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travelczar · 12-02-2016, 07:40 PM

thanks, everyone, for the feedback.... In the final analysis, one drives at the speed they are comfortable driving, given the road, traffic, and weather conditions. I'm also hearing that tires can come into the equation. Like I said, I'm entirely happy somewhere around 65 or 70 (closer to 65)...It's certainly better than 55mph, which for me - relative to the 80-85 I'm doing in my car - seems like I'm crawling.

Thanks again, to everyone.

C&N

McDave · 12-02-2016, 08:43 PM

For me, it's a different mindset. Sort of like the difference between a water ski boat and a houseboat. I used to enjoy motorcycle touring. When I would be out on my BMW motorcycle, anything under 80 would seem slow. Towing my Airstream, anything over 60 seems fast. It's not that I was trying to go particularly fast on my motorcycle, or particularly slow towing my trailer, but I was just trying to set the gait that was appropriate for the experience. I don't think I would enjoy driving a houseboat at a speed over 15 mph, even if I was enjoying leaning my BMW into the curves at whatever speed was just short of dragging the pegs at the same time in my life. You really don't need to ask other people what speed they go; what you need to do is to find the speed that works for you.

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CRH · 12-02-2016, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

I go with traffic.

Same here. Every trip I start out saying I am gonna go 60 to 65. That lasts only a few miles. I usually end up going 70 to 75.

dkottum · 12-02-2016, 09:51 PM

The truck, trailer and I like 65 because it feels very safe and gives great economy. Last month traveling through Arizona we were running 17 mpg for the day at 65 mph, went into Calif and had near 20 mpg at 55 mph. Been up to 78 mph passing and all feels fine but I think over 70 is pushing our luck.

PaulnGina · 12-02-2016, 11:00 PM

We stick to 60-65 if the conditions allow. With our rig, you can tell that is kind of a sweet spot and makes for a comfortable tow.

Alluminati · 12-03-2016, 01:35 AM

Speed limit on my trailer tires is 65.

I go slower up hill, and faster down hill. Faster with a tailwind than with a headwind.

If 65 isn't fast enough, you could fly Southwest Airlines.

Dexterpix · 12-03-2016, 05:56 AM

My TV likes 64-65mph. Puts me right about 1500 RPMs, stays out of the turbo, but has plenty of power for hills. Minimal downshifting, only on very long or sharp inclines. set the cruise and let her run. I run about 14-16mpg at that speed.

Joe D

switz · 12-03-2016, 06:44 AM

Peak torque on my 2012 Ram 2500HD Cummins is at 1,650 rpm which works out to 65 mph in 6th gear. That is my preferred speed or the speed limit if it is lower when towing the 2014 31' Classic. The rig can do 80, but it becomes a white knuckle experience. The rig crosses the scales at over 19,200 pounds loaded for camping, so it does not stop very quickly.

The 2015 23D International Serenity and 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI V6 diesel are happiest at 55 mph and I arrive more relaxed than when driving the big rig.

There is also a much better mpg number pushing 16+ on the highways version the 13 mpg for the big rig.

StrmyWeather · 12-03-2016, 07:47 AM

Normal conditions we travel about 60mph on highways.

brad1 · 12-09-2016, 09:26 AM

Side note: California does have laws limiting vehicles that are towing to 55 mph. But it's also a "flow of traffic" state, so if you're towing through Sacramento at rush hour, for instance, and all the big rigs are doing 65 and the autos are doing 70, you can get a ticket for holding everyone up if you do 55. In general, the unspoken rule (as described to me on several occasions by HP I've spoken with at donut stops) is speed limit plus 10%.

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Caffeinated · 12-09-2016, 09:46 AM

Just an aside. Last fall in CA, on the I5, I was consistently passed by the CHP while I was doing 60-63 ish. They never gave me a second glance.

Mike

Rich Jenkins · 12-11-2016, 06:10 AM

Question related to speed: Going downhill, what speed do you guys run?

I am looking for basic guidelines for interstate grades (6%), daylight, good weather, and a typical (or at least not unusual) rig of a 2500 Diesel, ProPride hitch, and 30' FC.

I have about 8,000 miles towing a couple times across the country, as well as in Ontario, over the last year. I would guess my comfort zone is maybe 50-55 downhill, in these conditions, but no faster.

Sound ok? Slow it down?

tjdonahoe · 12-11-2016, 07:47 AM

Ram 6.7 , 3.42 and 31' classic, we usually run about 63-65 mph, even where the limit is 80, calif. 55. I do have a class A CDL with all the endorsements. If something breaks , things can happen very fast.

StreaminGeo · 12-11-2016, 07:29 PM

I try to keep it between 60 and 65 with a Toyota Tundra pulling a 25 foot Safari. I might go 70 to pass, but I don't like it.

switz · 12-12-2016, 05:54 AM

The steeper the grade down, the slower the speed. I slow to the speed that the 2012 Ram 2500HD Cummins engine brake controls the speed. That leaves both the truck and trailer disc brake systems in reserve for an effective emergency stop. That could be 55 mph on 8% grades.

The 2007 Mercedes ML320-CDI 3.0L V6 diesel is much smaller, but will hold things at 35 mph on steep grades.

High speed is not a friend in a steep descent into a turn with negative camber and a sudden hard application of brakes is required.

dkottum · 12-12-2016, 08:16 AM

We've had deer running across in front of us on a steep downhill at 55 mph, one passed in front and the other behind, barely. Now we limit steep downhills to 45 mph or less for a greater measure of control if something happens.

A W Warn · 12-12-2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Llando88

Question related to speed: Going downhill, what speed do you guys run?

I am looking for basic guidelines for interstate grades (6%), daylight, good weather, and a typical (or at least not unusual) rig of a 2500 Diesel, ProPride hitch, and 30' FC.

I have about 8,000 miles towing a couple times across the country, as well as in Ontario, over the last year. I would guess my comfort zone is maybe 50-55 downhill, in these conditions, but no faster.

Sound ok? Slow it down?

If I am towing down a steep grade on an unfamiliar road I try to keep my speed to whatever is posted for the big rig trucks.
If I am familiar with the road I may go faster, somewhere in between the truck speed limit and the car speed limit, but I usually keep my speed slower than the cars want to go.
Being comfortable and positively in control with whatever speed I do is key!

add edit:
I saw ice on the road last July when I was crossing a pass out west, above 10,000 feet. I also saw some 10% grades on those roads. There is nothing like that where I have been before. New on the road experiences dictate new cautions.

slowmover · 12-12-2016, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Llando88

Question related to speed: Going downhill, what speed do you guys run?

I am looking for basic guidelines for interstate grades (6%), daylight, good weather, and a typical (or at least not unusual) rig of a 2500 Diesel, ProPride hitch, and 30' FC.

I have about 8,000 miles towing a couple times across the country, as well as in Ontario, over the last year. I would guess my comfort zone is maybe 50-55 downhill, in these conditions, but no faster.

Sound ok? Slow it down?

55 is pretty much a maximum for any emergency maneuvers with a pickup. Solo.

Towing, it is the highest for when conditions are perfect on a descent. That means no overtaking traffic. Especially tractor-trailers and big straight trucks.

That set of vehicles is likeliest to cause an out of control situation caused by the bow wave and trailing winds.

A descent is the most vulnerable, most dangerous mile travelled for given conditions for a combined rig.

40-45 is more reasonable. Practice stopping an emergency sway stop on a descent by jamming trailer brakes and nailing throttle.

How much room is needed (is the central question)?

Drum trailer brakes have almost no reserve. You have one shot at it.

If the descent has advisory speeds for heavy trucks, consider following one or more down in the right lane.

Become comfortable with how big trucks accelerate at the end. Despite many differences, they are much the same. This helps in judging their actions. To your benefit. Some will use another lane to go down faster.

Same on the ascent. Look for patterns.

As always, best mirrors pay for themselves. My future is in my rear view mirror, so to speak. Bigger is better, as is distance from body.

Related:

Think of this also on ramps, exits, etc. Braking done beforehand.

The safety departments at the companies for which I've worked advise that they would expect to see us 5-mph below that posted speed. Before considering exonerating us in the event of "an event" (which can be emergency braking. A "critical event" the black box relays to the company as a matter of course. No accident need to have occurred).

The state considers posted speeds to be the safe maximum in daylight under good conditions.

As a new habit, obeying advisory signs becomes "normal" with practice. (It's part of how I can have tires and brakes last in excess of 100k in my personal vehicle). Towing or solo.

One of the reasons for the lower speed limit and the reason the IH system is two lanes is so the exiting vehicle can get down to 45, and once in ramp continue down to 35 (as the case may be).

Think of descents in the same way. A bit slow according to the signs is about right.

tjdonahoe · 12-13-2016, 03:26 AM

Several grades on I-90 in western Montana, 62-65 on the level, on the down hill side , same speed you went up , a good example is Pipestone pass at Butte and Cardwell east of there, that is where the exhaust brake on the Diesel engines shine....

GettinAway · 12-13-2016, 04:47 AM

I just downshift the Tundra until I find a speed I'm comfortable with. If it's a straight stretch, which is not usually the case, I'll go up a gear. Otherwise, with the usual curves on the downhill side of a pass, I drop to 2nd gear. I'll apply some brakes occasionally to keep it at 45-50. Works fine for me, and is easy. But I'm just pulling a 23' trailer..