good towing speeds

[K&P]

Hi all, new jayco owner.
Have a 264bh, last time I towed was a small pop up back when max speed limit was 55.
Now it's much higher, here in Pa. it's up to 70 mph on some interstates. Was wondering a good speed to use climbing hills in northern Pa?
I know my truck can tow a lot more than the 6000 lb gvw, but was never towed a brick before.
Thx in advance.

[John from Central Florida]

I keep mine at 60. I had a tire explode once and have no desire to repeat the experience.

PS: Welcome to Team Jayco!

[jimp]

Depends on your TV and the TT, and the rating of the tires on the TT. Different TT tires have different load and speed ratings, so you need to know what's on the TT.

[bdreinv]

63 keeps Cummins at 1800 rpm a sweet spot!

[TWP723]

60-62mph tops.

[TxLoser]

68. Keeps it in 6th for me and RPM low. Get passed a lot, but not so slow I get in the way. This is with Good Year Endurance.

Previous combos were different. Depends a lot on the cobo as someone else stated.

[NCMFFD]

Between 60-65mph works best for us.

[PlayersZ28]

With the Chev it's 75 or the speed limit, whichever is less. On occasion it hits 80 on a downgrade or if I'm passing. At least I no longer get run over the highway. The Ford seemed to struggle to maintain 65 with the same trailer.

Edit: thought I should mention I run S637's that are rated to 75. If I had the OE tires it would be 0mph. Not in a hurry really but I'd rather be at a camp location than driving on the highway.

[wabirch]

Under 65 with the Rainiers. Will change to Endurance next season and I will stay under 70 to 75 then.

[wiscampsin]

Between 62 and 65 for us. We're never in that big of a hurry .

[rkresge]

Originally Posted by K&P

Hi all, new jayco owner.
Have a 264bh, last time I towed was a small pop up back when max speed limit was 55.
Now it's much higher, here in Pa. it's up to 70 mph on some interstates. Was wondering a good speed to use climbing hills in northern Pa?
I know my truck can tow a lot more than the 6000 lb gvw, but was never towed a brick before.
Thx in advance.

If your TT is wearing ST tires, your max safe speed is 65 (except for Goodyear Endurance). For me, that answers the question. Also, I get far better fuel mileage with a bit lower speed. Keep right, stay out of the way. 62.5 is my target on Interstates.

Enjoy!

Roger

[2edgesword]

I keep it at 60 figuring I’m not pushing anything to the max and if I have to slowdown quickly it’s faster to do it than from 60 than 70.

[thirdktm]

We drive a 24-foot Class C Melbourne: I keep the speed at 60-65....We just plan ahead and depart early enough and give ourselves enough time where we're never in a hurry.
It's just a safety issue.........

[JeremyFr]

Depends on the state honestly, for instance Washington where I live limits trucks towing trailers (including RV's) to 60, California is 55, etc. I run GoodYear Endurance on my trailer and the sweet spot for my specific rig seems to be 65 while towing for fuel mileage. I've towed at 75 and it does great with power to spare but you definitely see a hit in mileage losing nearly 20% economy over 65.

[87Yugo]

60-64mph

[ttavasc]

62 is the ideal speed for my combo. Above 65 for any length of time and fuel economy takes a hit.

[pawpaw]

Usually between 60 - 65 for us. I really don't mind being passed by faster traffic. I've seen what can happen when a tire blows at higher speeds - don't want that experience. I've seen to many rigs pass me going 75 (posted speed limit) or faster only to see them on the side of the road later with problems. What's the big hurry?

[edowsfamily]

Around 60-65 mph seems to be the best

[rodro123]

Weather and road conditions play a big part in my speed. Perfect conditions like wind 20mph and nice dry roads I’m at 65. Rain and wind over 30mph I’m at 55. Mountain roads 55. I’m toeing a TT at around 12,000 lbs. I set all tires at cold at max pressure with a digital tire gauge it does make a difference from using the analog gauge that was off by 5lbs either way.

[Dustdevil]

One of the problems with today's tow vehicles is that they are so well designed, they lull drivers into a false sense of security. Drivers often feel quite confident driving their fully loaded rig at 75 or 80 mph on the interstate, pulling a 10k lb trailer with a tv at 8k lbs, thinking all is under control. It's not. (If your rig is a 30k lb motorhome chassis pulling a 10k car hauler, it's even worse, not better).

I come from a world where bad reaction times get you killed. Fast. I'm 60 years old now, and my reaction times aren't what they used to be. But I've seen and been in plenty of situations where emergency braking was necessary. I'm here to tell you that with a loaded tow rig, it doesn't take much to upset the apple cart, and once it does, all is well outside of your control. With great brakes and tires, dry pavement, and zero reaction time, it requires somewhere between 190 and 275 ft to stop a 10k lb rig at 55 mph. Add perception time and reaction time, and 190 ft goes to 280 ft, and 275 ft goes to 350 ft or more. At 80 mph, 280-350 ft becomes more like 500-600 ft, because you travel much farther before reacting, AND you have far more inertia (energy) to absorb and bring to a stop. That assumes no wheels lock up, all tires bear precisely the same stopping load, and all brakes are working exactly the same. Any imperfections merely increase the distance to stop. The biggest imperfection of all is a very common driver's response in an emergency, which is to instantly jam the brake pedal to the floor and simultaneously snatch the wheel to steer away from the emergency. The moment your subconscious brain takes over and does this very natural reaction, all control is lost, and your life is in the hands of pure luck.

Yeah, I know. YOU are Superman. YOU are a highly trained machine with finely honed skills and cat-quick reflexes, and they ought to hire YOU to drive a Formula 1 car you're so good. I'm here to tell you that you're not even close to being that good.

60-65 mph with a loaded rig towing anything at all, on a nearly empty smoothly-paved interstate without the common truck washboard and potholes. That's my typical range for the Super C with a 4200 lb toad, with a total loaded rig weight somewhere around 24k lbs, all the brakes working great, 10 nearly new tires, and me driving like I'm strapped to the hood. I'm not merely concerned about my family and myself. I'm also concerned about that guy in front of me driving the Corvette with his secretary in the passenger seat, who slams on his much better brakes when a squirrel darts across the road in front of him. I have to avoid him somehow, because he will be at a full stop about 100 ft before I get below 40 mph.