Poll: Average speed you tow at?

[Dean Kyle]

We usually tow as close to 1600 Rpm, approx 58 mph, using overdrive in our '03 Dodge 3/4 ton PU. It has a Cummins diesel and we've found that we achieve our best mileage at that combination. We'll average almost 16 mpg overall on a 1500 mile trip. With level highways and a slight tailwind we've gotten as high as 23 and as low as 13 in the mountains. We tow a 31ft '84 Excella and have gotten approx the same performance towing a '96 25' Classic. It really is interesting to watch other rigs fly past us and then find them just ahead of us when we pull into the next fuel stop, etc.
I used to think I had to travel at or near the posted limit, but have found the past two years that I am now more relaxed and appreciate the lower fuel costs. Dean

[Msmoto]

I love these speed related discussions.... While I tow at 61 mph my experience on two wheels is a bit different.... 150 mph on a Suzuki Hayabusa, the front and the rear wheel off the ground at over 100 mph... (at different times) So, that is why I tow at 61... not in a hurry anymore....

And as noted by others, when I tow it is quite often I am passed by the same vehicle twice or three times during the day.(?)

Having said all that, we all find where we are comfortable or best enjoy this incredible gift of being able to pull an Airstream. Think about it... most of the folks out there are pulling boxes around that won't exist in a few years. Some of us are more competitive, yes! Others are more laid back... or as stated, into the "Old F..." mode. But we all are members of a very unique group of individuals who have great respect for an amazing piece of RV technology, the Airstream Travel Trailer.

By the way... I flew the Hayabusa at both ends at age 65!

[Mikethefixit]

We tow where possible at about 62 to 65 mph which is around 1800 rpm on the old tach from the 7.3 International Harvester Diesel,that will result in about 17mpg which ain't bad for a rig that weights in at almost 14,000 lbs.

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by Pahaska

The Allison 6-speed is a double overdrive transmission. 5th gear is the same as 5th was in the former 5-speed in my 2003.

With the Classic 28 in tow, I can be in 6th from the mid-50s up. At the lower speeds, I am more likely to drop to 5th on a mild hill. ...

The F-250 PSD has a six gear transmission, but it is programmed to use only five at a time. I can't remember which gear is used when I use the tow/haul scenario, but I know 1st, 2nd, and 6th are the same weather in tow/haul or not. Either 3rd, 4th or 5th is idle in tow/haul and active when not in tow/haul and one of those gears is idle when not in tow/haul and becomes active in tow/haul. I'm thinking it is 4th and 5th that switch out depending on the mode the transmission is in. Unfortunately, Ford does not offer a manual up shift/down shift option. It would be nice because there are times I can tell the engine is "lugging" and about to down shift but doesn't because it hasn't reached some magic tach speed and the truck reaches the peak of the hill and doesn't reach the need to downshift, but considerable speed may have been lost.

[MaxAB]

I drove from Olympia, WA to Albuquerque, NM last month - a bit over 1,400 miles. My speeds ranged from 68 mph to 45 mph going up hills, etc. My Garmin GPS calculated an average of 53 mph (moving average) for the trip. My '99 Suburban (350 cu stroked to 383 ci) averaged 11.5 mpg over the course.