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06-24-2021, 10:45 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Tyler
Posts: 193
M.O.C. #20704
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Be careful out there
Leaving Cody WY last week we fell in behind 3 other RV’s heading West. The weather was clear and the roads were dry. As many RV’s as there are on the road right now, it didn’t occur to me that I was following a convoy of sorts - all traveling together to some common destination. Keeping it at 58-62 MPH, I allowed for about 5-6 seconds between my 2020 Dodge Ram dually pulling a Monty 3730 FL. Then, I saw a tap on the brake lights on the last RV of the convoy in front of me and in an instant I realized that he was coming to a full stop and turning off of the busy hwy to the right, no signal, no warning whatsoever - following an abrupt decision by the lead person in convoy. Even though I thought I was following at a safe distance, when I applied heavier and heavier brake pressure I came pretty close to rear ending the RV in front of me. To avoid a collision with the person in front of him, the RV I was following had to take evasive action into the oncoming traffic lane - thank goodness there was nobody coming! I veered to the safety of the shoulder. All three convoy members took off down an unpaved county road - I think they were lost. I am happy to say that my factory trailer brakes worked flawlessly - no locking up, no skidding. The Ram engine brake combined with braking pressure, actually caused my seat belt to tighten across my chest! ( I have the gain set at 9).
My point: There are a lot of RV drivers out there with varying levels of experience driving these things. We can get caught-up in the beauty of our surroundings and it is easy to get complacent with keeping safety foremost in our minds. I hope everyone has a great year traveling and that everyone stays safe. Things can go very wrong, very quickly!
Safe travels,
Max
__________________
Maxwell and Beverly Dow
2018 3730FL 2020 Ram 3500 Dually SWB
"Prairie Schooner"
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06-25-2021, 05:09 AM
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#2
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 56
M.O.C. #24219
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Great reminder, we too have had those Maalox moments! people don’t always do what they are supposed to do. Jill
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06-25-2021, 06:48 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,782
M.O.C. #22835
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More than 20 years ago a car pulled out in front of us and I had to slam on the brakes with our first travel trailer in tow. I was towing with a Chevy Suburban 1500. The trailer brakes never did have much much grab, I didn't understand how "gain" worked back then. So basically, the tow vehicle did most of the braking.
When that car jumped out in front of us from a side road, I slammed on the brakes. The tow vehicle tires locked up, but the trailer kept pushing it. Tires squealing, and almost hitting that car in front, who now was gaining a little speed. Otherwise it would have been a rear end hit for sure.
Lesson learned from that point onward to leave as much distance as possible between me and the person ahead. That is the reason I drive at 60 mph on interstates. Absolutely everything zooms by and passes me, leaving me in their wind. On secondary roads, I triple my normal distance than when driving not towing. It bugs the hell out of vehicles behind me for leaving that kind of a distance, but I'm running the same speed as they are, I'm just leaving distance. It's amazing how many will attempt to pass on double yellow lines, between the "stop ahead" sign and the actual stop sign or light, keep drifting lift to see if they can pass or not on hills clearly marked no passing.
The bottom line is, it's about safety! Mine! Those driving the family sedan just don't understand the distance it takes to stop a train with a 6000 pound truck and a 12,000 pound trailer in tow. So yes, I continue to keep my distance, even when other RVers are zooming by or behind me.
I never follow anyone for the sake of following them. Again, I'll slow down a bit to create a greater distance than what looks normal, because when towing a train, nothing is normal.
FYI, my Montana High Country Fifth wheel brakes will lock up and skid when when I'm running 30 mph and my gain is set at 10. I think I've got a much better braking system now than that first trailer more than 20 years ago.
__________________
History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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06-25-2021, 06:53 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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I have found it challenging to maintain a safe distance in front of me, as folks will constantly pull in front of me and fill up that space. Cannot count the number of times I have been coming up to a stoplight and somebody suddenly cuts us off.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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06-25-2021, 07:36 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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we all have a story to tell.
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06-25-2021, 11:05 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1retired06
I have found it challenging to maintain a safe distance in front of me, as folks will constantly pull in front of me and fill up that space. Cannot count the number of times I have been coming up to a stoplight and somebody suddenly cuts us off.
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I experienced the same thing every day for 20 years while trucking.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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06-25-2021, 12:39 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,663
M.O.C. #2283
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WeBeFulltime
I experienced the same thing every day for 20 years while trucking.
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I always give those big boys plenty of space. When car and a tractor trailer gets in a fight guess who wins every time?
Lynwood
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06-25-2021, 02:16 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 4,081
M.O.C. #20477
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Recommend reacting to relative motion vice turn signals or brake lights.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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06-25-2021, 02:47 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,387
M.O.C. #8728
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Everyone needs to understand that some day you will need to make a panic stop. It's not a matter of if but when.
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06-26-2021, 09:16 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,182
M.O.C. #1920
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Jim, you are correct. In fact,just about every trip. I am thankful for disk brakes. I also have added a dash cam just in case. At $130 for a Garmin with GPS speed tracking, I will be able to record an incident should something happen.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames plus Meg - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar+ Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
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06-27-2021, 08:31 PM
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#11
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Noble
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #27542
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I agree with stupidity, but all these guys driving 15-20 mph under the speed limit aren’t helping the situation either. Just my 2 cents at 6-7k Miles a month on mostly interstate/turnpike driving.
I get behind a semi, or an rv daily going slow as hell and creating a jam.
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06-27-2021, 08:45 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Livermore
Posts: 5,182
M.O.C. #1920
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So, right now, I am in Montana. The speed limit is 80. Is it stupid to drive 65? Just curious where you set the bar for stupidity. Let the flailing begin.
__________________
Ron and Terrie Ames plus Meg - MOC #1920/KF0NTA
2021Montana 3230CK Super Solar+ Legacy Package
2021 Ram 3500 Laramie Longhorn, BIM Charging
4x4, SRW, LB, Crew Cab, Pullrite 3900 Hitch
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06-27-2021, 11:07 PM
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#13
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Texas Hill country
Posts: 75
M.O.C. #28894
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rames14
So, right now, I am in Montana. The speed limit is 80. Is it stupid to drive 65? Just curious where you set the bar for stupidity. Let the flailing begin.
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I agree. While towing 62mph regardless of posted speed limit. Go around or wait.
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06-28-2021, 07:52 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Agree with Ron plus these rigs take a beating on the road just running at 65.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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06-28-2021, 04:06 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lobelville
Posts: 2,128
M.O.C. #6650
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Yep, X or retired OTR drivers experience this almost daily!
Happy trails.
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06-28-2021, 04:16 PM
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#16
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Noble
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #27542
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rames14
So, right now, I am in Montana. The speed limit is 80. Is it stupid to drive 65? Just curious where you set the bar for stupidity. Let the flailing begin.
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That was not what I was referring too. Was referring to those that drive 65.3 the go out to pass someone going 65.1 and it takes them 4 miles to pass and backing up traffic and causing a dangerous jam.
Semi’s are the worst, and I realize many are governed. The governed truck drivers won’t check up to let another governed truck by and they drive side by side forever.
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06-28-2021, 05:41 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 3,036
M.O.C. #5651
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I try to drive 62 mph. However when the limit is only 65, I will go up to 65 to be courteous to those that drive the limit. When the limit goes up to 70 or more, I drop back to 62mph.
__________________
Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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06-29-2021, 10:56 PM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Tyler
Posts: 193
M.O.C. #20704
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All I know is that on this busy two-lane road with a line of traffic in front and behind me and nobody is budging over 62 mph, passing lanes seemed to be few and far between. My only point was that maintaining a safe distance could be something that we might get complacent about (me included) when someone does something unpredictably. The incident I described shook the DW pretty bad - it was very close. I will never believe that RV’s should be pulled at anything close to 80 mph - I do my best to help others pass me.
__________________
Maxwell and Beverly Dow
2018 3730FL 2020 Ram 3500 Dually SWB
"Prairie Schooner"
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06-30-2021, 09:24 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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If I haven't towed for a few days it always takes me about 30 minutes or so to settle back into it. When we are stationary and I have been just driving the truck (without tow) or we have been on the Harley a lot there is an adjustment period.
I have to get back into the mode staying far enough behind traffic I'm following. I'm around 60 feet long so I have to adjust and stay about 120 yards back from someone I'm following at 60mph. If you watch most RVers they never allow that much distance (vehicle length for every 10mph).
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
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06-30-2021, 10:25 AM
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#20
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Tyler
Posts: 193
M.O.C. #20704
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JandC
If I haven't towed for a few days it always takes me about 30 minutes or so to settle back into it. When we are stationary and I have been just driving the truck (without tow) or we have been on the Harley a lot there is an adjustment period.
I have to get back into the mode staying far enough behind traffic I'm following. I'm around 60 feet long so I have to adjust and stay about 120 yards back from someone I'm following at 60mph. If you watch most RVers they never allow that much distance (vehicle length for every 10mph).
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You are exactly tight about the adjustment period. I thought it was just me that felt like that. It takes me about 50 miles to settle back in to where I feel like i have it all together.
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