55 mph safe?

[av8or]

Originally Posted by Markj55

Wee...... Is there a point obsessing again?

No kidding!

[Howard L.]

I don't know guys? 55 on an interstate hiway? Texas, for example, has a limit of 80 mph (actually 85 in some places) on many interstates. Traveling there, If you are not willing to set at least 65 on the speedometer, you become "road construction ahead" without all the warning signs for the traffic behind you. We just go with the flow of the slower traffic in the right lane with 70 mph as the very top. Amount of traffic and driving conditions has 90 % to do with our towing speed. Most important, leave plenty of room in front for reaction time and the action that follows. Fuel mileage is secondary unless we have the road to ourselves.

[Len n Jeanne]

If people think we are driving too slow, that's their problem, not ours. Anyone can spot the back of an Airstream from a long ways away, and slow down or pass when the opening appears. Nobody is required to drive faster than the minimum posted speed, or their comfort zone, just because some yahoo on the highway is in a hurry.

However, we often take the two-lane windy roads when time permits because the scenery is more interesting. If we notice we're backing up a line of cars, we find a safe spot to pull over and let them pass.

With our "little guy" at 55-60 mph we often get 15 mpg.

From the slow lane, L & J

[cwf]

I run about 62 in right lane on toll road. Speed limit is 80Mph.

When people "attempt" to merge, I often move to center lane ....

[switz]

If I want to use 6th gear and have the engine not below the max torque point of 1600 rpm, I am crowding 65. Otherwise, setting 5th as the top gear works for 55 but the mileage drops off...

In the mountains, I use the cautionary yellow turn sign speeds as the max speed and sometime slower when the turns are tight so I do not drop a wheel off curb side and or cross the center line.

[webspinner]

Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne

If people think we are driving too slow, that's their problem, not ours.

No way am I going to go faster than I feel comfortable with the trailer just because someone else wants me to. That's what the slow lane is for, and I do go at or above the posted speed limit, so I'm legal.

In many parts of California, there is a 55 mph speed limit for trailers, so I seldom go above 60 in any case. I don't enjoy traffic school enough to want to revisit it. California law also restricts trailers to the right two lanes, so I won't be anyone's fast lane speed bump.

60 mph gets me there, saves gas, keeps me under the radar, so to speak, and feels good with trailer response and traffic flow. Find what works for you.

[masseyfarm]

One has to use some self discipline to avoid following the crowd.

One of the easiest highways in Canada to get carried away with the flow is the #1 eastbound from Canmore to Calgary, AB.
http://goo.gl/maps/4RLoL

This area usually has a strong tailwind for eastbound and you are also loosing altitude. The local traffic runs well over 70MPH when the road and vision are excellent.

On our last trip east in Aug, I had travel trailers, tent trailers, motorhomes and large 5th wheels, pulled my short box pickups, pass me like I was stopped and I was keeping steady at 110kph.

They almost drag you along with the suction they create.

Dave

[m.hony]

It doesn't really take that much discipline to pick a speed and set cruise control...
The speed I pick is to save gas more than anything- extra safety is a good by-product of my initial motivation-

[Jim Flower]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

Only to please you. You are welcome

Please keep it up Pharm. If we didn't enjoy it, we wouldn't be here. (Or should that be shouldn't) Jim

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by m.hony

It doesn't really take that much discipline to pick a speed and set cruise control...
The speed I pick is to save gas more than anything- extra safety is a good by-product of my initial motivation-

There is a school of thought found in at least some vehicle manuals which says, "do not use cruise control while towing." I will admit however that I do use it at times when conditions are very good and traffic is light. I am not entirely sure why it is not recommended, but do have some ideas.

Ken

[Howard L.]

Guess the 55? On interstates bristled some neck hairs. And yes, everyone should drive at a speed they feel comfortable with. Guess I'll just put on Sammy Hagar' s VOA album and hit the road.

[polarlyse]

I find I can easily keep up with traffic at most speed limits. Here in the NE most states are 65 mph on the interstates a little less off them. Conditions permitting that's where you'll usually find me. Out west I've seen speed limits up to 80 mph but I don't feel comfortable there so I'll still hang our at around 65 or so. Basically it amounts to whatever I feel comfortable at and since I'm in front …… .

OH, and yes I do use my cruise control unless I'm in heavy traffic with no ill effects on my truck and my right leg appreciates it a lot.

[perryg114]

There are times that going slow is a bad thing. If you go too slow in places like downtown Birmingham or Atlanta you will have cars whizzing past you at 90 MPH and passing you on the wrong side getting in your blind spots while trying to change lanes to make an exit etc. There are also the cell phone distracted idiots that will rear end you because they are not paying attention. This is one reason I don't like traveling on spring break weekends etc that is forced upon you by truancy laws etc. You can only go on vacation when we tell you to. This is all assuming you have kids. This also forces you to get from point A to point B in a limited amount of time.

Perry

[m.hony]

The distracted driver will hit you no matter what speed you are driving- 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, etc.
I have towed through Birmingham many times at the posted limit.
I will not speed- I could care less what 99% of BAD/UNSAFE drivers are doing.
I am sure statistics will prove that accidents more accidents are caused by speeding.
I have never heard of an accident caused by a driver going less than the posted limit.
There is a posted minimum too- for a reason-

[m.hony]

I have also towed through Atlanta many times at the posted speed limit...

[kscherzi]

So reading this thread I'm getting the clear idea that trailering in the the west, north, and east is easy to do a sensible 55 to 60 due to local habits. But in the south, particularly Texas and Georgia, one must drive at 80 or faster or be at risk of a rear ender (and my rig probably won't even go that fast). My trailer wheels are rated at 65, and probably yours, so how do those living in the south reconcile the dilemma?

Also, is gas so cheap?

[PharmGeek]

I will disagree with Perry...I commute to tuscaloosa every day....been doing it for 6 years...in my VW TDI if I go slower I get better mileage and because I have about 7 traffic lights to get through once off my exit, there is essentially no difference in time to work...the lights dictate it all..

As such, I go 65....at 65 people whiz by me pretty regularly on 20/59 between birmingham...but the far left lane folks are mostly 75-80mph...only the occasional 80+ person....lots of police and if you hit above 80 they are ready to pick you up.

There are not really that many 90mph folks around birmingham....one can easily go 60-65 in this area and not be much of an obstruction and on many of the major roads and there are quite enough folks that go that slow that it aint a game changer for the 75-80mph folks...most of the interstates here through B-ham are 3 lanes...very easy for faster traffic to keep going fast.....although boy in bama we have a pretty strong contingent of left lane pokers

Contrast that with I95 between DC and philly.....posted as 55 or 60mph and people flow at 80mph and do so close together.....if you try to go 55mph there it would seemingly be quite awkward in ways....but then again, so would 70mph even on parts of that road.

[cwf]

Traffic lights, "the Great Equalizers"... Truly dislike the "poor coordination" on them.

Here in Texas the "traffic engineers" time them all to maximize "camera revenue".. They also only let one side of traffic move at a time on two plus turn lane roads. Creepy.

[64Lincoln]

Are there any other states like California that have two speed limits on the highways. One for cars and another for cars or trucks with trailers? Trailers and big rigs are supposed to go no faster than 55, but the speed limit for cars is 70. I've always thought this was unsafe, and it would seem most of the big rigs and trailers do to since I very rarely ever see any of them going 55. I know I don't.

[cwf]

Texas does on interstates.