How Fast to Drive?

[Salt Shaker]

65-70 up to 80 or so when passing then back down and I still get passed like I'm sitting still at times.

Salt

[palominoryda]

62 is the magic number

[ColoradoRick]

Wow, a lot more response than I expected...thanks, everyone!

I do agree that getting to the campsite is always an adventure and fun! We usually are pretty tired from all the packing and checking and double-checking everything before heading out. Then, we'll go over stuff with each other to see what got forgotten. (And it seems something is always forgotten so we try to figure out what it is the first hour or so while driving...always SOMETHING!!)

One of these days we'll have a trip where we didn't forget anything!

[pappcam]

Right around 100 km/h which is 62 mph.

[acadianbob]

62 MPH for me. The main considerations are fuel economy, safety in emergency situations, tire speed ratings.

I especially think about safety. Think about your ability to stop or especially to swerve to avoid an obstacle; far less than optimal when towing. Unexpected things happen; that's why they are called accidents.

Happy and safe camping everyone!

[ChooChooMan74]

60ish for me. On flats, I try. And stay in 4th. Any faster, it will shift into 5th.

[racerx]

Your speed will reflect tire heat. I have and use an inexpensive infrared heat gun to check hubs and tire temps at all stops. I highly recommend having one.

[ColoradoRick]

Yes, I'm terrified of blowouts while driving so researched and, now watching the prices of the EEZ Tire pressure/temperature monitoring system on Amazon to see if the current price of $269 (4-wheel system) comes down a bit. (Outstanding reviews on it on Amazon.)

We'll definitely have the system before camping season starts up this year.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by southernsky

ST tires are speed rated. I run LT on my camper. That being said I do about 65, more comfortable not having to weave in and out of traffic. It seems to be a happy medium with the flow of traffic. Traveling through the mountains what ever speed going up a little slower going down. Camping is a relaxation so relax.

You are correct ST type tires have a Max speed rating of 65 mph. I suggest people consider this like they do their engine RedLine rpm. It may be possible to exceed the Redline but we all know you will end up paying for every second with a decrease in engine life. Tires are the same. Once you do damage they do not repair themselves.

[gfarmcafe]

Originally Posted by gfarmcafe

I like keeping my RPM's at around 2000, which is about 60-62 MPH in Drive (not overdrive). Seems like everything seems to work best at that speed and my gas mileage doesn't suffer.

I guess this Winter has clouded my memory, but my RPM's at 60-62 MPH is around 2500 which the Surburban and trailer seem to like although gas mileage suffers a lot. Even so, this life style of going where you want, when you want makes up for that.

[Steeljag]

62 MPH is what I like to maintain. My main consideration is the safety of all, then fuel consumption and relaxation! I do see those knuckleheads out there driving their big / long rigs at high speeds, with no consideration for their own families safety or the safety of other families on the roadways!

Slow down, relax, save fuel ........and enjoy the journey!

[Fivealive]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

You are correct ST type tires have a Max speed rating of 65 mph. I suggest people consider this like they do their engine RedLine rpm. It may be possible to exceed the Redline but we all know you will end up paying for every second with a decrease in engine life. Tires are the same. Once you do damage they do not repair themselves.

A friend bought a hybrid camper and took a lot of trips in the first few months of the season. He was bragging about driving 70-75mph and what good time he was making. I warned him about the oem tire ratings. He checked them and told me he found pre-failure damage in 2 of the four. He replaced them and now keeps his speeds down below 70.

[WrongWayRandall]

Glad to hear so many people are aware of tire ratings. I lived in Florida for 17 years and saw a LOT of excessive speeding by class A drivers as well as those towing RVs. I see it here (KY) still, but far less often. About a week ago we were in the Smokies and got passed on I-75 by someone dragging a canvas popup - they had to be doing 80... Imagine a blow out at 75 or 80. How many people do you know with the driving skill to deal with that without taking out themselves or someone else?

My regular travel speed is usually 62 but I never break 65 - if I have to pass and that means going over 65 I just sit there (that keeps the wife alarm from going off, so it's an added bonus.)

- R

[prairiecamper]

Read all the posts, it appears post #35 and myself keep it between 55 and 60.It all depends on road/weather conditions but for the most part I do it for safety and fuel economy, try stopping really quickly from 65 and then from 55, check your time and distance it took to stop. You will be surprised! Just saying!

[Hawksclaw]

The Chinese Bombs on my 2014 Rockwood 8289ws are rated for max speed of 65 mph. I pull with a 2012 Ram 2500 4x4 mega cab 6.7 cummins diesel. After engine start I check all lights turn signals brake lights etc. I then set in tow haul mode and turn on engine brake. Then set brake controller. Once on the highway or interstate I remain in right lane with cruise set at 60 mph and let everyone pass me that wants too. 60 mph is 1500 rpm and gives me about 11 mpg. Coming back from Disneyworld last year I decided to go to 65 mph for a short distance. My rpm went up to 1600 from 1500 and mpg dropped by 1 mpg so it's back to 60 mph max for me. Love the engine brake on the Ram.

[hammer55]

here in cali, on the free way the posted speed limit on trucks with trailers is 55, I asked a cop one time(while I was getting a ticket) if that meant that all the trucks (semi's) were breaking the law, he just told me to worry about what I was doing, I was getting a ticket for bypassing a the scales in my work truck while they were open, he said thet my work truck which was a 3500 chevy utility was to stop at all scales,,,

[Fivealive]

Originally Posted by hammer55

here in cali, on the free way the posted speed limit on trucks with trailers is 55, I asked a cop one time(while I was getting a ticket) if that meant that all the trucks (semi's) were breaking the law, he just told me to worry about what I was doing, I was getting a ticket for bypassing a the scales in my work truck while they were open, he said thet my work truck which was a 3500 chevy utility was to stop at all scales,,,

Seriously? Must of been a slow day. What was the outcome?

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by hammer55

I was getting a ticket for bypassing a the scales in my work truck while they were open, he said thet my work truck which was a 3500 chevy utility was to stop at all scales,,,

You may want to have a look at your state's regulations pertaining to GVW and commercial vehicles. Your 3500 could fall into a category which requires registration and inspections. The trucks you saw bypassing the scale likely had in-cab communications from the scalemaster governing their need for inspection...

[hammer55]

he said it was a utility body, or a altered bed, any time you alter a pu bed you have to stop a the scales, if you are driving a pu and you extend the bed up to carry anything higher than the bed itself, that requires you to stop at the scales, his words not mine, it cost 450.00 for the lesson

Originally Posted by Ricochet

You may want to have a look at your state's regulations pertaining to GVW and commercial vehicles. Your 3500 could fall into a category which requires registration and inspections. The trucks you saw bypassing the scale likely had in-cab communications from the scalemaster governing their need for inspection...

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by hammer55

he said it was a utility body, or a altered bed, any time you alter a pu bed you have to stop a the scales, if you are driving a pu and you extend the bed up to carry anything higher than the bed itself, that requires you to stop at the scales, his words not mine, it cost 450.00 for the lesson

Those W&I guys can be jerks sometimes. I got a ticket because the bumper on my tractor did not extend to the outside of the steering tires, even though that is how the tractor was delivered when new...