HighCover wrote: Probably 2300 miles in 12 days. Tahoe with 23' Rockwood ultralight. How fast should I drive, giving consideration to the cost of gas, other traffic, time, and so forth?
No matter how what I do, I seem to average about 50 mph when I tow. That includes stops (gas, food, bathroom, etc.). So a 300-mile trip totals about 6 hours to me. I don't like driving too much further than that in a single day. Although I have driven 500 miles in a day a couple of times because I really wanted to get to a particular place.
I typically tow on the highway at between 60-62 mph that nets me the 50 mph average.
So I plan my stops on the route accordingly. 2300 miles in 12 days to me would mean about 7 travel days out of the 12.
YMMV
MFinCA
2004 Homestead Settler 255RS
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500
HighCover wrote: Probably 2300 miles in 12 days. Tahoe with 23' Rockwood ultralight. How fast should I drive, giving consideration to the cost of gas, other traffic, time, and so forth?
No matter how what I do, I seem to average about 50 mph when I tow. That includes stops (gas, food, bathroom, etc.). So a 300-mile trip totals about 6 hours to me. I don't like driving too much further than that in a single day. Although I have driven 500 miles in a day a couple of times because I really wanted to get to a particular place.
I typically tow on the highway at between 60-62 mph that nets me the 50 mph average.
So I plan my stops on the route accordingly. 2300 miles in 12 days to me would mean about 7 travel days out of the 12.
YMMV
I agree 100% with the above post. I have found the exact same thing in my travels and do just about the same as he does. It makes for a comfortable towing day with some time left over to relax and enjoy the area. Also breaks up the long trip with rest days in between.
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook 30FKS TT
Hensley 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250, 7.3L PSD, SuperCab, Short bed, Auto, 3:73rear
1996 Harley Davidson FLHRI Road King
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HighCover wrote: Probably 2300 miles in 12 days. Tahoe with 23' Rockwood ultralight. How fast should I drive, giving consideration to the cost of gas, other traffic, time, and so forth?
No matter how what I do, I seem to average about 50 mph when I tow. That includes stops (gas, food, bathroom, etc.). So a 300-mile trip totals about 6 hours to me. I don't like driving too much further than that in a single day. Although I have driven 500 miles in a day a couple of times because I really wanted to get to a particular place.
I typically tow on the highway at between 60-62 mph that nets me the 50 mph average.
So I plan my stops on the route accordingly. 2300 miles in 12 days to me would mean about 7 travel days out of the 12.
YMMV
Spot on..I give myself about 8 hours max driving. I figure my reach is 400 miles. I set the cruise at 62 also. +/- 1 or 2 to stay in the clear but quickly get back to 62..
I took some heat from passangers and people I go with at first but I tell them move on, see ya when I get there...
Current Texas transportation code states the following: 60 miles per hour in daytime and 55 miles per hour in nighttime if the vehicle is a truck, other than a light truck, or if the vehicle is a truck tractor, trailer, or semitrailer, or a vehicle towing a trailer other than a trailer described by Subdivision (2), semitrailer, another motor vehicle or towable recreational vehicle. This chapter 545.352(b)(5)(c). I will be doing all of my travels at 60 MPH. The legal limit in Texas.
The changed mentioned in an earlier post does not pertain to towable recreational vehicles. It only applies to other types of trailers.
You might want to look at the speed limit signs as most (not all) that show the lower speed limit (in split limit states) for vehicles over 10 tons empty, and this is for the TV only. So unless your TV weighs in at or over 20K then you can run the higher limit.
But with the price of regular fuel here today at $3.99 a gal and diesel at $4.39 I’m not going to be running above 65 mph MAX.
Don
As stated before, the equipment has got to be a factor. I can tow at 55 on perfectly flat or down hill. My powerstoke is running on the bottom of the power curve at that speed and dogs along and rattles like crazy. The closer you get to 2000 rpm the easier it pulls. I will stick with the 3.73 gears because I think it is best all around for me that is.
So work with it a little. On my ole gasser I could run 55 since that was comfortable speed with the overdrive locked out and the motor singing.
Not always true. In my F450, I get better mileage at 70 than any other highway speed.
It all depends on gearing and such.
And I assume you have a Gear Vendors or other overdrive unit in your F450, running it in double overdrive to be able to get the best highway mileage at 70 mph in a truck with 4.30 or 4.88 gears.
I have some experience with low ratio gearing and fuel mileage at freeway speeds (check truck in sig).
G & G Shelton wrote: As for what speed you should drive, all depends on your equipment, experience, and comfort level.
Since the original poster is new to towing and new to his vehicle/trailer as well, 55 mph sounds like a good speed for his level of experience.
How about the speed limit. When towing usually 55 to 65 and sometimes 70. Anything slower your causing traffic flow problems. This would be in good weather conditions (No strong winds, rain or snow)
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The law says one thing, the crowd around here says leave it to chance. If you'll spend some time looking to state and other countries recommendations on towing safely you'll find some specific guidelines that are useful.
One, recognize that you have the rig least capable of maneuvering well to avoid problems. Two, you already recognize that your level of skill is up hill all the way. Good, that should help as you:
Maintain minimum distances behind other traffic that is a good deal longer than if driving solo. One nice piece I've come across lately recommends that we drop the time or car-length guides and use (I like this) an imaginary fire truck. At 60 mph, you want AT LEAST 6 "fire trucks" in front of you. In car. Solo. WIth an RV you want more.
No one can see around corners and curves. Drop off the cruise control and mentally prepare yourself to come to a full stop. Much the same for wet, foggy or night conditions. WIth traffic bunched up, passing me (morons), I also drop off the cruise and get them around me faster that way. Watch your mirrors, for that is also an indicator you may have to slow down.
Pull off the road every two hours for a stretch of 15-minutes, and every four hours for fuel and a light meal, staying out of the vehicle for 45 to 60 minutes. Relax, clean the windshield, check tires, rigging, etc. This is a proven method.
I like 62-63 mph in mine in light traffic on the Interstate, or on a secondary highway with big shoulders and good markings. On other roads I drop it down a little. The key is to be able to stop, fully. Or, to be able to make a double lane change at the speed you are traveling. Traveling at the speed limit is usually a bad idea, despite what you'll read here and see "out there".
Sunday I returned home on a 240-mile trip. The constant winds (around 20 mph, up to 30, common to this area) had the dozen or so RV's I saw heeling over slightly. The drivers, oblivious to an OBVIOUS problem, carried along at the 70 mph limit, DESPITE the fact that their poorly-capable rigs (all RVs) were compromised by the wind loading on one side, aggravating an already poor center-of-gravity, balance and whatever compromises their TV/TT rigging had. Accidents waiting to happen. (It's that lack of common sense thing that offends some around here.) Dumb, just plain dumb.
A traveling speed that QUICKLY allows you to decelerate to a SAFE handling speed (double lane change) is what to strive for. Coming to a full stop is next. You must learn the capabilities of your rig. Find a place to practice.
I might leave a site 45" prior to local dawn, and I make it a point to never drive after dusk; I give a full day of driving a 45-60 minute planning leeway for the unexpected; so, usually, 10-hours of actual driving (on a 13-14 hour day) is how it works out on a max effort day.
Check US Department of Transportation website for road closures, and use NOAA to check for local weather conditions prior to departure. I usually make notes.
WIth this, I trip-plan for 60 mph on all roads (except "scenic routes"), with 15" stops every 2-hours, and a one-hour stop every 4-hours, (just as I did when I was a over-the-road professional). Be organized, be consistent, and keep safety first.
Don't EVER go along with that "go with the flow" bunk. If you are traveling within the posted limits, then YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY, and all other traffic MUST yield. Their problem, not yours.
* This post was
edited 05/14/08 11:26am by '68Monaco440HP *
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