Max towing speed

[uchwear]

Can you pull a popup at full speed limit or is there a point where you want to stop?  Most of the speed limits in my state are 75.  That sounds like it may be a little fast to be towing.  

Thanks.

[wavery]

Can you pull a popup at full speed limit or is there a point where you want to stop?  Most of the speed limits in my state are 75.  That sounds like it may be a little fast to be towing.  

Thanks.

Need more info....

What is the TV? What is the PU?

A lot depends on the equipment, tire size, sway etc.

[uchwear]

Need more info....

What is the TV? What is the PU?

A lot depends on the equipment, tire size, sway etc.

The TV is a 2001 f150 supercrew 4.6l v8 the pup is 1999 starcraft venture 2107 I'll be picking up later this week.  I'm not sure what size the tires were but they were definitely smaller than the average car tire.

[wavery]

The TV is a 2001 f150 supercrew 4.6l v8 the pup is 1999 starcraft venture 2107 I'll be picking up later this week.  I'm not sure what size the tires were but they were definitely smaller than the average car tire.

TV sure isn't a problem. The smaller the tire on the trailer the faster it turns. This should be taken into consideration.

As long as you have 12" or larger rims and your trailer tows level and has no sway issues, you shouldn't have a problem towing at highway speeds. The faster that you tow, the more that a sway bar may be needed.

It is always my recommendation to check the tires, service the wheel bearings (install NEW cotter pins) and check the brakes on a 2nd hand trailer.

[mike4947]

Well for one thing the ST tires on the trailer are only rated to 65 mph. Until several years ago the only speed rating liste for ST tires was "adaquate for highway speeds". With some states raising highway speed limits the tire manufacturers were forced into putting the 65 mph rating in place.

As you mentioned the trailer is a 1999 I would check the date codes on the trailer. If they are original you are on borrowed time until one goes flat.

[ScoobyDoo]

The faster you are going when the tire blows, the more you tear up even if you don't loose control.

[A2SuperCrew]

Your SuperCrew shouldn't have any problem towing a PUP.  Our Jayco 1207 pulls beautifully behind our SuperCrew at highway speeds.  We have 13 inch tires on the 1207.  I find 70 to 75 mph is very comfortable, depending on traffic, and the road.

****EDIT**** Just read Mike's post on tire ratings.  :yikes: Looks like I better slow down!  I didn't think of tire rating....... :banghead:

Being able to tow at a higher speed is good, but being able to stop is even more important.  You may want to find an empty stretch of road where you can try a few hard stops with the trailer in tow.  Then you'll know what if feels like, and you will be familiar with the feeling the first time you have to slam on the brakes in a real traffic situation.  

Happy Trails!  

[SpeakEasy]

Although the focus of this thread has been on safety, which is good, there is another thing to take into consideration. That's your gas mileage. I found that my gas mileage took a nosedive when I got my speed up above 62 or 63 MPH. It turned out that the cost in gas above those speeds was way not worth any extra time that it gave me. Just a thought.

-Speak

[AustinBoston]

I'd suggest getting some experience towing before trying speeds over about 60 MPH.  I've been towing for years (we've put over 25,000 miles on it), and I don't tow over 65 MPH.  PJay won't tow over 69 MPH.

Austin

[Azusateach]

Apart from what is safe, remember what is legal.  In California the legal towing limit is 55.  And depending on where you're driving, it WILL be enforced.  I learned that the hard way.   :yikes:

[flyfisherman]

The TV is a 2001 f150 supercrew 4.6l v8 the pup is 1999 starcraft venture 2107 I'll be picking up later this week.  I'm not sure what size the tires were but they were definitely smaller than the average car tire.

I tow a '99 Starcraft Venture (1706) with a '02 GMC Sierra V-8 (4. ~
Still have the sales brochure for the '99 Starcraft lineup and it says your 2107 has 12" tires ... those would be 5.30 X 12 (load range "C"), rated to carry 1045 lbs (max) @ 80 psi - carrying that amount of pressure for those tires is critical. It also says your 2107 dry base weight is 1454 lbs (that's empty), of that, 175 lbs hitch weight. Says the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is 2290 lbs, however, Starcraft has revised those ratings to say you should not carry any more weight than what the tires are rated for and that would be 2090 lbs. AND, like Mike said, the highway speed rating for those tires is 65 mph.

65 is my highway cruising speed. In rolling hill country I may increase the down hill speed to maybe 70 and top back out at 65 on the crest of the following hill. With gas prices the way they are I've found out that my GMC gets fairly decent towing gas mileage at that speed. And, there's the saftey factor ... 65 gives me a little re-action time to some of those cutting in and out "advanced" drivers. I travel to some of the same places every year and previously when I was driving faster I've found out the time difference is not all that great. Driving at a comfortable pace, which 65 is for me, I arrive less tense with less exhaustion.



Fly

[GeneF]

"65 gives me a little re-action time to some of those cutting in and out "advanced" drivers. I travel to some of the same places every year and previously when I was driving faster I've found out the time difference is not all that great. Driving at a comfortable pace, which 65 is for me, I arrive less tense with less exhaustion."

Fly, you make a lot of sense.

My dad was a truck driver and he taught me that a long time ago.  The guy going 70 to 75 isn't going to get there much before you driving at 60 to 65.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that many manuals will caution you not to tow over 55 mph.

Speed limit is lower in many states.

I do not enjoy driving or towing more than 60 to 65.  Above that I don't feel in control as much and tense up more driving.

I really haven't seen all that many of the big rigs travelling more than 65 on the highways but I do see a fair number of popups doing better than that.

Guess I have always looked at the safety factor and want a little more time to react to someone cutting me off or traffic suddenly coming to a stand still.

IMO, when you drive with a trailer behind you, you have to drive a lot more defensively and that includes leaving plenty of space between you and the car ahead of you.

Some people don't feel comfortable towing slower than the rest of the traffic but that is what the right lane is for.  "Slower vehicles use right lane."

[cb]

Check out www.2rvguys.com for a table of state towing laws, including speed, brake requirements, etc.

[A2SuperCrew]

I just checked with the Michigan State Police, and they said the speed limit towing a PUP is "The posted maximum" here in our state.