As we pulled our fifth wheel from Key West back to Ohio after Christmas, we drove 70 for the first time ever in towing an RV for 15 years. My wife had a great point of view, at 70 it is more work weaving through traffic versus driving 65 and letting everyone else do the work of finding the openings in traffic.
Yeah, I would much rather be passed than have to do the passing when towing, so “a little less than anyone else” is good regardless of any upper limit.
I normally stay around 55/60 just because of a bad situation that had happened that scared the crap out of me. A storm hit out of nowhere and the rain just slammed us fast. This woman went from the left lane into my right lane without even giving me any space for adjustment at all. God was on my side and we SOMEHOW missed her and the guard rail and she just didn’t understand what she had did. All she kept saying was The rain ca,e down and I had to get over SORRY 😅 Never again so slow and easy for me. lol 😂
65mph is top speed for us in our RAM 1500 and Imagine 2500RL trailer. We do this mostly for the safety aspect, but let me add this as well. Many of us got into RVing as a way to slow down a bit, spend more time together and really see the country. Keep those thoughts in mind when you are driving along at 65mph and your "Gotta get there!!!" brain start's kicking in. You did this so that you could slow down, so slow down, enjoy the ride and have the added benefits of safety! Great video guys, thanks for sharing!!!
In my early and inexperienced years of towing I was speed racer with a tent trailer behind a SUV which tows like there is nothing behind you. After a couple blowouts in the desert, likely due to excessive heat from my excessive speed, I gained an appreciation for how dangerous it is to have a blowout much less have the blowout in the left lane needing to negotiate a quick lane change and exit to the road side. At this stage of my life with many years of towing, I follow the motto of SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE. Whether I am towing a boat, dump trailer or travel trailer I like to perch in the right lane at 60-62mph and let everyone else drive around me. I find the drive is much more relaxing and enjoyable when I do not have to bear the stress of passing people with a trailer in tow and I always feel most comfortable in the right lane in the event of a blowout where I need an easy exit to the side of the road. At that pace I can look forward to travel days.
We have been Fulltime for 4 years our sweet spot for towing is 65mph. At 65 mph we get passed by 90% of other RV’s many going 75mph or faster. We don’t care, 65 mph is safe for us.
Good video. Us old motorcycle riders have a saying that applies to towing. A superior rider uses his superior knowledge to avoid having to use his superior skills.
When I'm towing my four horse trailer, loaded I always remember that needing to slam on the brakes at speed can potentially kill my four legged partner in the back. I've learned to drive way ahead...carefully watch as far up the road as possible, and if I can't see far enough to be comfortable, I slow down.
Live weight can be a whole different issue. When the horses get moving me around back there I can be very difficult to control the sway. Just slow down.
@@sherriecapp3234 my horses seldom move around much going up the highway, till I need to stop...for a red light in a town. Then they tend to start pawing and bouncing the trailer around. I usually then just give the trailer a small jerk, to make them find their footing.
The first year we towed our 23 foot Coachman Freedom Express with our Tundra. Because the Tundra could tow that travel trailer like it wasn’t even there and being new to RV’ing I drove my truck like I did without a trailer. Somewhere between 70 and 78. Then a saw an article where they polled a lot of RV families and it appeared that on average they were running between ~ 63 to 68 mph. After seeing that I now tend to stay around 65 mph. I find now that my trips are much more relaxing and I am not so worn out when I get to my destination. Oh! Here is something I don’t think you mentioned in your video. At the faster speed I would be lucky if I got 8 miles to a gallon. Now I average between 9 and 9.5 miles per gallon. All around so much better. Thanks for your informative video. Keep them coming.
20 year commercial driver, my rule of thumb is cruise control set to 65. That being said, I upgraded my trailer tires to the Goodyear Endurance trailer tires which are rated into the 80's. I did that not because I intend to travel at that speed, but because I also don't want to be that guy passing at 0.5 MPH faster than the vehicle I'm passing. By having the upgraded tires and making sure all of my trailers running gear is up to scratch, I have confidence to run at 70ish for a few mins to make a pass and open some distance before returning to my cruising speed.
I just replaced 4 China bombs with Goodyear Endurance tires. We are heading out this Thursday to Florida from San Antonio. This is our first longest trip for us and will keep it at 65.
I too have run ST trailer tires rated at 65 mph. That is the sustained speed rating. One can exceed that speed briefly to make a change due to traffic. Hot weather is a strain on tire safety as tire pressures increase. Please limit your time at 70 or 75 mph on 65 mph rated tires to a few minutes. After 15 minutes, you are running a sustained speed. I try to run slightly faster than the governed trucks. 62 usually does it, 64 no trucks but the owner operator Kenworths with DD 16s go by Fury. Let's Roll ! Wolf
My target speed is 60 mph. Sometimes I'm a little slower, sometimes a little faster. I like to stay well back of anybody in front of me. I tow a 9000 lb, 34 foot long, travel trailer with a 3/4 ton diesel truck. Great Video!
@@paulvanderborgt5581 We were driving in our car to Ohio on Friday….. while in KY, we got passed by about a 19’ TT & pickup! We were driving about 75! It was raining really good, wind was picking up… that TT was ALL over the road!! 🤯 We thought for sure we were gonna see it roll, how it didn’t is only by the grace of God!!
Great video. We have a GD2670 and initially had a F150 which I would rarely go over 60 with. Now we have a F350 with the 7.3 and can easily go over 70 but I DO NOT. 64-67 is the sweet spot. I also bump the truck tire pressure when towing. Would like to see this sort of video with people discussing optimal truck tire pressure - both when towing and not towing.
My husband and I are weekend warriors. We've taken a few long trips but mostly travel within 3 hours from home (until we retire in 2 years) We travel back roads and highways. Our RV is a Coachman Expedition, 19 ft tow behind. My husband rarely goes above 55-60 mph. We enjoy taking our time, seeing our surroundings and being able to stop quickly if necessary. Thanks for another informative video!
Nice heads up on brake controllers. And how to use them to straighten a swaying camper. Don't forget your tires! They are speed rated, look and see max recommended speed. Personally as a CDL driver my go to speed when pulling my camper is 60-65 mph. Slow is safe, let everyone go around you!
Wow! Y'all drove past where we live in Weatherford TX at time index 11:45! Welcome to Weatherford! Anyway, agree with the people you called while recording. Between 60 - 65 mph for us, too. All of our tow vehicles seem to have a sweet spot of about 63 mph for best speed/mpg combination. Tire speed ratings (~temperature rating) have improved quite a bit but safety is a major consideration. Arrive alive is our motto. I'm glad we bought a Chevy Silverado 2500HD for towing. So much less stress and decent fuel mileage but still tow about 63 - 64 mph. It's a sweet spot for our newest truck, too. Safe travels, y'all! Bob and Dottie
I tow our 30' Arctic Fox TT at never more than 60 mph. I'm comfortable at that speed. After 35 years as a 'big truck' driver, I'm used to being passed - all day long so watching everyone else blow by me is no big deal. 🤣
I have a 21 F-150 and a 2900lb Gross Weight teardrop. I set tow/haul mode, adaptive cruise on 60 and just roll. I get great mileage with that and feel really comfortable. Just drove to FL the last couple of days, and the wind was horrendous. Even with my little trailer, slowed down to 55 for that. Very stable. As everyone says, slow is smart, and arrive alive.
Towing in the snow adds a whole another element. Should make another video on that at some point. I think lots of people dont knoe the tips and tricks of snow towing. 1. Keep your teailer brakes "primed" ie activate them to keep any snow and ice out of them once in awhile. 2. Obviously reduce speed but also LOTS more following distance. 3. realize youve lost your ability to really manuver away from things. Your best bet is to keep it straight abd accept the fact you may hit something. A quick swerve is almost for sure an off the side of the road experience, hench tractor trailers jacknifing alot. 4. Take your WDH off/refuce teansfer potentially. Will depend on yohr setup but rear tire weight can be your friend if the weather gets bad enough. You wont be gling fast enoigh go reallg need it anyway.
I have a 2012 F150 Crew Cab 5.0 Litre V8 and when I had my 26 ft Springdale trailer I always stayed around 60 MPH and never over 65. My truck was rated to pull 9000 lbs but always stayed 2500 lbs under that weight. Never had one issue towing a trailer in 25 years. Always had sway bars and brake controller set up.
Very helpful video. On a very serious subject. You’re NOT driving the speed for the road you’re on, you’re driving the speed to handle the UNEXPECTED on the road you’re on.
We never tow over 65mph and try and stay slower when possible. Not worth the risk. We have seen way too many pulling way too fast and putting others life’s at risk
Today I used the new trailer brake tester to recreate the orange warning light on the dash of the F-350 that says “WIRING FAULT ON TRAILER”. Inside the brake tester it has 6 separate magnets to create/simulate the same load that the brake controller would see with a triple axle trailer. The electric brakes have a magnet to push the brake shoes against the brake drum, the more current the more braking force to stop that wheel from turning. This RV trailer has 6 magnets in parallel to provide the necessary stopping force. One magnet per tire, all those magnets are in parallel, which provides a lower or smaller resistance/load, which affects the total brake current the truck has to provide. That many magnets in parallel cause the brake current to increase to a higher total level verses the total current seen on a 2-axle trailer with only 4 tires/4 magnets. The brake controller has an upper limit if you exceed the preset current limit the orange warning light comes on. The Ford dealer does not know what that limit is set for, nor can they change that setting to a higher current limit. I called Dexter Axle Company and talked to a technical rep, he was very familiar with this complaint. He owned a trailer repair facility that repaired triple axle trailers used by Hot Shot transport companies working in the Oil Patch. The warning light turned on a lot, the trailers were triple axles and they pulled a load to driller crews working in Oil Patch, hauling supplies to drilling rigs in multiple states in the west. He showed Ford the problem, the loads didn’t exceed the trailer rating, nor did the trucks payload weight limit exceed the rating, nor did the total combined truck and trailer exceed the weight capacity. But Ford was unwilling to solve the problem, or increase the upper current limit set point to stop the orange light from turning on the truck's dash, the orange trailer warning. One of the statements made by Ford is that it can’t know what every trailer requirement is. So if you don’t know what is going to be connected to the truck, don’t offer a brake controller as an option. Let the after-sale market make that profit, Ford will never miss it. Let the after-market experts handle the issue since Ford can’t figure it out. Once you purchase a factory brake controller and you can’t bypass it with an after-market device, you have to reprogram five different microprocessors in the tow truck to delete that option from the truck's memory. As soon as you plug in the trailer cable the computer will go crazy because they need to be in control of the truck's braking actions. An 11,000 lbs. trailer will confuse the truck's braking microprocessor as it tries to control the truck's braking action if you use an after-market brake controller to control the trailer brakes that are connected to the Ford truck. The normal brake controller stops the tires from locking up and prevents the truck from sliding sideways during braking action. That 11,000 lbs. bumper pull trailer changes the whole braking system calculation. The simple solution is to raise the Max current limit to 30 amps on the trailer brake controller by reprogramming the microprocessor inside the Ford brake controller. Today’s test using the brake test setup only pulled 12 Amps 7 volts no orange warning light at that low current level utilizing 6 brake magnets. I need to ensure the size of the magnet is correct for 16-inch tires and a weight limit of 5,200 lbs. per axle. The plan is to replace the magnets with larger units which will draw more current. Hopefully, it is a repeatable test I can take it to Don Sanderson Ford to show them not only the Orange Warning Light but what level the brake current has to be to trip the warning. So Marc, once I do all the work I need you to ring the bell to get Ford’s attention. I have photos of the brake tester with the cover off to see the Magnets inside the metal box.
A big thing to consider is the speed rating of the tires on the trailer in question. Many do not know their rating and tow too fast with higher potential for blow outs! TPMS on top of quality upgraded tires is a must.
We started RV life with a smaller cab-over camper on a 3/4 T diesel pickup. Never went over 65. Graduated to a 10 ft Lance camper on a dually, and rarely went over 60 except passing. (or outrunning a tornado) Last 9 years have been with 25 ft travel trailers pulled by 3/4 T gas, and rarely over 65 except to pass. Each one has been very controllable in an difficult situation. Resist the obligation to go the speed limit.
Enjoyed your video and insights of your guests. I'm new to towing our 30' Airstream and after viewing many videos (including JD's channel) we've adopted some sage advice given by others: 'Never be in a hurry - ever.' We'll get to the destination when we get there. Traveling in the right lane isn't a bother as it lets people pass you and there's less stress for us. For now, I've found that the sweet spot with our F250 diesel has been 60 and would likely not exceed 65. Too, the cruise control has worked well. We want to enjoy the scenery and chit-chat about the unique things we observe during our journey. We have a chunk of change invested in our truck & trailer and don't want to jeopardize damaging either - so, it's safety first!!
This confirms what I thought. We run our RAM 1500 Bighorn and Coachman Apex 187RB no faster than 65MPH. I got plenty of power to do a cannon ball run. But things get crazy 70+ also fuel consumption goes out the window. Add to that my trailer tires speed rating is 75 too. For icing on the cake, I have a tag frame that reads, "ON TIME IS WHEN I GET THERE"
Watch the Lucy & Desi movie: “The Long long trailer” It is a must!! It was there I learned how to back up all our trailers!! I back up better than my hubby😂 Enjoy your new baby! 3/3/3 is our normal policy.. 300 miles or 3 hours and 3 adult drinks upon fully hooked up! Sometimes we do a 4/4/4😂
Also… Walkie talkies for communication, phones many times don’t have service. Also when I stand in the back, my directions are “Butt to the left” etc… makes it clearer for him. Ps… I back in better than him🤷♀️did I say that before 😂
As a new travel trailer owner. I've been finding my nights consumed watching Keep Your Daydream. Many tips you would think, yeah I knew this but never gave it a second thought. But to truly have that back of mind voice going you know what, listen up to what their saying, really does put everything in a new perspective. Thank you KYD and plz don't stop with the amazing videos!
I drive a semi truck for a living (actually right now I'm in a 24' flat bed that I tow a 30' deck over with a pintle, I can weigh up to 120k with the proper permits) and even though my truck is able to do 80mph, I rarely go over 72. It's perfectly stable at those speeds, even loaded, but I'm not comfortable going that fast. When I'm loaded with the trailer, I don't go over 67, just so that I have time to react if something goes wrong. That and I'm paid by the hour, so the slower I go the more I get paid
Thanks for this video. I have a 24ft Minnie Winnie and I tow a small car. I am afraid to go over 60 mph. People speed by me but I feel that 55 - 60 is my comfort zone. Also at 60 or lower my MH gas mileage is better than at higher speeds.
62 is my comfortable highway towing speed. However last fall I was driving on a two-lane highway in Nevada with a 70MPH limit and no passing lanes or pull-outs. Impatient drivers (including semis) were tailgating me and passing in dangerous situations. I raised my speed to 65 then to 70 in spots just to avoid unintentionally causing a head-on collision. Even 70MPH was too slow to prevent some from tailgating me. Not a pleasant situation!
I have an 89 Chevrolet c1500 and a 31 foot travel trailer that weights 9,000 lbs and my comfortable speed is 60 mph. I have been watching your channel from day one and appreciate all the information I have gotten from your channel and the other channels I have been watching to get multiple opinions on the safe way to travel with the trailer. This is the first time commenting on any channel I watch. I have learned a lot from all of the channels I watch and definitely a lot from your channel. Thank you for all the information you put on your channel.
I’m just getting ready for my annual road trip from South Carolina to Wyoming, Montana, & the Dakotas. Last year I rode my motorcycle but this will be my first year pulling my new toy hauler. I appreciate the practical advice that comes from thousands of miles of experience. I’ll take it to heart and keep my speed below 70 mph. Thanks 🙏
We have a 23' Airstream, Hensley hitch, Toyota Tundra TV and tires rated up to 80MPH on the AS. we've towed 5,000mi in 2022 and over 10,000mi in 2021, and I pretty much kept with traffic...that was until we had to act as "first responders" 2-weeks ago today coming out of Death Valley NP, when a Semi Dump-truck overturned coming down Daylight Pass, took EMS 1 hour to arrive (thankfully driver is going to recover). After that, 65 is going to be my max! I'm also going to get a Garmin in-reach for future trips. Stay safe out there folks, and keep the "shiny side" up!
67 Is about my max too with our travel trailer when the speed limit is 70. Everything else, I go 2 mph below the speed limit. This way I can stick to the right lane 95% of the time, and everyone just passes me. Makes for a more enjoyable towing experience. It's not about how fast you can tow to get to your destination, its aboutcan you reach your destination safely, and comfortably.
Hello from Nova Scotia Canada. I tow a 28ft tt behind a 2019 F150 SuperCrew.I never drive past 100km/h.Its safer,much more fuel efficient, and most tt trailer tires are not speed rated for more than that anyways.Relax,enjoy the ride
55mph in Calif. Would do same no matter the state speed limit. Definitely arrive alive. I use tow haul but never cruise control when towing and if swaying occurs I keep a firm grip and slow down. I only use the electric brake if necessary to slow down for lights, stop signs that pop up. 30 yrs seeing accidents as LEO including fatalities with MH, 5TH wheels, TTs etc I want to enjoy my retirement years traveling not in a hospital. Great info you gave. Stay safe!😎
Great video with great advice from folks with real world experience. Loved the out take by the grill. Those NY Strips looked delicious and the advice was spot on. The first time I took my wife out camping (back in our backpacking tent days) it rained, but I was still able to build her a fire and cook her Ribeyes with all the trimmings. Filling her belly warmed her heart. 25 years later, we're still happily married and happily camping. She still likes it for the food and I sure like having a refrigerator, microwave, stove...and all those great memories.
i used to tow a 21' tandem axle travel trailer with a S-10. i would keep it around 55mph with the occasional 65 at the bottom of one hill before another long hill. I had good weight distribution and sway control so at 55 it just felt safe. at 65 it felt sketchy. now i have a 2500hd and its easy to forget it's back there.
That was our saying when we were in Iraq. We would always put the slowest Vehicle in the front and then drove as fast as the slowest Vehicle. But that was our saying when people questioned our speed. I used to tow a lot of different types of trailers and I always found towing at a slower speed is better than trying to go fast. You never knew what could or would Happen and at a slower speed you could react better. Thank you so much for this.
Towing speed depends on a lot of things. East of the Mississippi speed will usually be lower than west of the Mississippi unless you are coming down a long grade or in a high wind situation. Most of it comes down to traffic levels and sight lines. You have to be able to stop in the distance that you can see. I've towed 14k at 75 mph on I-70 in western Kansas, but drop it to 55 mph or lower on I-68 in Western Maryland.
13:15-13:28 nails it... I'm comfortable doing up to 75mph in my semi when the road conditions and speed limit allow it. My tires are rated for it. Most of those concerns mentioned are due to lack of experience and not paying attention instead of simply being a heavy/large vehicle towing. I'm always asking myself if my speed is because I'm truly driving a safe speed or because I'm in a hurry. Sometimes, I'm the fastest vehicle on the road, while other times in the slowest. My truck+trailer and I are one. Always be looking ahead and keep enough following distance for the road conditions. Another big thing is I'm not ever at max towing capability even when pushing 80,000lbs.. I'd say most campers are and don't even have proper mirrors that let them see down the side of their trailer. We all have different levels of experience and comfort levels.
In California going more than 55mph is breaking the law whilst towing.....I cheat a bit and push it to 62mph. What I discovered the hard way is cheap, junk trailer tires from a very popular nationwide tire outlet is asking for a blowout, which had to me before buying better quality rubber!!
My wife and I have a Ram2500 6.4 hemi. We pull a 27ft FR Surveyor. We have done a good bit of traveling with this set up. I usually run the speed limit or 5 under. If I were to go out west where the speed limit is higher, I would keep it around 65 or 70. That is where I'm comfortable at. Great subject. Hope y'all have safe travels. If y'all find yourselves around north of Charlotte, NC and want a safe place to stay, y'all are welcome to stay at our family farm. Take care.
I have driven three Class A gas units. Big V8's and Ford V10 have a sweet spot and it you listed to engine it will tell you where it is comfortable. In my last unit with the F53 chassis with the V10 liked 63, and in the one prior with the Ford 460, it liked 67. What I learned is to not go over this sweet spot. That was my high limit. Now flat towing and trailer towing would slow that speed down. I don't drive motorhomes anymore; we have purchased a small acreage farm. Now I tow dump box and pintel deck over trailers with strapped-down equipment. As noted in the video, strapped equipment is the sketchiest. Thank you for making great content. Also thanks for your "how to start a TH-cam" course.
i pull a 2600RB behind my Ram 2500 Power Wagon just for weekend fun and events. 65 feels great. 70 is the upper limit where it makes me nervous, and i've been towing since I had a learners permit back in 1997. And if it's a bit windy, 55-60 is about it.
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. I really enjoyed this video; I've towed on and off for over ten years but am now pulling a fifth wheel for the first time. Speed rating is 75 on my tires and the folks you called here pointed out everything I've observed as well. I've pushed it to 75 a few times to pass and realized that I simply don't like it at all. I like the 67 Max idea from the first caller and will be what I stick with now. It leaves that cushion for when passing needs to happen, but overall it's safe and maintains both the speed and braking cushion.
I tow with a f150 5.0, 24 foot TT so under towing capacity by around 2000 lbs. I like around 57 to 62 mph. Get very good milage as long as there is no head wind. Wind is my enemy. I feel safer at the lower speeds
Gas motorhome towing a properly set up Grand Cherokee (toad brake, etc.), and our speed is dependent on road conditions, but no faster than 65. We get all kinds of bigger and smaller RVs cruising right on by regularly. We just smile and wave.
I read towing tips on tires on e-trailer's website which said unless your tires specifically say they are rated for more than 65 mph, they are not. I posted that information on a towing blog and got a handful of people telling me that was bs. Then, I got my dura, cum a stroke truck pulls my 38' toy hauler 85 mph from coast to coast and I've never had a problem. Reading the comments here gives me hope that I am not in the minority. I also read once on Cummins website that 55 is the most fuel efficient speed. They said 55 and below aerodynamics do not mater much but, as speed increases, power requirements increase exponentially. So to maintain 55 may require 65hp ,while 65 requires 130hp and 75 250hp. Makes sense to me.
Was watching this and totally agree with 65mph. I have over a million miles on the road as a truck driver. I never go over 65 but mainly do 58mph to get best fuel economy.
I recognized the scenery in the back ground while you were talking to JD of Big TruckBig RV! I know it well I live there! I was very surprised! Y’all be careful on your journeys! I tow my Springdale Mini about 60-65… never over it. I tow with a 2015 Ford Explorer. It is rated for 6,500 lbs. I have driven through wind that was blowing so hard. I had to hold on for dear life! Be Safe!
Great Video. My sons Toyota Tundra Crewmax is rated at 10,500. His travel trailer is 10,500 lbs too. For some reason it has a Tow Haul,but not trailer brake lever. He knows that he needs a bigger truck. Maybe a 250 Diesel. P S. - I never drive faster than 65. 10 mph slower than what the Curve says. You know that the speed signs are for small Cars and Trucks. Love your Channel. 2-23-2023.
First video I have seen of yours and well, the information given was so good! As someone who wants to get a towable there was a lot of useful information I never even considered.
Great topic and very well done. I personally have gone from a travel trailer with and undersized pickup to a 5th wheel with an undersized pickup to now a new 5th wheel with a properly sized diesel truck and Man!... what a difference in towing experiences. With our new rig our sweet spot seems to be about 62-64 mph.
Ford F350 dually pulling a 42 foot 5th wheel @65 MPH. I want to get there in a hurry but I would rather arrive in one piece. Experience taught me that. In my younger days I would pull a 32 foot 5th wheel at 70 to 75 MPH. Going across Missouri on I70 in the right lane with a 18 wheeler in the left lane I had a right side tire blow out. Had damage to the camper but luckily maintained control. Lesson learned and one I will never forget. Since then I have had two more blow outs at slower speeds with much different results. Thanks for the video.
On a multi-day trip, we tested three speeds, 65, 60, and 55 pulling a 30' trailer with a F150 offroad 4x4. We felt safe at all speeds but had the best gas mileage at 55. We only went 55 when there were two lanes, so we did not slow faster traffic.
I pull our fifth wheel at 57. That is where I get the best gas milage and where I feel is a safe speed for me. I lost a tire on the fifty wheel on I 40.
CMV driver here 4200 miles per week 100% in the mountain west region, Towing speed, is equal to driver skill, equipment condition, weight balance and road conditions. And should vary based on the above parameters.
I’m a 65 max kinda guy! I notice that when I get over 65 my gas mileage decreases a lot! I only pull bumper pulls and have had as small as 20’ (currently) up to 32’. Also I’m not a fan of using cruise control almost at all, as it takes away my control ability. Thank you for your videos, I really enjoy watching your different aspects on things!
Wow, great video and topic. Tons to add, but you covered it all here! One thing however, is the question most ask when starting out RV’ing. “How much can my truck tow” when the real question should be is, “How much can my truck STOP”! That’s the real concern. When I tow my 5er, I maintain 60 mph. I also watch my exhaust temps in summer. If it’s creeping up to 1400, I bump that cruise down until it lowers into a more comfortable zone. Lastly, 0:46. Ungawa!! Well done sir! 😊
I towed my trailer (34ft pull behind) for the first time last weekend. It felt like I could've gone a lot faster, but I felt comfortable at 60-65. And I'll normally drive when not towing 70-80.
Wow - cannot “thumbs up” this week’s video enough! We just got back from an 8000 mile cross country trip from California to New Hampshire and back in our F150/Lance 1995 rig, and we had a *lot* of time to contemplate safe towing practices. Our highway speeds were generally between 55 and 65 (max!), and every time we got left in the dust by an 18 wheeler, or a 5th wheel trailer passing us at 80+ mph I wondered if we were being too “timid” with our cruising speed. I am *so* glad to hear a variety of experts echoing our practical experience: That anyone towing an RV should really be capping the speed at around 65. You’ve made me much more confident in how we tow/travel, and much more aware of the safety factors that everyone *should* be taking into consideration when they take to the highway or interstate with a massive trailer behind them. Thanks, as always, for a smart and entertaining video. You guys continue to inspire others (like my wife and me) to follow in your footsteps - and your tire tracks 😂!
I don't tow - my wife says it's a mental disability - but still found this helpful and informative because we're relocating to the Crystal Coast and a Uhaul tow is in the offing. Hey, my wife can do it!
The F250 Diesel w/ an Airstream 27 ft works great. We tow in tow mode when I remember to set it 😉 but have had no problems at any time. Regarding speed, we typically tow around 5 miles below the speed limit and will push out of that depending the situation to possible 70 to pass but not stay there long. With the Airstream we gauge a lot based on road conditions, etc… If the bathroom mirror is up, we either had terrible road conditions and/or too much speed!!! 🤔
When you’re driving through Florida look for the Coors light beer Airstream, it’s kinda hard to catch… it’s running down the highway at 78+ mph. Personally, In good condition’s we drive 62 -65 in our Ford F250, with Shackleton our 27’ Globetrotter the only time I’ll go faster is when I need to pass someone.
What, Wait, 18:00 mins, I'm going through withdrawal, back to watching old episodes. Just kidding know your busy like the rest of us. Love the video, have had this discussion with many of different groups. I use 62mph as a top speed unless I'm passing a slower person and top out at 65 mph and get back over ASAP. Driving 62mph I don't ever worry about what is behind me unless it's a one lane road, i.e. Alaska. I use cruise control mostly flat and not much traffic around us. Marc, what do you think about using cruise control going down hill? Transmission take over don't have to worry about hitting the brakes as much. Understand if it a steep down hill then you have to use the brakes. Can't wait till next week. Scott & Pamela
Great episode, and a super important subject. As a thirty-four year tractor trailer driver, and a twelve year RV tower, I can admit to “some things happening”. The faster you drive, the more damage is done in an emergency, whether it be a tire blow-out, a jackknife, or a collision. We never tow our trailer over sixty mph. I’d keep it to fifty-five mph, except the cruise control wants to downshift at every slight incline. You’ll usually get better fuel mileage with a slower speed, as well. Take It Easy!
Thanks for this video. I'm a biker & I always leave run away room between me & the car in front. That with a bike of 700lbs. It always me extra room for what is behind me!. Now a 6,000 lb truck with a 7,000lb trailer, that requires a LOT of stopping distance! Thanks for pointing out the brake controller. Might want to explain proper set up, because it to is a critical part of safe towing.
Lots of factors go into determining the right speed. Weather conditions, smooth or rough roads, amount of traffic, straight flat roads, or curvy mountain roads. Speed rating on your tires, and vehicle to trailer weight ratio are very important. That being said for my f150 and my 19ft travel trailer I do between 65 and 70 in good highway conditions.
29 years with a CDL, and I think 65-67 is good for a 5th wheel. But that is very dependent on the truck you have. I was a hard 63-65 with my ecoboost and my smaller 5th wheel. Now I have an F350 dually, and I'm maxing out just under 17klb. So I'm OK with 67, but not through West Virginia or some other twisted road. If the road is straight enough, I use cruise control all the time. It stops me from losing focus on my speed. Nice video, enjoyed it.
To Marc's comments about the use of the trailer brake controller in a sway incident, I need advise folks (like myself) with a Ford F-150 with the installed integrated brake controller. Just to make sure we're all covered, here is a passage from the 2023 F-150 Owner's Manual in the section titled "Integrated Trailer Brake Controller Precautions": "Only use the manual control lever for proper adjustment of the gain during trailer setup. Misuse, such as application during trailer sway, could cause instability of trailer or tow vehicle." Part of the reason for this (I believe) is that, in a properly equipped F-150, there is a trailer sway avoidance algorithm that is purported to adjust truck power and braking when it senses sway. If you hit the gain controller while the truck itself is trying to correct sway, it could result in unintended consequences. I personally only experienced it activate once in my previous F-150. Of course that only applies for anyone with an F-150 of the current generation. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle for ground truth as it applies to you. Ultimately, you are responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle. Your mileage may vary.
I have no idea Rich. Seems weird not to use the lever when needed. I will say, anti sway on the truck will do very little for the situation in a real sway event. Sway that starts to get momentum is pretty extreme. You'll hear the tires digging into the pavement hard and in that moment, the manual will not cross your mind! ;)
Great episode! It confirmed my feelings on top speed with my rig, which made me feel good. About 1 1/2 years ago I moved from a gasser to my first diesel, an F350. I have never used the cruise while towing as it was not a good thing in my gasser. I'm going to have to try it now after your comments. Thanks for the info.
Most trailer tires are rated to 65 mph sustained - i generally tow around that speed but have sped up to as much as 80 mph for a few seconds to get out of the way.
I tow a 26 foot travel trailer with a ford f150 xlt and I am within all the numbers. I never go faster than 65and it goes down from there depending weather conditions and road conditions.
Thanks for another insightful video. I agree with being at a comfortable speed with a travel trailer and I travel at 58-62 most of the time. The truck is capable of much more speed, but as your interviewees stated, what is happening to the trailer. I have traveled from Maine to South Carolina and it amazes me on how fast some travel with a 5th wheel or travel trailer, often 70mph+ on I-95. As was stated "Arrive Alive" is a very good motto to stick with. Thanks and safe travels to Florida,
So cool to see you passed through our home town…Bayou La Batre. We got so excited when we saw the clip of you about to go over the bridge. I’m most comfortable as the passenger when my husband keeps the speed below 60. We pull a 23 foot travel with out Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The trucking industry learned years ago that up to 55MPH the fight is mainly against tire rolling resistance. Going above 55 the fight shifts to mainly air resistance, and for every additional 1MPH, it is a compounding ratio needing more and more fuel for each additional MPH. Tire rating load and speed ratings, tire condition, load balance, air resistance, % of max load for the tow and towable vehicles, wind speed and direction, additional weather conditions, driver experience and ability, etc., etc. should all be accounted for in addition to posted or "felt" limits. Arrive alive after miles of smiles!
Aussie 👨🏻🌾 here limit of 60mph towing in most states , even in a state like Western Australia which is nearly 4 times the size of Texas , with so many vans now with airbags & disc brakes most sit around 50/55 mph for fuel economy and less breakdowns 🤙🏻
I drive rpm instead of speed. Stay below 2000 rpm’s puts me at between 60-62. Also note your trailer tires…if they’re Chinese go slower. Watched a 5 wheel pass me at 80 mph with outside temp 90 degrees. 1/4 mile ahead it blew both right side tires.
We live in the White Mountains in eastern Arizona (hey, neighbors!) with a 1/2 ton Tundra and a smallish travel trailer. No matter where we go, we get the reality check/reminder immediately that slow and careful is the way to go. Going north, we get the sway-back roads of the Navajo Reservation. Going east or west, we get I-40 and the terrible traffic, wind, and closures along that monstrosity of a highway. Going south we get the steep descents of the Mogollon Rim, Salt River Canyon, San Francisco River canyon...there's no way we can just leave, relax, and let speeding take over. But that's OK because being safe is the wisest choice.
We keep our 40ft 5th wheel usually at 65-67 with tow/haul mode on and exhaust brake on as well if we are in some hilly/mountainous terrain. I’ll go up to 70 to pass as some people towing are below 65. 65 with cruise control is nice and smooth. Saves on diesel as well.
Hi, as far as truck campers, that is all I have ever had. I started out with a Ford Raptor and put a Palamino 550 backpack on it. I then went to a F250 Lariat diesel and a bigger camper, a Camplite 8.6. Now I upgraded my camper to a Artic Fox 1150, which is extremely heavy. Researching the weight of the camper, I haul this camper on a F450 cab and chassis with a flatbed, no mods needed. With all my campers, I never exceed 65mph, even without the camper, I never go more than 65 no matter what the speed limit is. With the F450, between running 65 or 70, running 70 equals 3mpg per mile. Looks like you are on your way to FL, or most likely already there. Safe Travels
As we pulled our fifth wheel from Key West back to Ohio after Christmas, we drove 70 for the first time ever in towing an RV for 15 years. My wife had a great point of view, at 70 it is more work weaving through traffic versus driving 65 and letting everyone else do the work of finding the openings in traffic.
Yeah, I would much rather be passed than have to do the passing when towing, so “a little less than anyone else” is good regardless of any upper limit.
Exactly, and now I find myself driving that way when we are not towing
I normally stay around 55/60 just because of a bad situation that had happened that scared the crap out of me. A storm hit out of nowhere and the rain just slammed us fast. This woman went from the left lane into my right lane without even giving me any space for adjustment at all. God was on my side and we SOMEHOW missed her and the guard rail and she just didn’t understand what she had did. All she kept saying was The rain ca,e down and I had to get over SORRY 😅 Never again so slow and easy for me. lol 😂
65mph is top speed for us in our RAM 1500 and Imagine 2500RL trailer. We do this mostly for the safety aspect, but let me add this as well. Many of us got into RVing as a way to slow down a bit, spend more time together and really see the country. Keep those thoughts in mind when you are driving along at 65mph and your "Gotta get there!!!" brain start's kicking in. You did this so that you could slow down, so slow down, enjoy the ride and have the added benefits of safety! Great video guys, thanks for sharing!!!
In my early and inexperienced years of towing I was speed racer with a tent trailer behind a SUV which tows like there is nothing behind you. After a couple blowouts in the desert, likely due to excessive heat from my excessive speed, I gained an appreciation for how dangerous it is to have a blowout much less have the blowout in the left lane needing to negotiate a quick lane change and exit to the road side. At this stage of my life with many years of towing, I follow the motto of SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE. Whether I am towing a boat, dump trailer or travel trailer I like to perch in the right lane at 60-62mph and let everyone else drive around me. I find the drive is much more relaxing and enjoyable when I do not have to bear the stress of passing people with a trailer in tow and I always feel most comfortable in the right lane in the event of a blowout where I need an easy exit to the side of the road. At that pace I can look forward to travel days.
We have been Fulltime for 4 years our sweet spot for towing is 65mph. At 65 mph we get passed by 90% of other RV’s many going 75mph or faster. We don’t care, 65 mph is safe for us.
Good video. Us old motorcycle riders have a saying that applies to towing. A superior rider uses his superior knowledge to avoid having to use his superior skills.
When I'm towing my four horse trailer, loaded I always remember that needing to slam on the brakes at speed can potentially kill my four legged partner in the back. I've learned to drive way ahead...carefully watch as far up the road as possible, and if I can't see far enough to be comfortable, I slow down.
Live weight can be a whole different issue. When the horses get moving me around back there I can be very difficult to control the sway. Just slow down.
@@sherriecapp3234 my horses seldom move around much going up the highway, till I need to stop...for a red light in a town. Then they tend to start pawing and bouncing the trailer around. I usually then just give the trailer a small jerk, to make them find their footing.
The first year we towed our 23 foot Coachman Freedom Express with our Tundra. Because the Tundra could tow that travel trailer like it wasn’t even there and being new to RV’ing I drove my truck like I did without a trailer. Somewhere between 70 and 78. Then a saw an article where they polled a lot of RV families and it appeared that on average they were running between ~ 63 to 68 mph. After seeing that I now tend to stay around 65 mph. I find now that my trips are much more relaxing and I am not so worn out when I get to my destination. Oh! Here is something I don’t think you mentioned in your video. At the faster speed I would be lucky if I got 8 miles to a gallon. Now I average between 9 and 9.5 miles per gallon. All around so much better. Thanks for your informative video. Keep them coming.
Totally agree. 60-65 is my max,,, more likely 60. I pull a single-axle trailer. Besides, what's the rush? Enjoy the trip.
20 year commercial driver, my rule of thumb is cruise control set to 65. That being said, I upgraded my trailer tires to the Goodyear Endurance trailer tires which are rated into the 80's. I did that not because I intend to travel at that speed, but because I also don't want to be that guy passing at 0.5 MPH faster than the vehicle I'm passing. By having the upgraded tires and making sure all of my trailers running gear is up to scratch, I have confidence to run at 70ish for a few mins to make a pass and open some distance before returning to my cruising speed.
I just replaced 4 China bombs with Goodyear Endurance tires. We are heading out this Thursday to Florida from San Antonio. This is our first longest trip for us and will keep it at 65.
I too have run ST trailer tires rated at 65 mph. That is the sustained speed rating.
One can exceed that speed briefly to make a change due to traffic.
Hot weather is a strain on tire safety as tire pressures increase. Please limit your time at 70 or 75 mph on 65 mph rated tires to a few minutes. After 15 minutes, you are running a sustained speed.
I try to run slightly faster than the governed trucks. 62 usually does it, 64 no trucks but the owner operator Kenworths with DD 16s go by Fury.
Let's Roll !
Wolf
Great response! I applaud you! I think there should be a time limit to pass on the left and return to the slow lane.
@@semperfi210 China bombs 😂. Definitely using that one lol
My target speed is 60 mph. Sometimes I'm a little slower, sometimes a little faster. I like to stay well back of anybody in front of me. I tow a 9000 lb, 34 foot long, travel trailer with a 3/4 ton diesel truck. Great Video!
I tow a TT with a F150 and never go over 65. My comfort zone is about 62. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and safety tips. Good advice.❤
Same here!
We too!!!
Yes.
Same! But it amazes me how many RVs pass us like we're standing still.
@@paulvanderborgt5581 We were driving in our car to Ohio on Friday….. while in KY, we got passed by about a 19’ TT & pickup! We were driving about 75!
It was raining really good, wind was picking up… that TT was ALL over the road!! 🤯
We thought for sure we were gonna see it roll, how it didn’t is only by the grace of God!!
Great video. We have a GD2670 and initially had a F150 which I would rarely go over 60 with. Now we have a F350 with the 7.3 and can easily go over 70 but I DO NOT. 64-67 is the sweet spot. I also bump the truck tire pressure when towing. Would like to see this sort of video with people discussing optimal truck tire pressure - both when towing and not towing.
My husband and I are weekend warriors. We've taken a few long trips but mostly travel within 3 hours from home (until we retire in 2 years) We travel back roads and highways. Our RV is a Coachman Expedition, 19 ft tow behind. My husband rarely goes above 55-60 mph. We enjoy taking our time, seeing our surroundings and being able to stop quickly if necessary. Thanks for another informative video!
Nice heads up on brake controllers. And how to use them to straighten a swaying camper.
Don't forget your tires! They are speed rated, look and see max recommended speed.
Personally as a CDL driver my go to speed when pulling my camper is 60-65 mph.
Slow is safe, let everyone go around you!
As a former truck driver - flat bed - JD is totally right about strapping something to the deck and it playing a role in your speed.
Wow! Y'all drove past where we live in Weatherford TX at time index 11:45! Welcome to Weatherford!
Anyway, agree with the people you called while recording. Between 60 - 65 mph for us, too. All of our tow vehicles seem to have a sweet spot of about 63 mph for best speed/mpg combination. Tire speed ratings (~temperature rating) have improved quite a bit but safety is a major consideration. Arrive alive is our motto. I'm glad we bought a Chevy Silverado 2500HD for towing. So much less stress and decent fuel mileage but still tow about 63 - 64 mph. It's a sweet spot for our newest truck, too.
Safe travels, y'all!
Bob and Dottie
I tow our 30' Arctic Fox TT at never more than 60 mph. I'm comfortable at that speed. After 35 years as a 'big truck' driver, I'm used to being passed - all day long so watching everyone else blow by me is no big deal. 🤣
I’ll go with an Old Truckers advice every time!
I have a 21 F-150 and a 2900lb Gross Weight teardrop. I set tow/haul mode, adaptive cruise on 60 and just roll. I get great mileage with that and feel really comfortable. Just drove to FL the last couple of days, and the wind was horrendous. Even with my little trailer, slowed down to 55 for that. Very stable. As everyone says, slow is smart, and arrive alive.
Towing in the snow adds a whole another element. Should make another video on that at some point. I think lots of people dont knoe the tips and tricks of snow towing.
1. Keep your teailer brakes "primed" ie activate them to keep any snow and ice out of them once in awhile.
2. Obviously reduce speed but also LOTS more following distance.
3. realize youve lost your ability to really manuver away from things. Your best bet is to keep it straight abd accept the fact you may hit something. A quick swerve is almost for sure an off the side of the road experience, hench tractor trailers jacknifing alot.
4. Take your WDH off/refuce teansfer potentially. Will depend on yohr setup but rear tire weight can be your friend if the weather gets bad enough. You wont be gling fast enoigh go reallg need it anyway.
I have a 2012 F150 Crew Cab 5.0 Litre V8 and when I had my 26 ft Springdale trailer I always stayed around 60 MPH and never over 65. My truck was rated to pull 9000 lbs but always stayed 2500 lbs under that weight. Never had one issue towing a trailer in 25 years. Always had sway bars and brake controller set up.
Very helpful video. On a very serious subject. You’re NOT driving the speed for the road you’re on, you’re driving the speed to handle the UNEXPECTED on the road you’re on.
We never tow over 65mph and try and stay slower when possible. Not worth the risk. We have seen way too many pulling way too fast and putting others life’s at risk
Today I used the new trailer brake tester to recreate the orange warning light on the dash of the F-350 that says “WIRING FAULT ON TRAILER”. Inside the brake tester it has 6 separate magnets to create/simulate the same load that the brake controller would see with a triple axle trailer. The electric brakes have a magnet to push the brake shoes against the brake drum, the more current the more braking force to stop that wheel from turning. This RV trailer has 6 magnets in parallel to provide the necessary stopping force. One magnet per tire, all those magnets are in parallel, which provides a lower or smaller resistance/load, which affects the total brake current the truck has to provide. That many magnets in parallel cause the brake current to increase to a higher total level verses the total current seen on a 2-axle trailer with only 4 tires/4 magnets. The brake controller has an upper limit if you exceed the preset current limit the orange warning light comes on. The Ford dealer does not know what that limit is set for, nor can they change that setting to a higher current limit.
I called Dexter Axle Company and talked to a technical rep, he was very familiar with this complaint. He owned a trailer repair facility that repaired triple axle trailers used by Hot Shot transport companies working in the Oil Patch. The warning light turned on a lot, the trailers were triple axles and they pulled a load to driller crews working in Oil Patch, hauling supplies to drilling rigs in multiple states in the west. He showed Ford the problem, the loads didn’t exceed the trailer rating, nor did the trucks payload weight limit exceed the rating, nor did the total combined truck and trailer exceed the weight capacity. But Ford was unwilling to solve the problem, or increase the upper current limit set point to stop the orange light from turning on the truck's dash, the orange trailer warning.
One of the statements made by Ford is that it can’t know what every trailer requirement is. So if you don’t know what is going to be connected to the truck, don’t offer a brake controller as an option. Let the after-sale market make that profit, Ford will never miss it. Let the after-market experts handle the issue since Ford can’t figure it out.
Once you purchase a factory brake controller and you can’t bypass it with an after-market device, you have to reprogram five different microprocessors in the tow truck to delete that option from the truck's memory. As soon as you plug in the trailer cable the computer will go crazy because they need to be in control of the truck's braking actions. An 11,000 lbs. trailer will confuse the truck's braking microprocessor as it tries to control the truck's braking action if you use an after-market brake controller to control the trailer brakes that are connected to the Ford truck. The normal brake controller stops the tires from locking up and prevents the truck from sliding sideways during braking action. That 11,000 lbs. bumper pull trailer changes the whole braking system calculation.
The simple solution is to raise the Max current limit to 30 amps on the trailer brake controller by reprogramming the microprocessor inside the Ford brake controller.
Today’s test using the brake test setup only pulled 12 Amps 7 volts no orange warning light at that low current level utilizing 6 brake magnets.
I need to ensure the size of the magnet is correct for 16-inch tires and a weight limit of 5,200 lbs. per axle.
The plan is to replace the magnets with larger units which will draw more current. Hopefully, it is a repeatable test I can take it to Don Sanderson Ford to show them not only the Orange Warning Light but what level the brake current has to be to trip the warning.
So Marc, once I do all the work I need you to ring the bell to get Ford’s attention. I have photos of the brake tester with the cover off to see the Magnets inside the metal box.
A big thing to consider is the speed rating of the tires on the trailer in question. Many do not know their rating and tow too fast with higher potential for blow outs! TPMS on top of quality upgraded tires is a must.
I won’t leave on a trip without working TPMS. Saved my bacon on more than one occasion! And keep a durable air compressor as part of your kit!
We started RV life with a smaller cab-over camper on a 3/4 T diesel pickup. Never went over 65. Graduated to a 10 ft Lance camper on a dually, and rarely went over 60 except passing. (or outrunning a tornado) Last 9 years have been with 25 ft travel trailers pulled by 3/4 T gas, and rarely over 65 except to pass. Each one has been very controllable in an difficult situation. Resist the obligation to go the speed limit.
Enjoyed your video and insights of your guests. I'm new to towing our 30' Airstream and after viewing many videos (including JD's channel) we've adopted some sage advice given by others: 'Never be in a hurry - ever.' We'll get to the destination when we get there. Traveling in the right lane isn't a bother as it lets people pass you and there's less stress for us. For now, I've found that the sweet spot with our F250 diesel has been 60 and would likely not exceed 65. Too, the cruise control has worked well. We want to enjoy the scenery and chit-chat about the unique things we observe during our journey. We have a chunk of change invested in our truck & trailer and don't want to jeopardize damaging either - so, it's safety first!!
We have a hard line of 70 in our 35’ FW and like to set our CC at 68 if it’s a nicely maintained road. If not, then we slow down some.
If I am pulling any of my trailers, or if I'm on my bike, I am perfectly comfortable seeing the world at 60 mph. That's what happens when you get old.
This confirms what I thought. We run our RAM 1500 Bighorn and Coachman Apex 187RB no faster than 65MPH. I got plenty of power to do a cannon ball run. But things get crazy 70+ also fuel consumption goes out the window. Add to that my trailer tires speed rating is 75 too. For icing on the cake, I have a tag frame that reads, "ON TIME IS WHEN I GET THERE"
Gary was the bomb on the bird, enjoyed all of Route 66 travel!
Thank you for this video! Picking up my 1st TT in 12 days and still learning all I can. Safety is my #1 priority.
Watch the Lucy & Desi movie:
“The Long long trailer”
It is a must!! It was there I learned how to back up all our trailers!! I back up better than my hubby😂
Enjoy your new baby!
3/3/3 is our normal policy..
300 miles or 3 hours and 3 adult drinks upon fully hooked up!
Sometimes we do a 4/4/4😂
Also… Walkie talkies for communication, phones many times don’t have service.
Also when I stand in the back, my directions are “Butt to the left” etc… makes it clearer for him.
Ps… I back in better than him🤷♀️did I say that before 😂
As a new travel trailer owner. I've been finding my nights consumed watching Keep Your Daydream. Many tips you would think, yeah I knew this but never gave it a second thought. But to truly have that back of mind voice going you know what, listen up to what their saying, really does put everything in a new perspective. Thank you KYD and plz don't stop with the amazing videos!
Lol Gary falling down still makes me laugh 😂
Hey guys! We in the military have a similar saying. Goes like this...Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
I drive a semi truck for a living (actually right now I'm in a 24' flat bed that I tow a 30' deck over with a pintle, I can weigh up to 120k with the proper permits) and even though my truck is able to do 80mph, I rarely go over 72. It's perfectly stable at those speeds, even loaded, but I'm not comfortable going that fast. When I'm loaded with the trailer, I don't go over 67, just so that I have time to react if something goes wrong. That and I'm paid by the hour, so the slower I go the more I get paid
Thanks for this video. I have a 24ft Minnie Winnie and I tow a small car. I am afraid to go over 60 mph. People speed by me but I feel that 55 - 60 is my comfort zone. Also at 60 or lower my MH gas mileage is better than at higher speeds.
62 is my comfortable highway towing speed. However last fall I was driving on a two-lane highway in Nevada with a 70MPH limit and no passing lanes or pull-outs. Impatient drivers (including semis) were tailgating me and passing in dangerous situations. I raised my speed to 65 then to 70 in spots just to avoid unintentionally causing a head-on collision. Even 70MPH was too slow to prevent some from tailgating me. Not a pleasant situation!
I have an 89 Chevrolet c1500 and a 31 foot travel trailer that weights 9,000 lbs and my comfortable speed is 60 mph. I have been watching your channel from day one and appreciate all the information I have gotten from your channel and the other channels I have been watching to get multiple opinions on the safe way to travel with the trailer. This is the first time commenting on any channel I watch. I have learned a lot from all of the channels I watch and definitely a lot from your channel. Thank you for all the information you put on your channel.
I’m just getting ready for my annual road trip from South Carolina to Wyoming, Montana, & the Dakotas. Last year I rode my motorcycle but this will be my first year pulling my new toy hauler. I appreciate the practical advice that comes from thousands of miles of experience. I’ll take it to heart and keep my speed below 70 mph.
Thanks 🙏
Slow Is Pro- that is our motto when docking our catamaran.
We have a 23' Airstream, Hensley hitch, Toyota Tundra TV and tires rated up to 80MPH on the AS. we've towed 5,000mi in 2022 and over 10,000mi in 2021, and I pretty much kept with traffic...that was until we had to act as "first responders" 2-weeks ago today coming out of Death Valley NP, when a Semi Dump-truck overturned coming down Daylight Pass, took EMS 1 hour to arrive (thankfully driver is going to recover). After that, 65 is going to be my max! I'm also going to get a Garmin in-reach for future trips. Stay safe out there folks, and keep the "shiny side" up!
67 Is about my max too with our travel trailer when the speed limit is 70. Everything else, I go 2 mph below the speed limit. This way I can stick to the right lane 95% of the time, and everyone just passes me. Makes for a more enjoyable towing experience. It's not about how fast you can tow to get to your destination, its aboutcan you reach your destination safely, and comfortably.
Thanks KYD! This very interesting. I do like the slogan arrive alive!
❤ Happy Valentines Day!❤ Have a good week.
Hello from Nova Scotia Canada. I tow a 28ft tt behind a 2019 F150 SuperCrew.I never drive past 100km/h.Its safer,much more fuel efficient, and most tt trailer tires are not speed rated for more than that anyways.Relax,enjoy the ride
55mph in Calif. Would do same no matter the state speed limit. Definitely arrive alive.
I use tow haul but never cruise control when towing and if swaying occurs I keep a firm grip and slow down. I only use the electric brake if necessary to slow down for lights, stop signs that pop up.
30 yrs seeing accidents as LEO including fatalities with MH, 5TH wheels, TTs etc I want to enjoy my retirement years traveling not in a hospital.
Great info you gave.
Stay safe!😎
Great video with great advice from folks with real world experience. Loved the out take by the grill. Those NY Strips looked delicious and the advice was spot on. The first time I took my wife out camping (back in our backpacking tent days) it rained, but I was still able to build her a fire and cook her Ribeyes with all the trimmings. Filling her belly warmed her heart. 25 years later, we're still happily married and happily camping. She still likes it for the food and I sure like having a refrigerator, microwave, stove...and all those great memories.
i used to tow a 21' tandem axle travel trailer with a S-10. i would keep it around 55mph with the occasional 65 at the bottom of one hill before another long hill. I had good weight distribution and sway control so at 55 it just felt safe. at 65 it felt sketchy. now i have a 2500hd and its easy to forget it's back there.
👆👆👆.
That was our saying when we were in Iraq. We would always put the slowest Vehicle in the front and then drove as fast as the slowest Vehicle. But that was our saying when people questioned our speed. I used to tow a lot of different types of trailers and I always found towing at a slower speed is better than trying to go fast. You never knew what could or would Happen and at a slower speed you could react better. Thank you so much for this.
Best part at 0:47. Thanks Marc!
This is absolutely great information. I appreciate that these experienced RVers almost have the same opinion and that's shared by us as well.
Towing speed depends on a lot of things. East of the Mississippi speed will usually be lower than west of the Mississippi unless you are coming down a long grade or in a high wind situation. Most of it comes down to traffic levels and sight lines. You have to be able to stop in the distance that you can see. I've towed 14k at 75 mph on I-70 in western Kansas, but drop it to 55 mph or lower on I-68 in Western Maryland.
13:15-13:28 nails it... I'm comfortable doing up to 75mph in my semi when the road conditions and speed limit allow it. My tires are rated for it. Most of those concerns mentioned are due to lack of experience and not paying attention instead of simply being a heavy/large vehicle towing.
I'm always asking myself if my speed is because I'm truly driving a safe speed or because I'm in a hurry. Sometimes, I'm the fastest vehicle on the road, while other times in the slowest.
My truck+trailer and I are one.
Always be looking ahead and keep enough following distance for the road conditions.
Another big thing is I'm not ever at max towing capability even when pushing 80,000lbs.. I'd say most campers are and don't even have proper mirrors that let them see down the side of their trailer.
We all have different levels of experience and comfort levels.
In California going more than 55mph is breaking the law whilst towing.....I cheat a bit and push it to 62mph. What I discovered the hard way is cheap, junk trailer tires from a very popular nationwide tire outlet is asking for a blowout, which had to me before buying better quality rubber!!
My wife and I have a Ram2500 6.4 hemi. We pull a 27ft FR Surveyor. We have done a good bit of traveling with this set up. I usually run the speed limit or 5 under. If I were to go out west where the speed limit is higher, I would keep it around 65 or 70. That is where I'm comfortable at. Great subject. Hope y'all have safe travels. If y'all find yourselves around north of Charlotte, NC and want a safe place to stay, y'all are welcome to stay at our family farm. Take care.
I have driven three Class A gas units. Big V8's and Ford V10 have a sweet spot and it you listed to engine it will tell you where it is comfortable. In my last unit with the F53 chassis with the V10 liked 63, and in the one prior with the Ford 460, it liked 67. What I learned is to not go over this sweet spot. That was my high limit. Now flat towing and trailer towing would slow that speed down. I don't drive motorhomes anymore; we have purchased a small acreage farm. Now I tow dump box and pintel deck over trailers with strapped-down equipment. As noted in the video, strapped equipment is the sketchiest. Thank you for making great content. Also thanks for your "how to start a TH-cam" course.
i pull a 2600RB behind my Ram 2500 Power Wagon just for weekend fun and events. 65 feels great. 70 is the upper limit where it makes me nervous, and i've been towing since I had a learners permit back in 1997. And if it's a bit windy, 55-60 is about it.
Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. I really enjoyed this video; I've towed on and off for over ten years but am now pulling a fifth wheel for the first time. Speed rating is 75 on my tires and the folks you called here pointed out everything I've observed as well. I've pushed it to 75 a few times to pass and realized that I simply don't like it at all. I like the 67 Max idea from the first caller and will be what I stick with now. It leaves that cushion for when passing needs to happen, but overall it's safe and maintains both the speed and braking cushion.
I tow with a f150 5.0, 24 foot TT so under towing capacity by around 2000 lbs. I like around 57 to 62 mph. Get very good milage as long as there is no head wind. Wind is my enemy. I feel safer at the lower speeds
Gas motorhome towing a properly set up Grand Cherokee (toad brake, etc.), and our speed is dependent on road conditions, but no faster than 65. We get all kinds of bigger and smaller RVs cruising right on by regularly. We just smile and wave.
I read towing tips on tires on e-trailer's website which said unless your tires specifically say they are rated for more than 65 mph, they are not. I posted that information on a towing blog and got a handful of people telling me that was bs. Then, I got my dura, cum a stroke truck pulls my 38' toy hauler 85 mph from coast to coast and I've never had a problem. Reading the comments here gives me hope that I am not in the minority. I also read once on Cummins website that 55 is the most fuel efficient speed. They said 55 and below aerodynamics do not mater much but, as speed increases, power requirements increase exponentially. So to maintain 55 may require 65hp ,while 65 requires 130hp and 75 250hp. Makes sense to me.
Was watching this and totally agree with 65mph. I have over a million miles on the road as a truck driver. I never go over 65 but mainly do 58mph to get best fuel economy.
I agree with my fellow Texan, JD. I also pull our TT at 65 to 67 mph.
I recognized the scenery in the back ground while you were talking to JD of Big TruckBig RV! I know it well I live there! I was very surprised! Y’all be careful on your journeys! I tow my Springdale Mini about 60-65… never over it. I tow with a 2015 Ford Explorer. It is rated for 6,500 lbs. I have driven through wind that was blowing so hard. I had to hold on for dear life! Be Safe!
Great Video. My sons Toyota Tundra Crewmax is rated at 10,500. His travel trailer is 10,500 lbs too. For some reason it has a Tow Haul,but not trailer brake lever. He knows that he needs a bigger truck. Maybe a 250 Diesel. P S. - I never drive faster than 65. 10 mph slower than what the Curve says. You know that the speed signs are for small Cars and Trucks. Love your Channel. 2-23-2023.
First video I have seen of yours and well, the information given was so good! As someone who wants to get a towable there was a lot of useful information I never even considered.
Welcome! The playlists are the best way to get a handle on 350+ videos.
Watch the Lucy & Desi movie:
“The Long Long Trailer”
It taught me A LOT including the smoothest way to it back up.
@@arbonneladyTN will do thank you
Goooood video on the importance of speed while towing!!!
My motto # Go slow you can get some mo (more), go fast you don’t last.
Great topic and very well done. I personally have gone from a travel trailer with and undersized pickup to a 5th wheel with an undersized pickup to now a new 5th wheel with a properly sized diesel truck and Man!... what a difference in towing experiences. With our new rig our sweet spot seems to be about 62-64 mph.
Ford F350 dually pulling a 42 foot 5th wheel @65 MPH. I want to get there in a hurry but I would rather arrive in one piece. Experience taught me that. In my younger days I would pull a 32 foot 5th wheel at 70 to 75 MPH. Going across Missouri on I70 in the right lane with a 18 wheeler in the left lane I had a right side tire blow out. Had damage to the camper but luckily maintained control. Lesson learned and one I will never forget. Since then I have had two more blow outs at slower speeds with much different results. Thanks for the video.
On a multi-day trip, we tested three speeds, 65, 60, and 55 pulling a 30' trailer with a F150 offroad 4x4. We felt safe at all speeds but had the best gas mileage at 55. We only went 55 when there were two lanes, so we did not slow faster traffic.
I pull our fifth wheel at 57. That is where I get the best gas milage and where I feel is a safe speed for me. I lost a tire on the fifty wheel on I 40.
CMV driver here 4200 miles per week 100% in the mountain west region,
Towing speed, is equal to driver skill, equipment condition, weight balance and road conditions. And should vary based on the above parameters.
I’m a 65 max kinda guy! I notice that when I get over 65 my gas mileage decreases a lot! I only pull bumper pulls and have had as small as 20’ (currently) up to 32’. Also I’m not a fan of using cruise control almost at all, as it takes away my control ability. Thank you for your videos, I really enjoy watching your different aspects on things!
Wow, great video and topic. Tons to add, but you covered it all here! One thing however, is the question most ask when starting out RV’ing. “How much can my truck tow” when the real question should be is, “How much can my truck STOP”! That’s the real concern. When I tow my 5er, I maintain 60 mph. I also watch my exhaust temps in summer. If it’s creeping up to 1400, I bump that cruise down until it lowers into a more comfortable zone. Lastly, 0:46. Ungawa!! Well done sir! 😊
I towed my trailer (34ft pull behind) for the first time last weekend. It felt like I could've gone a lot faster, but I felt comfortable at 60-65. And I'll normally drive when not towing 70-80.
Thinking it is all about the distributed weights on each RV ClassA/ClassB/ClassB+/Class C/ 5thWheel? straight tow travel trailer!
Wow - cannot “thumbs up” this week’s video enough! We just got back from an 8000 mile cross country trip from California to New Hampshire and back in our F150/Lance 1995 rig, and we had a *lot* of time to contemplate safe towing practices. Our highway speeds were generally between 55 and 65 (max!), and every time we got left in the dust by an 18 wheeler, or a 5th wheel trailer passing us at 80+ mph I wondered if we were being too “timid” with our cruising speed.
I am *so* glad to hear a variety of experts echoing our practical experience: That anyone towing an RV should really be capping the speed at around 65. You’ve made me much more confident in how we tow/travel, and much more aware of the safety factors that everyone *should* be taking into consideration when they take to the highway or interstate with a massive trailer behind them. Thanks, as always, for a smart and entertaining video. You guys continue to inspire others (like my wife and me) to follow in your footsteps - and your tire tracks 😂!
I don't tow - my wife says it's a mental disability - but still found this helpful and informative because we're relocating to the Crystal Coast and a Uhaul tow is in the offing. Hey, my wife can do it!
The F250 Diesel w/ an Airstream 27 ft works great. We tow in tow mode when I remember to set it 😉 but have had no problems at any time. Regarding speed, we typically tow around 5 miles below the speed limit and will push out of that depending the situation to possible 70 to pass but not stay there long. With the Airstream we gauge a lot based on road conditions, etc… If the bathroom mirror is up, we either had terrible road conditions and/or too much speed!!! 🤔
When you’re driving through Florida look for the Coors light beer Airstream, it’s kinda hard to catch… it’s running down the highway at 78+ mph.
Personally, In good condition’s we drive 62 -65 in our Ford F250, with Shackleton our 27’ Globetrotter the only time I’ll go faster is when I need to pass someone.
What, Wait, 18:00 mins, I'm going through withdrawal, back to watching old episodes. Just kidding know your busy like the rest of us. Love the video, have had this discussion with many of different groups. I use 62mph as a top speed unless I'm passing a slower person and top out at 65 mph and get back over ASAP. Driving 62mph I don't ever worry about what is behind me unless it's a one lane road, i.e. Alaska. I use cruise control mostly flat and not much traffic around us. Marc, what do you think about using cruise control going down hill? Transmission take over don't have to worry about hitting the brakes as much. Understand if it a steep down hill then you have to use the brakes.
Can't wait till next week. Scott & Pamela
Great episode, and a super important subject.
As a thirty-four year tractor trailer driver, and a twelve year RV tower, I can admit to “some things happening”.
The faster you drive, the more damage is done in an emergency, whether it be a tire blow-out, a jackknife, or a collision.
We never tow our trailer over sixty mph. I’d keep it to fifty-five mph, except the cruise control wants to downshift at every slight incline.
You’ll usually get better fuel mileage with a slower speed, as well.
Take It Easy!
Thanks for this video. I'm a biker & I always leave run away room between me & the car in front. That with a bike of 700lbs. It always me extra room for what is behind me!. Now a 6,000 lb truck with a 7,000lb trailer, that requires a LOT of stopping distance! Thanks for pointing out the brake controller. Might want to explain proper set up, because it to is a critical part of safe towing.
These informative videos you have been doing in the last couple months are fabulous AND I so needed them!
Lots of factors go into determining the right speed. Weather conditions, smooth or rough roads, amount of traffic, straight flat roads, or curvy mountain roads. Speed rating on your tires, and vehicle to trailer weight ratio are very important.
That being said for my f150 and my 19ft travel trailer I do between 65 and 70 in good highway conditions.
29 years with a CDL, and I think 65-67 is good for a 5th wheel. But that is very dependent on the truck you have. I was a hard 63-65 with my ecoboost and my smaller 5th wheel. Now I have an F350 dually, and I'm maxing out just under 17klb. So I'm OK with 67, but not through West Virginia or some other twisted road. If the road is straight enough, I use cruise control all the time. It stops me from losing focus on my speed. Nice video, enjoyed it.
To Marc's comments about the use of the trailer brake controller in a sway incident, I need advise folks (like myself) with a Ford F-150 with the installed integrated brake controller. Just to make sure we're all covered, here is a passage from the 2023 F-150 Owner's Manual in the section titled "Integrated Trailer Brake Controller Precautions":
"Only use the manual control lever for proper adjustment of the gain during trailer setup. Misuse, such as application during trailer sway, could cause instability of trailer or tow vehicle."
Part of the reason for this (I believe) is that, in a properly equipped F-150, there is a trailer sway avoidance algorithm that is purported to adjust truck power and braking when it senses sway. If you hit the gain controller while the truck itself is trying to correct sway, it could result in unintended consequences. I personally only experienced it activate once in my previous F-150.
Of course that only applies for anyone with an F-150 of the current generation. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle for ground truth as it applies to you. Ultimately, you are responsible for the safe operation of your vehicle. Your mileage may vary.
I have no idea Rich. Seems weird not to use the lever when needed. I will say, anti sway on the truck will do very little for the situation in a real sway event. Sway that starts to get momentum is pretty extreme. You'll hear the tires digging into the pavement hard and in that moment, the manual will not cross your mind! ;)
Great episode! It confirmed my feelings on top speed with my rig, which made me feel good. About 1 1/2 years ago I moved from a gasser to my first diesel, an F350. I have never used the cruise while towing as it was not a good thing in my gasser. I'm going to have to try it now after your comments. Thanks for the info.
Most trailer tires are rated to 65 mph sustained - i generally tow around that speed but have sped up to as much as 80 mph for a few seconds to get out of the way.
Everyone's advice on a safe speed was spot on. I drive a 18 wheeler and use all there pointers daily. And always give the RVer plenty of space.
I tow a 26 foot travel trailer with a ford f150 xlt and I am within all the numbers. I never go faster than 65and it goes down from there depending weather conditions and road conditions.
Thanks for another insightful video. I agree with being at a comfortable speed with a travel trailer and I travel at 58-62 most of the time. The truck is capable of much more speed, but as your interviewees stated, what is happening to the trailer. I have traveled from Maine to South Carolina and it amazes me on how fast some travel with a 5th wheel or travel trailer, often 70mph+ on I-95. As was stated "Arrive Alive" is a very good motto to stick with.
Thanks and safe travels to Florida,
So cool to see you passed through our home town…Bayou La Batre. We got so excited when we saw the clip of you about to go over the bridge. I’m most comfortable as the passenger when my husband keeps the speed below 60. We pull a 23 foot travel with out Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The trucking industry learned years ago that up to 55MPH the fight is mainly against tire rolling resistance. Going above 55 the fight shifts to mainly air resistance, and for every additional 1MPH, it is a compounding ratio needing more and more fuel for each additional MPH. Tire rating load and speed ratings, tire condition, load balance, air resistance, % of max load for the tow and towable vehicles, wind speed and direction, additional weather conditions, driver experience and ability, etc., etc. should all be accounted for in addition to posted or "felt" limits. Arrive alive after miles of smiles!
Aussie 👨🏻🌾
here limit of 60mph towing in most states , even in a state like Western Australia which is nearly 4 times the size of Texas , with so many vans now with airbags & disc brakes most sit around 50/55 mph for fuel economy and less breakdowns 🤙🏻
I drive rpm instead of speed. Stay below 2000 rpm’s puts me at between 60-62. Also note your trailer tires…if they’re Chinese go slower. Watched a 5 wheel pass me at 80 mph with outside temp 90 degrees. 1/4 mile ahead it blew both right side tires.
65 is my max and I even set the speed alarm for that.
This just re-enforces what my husband is already doing. Enjoyed the video very much.
We live in the White Mountains in eastern Arizona (hey, neighbors!) with a 1/2 ton Tundra and a smallish travel trailer. No matter where we go, we get the reality check/reminder immediately that slow and careful is the way to go. Going north, we get the sway-back roads of the Navajo Reservation. Going east or west, we get I-40 and the terrible traffic, wind, and closures along that monstrosity of a highway. Going south we get the steep descents of the Mogollon Rim, Salt River Canyon, San Francisco River canyon...there's no way we can just leave, relax, and let speeding take over. But that's OK because being safe is the wisest choice.
We keep our 40ft 5th wheel usually at 65-67 with tow/haul mode on and exhaust brake on as well if we are in some hilly/mountainous terrain. I’ll go up to 70 to pass as some people towing are below 65. 65 with cruise control is nice and smooth. Saves on diesel as well.
Hi, as far as truck campers, that is all I have ever had. I started out with a Ford Raptor and put a Palamino 550 backpack on it. I then went to a F250 Lariat diesel and a bigger camper, a Camplite 8.6. Now I upgraded my camper to a Artic Fox 1150, which is extremely heavy. Researching the weight of the camper, I haul this camper on a F450 cab and chassis with a flatbed, no mods needed. With all my campers, I never exceed 65mph, even without the camper, I never go more than 65 no matter what the speed limit is. With the F450, between running 65 or 70, running 70 equals 3mpg per mile. Looks like you are on your way to FL, or most likely already there. Safe Travels