As we pulled our fifth wheel from Key West back to Ohio after Christmas, we drove 70 for the first time ever in towing an RV for 15 years. My wife had a great point of view, at 70 it is more work weaving through traffic versus driving 65 and letting everyone else do the work of finding the openings in traffic.
Yeah, I would much rather be passed than have to do the passing when towing, so “a little less than anyone else” is good regardless of any upper limit.
I normally stay around 55/60 just because of a bad situation that had happened that scared the crap out of me. A storm hit out of nowhere and the rain just slammed us fast. This woman went from the left lane into my right lane without even giving me any space for adjustment at all. God was on my side and we SOMEHOW missed her and the guard rail and she just didn’t understand what she had did. All she kept saying was The rain ca,e down and I had to get over SORRY 😅 Never again so slow and easy for me. lol 😂
In my early and inexperienced years of towing I was speed racer with a tent trailer behind a SUV which tows like there is nothing behind you. After a couple blowouts in the desert, likely due to excessive heat from my excessive speed, I gained an appreciation for how dangerous it is to have a blowout much less have the blowout in the left lane needing to negotiate a quick lane change and exit to the road side. At this stage of my life with many years of towing, I follow the motto of SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE. Whether I am towing a boat, dump trailer or travel trailer I like to perch in the right lane at 60-62mph and let everyone else drive around me. I find the drive is much more relaxing and enjoyable when I do not have to bear the stress of passing people with a trailer in tow and I always feel most comfortable in the right lane in the event of a blowout where I need an easy exit to the side of the road. At that pace I can look forward to travel days.
I tow our 30' Arctic Fox TT at never more than 60 mph. I'm comfortable at that speed. After 35 years as a 'big truck' driver, I'm used to being passed - all day long so watching everyone else blow by me is no big deal. 🤣
65mph is top speed for us in our RAM 1500 and Imagine 2500RL trailer. We do this mostly for the safety aspect, but let me add this as well. Many of us got into RVing as a way to slow down a bit, spend more time together and really see the country. Keep those thoughts in mind when you are driving along at 65mph and your "Gotta get there!!!" brain start's kicking in. You did this so that you could slow down, so slow down, enjoy the ride and have the added benefits of safety! Great video guys, thanks for sharing!!!
We never tow over 65mph and try and stay slower when possible. Not worth the risk. We have seen way too many pulling way too fast and putting others life’s at risk
When I'm towing my four horse trailer, loaded I always remember that needing to slam on the brakes at speed can potentially kill my four legged partner in the back. I've learned to drive way ahead...carefully watch as far up the road as possible, and if I can't see far enough to be comfortable, I slow down.
Live weight can be a whole different issue. When the horses get moving me around back there I can be very difficult to control the sway. Just slow down.
@@sherriecapp3234 my horses seldom move around much going up the highway, till I need to stop...for a red light in a town. Then they tend to start pawing and bouncing the trailer around. I usually then just give the trailer a small jerk, to make them find their footing.
@@paulvanderborgt5581 We were driving in our car to Ohio on Friday….. while in KY, we got passed by about a 19’ TT & pickup! We were driving about 75! It was raining really good, wind was picking up… that TT was ALL over the road!! 🤯 We thought for sure we were gonna see it roll, how it didn’t is only by the grace of God!!
20 year commercial driver, my rule of thumb is cruise control set to 65. That being said, I upgraded my trailer tires to the Goodyear Endurance trailer tires which are rated into the 80's. I did that not because I intend to travel at that speed, but because I also don't want to be that guy passing at 0.5 MPH faster than the vehicle I'm passing. By having the upgraded tires and making sure all of my trailers running gear is up to scratch, I have confidence to run at 70ish for a few mins to make a pass and open some distance before returning to my cruising speed.
I just replaced 4 China bombs with Goodyear Endurance tires. We are heading out this Thursday to Florida from San Antonio. This is our first longest trip for us and will keep it at 65.
I too have run ST trailer tires rated at 65 mph. That is the sustained speed rating. One can exceed that speed briefly to make a change due to traffic. Hot weather is a strain on tire safety as tire pressures increase. Please limit your time at 70 or 75 mph on 65 mph rated tires to a few minutes. After 15 minutes, you are running a sustained speed. I try to run slightly faster than the governed trucks. 62 usually does it, 64 no trucks but the owner operator Kenworths with DD 16s go by Fury. Let's Roll ! Wolf
Good video. Us old motorcycle riders have a saying that applies to towing. A superior rider uses his superior knowledge to avoid having to use his superior skills.
The first year we towed our 23 foot Coachman Freedom Express with our Tundra. Because the Tundra could tow that travel trailer like it wasn’t even there and being new to RV’ing I drove my truck like I did without a trailer. Somewhere between 70 and 78. Then a saw an article where they polled a lot of RV families and it appeared that on average they were running between ~ 63 to 68 mph. After seeing that I now tend to stay around 65 mph. I find now that my trips are much more relaxing and I am not so worn out when I get to my destination. Oh! Here is something I don’t think you mentioned in your video. At the faster speed I would be lucky if I got 8 miles to a gallon. Now I average between 9 and 9.5 miles per gallon. All around so much better. Thanks for your informative video. Keep them coming.
Great video. We have a GD2670 and initially had a F150 which I would rarely go over 60 with. Now we have a F350 with the 7.3 and can easily go over 70 but I DO NOT. 64-67 is the sweet spot. I also bump the truck tire pressure when towing. Would like to see this sort of video with people discussing optimal truck tire pressure - both when towing and not towing.
My target speed is 60 mph. Sometimes I'm a little slower, sometimes a little faster. I like to stay well back of anybody in front of me. I tow a 9000 lb, 34 foot long, travel trailer with a 3/4 ton diesel truck. Great Video!
My husband and I are weekend warriors. We've taken a few long trips but mostly travel within 3 hours from home (until we retire in 2 years) We travel back roads and highways. Our RV is a Coachman Expedition, 19 ft tow behind. My husband rarely goes above 55-60 mph. We enjoy taking our time, seeing our surroundings and being able to stop quickly if necessary. Thanks for another informative video!
Very helpful video. On a very serious subject. You’re NOT driving the speed for the road you’re on, you’re driving the speed to handle the UNEXPECTED on the road you’re on.
Nice heads up on brake controllers. And how to use them to straighten a swaying camper. Don't forget your tires! They are speed rated, look and see max recommended speed. Personally as a CDL driver my go to speed when pulling my camper is 60-65 mph. Slow is safe, let everyone go around you!
We have been Fulltime for 4 years our sweet spot for towing is 65mph. At 65 mph we get passed by 90% of other RV’s many going 75mph or faster. We don’t care, 65 mph is safe for us.
A big thing to consider is the speed rating of the tires on the trailer in question. Many do not know their rating and tow too fast with higher potential for blow outs! TPMS on top of quality upgraded tires is a must.
I have a 21 F-150 and a 2900lb Gross Weight teardrop. I set tow/haul mode, adaptive cruise on 60 and just roll. I get great mileage with that and feel really comfortable. Just drove to FL the last couple of days, and the wind was horrendous. Even with my little trailer, slowed down to 55 for that. Very stable. As everyone says, slow is smart, and arrive alive.
Enjoyed your video and insights of your guests. I'm new to towing our 30' Airstream and after viewing many videos (including JD's channel) we've adopted some sage advice given by others: 'Never be in a hurry - ever.' We'll get to the destination when we get there. Traveling in the right lane isn't a bother as it lets people pass you and there's less stress for us. For now, I've found that the sweet spot with our F250 diesel has been 60 and would likely not exceed 65. Too, the cruise control has worked well. We want to enjoy the scenery and chit-chat about the unique things we observe during our journey. We have a chunk of change invested in our truck & trailer and don't want to jeopardize damaging either - so, it's safety first!!
Watch the Lucy & Desi movie: “The Long long trailer” It is a must!! It was there I learned how to back up all our trailers!! I back up better than my hubby😂 Enjoy your new baby! 3/3/3 is our normal policy.. 300 miles or 3 hours and 3 adult drinks upon fully hooked up! Sometimes we do a 4/4/4😂
Also… Walkie talkies for communication, phones many times don’t have service. Also when I stand in the back, my directions are “Butt to the left” etc… makes it clearer for him. Ps… I back in better than him🤷♀️did I say that before 😂
We started RV life with a smaller cab-over camper on a 3/4 T diesel pickup. Never went over 65. Graduated to a 10 ft Lance camper on a dually, and rarely went over 60 except passing. (or outrunning a tornado) Last 9 years have been with 25 ft travel trailers pulled by 3/4 T gas, and rarely over 65 except to pass. Each one has been very controllable in an difficult situation. Resist the obligation to go the speed limit.
Wow! Y'all drove past where we live in Weatherford TX at time index 11:45! Welcome to Weatherford! Anyway, agree with the people you called while recording. Between 60 - 65 mph for us, too. All of our tow vehicles seem to have a sweet spot of about 63 mph for best speed/mpg combination. Tire speed ratings (~temperature rating) have improved quite a bit but safety is a major consideration. Arrive alive is our motto. I'm glad we bought a Chevy Silverado 2500HD for towing. So much less stress and decent fuel mileage but still tow about 63 - 64 mph. It's a sweet spot for our newest truck, too. Safe travels, y'all! Bob and Dottie
We asked the dealer that we bought our trailer from what was the maximum speed we should drive. They had never been asked before and no one knew the answer. I was happy that RU-vid University has channels like yours that provide real life answers! Thank you, once again for great information in a fun video.
It always amazes people when they find out how little these dealers really know about the products they sell! Reaching out to community always gets you answers.
Dealer was asked that many times. They won’t give an answer because they don’t want the liability. If they say too slow people will think twice before buying, if they say too fast they are liable both in case you get into an accident as well as if you get pulled over for speeding (some states have lower speed limits when towing)
I drive a semi truck for a living (actually right now I'm in a 24' flat bed that I tow a 30' deck over with a pintle, I can weigh up to 120k with the proper permits) and even though my truck is able to do 80mph, I rarely go over 72. It's perfectly stable at those speeds, even loaded, but I'm not comfortable going that fast. When I'm loaded with the trailer, I don't go over 67, just so that I have time to react if something goes wrong. That and I'm paid by the hour, so the slower I go the more I get paid
Great video with great advice from folks with real world experience. Loved the out take by the grill. Those NY Strips looked delicious and the advice was spot on. The first time I took my wife out camping (back in our backpacking tent days) it rained, but I was still able to build her a fire and cook her Ribeyes with all the trimmings. Filling her belly warmed her heart. 25 years later, we're still happily married and happily camping. She still likes it for the food and I sure like having a refrigerator, microwave, stove...and all those great memories.
I have a 2012 F150 Crew Cab 5.0 Litre V8 and when I had my 26 ft Springdale trailer I always stayed around 60 MPH and never over 65. My truck was rated to pull 9000 lbs but always stayed 2500 lbs under that weight. Never had one issue towing a trailer in 25 years. Always had sway bars and brake controller set up.
Hello KYD. Being a professional Class A driver for over 45 years I feel the biggest contributing factor to my safety has been, Watching as far in front of the cars in front of me as possible, and adjusting my following distance accordingly. There's no hurry, ever. I'm really surprised that the RV manufacturers haven't come out of the dark ages yet and started putting air ride on all their trailers. Every commercial TT going down these terribly highways has air ride. I once left a half full coffee on the rear bumper of my trailer while crossing the country. 2-3 hundred miles later while fueling and walking around my truck I found it still sitting there. Air ride. I'm a couple months away from selling the big house and going full time, semi retire. I have a ton of questions for you 🤔
My travel trailer actually DOES have an air suspension. It’s because it’s a small (20’) toy hauler model, so that allows adjustment depending on whether it’s loaded with an ATV or a canoe.
I have an 89 Chevrolet c1500 and a 31 foot travel trailer that weights 9,000 lbs and my comfortable speed is 60 mph. I have been watching your channel from day one and appreciate all the information I have gotten from your channel and the other channels I have been watching to get multiple opinions on the safe way to travel with the trailer. This is the first time commenting on any channel I watch. I have learned a lot from all of the channels I watch and definitely a lot from your channel. Thank you for all the information you put on your channel.
As a new travel trailer owner. I've been finding my nights consumed watching Keep Your Daydream. Many tips you would think, yeah I knew this but never gave it a second thought. But to truly have that back of mind voice going you know what, listen up to what their saying, really does put everything in a new perspective. Thank you KYD and plz don't stop with the amazing videos!
I’m just getting ready for my annual road trip from South Carolina to Wyoming, Montana, & the Dakotas. Last year I rode my motorcycle but this will be my first year pulling my new toy hauler. I appreciate the practical advice that comes from thousands of miles of experience. I’ll take it to heart and keep my speed below 70 mph. Thanks 🙏
I bought a 2019 F350 Gasser and a 37’ 5th wheel. My 20 y/o daughter helped me drive the truck from Boise, ID to Denver where we grabbed the RV and headed to Texas. She was a lead foot driver. Me? I’m a trucker. I rarely went above 70, but she was constantly at 80! And several times pushing 85. I never felt more uncomfortable in a vehicle. I’ve seen the disasters wrought by blowouts at high speed. And new tires are not immune to giving out. We arrived alive but I will never allow anyone who drives my truck pulling my RV to go faster than 65 again.
55mph in Calif. Would do same no matter the state speed limit. Definitely arrive alive. I use tow haul but never cruise control when towing and if swaying occurs I keep a firm grip and slow down. I only use the electric brake if necessary to slow down for lights, stop signs that pop up. 30 yrs seeing accidents as LEO including fatalities with MH, 5TH wheels, TTs etc I want to enjoy my retirement years traveling not in a hospital. Great info you gave. Stay safe!😎
Wow - cannot “thumbs up” this week’s video enough! We just got back from an 8000 mile cross country trip from California to New Hampshire and back in our F150/Lance 1995 rig, and we had a *lot* of time to contemplate safe towing practices. Our highway speeds were generally between 55 and 65 (max!), and every time we got left in the dust by an 18 wheeler, or a 5th wheel trailer passing us at 80+ mph I wondered if we were being too “timid” with our cruising speed. I am *so* glad to hear a variety of experts echoing our practical experience: That anyone towing an RV should really be capping the speed at around 65. You’ve made me much more confident in how we tow/travel, and much more aware of the safety factors that everyone *should* be taking into consideration when they take to the highway or interstate with a massive trailer behind them. Thanks, as always, for a smart and entertaining video. You guys continue to inspire others (like my wife and me) to follow in your footsteps - and your tire tracks 😂!
Great topic and very well done. I personally have gone from a travel trailer with and undersized pickup to a 5th wheel with an undersized pickup to now a new 5th wheel with a properly sized diesel truck and Man!... what a difference in towing experiences. With our new rig our sweet spot seems to be about 62-64 mph.
One thing I was taught growing up is to never tow and use cruise control at the same time. People get too relaxed with it and that’s when accidents happen
Great episode! It confirmed my feelings on top speed with my rig, which made me feel good. About 1 1/2 years ago I moved from a gasser to my first diesel, an F350. I have never used the cruise while towing as it was not a good thing in my gasser. I'm going to have to try it now after your comments. Thanks for the info.
Thanks for this video. I have a 24ft Minnie Winnie and I tow a small car. I am afraid to go over 60 mph. People speed by me but I feel that 55 - 60 is my comfort zone. Also at 60 or lower my MH gas mileage is better than at higher speeds.
62 is my comfortable highway towing speed. However last fall I was driving on a two-lane highway in Nevada with a 70MPH limit and no passing lanes or pull-outs. Impatient drivers (including semis) were tailgating me and passing in dangerous situations. I raised my speed to 65 then to 70 in spots just to avoid unintentionally causing a head-on collision. Even 70MPH was too slow to prevent some from tailgating me. Not a pleasant situation!
I like 65 for all the reasons that was spoken about (safety) but also for fuel milage. In my setup, conditions permitting I can get a range of 400-420 miles on a full tank of diesel. I have a Wolf Pack fifthwheel with a ford F-350 and the oem 48 gallon fuel tank. Video was awesome, thank you for sharing and be safe on the road😊
Exactly. I think for a lot of people accident avoidance is abstract… but getting 1-2mpg better while towing?!? Seems like a no-brainer! Better mileage also means less frequent fuel stops, which aren’t speedy when you are pulling a trailer.
67 Is about my max too with our travel trailer when the speed limit is 70. Everything else, I go 2 mph below the speed limit. This way I can stick to the right lane 95% of the time, and everyone just passes me. Makes for a more enjoyable towing experience. It's not about how fast you can tow to get to your destination, its aboutcan you reach your destination safely, and comfortably.
Towing speed depends on a lot of things. East of the Mississippi speed will usually be lower than west of the Mississippi unless you are coming down a long grade or in a high wind situation. Most of it comes down to traffic levels and sight lines. You have to be able to stop in the distance that you can see. I've towed 14k at 75 mph on I-70 in western Kansas, but drop it to 55 mph or lower on I-68 in Western Maryland.
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. I really enjoyed this video; I've towed on and off for over ten years but am now pulling a fifth wheel for the first time. Speed rating is 75 on my tires and the folks you called here pointed out everything I've observed as well. I've pushed it to 75 a few times to pass and realized that I simply don't like it at all. I like the 67 Max idea from the first caller and will be what I stick with now. It leaves that cushion for when passing needs to happen, but overall it's safe and maintains both the speed and braking cushion.
CMV driver here 4200 miles per week 100% in the mountain west region, Towing speed, is equal to driver skill, equipment condition, weight balance and road conditions. And should vary based on the above parameters.
I have driven three Class A gas units. Big V8's and Ford V10 have a sweet spot and it you listed to engine it will tell you where it is comfortable. In my last unit with the F53 chassis with the V10 liked 63, and in the one prior with the Ford 460, it liked 67. What I learned is to not go over this sweet spot. That was my high limit. Now flat towing and trailer towing would slow that speed down. I don't drive motorhomes anymore; we have purchased a small acreage farm. Now I tow dump box and pintel deck over trailers with strapped-down equipment. As noted in the video, strapped equipment is the sketchiest. Thank you for making great content. Also thanks for your "how to start a RU-vid" course.
i used to tow a 21' tandem axle travel trailer with a S-10. i would keep it around 55mph with the occasional 65 at the bottom of one hill before another long hill. I had good weight distribution and sway control so at 55 it just felt safe. at 65 it felt sketchy. now i have a 2500hd and its easy to forget it's back there.
Great episode, and a super important subject. As a thirty-four year tractor trailer driver, and a twelve year RV tower, I can admit to “some things happening”. The faster you drive, the more damage is done in an emergency, whether it be a tire blow-out, a jackknife, or a collision. We never tow our trailer over sixty mph. I’d keep it to fifty-five mph, except the cruise control wants to downshift at every slight incline. You’ll usually get better fuel mileage with a slower speed, as well. Take It Easy!
I tow with a f150 5.0, 24 foot TT so under towing capacity by around 2000 lbs. I like around 57 to 62 mph. Get very good milage as long as there is no head wind. Wind is my enemy. I feel safer at the lower speeds
On a multi-day trip, we tested three speeds, 65, 60, and 55 pulling a 30' trailer with a F150 offroad 4x4. We felt safe at all speeds but had the best gas mileage at 55. We only went 55 when there were two lanes, so we did not slow faster traffic.
First video I have seen of yours and well, the information given was so good! As someone who wants to get a towable there was a lot of useful information I never even considered.
Great advice about towing and driving speeds for all RVers. I love the Slogan Arrive Alive! Over the years we’ve logged many road miles towing a travel trailer. Traveling at a safe speed has always been one of my big concerns.
My wife and I have a Ram2500 6.4 hemi. We pull a 27ft FR Surveyor. We have done a good bit of traveling with this set up. I usually run the speed limit or 5 under. If I were to go out west where the speed limit is higher, I would keep it around 65 or 70. That is where I'm comfortable at. Great subject. Hope y'all have safe travels. If y'all find yourselves around north of Charlotte, NC and want a safe place to stay, y'all are welcome to stay at our family farm. Take care.
That was our saying when we were in Iraq. We would always put the slowest Vehicle in the front and then drove as fast as the slowest Vehicle. But that was our saying when people questioned our speed. I used to tow a lot of different types of trailers and I always found towing at a slower speed is better than trying to go fast. You never knew what could or would Happen and at a slower speed you could react better. Thank you so much for this.
I'm with JD. 65-67 mph is my max towing speed. Regarding a truck camper being tippy - that's normal when you have a bigger truck camper on an SRW truck. I've owned my dually since 2009 and have hauled a truck camper on it since about 1500 miles. It's rock solid stable. Dually is the only way to go with a tall and heavy truck camper.
Gas motorhome towing a properly set up Grand Cherokee (toad brake, etc.), and our speed is dependent on road conditions, but no faster than 65. We get all kinds of bigger and smaller RVs cruising right on by regularly. We just smile and wave.
If there’s any sort of traffic, I’m good for 5-10pm under the posted limit. If the road is empty (which is rare in New England, I’ll do the speed limit up to 65/70 depending on terrain
Here's my 2 cents as someone who has twice in his life done driving jobs and who has held a commercial driver's license... First nearly all trailers state somewhere they have a max towing speed of 55 mph. So if you are towing faster than that your are exceeding the manufacture's maximum recommended towing speed... Second above 55mph wind resistance becomes the dominate factor in fuel economy. You WILL use dramatically more fuel when towing significantly above 55mph. The wind resistance at 70mph is 62% higher than at 55mph. It jumps to 86% going just 5mph faster at 75mph... Third you will become much more fatigued driving at 70mph or higher than you will at 60mph or slower. And you will get to your destination at almost exactly the same time. Why?... Because when you travel on a highway you really can only go the average speed of the vehicles on the highway. That average speed usually works out to be around 60mph. Try to drive faster you will only accomplish it for a short while before you hit a slower pocket of traffic. Try to get around the traffic (especially while towing) you will use even more fuel and menially exhaust yourself. Between being held back and needing to take more breaks for rest and fuel you arrive at roughly the same time as the guy who just set the cruise control for 60mph.... So short answer to my longish rant...I tow at 55 to 62mph. If I am towing something very unaerodynamic I will tow at or closer to 55mph, otherwise 62mph which is the sweet spot where the engine in a 97 dodge with a 5.9 Cummins sings.
Great episode Mark and Trish! I transported professionally (Everything from 20ft closed to 40ft park models and trailers on trailer) for 3 years in a 3500 DRW didn't matter what I was pulling 62 MPH was about it unless I needed to overtake, at the time it was monetary driven (fuel economy). Now that I'm more of a weekend warrior and the one big haul the wife an I do each year, it just feels safer. I might bump it up to 65 if the air is calm or I have a tail wind.
You run right in my speed range. I ran 64-66 but when diesel prices went way up I dropped to about 62, unless wind was favorable. It is surprising to see the change in fuel usage with just a few mph drop in speed. I often wonder when getting passed by a high speed rig whether those folks ever check fuel usage. I don't like giving any more than necessary to the greedy oil companies so if I can pick up 1-2 mpg by slowing down I will take it.
@@999pr1 and when your on the road a lot it can save you some serious money. Trucking companies are thrilled with 1-2% better fuel economy, due to scale that equals millions for them, for us it might be the difference between 1 or 2 fill-ups on a trip.
Wow, great video and topic. Tons to add, but you covered it all here! One thing however, is the question most ask when starting out RV’ing. “How much can my truck tow” when the real question should be is, “How much can my truck STOP”! That’s the real concern. When I tow my 5er, I maintain 60 mph. I also watch my exhaust temps in summer. If it’s creeping up to 1400, I bump that cruise down until it lowers into a more comfortable zone. Lastly, 0:46. Ungawa!! Well done sir! 😊
This should be a video that every new RVer should watch here in Michigan. I keep my speed at 65 MPH when I'm on the expressway. While I see other RVers going 70+.
I read towing tips on tires on e-trailer's website which said unless your tires specifically say they are rated for more than 65 mph, they are not. I posted that information on a towing blog and got a handful of people telling me that was bs. Then, I got my dura, cum a stroke truck pulls my 38' toy hauler 85 mph from coast to coast and I've never had a problem. Reading the comments here gives me hope that I am not in the minority. I also read once on Cummins website that 55 is the most fuel efficient speed. They said 55 and below aerodynamics do not mater much but, as speed increases, power requirements increase exponentially. So to maintain 55 may require 65hp ,while 65 requires 130hp and 75 250hp. Makes sense to me.
Great Video. My sons Toyota Tundra Crewmax is rated at 10,500. His travel trailer is 10,500 lbs too. For some reason it has a Tow Haul,but not trailer brake lever. He knows that he needs a bigger truck. Maybe a 250 Diesel. P S. - I never drive faster than 65. 10 mph slower than what the Curve says. You know that the speed signs are for small Cars and Trucks. Love your Channel. 2-23-2023.
The trucking industry learned years ago that up to 55MPH the fight is mainly against tire rolling resistance. Going above 55 the fight shifts to mainly air resistance, and for every additional 1MPH, it is a compounding ratio needing more and more fuel for each additional MPH. Tire rating load and speed ratings, tire condition, load balance, air resistance, % of max load for the tow and towable vehicles, wind speed and direction, additional weather conditions, driver experience and ability, etc., etc. should all be accounted for in addition to posted or "felt" limits. Arrive alive after miles of smiles!
We have a 23' Airstream, Hensley hitch, Toyota Tundra TV and tires rated up to 80MPH on the AS. we've towed 5,000mi in 2022 and over 10,000mi in 2021, and I pretty much kept with traffic...that was until we had to act as "first responders" 2-weeks ago today coming out of Death Valley NP, when a Semi Dump-truck overturned coming down Daylight Pass, took EMS 1 hour to arrive (thankfully driver is going to recover). After that, 65 is going to be my max! I'm also going to get a Garmin in-reach for future trips. Stay safe out there folks, and keep the "shiny side" up!
Ford F350 dually pulling a 42 foot 5th wheel @65 MPH. I want to get there in a hurry but I would rather arrive in one piece. Experience taught me that. In my younger days I would pull a 32 foot 5th wheel at 70 to 75 MPH. Going across Missouri on I70 in the right lane with a 18 wheeler in the left lane I had a right side tire blow out. Had damage to the camper but luckily maintained control. Lesson learned and one I will never forget. Since then I have had two more blow outs at slower speeds with much different results. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for another insightful video. I agree with being at a comfortable speed with a travel trailer and I travel at 58-62 most of the time. The truck is capable of much more speed, but as your interviewees stated, what is happening to the trailer. I have traveled from Maine to South Carolina and it amazes me on how fast some travel with a 5th wheel or travel trailer, often 70mph+ on I-95. As was stated "Arrive Alive" is a very good motto to stick with. Thanks and safe travels to Florida,
29 years with a CDL, and I think 65-67 is good for a 5th wheel. But that is very dependent on the truck you have. I was a hard 63-65 with my ecoboost and my smaller 5th wheel. Now I have an F350 dually, and I'm maxing out just under 17klb. So I'm OK with 67, but not through West Virginia or some other twisted road. If the road is straight enough, I use cruise control all the time. It stops me from losing focus on my speed. Nice video, enjoyed it.
13:15-13:28 nails it... I'm comfortable doing up to 75mph in my semi when the road conditions and speed limit allow it. My tires are rated for it. Most of those concerns mentioned are due to lack of experience and not paying attention instead of simply being a heavy/large vehicle towing. I'm always asking myself if my speed is because I'm truly driving a safe speed or because I'm in a hurry. Sometimes, I'm the fastest vehicle on the road, while other times in the slowest. My truck+trailer and I are one. Always be looking ahead and keep enough following distance for the road conditions. Another big thing is I'm not ever at max towing capability even when pushing 80,000lbs.. I'd say most campers are and don't even have proper mirrors that let them see down the side of their trailer. We all have different levels of experience and comfort levels.
A quite experienced boater once told me, "Never *approach* the dock..... any faster than you want to.... *hit* the dock!" Your discussion here parallels this important fact, because it is not if you are able to *tow* your trailer, but you also have to be able to *stop* your trailer!! Oh, and being that Caleb is a big fan of "The Office".... I have the following to say, "That's What She Said".... 17:21 😆
Was watching this and totally agree with 65mph. I have over a million miles on the road as a truck driver. I never go over 65 but mainly do 58mph to get best fuel economy.
Hi, as far as truck campers, that is all I have ever had. I started out with a Ford Raptor and put a Palamino 550 backpack on it. I then went to a F250 Lariat diesel and a bigger camper, a Camplite 8.6. Now I upgraded my camper to a Artic Fox 1150, which is extremely heavy. Researching the weight of the camper, I haul this camper on a F450 cab and chassis with a flatbed, no mods needed. With all my campers, I never exceed 65mph, even without the camper, I never go more than 65 no matter what the speed limit is. With the F450, between running 65 or 70, running 70 equals 3mpg per mile. Looks like you are on your way to FL, or most likely already there. Safe Travels
Thanks for this video. I'm a biker & I always leave run away room between me & the car in front. That with a bike of 700lbs. It always me extra room for what is behind me!. Now a 6,000 lb truck with a 7,000lb trailer, that requires a LOT of stopping distance! Thanks for pointing out the brake controller. Might want to explain proper set up, because it to is a critical part of safe towing.
70mph is tops for us! I have gone 80mph across Texas before. It was a 30’ toy hauler with a Cummins Ram 3500 dually and it was perfection. Probably a little too fast though!
Lots of factors go into determining the right speed. Weather conditions, smooth or rough roads, amount of traffic, straight flat roads, or curvy mountain roads. Speed rating on your tires, and vehicle to trailer weight ratio are very important. That being said for my f150 and my 19ft travel trailer I do between 65 and 70 in good highway conditions.
We keep our 40ft 5th wheel usually at 65-67 with tow/haul mode on and exhaust brake on as well if we are in some hilly/mountainous terrain. I’ll go up to 70 to pass as some people towing are below 65. 65 with cruise control is nice and smooth. Saves on diesel as well.
I recognized the scenery in the back ground while you were talking to JD of Big TruckBig RV! I know it well I live there! I was very surprised! Y’all be careful on your journeys! I tow my Springdale Mini about 60-65… never over it. I tow with a 2015 Ford Explorer. It is rated for 6,500 lbs. I have driven through wind that was blowing so hard. I had to hold on for dear life! Be Safe!
I have a 2022 2500 Duramax (rated to tow 18.5k) with a gooseneck trailer that’s 12,000 empty. I tow at 67-68, which feels comfortable and safe for me. I have my trailer brakes set a lvl 7, which is perfect for my trailer. One of my last drives in Utah, 80mph limit, I was doing 50 because of the rain and wind. Now towing my ATV (1,850 total weight), I was zooming along at 80, because that felt comfortable and safe and the road conditions were perfect. This is always going to vary. Either way, if you’re feeling nervous, then it’s time to slow it down..
i pull a 2600RB behind my Ram 2500 Power Wagon just for weekend fun and events. 65 feels great. 70 is the upper limit where it makes me nervous, and i've been towing since I had a learners permit back in 1997. And if it's a bit windy, 55-60 is about it.
I don't tow - my wife says it's a mental disability - but still found this helpful and informative because we're relocating to the Crystal Coast and a Uhaul tow is in the offing. Hey, my wife can do it!
The F250 Diesel w/ an Airstream 27 ft works great. We tow in tow mode when I remember to set it 😉 but have had no problems at any time. Regarding speed, we typically tow around 5 miles below the speed limit and will push out of that depending the situation to possible 70 to pass but not stay there long. With the Airstream we gauge a lot based on road conditions, etc… If the bathroom mirror is up, we either had terrible road conditions and/or too much speed!!! 🤔
In California going more than 55mph is breaking the law whilst towing.....I cheat a bit and push it to 62mph. What I discovered the hard way is cheap, junk trailer tires from a very popular nationwide tire outlet is asking for a blowout, which had to me before buying better quality rubber!!
I have had the opportunity to set up my rig and go out to a safe place and brake hard. I know what to expect. The rig I currently have is a single axle small 3750Lbs trailer. I always keep the wheel bearings inspected and do not plan on sitting on these tires more than three years. Its very easy towing 3700lbs fast but the speed rating of the tires is 75. Its difficult to find a sweet spot each time we go. Use 93 Octane or not, it makes a difrence. Sometimes the trucks sweet spot is faster than i like. Driving south in Florida on highway 95 and exiting to I-4 is the worst place in the state to get into a hard stop. ( You may want to exit LPGA BLv an exit earlier and make it over to 92 a lot safer. From there eventually turn right to I-4 ) On 95 everyone gets over to the right exit lane and even stops in the go fast lanes waiting to get over regardless whether you have 10 inches of stopping distance or not. Our trailer has a single 4400lbs axle. That leaves us 650lbs of cargo and weight distribution transfer weight before meeting the max load for the axle. Come to think of it I'm not sure what the tire weight limit is but I'm not real keen on dumping lots of weight distribution lbs onto the tires. Im guessing a little risk management here about single axle trailers. We have only traveled in Florida mostly without WDH. The trailer is so small and short it has nowhere to go but follow. Out of state trips i would typically use the WDH. No faster than 65 is my choice but also choosing back roads and driving 50 is my favorite. The 7.5 width of the trailer is a world of difference as busses roll by compared to previous trailers i have owned. I hated towing heavy and think getting there should be fun too. If your towing find the smallest trailer you can live with. Being wore out when you get there isn't worth it.
Wife and I were getting close to home a few months ago. We were taking an exit off I35 in North Texas to get onto I90. We were doing around 55 just before the exit. The car in front of me suddenly jerked over into the right lane and instantly exposed a little car that tried to make the exit and was hung up on the curb on the rear axe of their car. I had cars behind me and to the right of me lined up in rush hour traffic. I had to slam on the brakes without skidding and shut it down as fast as I could as my wife was saying: "Oh my God we are going to hit them!!!!." The truck stopped the Airstream stayed behind us without going into the right lane without hitting them. I immediately told my wife if we hadn't have upgraded to our Dually truck a few months ago we would have ploughed right into them. I now understand that not having a heavy duty truck you are putting yourself and your family into an less safe setup. The heavy duty breaks make an amazing difference with our 30 foot Classic behind us. As everyone says all that is important is how fast you can stop.
