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Old 07-03-2018, 04:18 AM   #1
KemoLondon
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Towing Speed

Ok so I've been towing my Fiver for about a year now and have seen a few post about towing speeds. Now I can pull 70mph easy but was wondering what is the average speed most of ya'll pull at? I mean it's both mileage and safety but what is a good speed? I've seen a lot of people say 65. But is there that much difference between 65 and 70? Do the tires heat up that much more at 70?
 
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Old 07-03-2018, 04:41 AM   #2
Kenw
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I cannot help you with the speed question but, make sure that your tires can handle the speed. There is a lot of crap tires out there and most of them cannot take the heat. Yes, the faster you go and the more weight on the tires will increase the heat it needs to dissipate.
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Old 07-03-2018, 04:47 AM   #3
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Speed

I can’t tell you beans about the heat build-up, physics or science end - but 65 is my self imposed max and I usually set the cruise between 60 -65. I always keep my distance from the guy in front. I stay away from the idiots. I am always thinking about stopping distance.
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Old 07-03-2018, 05:54 AM   #4
Dave W
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Our 5er has 106mph speed rated LT tires vs the Tow Max(China Bombs!) tires that came on it. They were 65mph speed rated. Of course I will never approach that 106 mph speed. I mostly tow in the 62-65mph range in our area though do push it up to close to 68- 70 in the 80mph areas of the Western states. Others will tow w-a-a-y faster and others, well let's say some hold traffic up at 40-50mph. Mostly, towing speed is what you are comfortable with towing your 12-18,000 rigs
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Old 07-03-2018, 06:28 AM   #5
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I prefer 65 but will go up to 70. I usually leave a good sized gap between me and the person in front of me. I'm not in a real big hurry unless SWMBO needs to make a pit stop.
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Old 07-03-2018, 07:15 AM   #6
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Kemo,

62-65 seems about right to me but will occasionally find myself at 70-75 going downhill or with a stiff tailwind when I forget to set the cruise. I do not see much difference in temps based on speed. Tires are inflated at 110 PSI cold and they will get up to 125-130 PSI on the road at 100 deg. Road temp seems to be a bigger factor than speed.
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Old 07-03-2018, 07:26 AM   #7
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With roads as rough as they are in almost every State...I tow according to what the road allows; but never over 65 mph because we live full time in our Monty. Some places we have traveled I'll slow down to about 40 mph because the road is that rough. That way when we arrive at our destination everything is still working and nothing needs fixing. Our fuel millage is also best at speeds between 55-65 mph while hooked up or unhooked. I also leave a safe distance between us and the vehicle in front of me. But remember there are a lot of drivers out there that think that the safe stopping distance you have created is for them to speed up, go around you, cut you off, slow down quickly, and turn right. This happens to us way too often on just about every trip. Too many drivers think that they are ENTITLED. Happy Trails and Safe Travels to everyone!
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Old 07-03-2018, 08:12 AM   #8
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I tow the posted limit up to 70. Tows so easily at 70 just can’t seem to back off to 65.
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Old 07-03-2018, 08:37 AM   #9
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I usually tow at 5mph under the posted limit. Fast enough to avoid passing all the time, and slow enough to let the crazies pass me safely. Adequate stopping distance is always a biggie.
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Old 07-03-2018, 08:40 AM   #10
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I don’t think you will see a lot of difference between 65 and 70 provided you have tires rated for the weight and speed. As others have mentioned ambient temp will likely be a bigger factor. When it is 110 out west you can bet your tires are going to suffer (and so will you if you have to change one)!! I strongly recommend a tire monitor!

Never mind the speed limits!!!! Go with the FLOW of traffic and keep a good space between you and vehicle in front.

Personally I try to drive like a good truck driver. I like to sit in the rocking chair between two trucks with a good stopping cushion in front of me. Typically that sets up to 60-65 in congested areas and 65-70 on open Interstate.

Reguardless I never tow over 70 and not even that at the moment as I haven’t put the new G rated tires on the unit yet

I’m not afraid to drive faster but have matured enough to recognize the potential hazards while towing a monster sized 5th wheel with a pickup truck.

Drive what is safe for the conditions and your rig!!
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Old 07-03-2018, 08:55 AM   #11
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I tow at whatever the law allows, to point. It’s whatever is safe. Where there is a lot of traffic it’s slower. In an area there isn’t much traffic I don’t mind 75, 80 mph. To me it’s whatever I feel is safe at the time. I do run LT tires on my light High Country. They are rated for a hundred or so. If I had standard ST tires rated for 65 I wouldn’t run as fast as I do.
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Old 07-03-2018, 08:58 AM   #12
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I have run at 75 more than once but I have hit 80 a time or too. I don't cruise at 80 though to fast for that. I don't use cruise much as i get better fuel millage with my foot. I had a couple short tows on my last trip and the truck didn't want to tow at 65. LOL. Had to keep holding her back.
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Old 07-03-2018, 08:59 AM   #13
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For me 65 to very seldom 70 is fast enough. I have addressed the tire issue LT tires and will be replacing them with Sailun's soon both have appropriate speed ratings. I just can't beleave how many people I talk to in the RV parks who have no ideas that tires have a speed raring??

Here is how I look at it I am driveing a 9000lb truck pulling a 13000 to 14000lb rig thats 22,000lb plus. Things happen fast, traffic all of a sudden stops or you blow a tire. Or some crazy just decides to brake check you. Always remember YOU are the first one at the scene of the accident.

One more thing get and use a dash cam. That way there is only one version of the story.
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Old 07-03-2018, 08:59 AM   #14
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65 mph 99.9 % of the time. 70 only when passing someone.
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Old 07-03-2018, 09:15 AM   #15
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I set my cruise at 62 when out on the highway. If I forget after coming down out of steep hills and forget to set my cruise I have found myself at around 70. DW is a nervous passenger and is not impressed at that speed and lets me know...lol.
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Old 07-03-2018, 09:45 AM   #16
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I run at 60 to 65 most of the time if i have the room to do so! 70 on open roads you have to look out for the edits that don't know how to drive anyways! leave yourself room to stop if something happens in front of you because it will trust me! I saw I guy pull a SOB in the car pool lane at 65 to 70 when the traffic stop he used 6 other cars to get stop was not a pretty site! when it was all over.
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Old 07-03-2018, 09:49 AM   #17
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I cruise at 70mph most of the time. I do have disc brakes that make a huge difference. Road conditions are just as important as speed limit.
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Old 07-03-2018, 10:24 AM   #18
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I run below 70 just to save fuel
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Old 07-03-2018, 11:59 AM   #19
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62 to 65, that gets the Allison comfortably in 6th gear, and the Dmax not too thirsty.
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Old 07-03-2018, 01:08 PM   #20
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62 us the sweet spot for best mpg on my Dodge, also less heat in the tires, better stopping distance and few folks want to hang around in front of me.
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