At what speed do you guys that haul trailers/ rvs for a living go? I am looking at some trucks and was trying to figure out what the "groove" speed is for this type of hauling.





Thanks,


Tony

68


Was going to make just that the whole post but I chickened out.


Depends on trailer type and related to wind conditions and, obviously, road conditions.


If I'm pulling one that's angled in the front I can still get reasonable fuel mileage around 71 mph. If it's one of the many square-box fronts with just horrible wind resistance the 65-68mph range seems the most reasonable. Sometimes I feel real slow at those speeds. For the sake of the trailer and company policy, I suck it up. If going into strong headwinds with a square front I have slowed to 62 until conditions allow an easier pull at higher speeds. When wind gusts get above 35mph I shut down or detour to avoid a roll over.


Often, I speed up to over 75mph when traffic conditions require it. The angled trailers easily run at those speeds and I have burst them over 80mph a few times.

I have to agree with the captain, 68 seems to be the sweet spot with my rig as well. I did an experiment hauling my Samurai. I locked it in at 2,000 rpm and got 15.7, then at 2,200 I got 14.2, quite a difference in 200 rpm.


ROB

Most states have white and black signs along the highway to recommend trailer towing speeds. Most recommend 55. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Jim

68 ?


Me too. anything less and trany starts hunting on hills so you lose overdrive. Anything more and MPG takes a dump.

I was wondering with the DMAX/AlI pulling 12000 to 14000 5th wheels do you pull in tow haul all the time or on flat runs can you get in over drive. I have been pulling a goose neck with dozer but it has all been close to home. thanks

I tend to agree with Captainmal. 68 is my speed also. I don't pull travel trailers but the truck seems to like 68. Fast enough to run with most traffic, and slow enough to be comfortable with the load.

rt446


When I pulled with my old Duramax I usually only used tow haul for the braking feature going down hills. Maybe that's the reason my tranny 'took a dump' at 160,000 miles.

Although I tow with a 3500 Dodge, the speed of choice is 68, just like everybody else has said. My 12V likes it there, and with over 300,000 miles, I try to give it what it likes.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif Have to baby an old truck. Well, not really. Just closer maintanance. But I don't run 68 cause it gets better milage, wind drag or what ever. I've seen trailer tires blow on a fifth wheel and it ain't pretty. On an RV it can take the side off. Most are just aluminum and fiberglass. That does not match up well with steel belts in a tire. Control...... I saw one blow a tire coming out of Chattanooga, lost control, went side ways, flipped and the thing came apart.


68 is as fast as I tow. Anything faster and I use my de-celerator e-brake. I see folks towing over 70 and I try to get out of there way.





..Preston..Edited by: turbo thom

Turbo Thom,


Good point about the tire issue. It is just amazing how flipping trailers come apart and fling stuff all over the place. Spend enough time on the road and you truely 'see it all'.


I've been lucky so far. Have had flat tires and one blowout on trailers, but the most interesting was when an entire wheel fell off. Factory error (long story) and I was just about to do my first lug nut check when it sheared off the remaining bolts, exited the wheel-well, crossed a parallel service road and went over a hill. Truck behind had the whole story to tell me on the CB.


Pulling trailers that weigh more than the tow vehicle can get you in trouble real fast. Thanks for the reminder.

with my 16 foot trailer and Jeep on it. about 70-75.


when I am pcsing (moving everything I own) I tow at YOU GUESSED IT..........68.


Kinda creepy that we all pull that fast. personally I drive mostly with the tach. 2k and I get good mpg anything more and it goes down hill fast.


I only use towhaul when I need to go up and down hills. I am in North Dakota right now for a few years so I don't forsee needing to use the tow haul much....

I have to agree with the captain, 68 seems to be the sweet spot with my rig as well. I did an experiment hauling my Samurai. I locked it in at 2,000 rpm and got 15.7, then at 2,200 I got 14.2, quite a difference in 200 rpm.


ROB

It is not the RPM, it is the extra drag of the added speed.

I pulled from georgia to alaska in T/H. It doesn't lock out overdrive. You can lock out overdrive if you want, but once you are at freeway speeds you'll be in 5th. I had a crappy situation in terms of load positioning. In order to get everything I owned in my truck and on the trailer I had to have my 87 GMC sierra 1500 more towards the rear of the trailer, and if I did over 65 it would get a bit hairy. Once I shifted the trailer's CD forward more in alabama, I was able to sit at 65-68 depending on what was going on. Once I dropped the white truck off in nevada, I was cooking with gas because I was able to load my 18 ft trailer flat all the way across and tarp it right. That move ended up costing me about 4 40$ ratchet tiedowns, one brake drum and set of pads (adjustment nut thingy came loose and destroyed both sets of pads and almost deadlined the trailer, ended up disabling that brake and running with 3 the rest of the way to alaska) and I had to reweld the support bracket for the left side fender.


If you plan on coming up this way, I would recommend getting some plywood and cutting it to match the general front profile of your trailer to prevent rock damage to the trailer. I had to paint the trailer once I got up here ad cleaned it up. The Al-can highway isn't hard, but it's no joke either.


It'll be nice when I get the transferflow tank replacement, and an in the bed tank as well. I'll be looking at just shy of 3k miles range empty.

I like cruising at about 2,000 rpm, with my 24' enclosed car trailer. nets me about 65 mph and 14 mpg. Sometimes will push it to 70, but no faster.

I guess with the load I have I'm to chicken to go that fast (68). I'm usually around 62-63. It's in Tow/Haul mode and it only hunts for 4th when hitting an incline, otherwise OD seems to hold it just fine.

I try to tow around 2000 rpms, it seems that anything over and the fuel mileage declines - alot.