Driving speed

[nma33]

What speed do you generally drive your motorhome on the highway? My first time out driving a motorhome, I was very comfortable at about 60-62 mph on the highway.

[mike837go]

Speed limits and weather conditions come first.


I'm guessing that 60-62 was during the day, dry roads. Double-nickels on the signs. Light-to moderate traffic.

[hoppers4]

60 - 65. 62 is a good number.

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by nma33

What speed do you generally drive your motorhome on the highway? My first time out driving a motorhome, I was very comfortable at about 60-62 mph on the highway.

When we had our SENECA that's where the cruise was always set. As a matter of fact that's where it's set pulling the PINNACLE as well.

[Bobs A Class]

Considering that the speed limit for motorhomes towing a vehicle in Illinois is 55 mph, I'm comfortable with 59 or 60. When I leave IL, I don't bother changing, unless i'm trying to beat the sun going down.

[gmapatime]

Never over 62 and I try to stay just under speed limits elsewhere. Weather conditions and location though have a big factor in speed.

Steve

[D&MAKAFUN]

nma33, you said it best "I was very comfortable at about 60-62 mph on the highway".
I have moved our comfort level to 64-65. All the advice from others on weather/road conditions is well taken.

[Mustang65]

After adjusting for weather, road conditions, traffic, the cruse control (with tow-haul on) is set for 62Mph (much lower in wet conditions). I think it is a psychological thing... the need to stay a little above that mile-per-minute speed.

Don

[SMS1115]

In perfect weather and road conditions, my setup works best at 62-63 mph. Any faster the fuel mileage drops a lot. I know the tires are only rated to 65, so I try not to exceed that.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

After adjusting for weather, road conditions, traffic, the cruse control (with tow-haul on) is set for 62Mph (much lower in wet conditions).
Don

When I said (much lower in wet conditions) I meant to say I drive at a much lower speed WITHOUT the cruise control on.

Don

[VicS1950]

From an expediter driver friend of mine I learned another benefit to keeping speeds down. He is on the road all the time. Last I heard he has 737,000 miles on his original Sprinter drive train.

He sets his cruise control at 60 mph on the interstate. He says that it not only saves him fuel, but he can drive much longer without feeling stressed. On those occasions when he does need to push for an arrival schedule he claims that he gets tired after very few hours of driving and arrives wiped out.

I've adapted his set sixty method whenever driving my van on the interstate even when not towing. It definitely does reduce the stress for me. I apply that while towing too.

I suspect that the lower overall speeds are also helpful for his achieving 737,000+ miles on his original drive train.

FWIW. vic

[McGarrett50]

We are in the 60-62 range most of the time as well. Over about 12,000 miles, we've averaged approximately 7.7MPG without generator running and 7 with on relatively flat interstates at non-extreme altitudes.

I've also found that in the "tow" setting, the cruise control manages the ups and downs of overpasses better than normal setting. Typically I will try to turn off & on cruise control going up and down overpasses as the engine does like to compensate.

[rgolding]

We drive normally at 62, cruise control set. Pushed it this weekend on road I am very familiar with to go from 50 miles east of St. Louis down 44 to Yukon, Oklahoma, about 38 miles east of Oklahoma City. Kept it above 65 most of the time. 67 years of running those roads and Hwy 66 before them. Going east, usually about 62. ;-)

[JohnWedell]

When we snowbird to florida i stay in the right lane and just follow the traffic. When traffic permits i do the speed limit not over it. I have upgraded tires to maxxis and they have a speed rating of 99 mph so i feel comfortable at 65. I have a ram 3500 so the truck handles it with ease.

[TheFireman]

I tow a jeep and will drive 75 mph or more if I can.

[BigJohnD]

65 when we had the motorhomes, sometimes a little more. I'm all about safety, which also means not getting plowed over either. Too slow and you're just as much a hazard. Figure a lot of the semi's are limited to 65, so I'm at least hanging with them at a minimum.

[NC Roamer]

60-62 does it for us. Took it up to about 72 briefly during our pre-purchase test drive just to see how it drove, and it was fine.

We do slow for weather or roadway conditions. I drove 25 mph for about 10 miles on the Virginia roads leading to our current campsite in Smith Mountain Lake State Park. It was dark and that road was very curvy and hilly. DW was pressing hard on the imaginary brake pedal on the passenger's side.

[chuck0799]

In driving the 2014 UL we got 8.5 MPG on last trip of 1800 miles. Seems rig run well between 55-65 MPH. With bad cross winds and 18wheelers passing 55 is best, it seems as the Precept floats a little starting at 60. The aerodynamics of the rig is such that it starts lifting..

[mowdoc]

I will run speed limit plus a couple when traffic allows up to 75 sustained. BTW - the Michlen tires on Precept are rated at 75mph, not 65 as previously stated. That 75 mph rating is based on max weight load too and we never get close to that. I have doubts about any Precept "lifting" at speed either?? Mine weighs 19k pounds with camping gear.

In heavy rain I will slow to 65 and have great traction just like heavy trucks have. I have hit puddles at 70 and had no problem with hydroplane. The Michlen tires are very deep tread and combined with weight of Precept do very well on wet pavement.

People driving Interstates at 60mph cause more trouble than they realize they do. They are a down-right hazard on two lane roads - very unsafe. I see this all winter long as I live in a snowbird area where two lane roads are not safe to use with all the slow traffic. Other drivers are forced to take high risks with the slow RVs mixed into busy traffic.

When I pulled a 5er with a diesel truck I found speed had large impact on fuel mileage. This is the norm for diesel power. Not so much with gasoline, however. The difference between 65 and 75mph with my Precept is less than running the genny is. I get around 7-7.5mpg at 75 if wind is not strong.

Last year, our long trip to the Sturgis rally was extended by two days camping time, one going and one coming home, by simply driving the speed limit. I would much rather spend time in a RV resort than on the road.

Flame on you slow pokes!!