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Minnie's Mate · 01-27-2006, 09:01 AM

Some time ago there was a thread about towing at speed. I remembered reading a facinating (at least to me) article from the early '60's about a test drive pulling a 30' AS at nearly 100 MPH. I came across the scan and have added a link below to the first scan in the series for anyone who is interested in reading a little AS history.

http://www.airforums.com/photo...?i=4871&c=3108

safari57 · 01-27-2006, 09:38 AM

To make a short story a bit longer my buddy bought a 1966 Chevrolet Impala 8 passenger stationwagon, restored, with a 396 engine and 700R4 to tow his SOB (he's an Airstream wannabe so far). I was looking for a gift for his surprise 10th anniversary of his 60th birthday (he made it clear he was not going to celebrate his 60th so we had to get creative). I was looking at Big Block Chev tune-up manuals and there was one about Sixties Impalas. As I picked it up it flopped open to the article about some guys who towed a 31' Airstream to the track (sand from the pictures) with a 67 or 68 Impala and proceeded to set a new speed record towing the trailer of 100.55 MPH. Obviously it was the book to buy him, which I did. He's now even more encouraged to buy an Airstream!

Barry

JmesDean · 01-27-2006, 09:55 AM

I know I may get some flack from the Forum, but there has been a couple times, on our way to the River in the middle of the desert, I've lost track of how fast I'm going, look down at the speedometer and I'm cruising at a 90+ MPH speed... trust me, my foot cannot move fast enough to the break (with a soft touch, of course) to bring it back down to a safe speed. It's just amazing though that there's those few seconds where you "forget" you're towing a 25'+ trailer behind you... OK, now bring on the flack! :-)

**azflycaster** · 01-27-2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JmesDean

I know I may get some flack from the Forum, but there has been a couple times, on our way to the River in the middle of the desert, I've lost track of how fast I'm going, look down at the speedometer and I'm cruising at a 90+ MPH speed... trust me, my foot cannot move fast enough to the break (with a soft touch, of course) to bring it back down to a safe speed. It's just amazing though that there's those few seconds where you "forget" you're towing a 25'+ trailer behind you... OK, now bring on the flack! :-)

No flack!
I have done it too!

Silvertwinkie · 01-27-2006, 10:15 AM

I think a lot of us have done it.

After a few years of towing the Airstream, I found that about 62 is the sweet spot for my rig. Not fast enough to totally turn MPG (miles per gallon) to GPM (gallons per mile), but also not slow enough to take a lot more time to get to the destination.

mello mike · 02-01-2006, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JmesDean

I know I may get some flack from the Forum, but there has been a couple times, on our way to the River in the middle of the desert, I've lost track of how fast I'm going, look down at the speedometer and I'm cruising at a 90+ MPH speed... trust me, my foot cannot move fast enough to the break (with a soft touch, of course) to bring it back down to a safe speed. It's just amazing though that there's those few seconds where you "forget" you're towing a 25'+ trailer behind you... OK, now bring on the flack! :-)

Towing my Airstream with my 6.0L PSD, it's very easy to spaceout and lose track of your speed.

ZoominC6 · 02-01-2006, 07:04 AM

Sixty five MPH seems to be my 'comfort speed' and I've towed faster at times when passing. What a dream an Airstream is to tow. I'm always amused passing those large white "Chlorox Bottles" that look like they barely fit under the overpasses as they poke along the highways and byways.

vajeep · 02-01-2006, 10:34 AM

I agree with ZoominC6. We average around 65, a little slower up the hills and a little faster down the hills...

mandolindave · 02-01-2006, 11:40 AM

Traffic, weather, and road should also determine a safe speed.

Safari-Rick · 02-01-2006, 01:43 PM

Wow, I really enjoyed the article.
Like all of you, I've had to "back off" not realizing how fast I was going.

Thank you for the edumakashun

)

R/
Safari-Rick

markjoandall · 02-01-2006, 03:12 PM

Like Silvertwinky above, I find the sweet spot to be 62 mph. Everything just works fine at that speed. Once we drove 36 hours straight from NH to SD. You really learn your rig when you put on large distances.

Mark

blucloud · 02-01-2006, 03:45 PM

I just returned from a 1200 mile trip from Fl. to Oh. where we picked up our 87, 25 ft. Sovereign. Average speed for the return trip was 64 mph., 11.6 mpg. There were times that we were traveling between 80-85 mph.
The Sovereign towed better and gave us better mileage then our 77 23 ft. Safari.

overlander63 · 02-01-2006, 05:10 PM

I have also towed a bit faster than I should have, at least a couple of times.
Now, for you speed demons out there, and you know who you are, remember that the speed rating for ST tires (the ones mounted on our trailers) is 65 MPH. Exceed that speed at your own risk and peril.

bill benton · 02-01-2006, 05:44 PM

I've been known to tow a little above the posted limit myself. But with 34' behind me 85 or 90mph would be impossible unless I were on a extremely long grade, but then it would probably pass me up. Usually 68 is the norm.

PWRSTRK · 02-01-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

I think a lot of us have done it.

After a few years of towing the Airstream, I found that about 62 is the sweet spot for my rig. Not fast enough to totally turn MPG (miles per gallon) to GPM (gallons per mile), but also not slow enough to take a lot more time to get to the destination.

Sweet spot... but how fast do you CHOOSE to go? Do you stick with the sweet?

From Evanston,

Tom

PWRSTRK · 02-01-2006, 06:46 PM

My first year on the Forum I had a nice correspondence going with a guy who was pulling a 34 foot classic with a Jaguar S Type Sedan... I wonder how fast he goes with that...

Tom

overlander63 · 02-01-2006, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PWRSTRK

My first year on the Forum I had a nice correspondence going with a guy who was pulling a 34 foot classic with a Jaguar S Type Sedan... I wonder how fast he goes with that...

Tom

I think I saw him in his rig blow by this sign earlier...:

AgZep · 02-01-2006, 08:52 PM

I did extensive testing on this all summer long. The most comfortable speed was around 62, but mileage increased a great deal by dropping down to 55. I've been over 14, even with the 8.1 litre motor in the Silverado. For people that don't tow that often, it might not be worth it to drop down to 55. But when you're full-timing on a fixed income, and see gas for over $3 a gallon, it seems like an acceptable trade-off.

Minnie's Mate · 02-02-2006, 09:25 AM

Just currious for you 3/4 ton guys, do you ever tow with your cruise control engaged? I was told I could use the cruise on my F-250 diesel when I bought it last year if I engaged the tow/command but was recommended not to tow in overdrive.

I am still waiting for the 30' Safari SE to be introduced so I don't have an AS yet so I haven't had any experience towing anything with my F-250 yet. I'd like to be able to use the cruise so my speed doesn't creep up and down alot, but I wasn't sure it would be a good idea even though my towing where I'd be using cruise would be on southeastern interstates (mostly GA, AL, FL, SC, and some TN) where hills are mild and not too many mountains.

**jcanavera** · 02-02-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

Just currious for you 3/4 ton guys, do you ever tow with your cruise control engaged? I was told I could use the cruise on my F-250 diesel when I bought it last year if I engaged the tow/command but was recommended not to tow in overdrive.

I have but only in dead flat areas. With tow/haul engaged, cruise control is a little too agressive and tends to cause the tranny to hunt when I'm in OD.
According to my manual OD towing is ok unless I get excessive hunting.

Jack