Towing mpg

[700hauler]

Originally Posted by transamz9

No argument. Some people choose to run with the 70-75 crowd. That's not reckless in my opinion. What is reckless is when you have someone running with the 60-65 crowd (which is fine just do it wisely) and then decide they want to go around the one in front of them but don't know how to use the pedal on the right. So they run side by side for miles. If they want the scenery , take the scenic route.

Running 10 mph under the limit and passing is reckless? Hardly. Sounds like you hate to be hindered in your fast lane.
If someone going 10 under the speed limit on the freeway catches you by surprise then you need to pay more attention. Its not like they jump right out at you like they are going 40 in a 75.
Like I said. Its far more reckless to run faster than what your truck/trailer/tire combo is rated for. The difference is that you actually can run at 60-65 wisely while towing. However, the word wise and running 75-80 while towing don't belong in the same sentence.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by transamz9

No argument. Some people choose to run with the 70-75 crowd. That's not reckless in my opinion. What is reckless is when you have someone running with the 60-65 crowd (which is fine just do it wisely) and then decide they want to go around the one in front of them but don't know how to use the pedal on the right. So they run side by side for miles. If they want the scenery , take the scenic route.

Running 10 over the max on RT tires is dangerous regardless of what you're towing with. A blowout in the passing lane is not only going to be disastrous for you, but the poor vehicle next to you. Don't really see the benefit in going an extra 8-9 miles in an hr. In my opinion, maybe start an hour earlier would be safer?

[JFM-jr]

I had a guy pass me last Friday on my way home from work with a 28+ foot travel trailer and I was doing 70! I actually have video of it from my cellphone i'd post it but my language in the vid was pretty harsh on the dummy.

[M109Rrider]

I found that 65 gets me the best mileage while going fast enough to get me where I'm going in a reasonable time. Today on I 95 I was doing 65 in the 70 zone and I bet I only had to kick the cruise off a few times to slow for a truck or car in front of me. Usually people would pass and change lanes in front of me and slowly pull away. It was a nice trip.

[MtnGuy]

Y'all ever notice that when gas prices get high(er), people slow down and drive more conservative ?? I do that all of the time whether the price is $3 or $4 per gallon, and did way back when it was well under a dollar.

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Running 10 over the max on RT tires is dangerous regardless of what you're towing with. A blowout in the passing lane is not only going to be disastrous for you, but the poor vehicle next to you. Don't really see the benefit in going an extra 8-9 miles in an hr. In my opinion, maybe start an hour earlier would be safer?

I work 50 hrs a week and a lot of times more, so my free time is short most of the time. I drive a lot for work so the scenery going down the road gets old. BTW, you shouldn't be looking at scenery going down the road. "unsafe"

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by JFM-jr

I had a guy pass me last Friday on my way home from work with a 28+ foot travel trailer and I was doing 70! I actually have video of it from my cellphone i'd post it but my language in the vid was pretty harsh on the dummy.

Well at least I know it wasn't me..........my trailer longer than that.

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by 700hauler

Running 10 mph under the limit and passing is reckless? Hardly. Sounds like you hate to be hindered in your fast lane.
If someone going 10 under the speed limit on the freeway catches you by surprise then you need to pay more attention. Its not like they jump right out at you like they are going 40 in a 75.
Like I said. Its far more reckless to run faster than what your truck/trailer/tire combo is rated for. The difference is that you actually can run at 60-65 wisely while towing. However, the word wise and running 75-80 while towing don't belong in the same sentence.

No, I don't mind when someone gets out to pass as long as they would do it in a timely matter and not take 2-3 miles to do it. If it takes that long to get around another vehicle then slow down to that vehicles speed and run behind it. Your not in a hurry remember. I'm not saying you do it but yes there are people that will weight until you are right up on them and don't want to change their speed and cut right over in front and then take 2-3 miles to get around.

You don't know what my truck/trailer/tire combo is rated for so how can you tell me that I an exceeding it. I can run 70 wisely and sometimes 75.

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

This is somehow different than tractor-trailers overtaking one another? Lots more of them on the road them RV's...or are they supposed to take the scenic route too?

Dave

We won't go into the tractor-trailer discussion because I dive one at work and you are comparing apples to oranges. 75% of the trucks on the road are ran with the pedal to the metal and when overtaking each other is because one can run 1-2 mph faster than the other so they have no choice or they will loose the momentum. They can't accelerate and hold their speed the same way that RV's can. The one that can will usually be running the speed limit if not more. I had one today pass me on the way home from work and I was running 80.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Running 10 over the max on RT tires is dangerous regardless of what you're towing with. A blowout in the passing lane is not only going to be disastrous for you, but the poor vehicle next to you. Don't really see the benefit in going an extra 8-9 miles in an hr. In my opinion, maybe start an hour earlier would be safer?

It should have stated ST tires instead of RT. ST tires are rated 65MPH MAX.

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

It should have stated ST tires instead of RT. ST tires are rated 65MPH MAX.

Do I have ST tires? I know all about them.

[Dave_Monica]

transamz9...looks like you're one of those drivers where traffic should have the decency to get out of your way like the 'parting of the sea' and anyone that has the nerve to delay you be banished from the roads 'cept if you drive a semi!

Relax a bit...might get there a little less stressed out!

Dave

[transamz9]

You guy s taking this wrong. I don't expect people to move for me. I am in the slow lane most of my trips also.I do the best that I can to look out for other drivers also. I will speed up a little to help traffic out and I will not ride beside someone as I will not let someone ride beside me. All I'm saying is that you people act like the only way to tow an RV is your way when I'm saying that it's not. Our interstates around here get clogged up because we have rolling road blocks by people that think that everyone should drive their speed.

I run speeds that feel comfy to me as do everyone else, I will just adjust mine to my surroundings.
There was three kids kill here last week because a SUV was running in the blind spot of a small pick-up. Witnesses say that the SUV and truck were running side by side for miles. The truck forgot the SUV was there and well.......3 kids dead.

All I'm saying is run your speed and if you are going to pass someone, pass them and then get over because someone might now want to run your speed.

[sail2liv]

As speed increases drag doubles, triples and more depending on how much speed.....go slow = better mileage....find the 6th gear speed....the faster you move your barn door thru the air the greater the drag....equals more fuel...back when the Gov. wanted to save fuel they moved the speed limits to 55 mph.....

[transamz9]

I get 11 MPG at 70 , so I think I do O.K.

[OldCoot]

I get 21mpg @ 55 mph. Oh, forgot to mention, the trailer wasn't hooked up!

[transamz9]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

I get 21mpg @ 55 mph. Oh, forgot to mention, the trailer wasn't hooked up!

I get 22.5 at 70 without the trailers.

[Mr. Vic]

Just did a short trip from Pittsburgh (Bethel Park) to Hershey. I tow a >5000 lb Surveyor 235 RKS with an AWD Savana 5.3l. It has an instant mileage reader, very discouraging yet corrective. I averaged 11.7 on the way out and 11 on the way back. Mountains are brutal. My van gets better gas mileage, even though it's full time AWD than my GMC Sierra 5.3 got. About 2 mpg better. Slower = better gas mileage. I went 60 for about 150 miles in Ohio (flat) and got 13mpg on I 70.

[700hauler]

Originally Posted by transamz9

No, I don't mind when someone gets out to pass as long as they would do it in a timely matter and not take 2-3 miles to do it. If it takes that long to get around another vehicle then slow down to that vehicles speed and run behind it. Your not in a hurry remember. I'm not saying you do it but yes there are people that will weight until you are right up on them and don't want to change their speed and cut right over in front and then take 2-3 miles to get around.

I completely agree. Its one of my pet peeves on the road when people cruise around in the fast lane next to another vehicle, or jump out in front of vehicles in the fast lane at the last second. Tractor trailers are the biggest offenders. I routinely watch accidents almost occur on I80 when truckers jolt out in front of traffic that's going 80 mph while they are doing 45 going up a grade...all because they want to get around that truck going 1 mph slower than they are. Not sure why you feel thats ok but its not ok for a passenger vehicle towing a trailer to take a few miles to get around someone going 65-70 (I don't do this and I also get frustrated with this, but your comments on this topic are coming across as pretty hypocritical)

Either way, I'm not sure why this got turned into that when the basic concept was slow down a bit and you will save fuel and it will be much safer for everyone on the road.

Originally Posted by transamz9

You don't know what my truck/trailer/tire combo is rated for so how can you tell me that I an exceeding it. I can run 70 wisely and sometimes 75.

Is there a travel trailer tire out that's rated for 75-80 mph?

Just because one feels "comfortable" going 75-80 while towing a big travel trailer doesn't make it safe or wise.....it just means that person has gotten comfortable with the risk....which isn't fair to the innocent family you may affect/hurt/kill when a blowout occurs, uncontrollable sway happens, or you can't slow down in time. All of the expensive equipment and skill in the world can't guarantee disaster will be avoided. I have no problem with pushing the limits...except for when pushing the limits puts innocent peoples' lives at stake. Rant over.

[transamz9]

]

Originally Posted by 700hauler

I completely agree. Its one of my pet peeves on the road when people cruise around in the fast lane next to another vehicle, or jump out in front of vehicles in the fast lane at the last second. Tractor trailers are the biggest offenders. I routinely watch accidents almost occur on I80 when truckers jolt out in front of traffic that's going 80 mph while they are doing 45 going up a grade...all because they want to get around that truck going 1 mph slower than they are. Not sure why you feel thats ok but its not ok for a passenger vehicle towing a trailer to take a few miles to get around someone going 65-70 (I don't do this and I also get frustrated with this, but your comments on this topic are coming across as pretty hypocritical)

Either way, I'm not sure why this got turned into that when the basic concept was slow down a bit and you will save fuel and it will be much safer for everyone on the road.



Is there a travel trailer tire out that's rated for 75-80 mph?

Just because one feels "comfortable" going 75-80 while towing a big travel trailer doesn't make it safe or wise.....it just means that person has gotten comfortable with the risk....which isn't fair to the innocent family you may affect/hurt/kill when a blowout occurs, uncontrollable sway happens, or you can't slow down in time. All of the expensive equipment and skill in the world can't guarantee disaster will be avoided. I have no problem with pushing the limits...except for when pushing the limits puts innocent peoples' lives at stake. Rant over.

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires...plications.pdf