · 10-17-2015, 05:51 AM

Speed limits and road conditions allowing, the Cummins is very happy at 1,650 rpm and 65 mph in 6th.

dkottum · 10-17-2015, 07:22 AM

Maybe it's the lower fuel costs this past year, maybe it's the confidence of the ProPride setup, but we've driving about 5 mph faster than before.

With the Hemi I normally like 4th gear, tow/haul mode which is a 1:1 transmission ratio, it's most mechanically efficient and in hilly country, it's most fuel efficient (no repeated downshifts). A good tail wind sometimes makes 5th gear slightly more fuel efficient.

So we're moving along about 65 mph these days and everyone's happy.

AtomicNo13 · 10-17-2015, 03:50 PM

55 stay alive!
See more, take longer

J. Morgan · 10-17-2015, 04:01 PM

http://youtu.be/RvV3nn_de2k

Brevi tempore!

ReddinStream · 10-17-2015, 05:30 PM

California and Oregon have posted 55 mph when towing trailers. At least in Cali, no one drives the posted speed limits, even the big rigs. I aim for 60, as conditions allow, as think it is safer for everyone. The big rigs are passing anyone who drives 55.

scamp · 10-17-2015, 05:36 PM

55mph or 90 kph I'm in no rush ,enjoy life!😀

Wingeezer · 10-17-2015, 06:04 PM

I would guess 65-70mph on interstates.

I think it is safest to try to keep pace with the average driver, and I don't think it is unsafe.

I run 16"wheels and LT tires and tow with a 3/4t truck.

I do try to keep a good distance behind the driver in front of me due to greater weight/longer braking distance, but people keep pulling into the space so I often need to kick off the cruise control and drop back a bit to maintain what I feel to be a safer distance from the vehicle ahead.

Brian.

rodsterinfl · 10-17-2015, 06:49 PM

I always towed 60-65 MPH until I switched to 16" LT and now will venture to 70 mph often.

flyncloud · 10-17-2015, 07:53 PM

Just pray you don't get stuck behind the 55-60 crowd...........even slower going uphill. Maddening and rude.

TCwheels · 10-17-2015, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyncloud

Just pray you don't get stuck behind the 55-60 crowd...........even slower going uphill. Maddening and rude.

60 gets me 15-16 mpg, if I drive primarily by the tach @ 2k RPM or less, on blue highways. Yes, that means a little faster on down hills and a little slower on the up hills, sorry for the inconvenience. On x-ways, 62-65 and 14 MPG.

cabinetmaker · 10-17-2015, 08:47 PM

65 mostly. When wife is napping I go 70-75 if that is speed limit.

IanPoulin · 10-18-2015, 01:57 AM

Given I tow on the stock ST tires, never above their limit of 65; usually I tow at 55 if the limit is up to 65, and I'll tow at 60 if the limit is higher. No issues; perfectly legal and not being "rude" at all.

SteveSueMac · 10-18-2015, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyncloud

Just pray you don't get stuck behind the 55-60 crowd...........even slower going uphill. Maddening and rude.

I save my prayers for the 75MPH+ trailer club who (thanks to the immutable laws of physics) can make my day a lot worse than climbing a mountain at 50MPH. 😳

I pray extra hard for the countless number of drivers (of any vehicle) talking - or worse... TEXTING on their phone while driving. That kind of stupidity can ruin a lot of lives real fast.

At the end of the day, it's just camping. I like to think of it like BBQ - low and slow, baby! 😄

Shiny side up!

dkottum · 10-18-2015, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyncloud

Just pray you don't get stuck behind the 55-60 crowd...........even slower going uphill. Maddening and rude.

Speaking of rude.

I think these folks are interested in safety, not rudeness. I don't think the semi's motoring uphill at lower speeds are being rude either, they're just doing their job with what they have.

BoldAdventure · 10-18-2015, 04:55 PM

I am not sure about safety and slow speeds. When leaving Durango there was a 6% grade, and the speed limit is 65mph down hill. Most cars are speeding down this hill.

I was doing about 55mph to maintain control and going fine in 2nd gear, UNTIL a bus probably in 1st gear going 40 MPH! I had just come around a bend when I spotted him and had to burn up my trailer brakes attempting to decelerate to this dangerous speed, dropping down into 1st even. Mind you, this is not a difficult grade. There are curves, but all very drivable. I was maintaining a perfect 55mph. But once I'm behind him I'm going 35-40mph in a 65mph downhill where most cars are speeding. Before I was just coasting down the hill, perfectly in gear at a safe speed. Now I'm applying my trailer brake, over and over and over, to keep from plowing into this guy. Mind you, I'm tanks full going to a dump station after 18 days boondocking. I was not pleased. And mind you, this is not a 1-mile stretch, this was over at least 3-4 miles.

I eventually got to a place where I could pass and lay on my horn. That's not safe. That's dangerous. There was a line of vehicles slamming on their brakes behind me.

There is being safe, and then there is being asinine.

I typically tow around 65mph, if the speed limit is 70mph+ I stay in the right-hand lane and out of the left.

MrUKToad · 10-18-2015, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoldAdventure

I am not sure about safety and slow speeds. When leaving Durango there was a 6% grade, and the speed limit is 65mph down hill. Most cars are speeding down this hill.

I was doing about 55mph to maintain control and going fine in 2nd gear, UNTIL a bus probably in 1st gear going 40 MPH! I had just come around a bend when I spotted him and had to burn up my trailer brakes attempting to decelerate to this dangerous speed, dropping down into 1st even. Mind you, this is not a difficult grade. There are curves, but all very drivable. I was maintaining a perfect 55mph. But once I'm behind him I'm going 35-40mph in a 65mph downhill where most cars are speeding. Before I was just coasting down the hill, perfectly in gear at a safe speed. Now I'm applying my trailer brake, over and over and over, to keep from plowing into this guy. Mind you, I'm tanks full going to a dump station after 18 days boondocking. I was not pleased. And mind you, this is not a 1-mile stretch, this was over at least 3-4 miles.

I eventually got to a place where I could pass and lay on my horn. That's not safe. That's dangerous. There was a line of vehicles slamming on their brakes behind me.

There is being safe, and then there is being asinine.

I typically tow around 65mph, if the speed limit is 70mph+ I stay in the right-hand lane and out of the left.

You know, every now and then you come across a situation when driving that isn't to your liking. Often there's little you can do about it so you just have to "suck it up" and move on. In this case, there could have been any number of reasons the bus was traveling slowly but, unless he was in a minimum speed zone, it doesn't look like there was any poor driving, only driving to suit the comfort of the passengers on the bus. There would be no reason for the bus driver to make his riders uncomfortable just to make your descent down the hill more to your liking. It's a bummer for you, sure, but you just have to deal with it at the time. Full disclosure here; I'm a bus driver. I do take notice of people around me on the road, but my first priority is my rider's comfort and safety.

That said, I can remember only too clearly getting stuck on a forty mile stretch of narrow, English road behind ten or more steam driven vehicles doing 10mph. The law requires them to pull over from time to time to let people past but, when there's a convoy of said vehicles on a narrow road, it's not always possible to be "nice" to the other road users. I just had to throttle back, wait for an opportunity to pass and enjoy the smell of burning coal and lubricating oil. GDSF - Great Dorset Steam Fair

ROBERT CROSS · 10-19-2015, 05:15 AM

WNY to Simi Valley, 2954mi 57hr driving time, 51.8mph average.

Bob

dkottum · 10-19-2015, 06:41 AM

Traveling about the country you're going to come up on slow vehicles of all kinds, for various of reasons. Relax, it's part of travel and always has been.

Do ensure you have enough space and speed to slow or stop when coming around a curve where you can't see ahead. Consider your loads and equipment. Who knows what may be lying in the roadway.

Msmoto · 10-19-2015, 06:58 AM

If one has not driven something which weighs over 30,000 lbs GCVWR, there are some interesting issues. When one's speed drops the engine can get into a range where less power is produced and the speed drops precipitously. Most of the time this is anticipated and a downshift can be done, but not always.

In the Rocky Mountains, there are some passes where a lot of vehicles are gong up hill at 35 mph, simply because of weight, altitude, and power considerations. I make every effort to anticipate these traffic scenarios, take the appropriate actions to avoid getting caught in the "slow lane" but this is again, not always possible.

As to what is rude, about the only thing I can think of is when some heavy vehicle, 10 or more mph below the speed limit, moves into a prohibited lane to pass those going 15 mph below the speed limit. Actually this is illegal in most cases.

But, the primary goal is to always attempt to drive in the safest manner for given conditions. Rain and fog are two of these i am always going slower than some of the others, I make every effort to drive within conditions, slippery roads and low visibility, being the issues which contribute to a lot of MVA's.

nrgtrakr · 10-19-2015, 07:57 AM

In Colorado if you are unable to maintain the speed limit and have 4 or more vehicles behind you, you are supposed to pull over and allow those vehicles to pass when a safe place to do so presents itself.
Some states recommend a 6 second gap between you and the vehicle in front of you when driving at highway speeds. How many actually do that, especially when towing?
Driving fast in the mountains can certainly be exhilarating, conjuring up mental images of Porsches or BMWs in the German alps. But it can also be dangerous when encountering the few vehicles driving the limit or below - semi trucks, moving vans, SCHOOL BUSES (which stop often), ag or ranch vehicles, RVs ...
I enjoy it when the co-pilot/navigator is not white knuckled enjoying the scenery and have been known to pull over on the rare occasion I choose not to drive the limit. Parts of Wolfcreek Pass come to mind, even when not towing - and I grew up driving these mountains. I've yet to hear about a vehicle plunging off the side of a mountain for following the posted signage in good weather.