5.0GN tow

Precisely my point, buy enough truck to safely pull the trailer of your choice at highway speeds and buy enough tire to allow it.

pjazz

You know nothing personal but I've also driven small trucks and service vehicles for over 35 years. I think your points don't hold water in most highway driving. Speed kills plain and simple. To try and justify towing a heavy load to keep up with faster traffic is ridiculous.

I tried to get out of a ticket once just by being honest an saying I was just keeping up with traffic. Cops don't fall for that. There are so many accidents out there with trucks going too fast it's hard to count. Sorry about this not solving the ops problem but I drive a lot and most people do not drive smart as in staying on the right except to pass. It's nice to keep up with faster cars but higher speed means longer stopping distances. There are other obstacles than just slower vehicles like traffic jams, unexpected debris on the hwy and blown out truck tires. Truckers used to be the safest drivers out there but now a lot like to drive as fast as any car and the results can be horrific.

You brought up some interesting studies seeming to promote higher speeds. I wouldn't be surprised if it was sponsored by the trucking industry who want that load delivered on time.

13XLTEco

I have plenty of truck. Always tow under payload and my 3.5 Eco Tow Beast has no issues. You do realize how far it takes to stop that much weight going 70 mph ? Your advice is to keep up with heavy traffic ? I advise slow down or even pull over, let the fast and heavy traffic go past, and hope the chickensh** cops wherever you want to tow 80 mph start enforcing the speed limits.

5.0GN tow

Clearly you missed where I said my speed is usually set at 70 to 72mph. I have towed 8 to 10k with F150s a lot. In GN form it did very well. Not sure I think even one rated for 12-13k is an ideal platform for towing a 30 ft bumper pull over 8 to 9k no matter what hitch is on it. It's a lot of trailer for a small truck. Have I towed 80mph yes, is it what I usually do absolutely not. I know how long it takes to stop that heavy rig, and that is another reason I think a SD is a better choice for 8 to 9K trailers too. The brakes on most RV trailers are OK but not great, and again it's a lot to ask of a smaller lighter truck. I keep right except to pass and dont try to keep up with traffic, but do try to move along well enough not to create a bottle neck that increases lane changes by other folks. There is a happy medium but running 60mph in a traffic pattern no matter the speed of the pattern may not be it either.

The sponsor of the studies would not change the result. Michigan State Police have pushed for same speeds for all vehicles, as have State Police and Highway Patrols in other states. Yes speed can kill, and so can differentials. The safest method for traffic enforcement and smooth flow, is the 85th percentile rule. Set the enforcement level based on the speed that 85 percent of the traffic is moving at.

We have gone way down in the weeds here, but good discussion is how knowledge is shared and gained. I have safely been towing very heavy loads ranging from heavy low boy pintle hook equipment rigs, to horse trailers, water wagons, boats, RVs and grain hoppers, for over 30 years. Not saying I know everything about all trailers but I have seen a lot. Add that to almost 20 years of investigating crashes and training/experience in traffic enforcement and I will say I have seen even more from that angle too(more than I ever wanted to see) of how crashes happen, where they happen, what causes them, what parts of vehicles fail, how loads react to crashes etc than most people. I drive based on all this experience to minimize the risk of me causing a crash, or being involved in one.

I also drive to protect my cargo, as now days most of my cargo is precious live cargo who trusts me enough to willingly walk up into a box on wheels and go along with no control over what happens to them. So getting rear ended by some person who misjudged his closing rate on the rear of my trailer is a big fear for me. I do my best to avoid creating bottle necks(while staying at a safe speed) which increase the risk of this kind of crash.

untraceable

On a 4 lane, do what you gotta do to be safe and stay in the right lane. Driving across Iowa last month, the wind was so nasty that I could only handle 60-65. I’m normally a faster driver but instead of forcing it, dropping to a safe speed and just going with reduced my stress 300x, improved my mpg, and got us home safe. I’ve talked to a few retired guys and when they say they tow at 62, now I understand

archibald609

Just amazing information from this discussion! I am new to trailing so now I understand the importance of being aware of your given surroundings. But slow sounds like the correct path regarding pulling my trailer. Thanks so much guys!

schmenke

I will not compromise the safety of my family, not to mention other drivers, by exceeding the limits of my truck/trailer setup for the sake of maintaining the flow of traffic for other drivers' convenience.
Motorists must understand that posted speed limits are the maximum allowable, and to reasonably expect that other drivers may be doing less than this, especially when towing or otherwise incapable of maintaining the upper speed limit. It's up to drivers to adapt to changing traffic conditions, and to expect that not everyone is capable of maintaining the "normal" flow.

Having said all that, I would also expect slower drivers to stay, where possible, in the slow lane(s), and even avoid roadways where they knowingly may be unsafely impeding traffic flow, especially for extended travel. Perhaps, for example, plan a route that bypasses interstates and choose a secondary highway instead.

It's up to all drivers to understand the limits of their equipment and to plan ahead and drive safely and responsibly.

5.0GN tow

Motorists must understand that posted speed limits are the maximum allowable, and to reasonably expect that other drivers may be doing less than this, especially when towing or otherwise incapable of maintaining the upper speed limit. It's up to drivers to adapt to changing traffic conditions, and to expect that not everyone is capable of maintaining the "normal" flow.

This is true, but the inverse is also true. Drivers who cant tow due to equipment or condition limitations that restrict their speed to say 15 to 20 mph less than the vast majority of traffic on a roadway, should seek an alternate route, so as not to create unnecessary risks to themselves and others using the roadway.

This is not saying go faster than you are comfortable going or are equipped to go, but use a route more suited to the speed you desire to travel. I have done this and I am sure others have too, for instance we often at a former employer used an older dump truck that could not easily run freeway speeds with a low boy trailer we pulled, when is was at max load, so we simply avoided freeways. It was stable, comfortable and at 50 to 55mph a stellar combo, but 60 mph was about max speed due to how it was set up, so freeways not a great idea. All sides of this issue need to be reasonable, simply saying all must go speed limit is not right, neither is saying everybody has to adjust to me going 15 under and causing a traffic backup.

rocky raccoon

The OP started this discussion on the topic of towing capacity and effects on the transmission and engine. Following posts took a several turns; tire safety, law enforcement, etc. Sorry if I offended by trying to address the OP.

woodyc

Back to the original issue of the truck having to work harder to get to highway speed. Have you checked the trailer brakes? Could they be stuck on or mis adjusted causing extra drag? Just thinking.