Labor Day Drivers and Excessive Towing Speed

Scott · 09-04-2013, 06:43 PM

Okay, I just have to vent here a little because I saw something this weekend that really irks me.

I drove from my house in NE Illinois to SW Michigan to visit family over Labor Day weekend and got caught in the major traffic delays going around Chicago. We stayed with the family in their house so we didn't bring the camper. We couldn't pass up the offer: they have a 5 bedroom house on Lake Michigan beachfront property. Sweet!

Anyway, once we got to Michigan and traffic opened up I could not believe the horrible driving I saw from people towing campers last Friday. There was one guy towing a 32 foot or so TT with a 1/2 truck tailgating a car so close I couldn't see the pavement between them. They were rolling at about 70mph. There was an SUV pulling a small popup doing almost 80mph in the left lane of a 3 lane expressway! I just prayed that his trailer tires didn't explode from being overheated while he passed my family. In my opinion there is no reason for anyone pulling a trailer to be in the left lane of a 3 lane expressway and no one should be towing over 65mph and quite often below that.

Do people really have no sense about the weight they are hauling? I admit that I am new to camping but not to towing. I drove big HEMTT 10 ton truck in the Army and drove 18 wheelers over the road for a few years. It just frustrates me to no end to see how dangerous some people drive while towing and how they either don't understand what that extra 4-5 tons does to your vehicle or they don’t care. Weight plus excessive speed is a dangerous combination.

Well, thanks for reading my rant. I couldn't help but notice that none of the bad trailer drivers were pulling a Jayco! Hope everyone on this forum had a great holiday weekend.

Doug · 09-04-2013, 06:53 PM

Many drivers scare me almost daily. Too many 4 wheelers on cell phones everywhere.
Agree, you see a fare share of people not towing safely too.
Glad no one got into an accident, at least that you saw.

Best regards,
Doug

**Crabman** · 09-04-2013, 07:09 PM

Yep, you see this stuff all the time. Then they are the first to scream foul when their tires fail. I also see some mighty strange if not dangerous tow vehicle/RV/WD combinations on the road and in campgrounds.

Rustic Eagle · 09-04-2013, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott

snip.... Do people really have no sense about the weight they are hauling?....snip

Unfortunately in to many cases... they don't.

Yes, I had a great Labor day weekend

Bob

amabee · 09-04-2013, 07:15 PM

Yep, it is very scary indeed, on our trip this weekend I saw a 1/2 ton truck pulling a good size 5th wheel, the rear of the truck was so close to the ground I was surprised sparks weren't coming off the pavement.

Ecfeick · 09-04-2013, 07:20 PM

Riding a motorcycle makes you realize how clueless a lot of drivers are.

newbold1 · 09-04-2013, 07:21 PM

I'll admit I like to get where I am going. Less driving... more camping. However, I try to always keep my speed limited to 65mph when I am towing. I've got a 1 ton truck pulling a 8,200 lb trailer. I could pull twice the load and I keep my speed down. I can't imagine being in a half ton pulling at or above my limit and driving 70+ mph. Whew... scary.

muelldawg · 09-04-2013, 07:51 PM

To some degree I am one of the "crazies". Until this summer I have generally cruised in low 70's to and from Texas from Arizona.
No more as a result of researching tires AND THIS SITE. I will max out at 65.

rugerguy · 09-04-2013, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecfeick

riding a motorcycle makes you realize how clueless a lot of drivers are.

^^^x10^^^

oobedoob · 09-04-2013, 08:16 PM

I ride a motorcycle and drive a 10 ton tandem for work and it's amazing how many times people don't see either vehicle! Everyone has to be in front of the line no matter how fast you are going.

Now if we want to discuss how poorly people secure their loads using nothing more than gravity and good intentions...

bigbird · 09-04-2013, 08:42 PM

On the positive side to that I've become more cautious to people ahead of me who might make a quick lane change and often not signaling. I seen a lot of that just today on the expressway. You can't take no one for granted.

Jagiven · 09-04-2013, 10:11 PM

I see this every time I am out. Personally I think the people towing boats are the worst. I see them doing 80 mph all the time. They are also the ones I see on the side of the road the most with a blowout.

We were in SD this summer at a gas station and a ½ ton pickup pulled up alongside of me extremely overloaded. The bed was absolutely full of stuff, and he was pulling a large heavy TT, with no WDH. I would not have been surprised if the frame was sitting on the axle.

When we travel I am always on the lookout at the TTs that pass me and look at their setup. I often see them total setup wrong. A couple of weeks ago I saw a small SUV towing a large TT, the WDH was so tight that the rear of the SUV was extremely elevated.

oobedoob · 09-04-2013, 10:46 PM

I totally forgot what I was going to say in my earlier post!

I was following a large TT that was fish tailing a bit on the highway and when I got to pass it I saw why... He was missing a tire! Running at about 80 km/h on 3 wheels with nothing but the axel dangling where the fourth should have been. Talk about stupidity.

edatlanta · 09-05-2013, 05:17 AM

I learned about what a tow behind you can do at an early age. Fortunately no one was hurt. I was towing a 14' small boat behind a 1967 Camaro (Yes it was within weight limits for the Camaro which wasn't much). I was going through a small town in central Arkansas traveling at 35 mph. Right in front of the town police station a lady pulled out from behind the building directly in front of me. I remember thinking "I have plenty of time to stop" as my foot was moving from the accelerator to the brake. As soon as I applied the brake I felt my boat. I hit the lady right in her driver door. As I said above I was only traveling at 35 mph so the impact was at something less than that. Imagine what a large TT or 5'er will do to stopping distance!!!

My witness to the above accident was the town police chief who was sitting outside his office on the porch watching the world go by. No better a witness than a LEO as long as you aren't the guilty party.

Even a small trailer will greatly extend your stopping distance.

Jpetrey · 09-05-2013, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagiven

I see this every time I am out. Personally I think the people towing boats are the worst. I see them doing 80 mph all the time. They are also the ones I see on the side of the road the most with a blowout.

We were in SD this summer at a gas station and a ½ ton pickup pulled up alongside of me extremely overloaded. The bed was absolutely full of stuff, and he was pulling a large heavy TT, with no WDH. I would not have been surprised if the frame was sitting on the axle.

When we travel I am always on the lookout at the TTs that pass me and look at their setup. I often see them total setup wrong. A couple of weeks ago I saw a small SUV towing a large TT, the WDH was so tight that the rear of the SUV was extremely elevated.

I am sure everyone has seen this but it still cracks me up.

Redneck engineer of the month. S10 Blazer 5th wheel
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/...azer-5th-wheel

rugerguy · 09-05-2013, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpetrey

I am sure everyone has seen this but it still cracks me up.

Redneck engineer of the month. S10 Blazer 5th wheel
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/...azer-5th-wheel

Hey some good ole air shocks and he'll be fine

I had one of those blazers ,and they did good just to stop themselves.

nylyon · 09-06-2013, 05:56 AM

I agree, it's not just TT's, but even some of the big trucks I see excessive speed and tailgating. My last trip to Lake George, I was traveling right at 65 and I was passed by a F150 with a fairly large TT at a pretty decent speed. 30 minutes later we got to the campground, and he was just 1 vehicle in front of me checking in and I thought to my self, was the risk really worth getting there a couple minutes before me?

I've been guilty of some excessive speed as well, I'll admit. Sometimes I will look down and the speedo will read 75 or so and when it does I immediately back off, but I'm never intentionally doing 75 in the left lane pulling 13K tailgating a Honda! That is just not good for anyone!

Jagiven · 09-06-2013, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nylyon

.....I've been guilty of some excessive speed as well, I'll admit. Sometimes I will look down and the speedo will read 75 or so and when it does I immediately back off, but I'm never intentionally doing 75 in the left lane pulling 13K tailgating a Honda! That is just not good for anyone!

LOL, been there myself. My biggest issue is my TV does not like 55 mph, which is a problem on two lane hiways. I constantly find myself doing 60.

Ecfeick · 09-06-2013, 07:34 AM

When I had the 1992 popup (1200 dry). I would get goin way to fast.

With my 26bh I want the best milage I can get. So I'm generally 55

Skyron · 09-06-2013, 07:46 AM

I like to drive at a speed and a safe distance from traffic in front of me that will give room for an emergency maneuver or quick stop. 55 to 60 mph works best. I try to limit speed to no more the 65 mph. Recently too I had 5th wheel rigs pass me like I was standing still and also got behind a few tts that were like the tail wagging the dog..

Toyota 4 Runner
Skylark FKV

Skyron

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