Interstate cruising speed

[rjshiflet]

Originally Posted by dalford

65.. right lane, let em rush by.

Yep. That's our philosophy.

[Wolverine 1945]

Right Lane is Great,,, until you get in a city,,, where they are all jumping on & off !!!

[dbackerjim]

Not faster than my tires on my camper are rated for. 65 MPH

[Vladivar]

Here in Canada the highway limit is 100kph. So I sit between 95 & 100 = 60 to 62mph. Gives good gas consumption and is safe for tires.

Plus we are retired - so no real rush to get anywhere.

[bedubya]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

I love finding routes other than the Interstates !!!

x2


We do that a lot. Sometimes it's a more direct route. And when I would be doing 65 on the interstate, anyway, I'm not losing that much time. On most secondary roads I'm 5 mph under the speed limit. That usually isn't a problem, because there is a LOT less traffic. In farm country, you have to be watchful for tractors & combines doing 5-10 mph. It's often a lot more scenic, too.



Cellular coverage can be a little spotty.

[OLEJOE]

I’ve read several posts that say their trucks “sweet spot” is in the 70-80 mph range and that may be but the increase in air or wind resistance increases dramatically over 60. I got a diesel tow vehicle so I would have the low rpm torque to be able to ease along and see the scenery. But not everyone has the time I have to spend traveling. I prefer the 2 lane highway because it keeps me more alert and it’s less boring.

[Dakota 1120]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

I love finding routes other than the Interstates !!!

Would love to be able to do that. Although I am retired wife is still working so most ventures are limited to weekends, most 2 day occasional 3 day so travel time is severely limited and places to go are generally over 200 -300 or more miles away.
In a few years that will not be an issue.

[Blallen58]

Originally Posted by Wolverine 1945

Right Lane is Great,,, until you get in a city,,, where they are all jumping on & off !!!

That is why I stay in the center lane while in cities if possible. But I drive at 65 and take my time.

[mjones12]

Originally Posted by Dakota 1120

Would love to be able to do that. Although I am retired wife is still working so most ventures are limited to weekends, most 2 day occasional 3 day so travel time is severely limited and places to go are generally over 200 -300 or more miles away.
In a few years that will not be an issue.

You will love the extra time. Since retiring, we don't go anywhere for less than a week, more often 10 days, and occasionally two weeks. Additionally, we like to camp once a month and can do it all year long here in NC's temperant climate. Guess we are pretty close to being full-timers, except we always enjoy coming home for two or three weeks.

[jlynn721]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Ok, looks like most folks drive their RVs around 65. On a 75mph interstate that's only 10 below most traffic, 20 below traffic having a TX or CA plate
My question - do folks going 55 really feel safer driving 20-25mph slower than the majority of the traffic?
If the traffic is light, not so bad, but in heavy traffic, going that much slower just seems to be a rolling roadblock.
Just curious.

I drive 55 most of the time (95% or more). Yes, a lot of people pass me. But, my rig is just one of many they will pass as they hurry along. Do I feel like a rolling road block? I don’t even think about it. I haven’t been rear ended yet, and have avoided a few accidents by NOT driving 70-75.

If changing campgrounds, I try to leave early so I get most of my driving done by late morning. Noon is a good time to find a campsite, and gives you the rest of the day to set up and explore.

I have travelled from So Cal to MT, WY, ID, WA, OR, NV, back to CA for the last 10 years and have had an accident or road rage incident yet.

Slow down, enjoy the drive.

[W5CI]

I run 63 to 65 on the Interstate and 2 to 3 mph over the posted speed limit everywhere else. except in small towns where I run 1 to 2 mph below the speed limit

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Blallen58

That is why I stay in the center lane while in cities if possible. But I drive at 65 and take my time.

[hikerjohn7]

Originally Posted by Oldbears

Right hand lane @ 62-65 mph. Saves gas (usually gain 1-2 mpg around the 62 mark), and its safer.

When driving an RV that can weigh as much as eighteen thousand pounds, takes three times a long to stop as a car and would easily flip if you ever had to swerve..., choosing a cruising speed that allows you to seldom ever have to go around other vehicles, including semis, is the wisest policy. It takes a little longer to get there, but the risks are drastically reduced over pushing it to the highways speed limits.

Also, keeping lots of space between your RV and vehicles ahead of you is also crucial. It's particularly true when following semis whose tires can blow at any time and produce big chunks of rubber that can wreak havoc on critical components hanging under your RV. I hit one of those chunks once and it drove my tail pipe under my dual tires which ripped the exhaust system loose and wrapped it around my drive shaft.

My biggest fear is coming over a big hill and seeing a traffic light turn red at the bottom of the hill with too little room to stop when traffic starts crossing my path.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by hikerjohn7

My biggest fear is coming over a big hill and seeing a traffic light turn red at the bottom of the hill with too little room to stop when traffic starts crossing my path.

Every good driver takes things like this into consideration. Those who fail to do so often pay the price for their failure to do so.

FWIW, the topic of this thread involved Interstates. How many traffic lights does one see at the bottom of a hill on an Interstate?

Where they are used, like at drawbridges, tunnels, or temporary construction zones, there are plenty of advance warning lights letting people know traffic will be stopping.

Interstates are Limited Access highways and by definition don't have "intersections" requiring lights.

[Dakota 1120]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Every good driver takes things like this into consideration. Those who fail to do so often pay the price for their failure to do so.

FWIW, the topic of this thread involved Interstates. How many traffic lights does one see at the bottom of a hill on an Interstate?

Where they are used, like at drawbridges, tunnels, or temporary construction zones, there are plenty of advance warning lights letting people know traffic will be stopping.

Interstates are Limited Access highways and by definition don't have "intersections" requiring lights.

Since you asked: https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2...d-ken-jennings

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Dakota 1120

Since you asked: https://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2...d-ken-jennings

Ok, so there is one.. sorta...

[KNMIB]

You don't need a stop light to have stopped traffic I have gone over many crests/hills that the traffic was stopped or slow on they other side. Defensive driving is the name of the game.

[TitanMike]

Want to know how good you are at "defensive driving"? How long do your brakes last on both Tow Vehicle, Trailer, or on Coach if a Motorhome.

Faster the brakes wear, chances are the more you tend to follow too closely or don't anticipate slow/stopped traffic.

[NMWildcat]

Wow, I must be fantastic! Still on the original pads with around 50% left at 165k

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Want to know how good you are at "defensive driving"? How long do your brakes last on both Tow Vehicle, Trailer, or on Coach if a Motorhome.

Faster the brakes wear, chances are the more you tend to follow too closely or don't anticipate slow/stopped traffic.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Wow, I must be fantastic! Still on the original pads with around 50% left at 165k

I'm in the same club although a few less miles.

I found long ago that lifting the throttle long before I ran up on slow or stopped traffic was a lot better than "putting hickeys in the seat covers" while watching the vehicle in front of me suddenly grow in my windshield.

I also have less stuff to pick up off the floor in the trailer when I get off the road.