Watch that speed, folks...

[AustinBoston]

We were heading south on I-35 between Duluth and Minneapolis MN today (Labor Day), with the Taj MaHaul in tow.  PJay was driving, and we were doing 69mph in cruise (speed limit there is 70).  Anyway, she pulled into the left lane to provide safety clearance for three vehicles that were on the shoulder and just starting to move.  The center vehicle was a pickup pulling a smallish Palomino.

A few minutes later, the Palomino passed us, travelling at least 80.  The spare tire was shredded.  These were the little tires on the 10" wheels...

Folks, I consider 70 to be pushing it speed wise, and I have sigificantly larger tires/wheels than this guy.  The RPM's those little wheels had to be turning makes my head spin.  He was asking for another shredded tire.  I'm sure this guy is blaming the tire, not his speed.

Don't push your luck.

Austin

[newbie]

I am totally new to the pop up thing. Infact we jusy got our first and, have not taken her out yet. I have been acussed of having a lead foot. Thank you for the heads up warning.

[brainpause]

Our first year of camping, I traveled 65 on the interstates, speed limit 70. Then, on a long trip to VA, we drove 70 with no problems, and I have since then. However, I have recently started driving 65 again, while towing, because it is easier to let them pass me, rather than me having to work hard at passing others.

I am also much less stressed about the tire RPM's at this speed, as AB alluded to.

Larry

[dthurk]

I would tow at 65 mph max with the popup.  Now, I'm 60 mph max with the travel trailer.  People on a TT board I'm active on pooh pooh the idea that excessive speed can affect the life of a tire, yet they complain in various threads that this tire it terrible and that tire is no good.  Too many blowouts!

[madkatz1]

I would tow at 65 mph max with the popup. Now, I'm 60 mph max with the travel trailer. People on a TT board I'm active on pooh pooh the idea that excessive speed can affect the life of a tire, yet they complain in various threads that this tire it terrible and that tire is no good. Too many blowouts!

OMG.... 65 max with a pu? I've been going 75, my bro-in-law goes 80! He always complains what took me so long!

[dthurk]

OMG.... 65 max with a pu? I've been going 75, my bro-in-law goes 80! He always complains what took me so long!

Have you had a tire blow out?  I never liked (and still don't like) higher speeds when towing.  I feel more in control of the rig with a slower towing speed.  I'll get there.  If I want to get there sooner, I'll leave earlier.

[Old Goat]

My top speed is 65 on the super slabs. I tow our Niagara with a  Dodge 1500 pickup and have never used a sway control, however, at 70 mph the trailer will start to wiggle slightly and remind me that I am going to fast. It's a great speed control..We prefer to travel on the back roads as much as possible at 55 to 60. The fuel milage goes up and the trip is much more relaxing. The scenery is much better too.....

[ILUVTHEBEACH]

My top speed is 65 on the super slabs. I tow our Niagara with a  Dodge 1500 pickup and have never used a sway control, however, at 70 mph the trailer will start to wiggle slightly and remind me that I am going to fast. It's a great speed control.

I feel the same way.  When I drive and sometimes get over 65 I can feel the PU start to wiggle.  I don't like that feeling at all.  I slow down and it gets under control again.  I figure I AM going camping so what is the hurry.  I can relaxe when I get there.

[Kelly]

I go a slower now too.  Usually about 60.

We went to South Dakota this summer ~ Black Hills ~ and a combination of things conspired to take out both my tires.  I didn't have a blowout, but only because I noticed how bad the tires were when I got to the campground and replaced them in Rapid City ~ before we drove home.

This was our only 'long' trip of the season and I had repacked the PU to get a few more things in.  This trailer has always towed beautifully ~ no sway or any other issues.  Shortly after we left she started swaying and I repacked again ~ adding some tongue weight.  That took care of that problem ~ or so I thought.

I made another rookie mistake in not checking the air pressure in the tires.  (I haven't made the same mistake since!)  The combination of poor loading, underinflated tires, 100*+ temperatures across SD and speed (70-75) led to the tires being worn THROUGH the tread.  We would have had a blow out with both tires on the way home for sure.  (btw ~ our trailer was the 3rd one at the campground we were at that needed new tires!)

The last few trips I've made sure to check the air pressure, kept the trailer properly loaded and slowed down.  It's made a difference in both my peace of mind and in the TV gas mileage.  I may not get there fast, but I'll get there.

[AustinBoston]

OMG.... 65 max with a pu? I've been going 75, my bro-in-law goes 80! He always complains what took me so long!

It's easy for beginners to bite off more than they can chew.  A review of your post history makes me think you are fairly new to towing.

Those responding that they tow at 60 or 65 have been towing for many years or even decades.  They come from all over the country and drive on all kinds of roads.  There is wisdom in their experience.

I know what my response to a family member making that kind of comment would be..."What you do is up to you, but you have absolutely no business trying to pressure me to put my family's safety at risk like that."  If he kept it up, I would tell him where to go.

I know when I was new to towing, I got into a situation that could have been fatal for a number fo people, and not just those in my van.  It was so dangerous that the story made Pop-Up-Times.  I thought I knew what I was doing and what the risks were, but I was wrong - almost dead wrong.  I was lucky.  We drove away.  You many not be.

A week in the hospital and months or years paying medical bills will soak up all the time saved by speeding in an entire lifetime several times over.  A life lost can not ever be made up.  It's not worth it.

Austin

[edwardr132]

I tend to do 70mph max, depending on the traffic flow.  I have 13" tires on my popup.  Hopefully the popup tires can handle it.  When towing, I always accelerate slow from a full stop and try to do slow stops as well.  My goal is to keep the RPM's on the tow vehicle around 2 at all times.

[flyfisherman]

I've joined the 65mph crowd as well; and for some good reasons.

The faster one goes the quicker things happen and as much as I hate to admit it, I simply do not have the fast reflex action I had once upon a time. In short, 65 is a resonable safe speed for me towing and keeping abreast of what's going on.

My little Starcraft sports the 12" tires and Starcraft, as well as the running gear manufacturer (Dexter Axle), plus the tire manufacturer, all recommend a top speed of 65. The little twelvers have to revolve faster to keep up the larger TV  wheels/tires.

What's more, I have discovered that my full sized GMC pick'em-up delivers some decent gas mileage while towing at 65. On my last trip to the mountains I had to drop south to pick-up a fishing buddy and that made a considerable distance towing in the level country side which resulted in 19.8mpg ... not too shabby for a V-8 pick-up! Of course, getting into the mountain foot hills and certainly the mountains themselves, the mileage drops off. Takes more energy (fuel) to tow uphill. Have towed this rig faster with this present TV and I can tell you the mpg really drops like a rock at 75+.



Fly

[Monterey]

When we camp, we generally take the PA Turnpike to get where we are going.  I stick to 60, 65 when passing.  The reason?  Too many times I have come across people who belive the Yield sign on the entrance ramp applies to the folks on the Turnpike and not them.  They will drive right out in front of you without a thought, and without looking.  I'd rather take it slower and have more time to react to the idiots, and keep my family safe.  Less tire wear and better gas milage are just secondary benifits.

[brainpause]

OMG.... 65 max with a pu? I've been going 75, my bro-in-law goes 80! He always complains what took me so long!

Your brother-in-law is one of those people that, as they pass me, I say to myself, "I get paid to be a trauma nurse. I'm not getting paid today."

Larry

[zamboni]

The last few trips I've made sure to check the air pressure,

This is, almost, more important than speed.


I was thinking about creating a thread on PUT today about tire pressures; at our last Rally, I walked around with my digital pressure guage.

Every tire I checked (about 5 rigs) was a minimum of 10 lbs low.  One PUP, which was supposed to be at 65 PSI was at 40 and 38 PSI.


Folks, rubber tires leak, period.  According to Cooper Tire, they normally lose about 2 PSI.  However, there are numerous wonderings on the Internet why tires that are used more frequently seem to lose air SLOWER (lots of discussions on bicycle forums).  A hypothesis is that unused tires contract, weakening seams & seals.  Another is that rubber does outgas, and also air simply slowly leaks through.

Also, check your pressure COLD.  I've had 5th wheelers tell me that the number on the side of the tire isn't right, you are supposed to check it warm, and make sure the pressure NEVER goes over the "recommended number" no matter how hot the tire is.  Huh
 :eyecrazy:

Think your car/camper tires are bad?  Aircraft tires lose up to 5% pressure in 24 hours (allowed by FAA)


As for the pressue - do not use the pressure printed on the tire.  That is the max the tire can handle; use the number printed on your car/camper's vehicle tag (eg, my Explorer is 30 lbs front, 35 rear -- but the tires can handle up to 45 lbs).

According to surveys, a mere 15% of drivers keep the correct pressure in their tires.

A tire can also lose up to half its pressure before it STARTS to look flat

Ford & Firestone lost a lot of money because so few people maintained their Explorer tire pressures.  I had an "affected" Explorer (ie, with the Firestone tires).  I kept my pressure proper, and they lasted about 70,000 miles.