Towing Questions

FuzzButt

FuzzButt

New member
Joined
Dec 5, 2003
Messages
694
Location
Waterford, Michigan
Got into a little conversation recently with a few different people about towing techniques and I think I got both ends of the speed spectrum.

One example was a guy who was a life long trucker that drove 65 no matter what on the expressway.

Another does 70-80 like me depending on traffic. (my rule is generally within 10% over limit or under 80 in a group)

A third was in the 80-90 range and was ticketed twice this year for 10 and 5 over on a limited highway and another ticket thrown in for not having the mirror extensions (all on the same trip). Total was just over $500 between the tickets and purchasing the mirrors.

A forth guy has a special chunk of silver in his wallet and regularly is over 100 even while trailering.

Anyone pull a trailer over the century mark? I don't mind driving that fast in my car (used to before the State five-o and county guys started patroling everywhere I drive like flies on stink) but trailering with my truck? No I draw the line at about 85. Just to many things that can go wrong.

Thoughts?
 

100 while trailering? That's just crazy. We stick around 65-70. Never seem to be in that much of a hurry and we aren't rich people. Those $175 Wisconsin speeding tickets can dampen a weekend.
 
right at about 9 over speed limit
trailer brakes etc all working good!
equalizer hitch on four place enclosed
have towed over 100 in Nebraska with 05 2500 HD diesel with equalizer hitch, tows great
 
70-75 is plenty fast when towing. 80 is asking for trouble. Those little trailer wheels get awful hot when going that fast. Maybe thats why I see so many flats along the highway. Anything over 80 is just stupid, things happen very quick at that speed. By the way, I drive for a living.
 
about the speed limit. I used to drive 6 hours to see my wife when she was going to school in upstate NY (I live in NH) you really dont save much time speeding unless it is like a 10 hour trip. doing 65 it would take me 6 - 6 1/2 hours. speeding right up to around 80-85mph, it would tke maybe 5 3/4 - 6 hours. nothing really saved. just isnt worth the risk with a trailer in tow etc. seen a few of them that blew out trailer tires and flipeed the whole rig. now that is a new truck, trailer and 2-4 sleds, depending on the trailer. sound worth it to you?? hell no!
 
70 or so with a snowmobile trailer is clipping right along. Like was said above those little tires are making twice that many revolutions to keep up with the truck tires.

I actually had the axle come out from under a sled trailer once at 70. I went from a trailer to a tobagoon in about 2.2 seconds. The sparks from the springs slidding down the road were really pretty. I would like to see some one else do the same thing at night so I could ooh and awe at the show. I'll pass on repeating my performance even though it all worked out fine and I kept everything shiney side up. Not one of my prouder moments. The SD troopers were quite helpful once they realized that nothing serious had happened.
 
I lock in just uver 70 in a 65 mph zone. saftey first and as previosly mentioned, the Wisconsin troopers love to lay the 200$ tickets on us Illinois FIBS.
 
Over 100 while pulling a trailer is insane. With a Super Duty and an enclosed 4 place we dont get over 85 under any condition. A couple weeks ago a guy was pulling a 20 something ft. camper trailer with a new F150 just outside of GR when he lost it. It was a huge mess, totalled his truck, trailer and 2 other vehicles. Like you said, theres just too much that can go wrong and with that much weight behind you you arent just risking your load, your risking your life.
 
WOW! I hope I don't meet any of you guys on the road towing. I tow with a 2500HD crew cab. I tow an enclosed 17' snowmobile trailer and an 24ft travel trailer. Never over 65. Over 65 there is no way you can convince me that your in control of that load if something were to happen. If you spend any time on any of the RV forums you will find post after post of people that have lost control of their trailer. The tragedy is bad when they lose their lives, but worse when they take someone else with them.
 
dmaxx said:
70-75 is plenty fast when towing. 80 is asking for trouble. Those little trailer wheels get awful hot when going that fast. Maybe thats why I see so many flats along the highway. Anything over 80 is just stupid, things happen very quick at that speed. By the way, I drive for a living.
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Very well said. 80 is way too fast for towing. Puts a ton of heat in everything, mileage drops like an s.o.b. with the VAST majority of rigs, trailer tires and bearings get way hot, and its much harder to keep under control.
 
My dad and I don't go over 65 when trailing.

On the way to VT to go snowmobiling with our Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins and trailer with the two Phazers on, we had a mishap. we where driving in oswego, NY and it was snowing pretty good. I was driving about 40 MPH and about two inches of snow on the road. It should of been in 4wd but was not. so we were headed along and I let off the gas a little and the rear of the truck started to slide. we slid a cross the road and hit the 5 FT snow bank with the left hand corner of the truck. the truck slid around to face the way we came from and the trailer jack-knifed and hit the left rear wheel of the truck and then slid around be hind the truck again. all was fine but the trailer is bent and does not track and the trailer hitch is bent and the running board of my Phazer was bent by my dads sled.

That said, we drive more carefully now.
 
speeds allowed on the highway are not as high here but when i am towing with my pickup i tend to float around 100-110 kph. that is where it is happy and the fuel milage stays good. i tend to be picky about the wheel bearings on the trailer though and they are checked every season. came close a couple of times to burning one so better safe than sory.
 
mid 90's v-max's said:
I lock in just uver 70 in a 65 mph zone. saftey first and as previosly mentioned, the Wisconsin troopers love to lay the 200$ tickets on us Illinois FIBS.
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No doudt. No need to get a ticket or crash for whats supposed to be a vacation. If youre that tight on time, Snowmobiles are not worth having.
 
while towing my double trailer or my friends 25ft trailer we always keep it about 90-95kph anything more than that is asking for trouble, just imagine if you have to stop fast
 
I've made a few high speed trips in the past. I used to ride with so guys that flew on the trail and on the way up. In clear dry weather it was 90 mph +. Always with an open trailer btw. Kinda pissed me off when we would drive that fast then stop at a truck stop to eat. Came home one time with one of the guys who was in a big hurry, not sure how fast but the 85 mph speedo on his GMC was wrapped around to 15 most of the time. Never had a problem but used a ton of fuel and only saveda little time (extra gas stops). I prefer my Chevy van with a big cooler full of food and (soft) drinks. We are over 300 miles from the Mac. bridge so we like to keep the wheels turning. With gas close to $3 I've really slowed down.

HUBCITYSX
 
That's really funny if you think about it. People going crazy speeds then having to make extra stops for fuel and then taking breaks to eat. One stop off the road for lunch probably negates everything gained from going 20 mph faster!

I've seen enough crazy stuff out there that I just know it's not worth it. Slow down, get there safely and have a good time!
 
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