How far do you tow in a day?

Drolaw · 10-23-2017, 12:33 PM

How far do you usually tow your TT in a given day during a trip.

I have a tripped plan to the Big Ben area (Texas) that is 611 miles (one way) and was wondering if I should make the trip in a day or split it up. I'm pulling a Jayco Whitehawk 31RLTS (~37') 8500lb with a 2017 F250 diesel.

This will be my first long tow so I'm wondering what the experienced drivers do.

KCSA75 · 10-23-2017, 01:03 PM

I would say drive as far as your comfortable.

When we went to Yellowstone Park a couple years back, I drove from Kansas City to North Platte, NE (about 400 miles) the first day. Then drove about 550 the next day to Cody, WY. We stayed in Cody for two nights before moving over the West Yellowstone, MT.

On the return trip, we took a different route through Colorado and made two stops.

We didn't let any grass grow under our feet, but if we saw something along the way (like an antique shop going out of business in Broadwater, NE) we stopped take a look.

robkelly · 10-23-2017, 01:08 PM

We generally stay in the 400 mile range as that seems to be what works best for DW and the fur babies. We've done 600+ a couple of times, and I don't mind it, but it takes it's toll on the rest of the family.

We also tend to leave very early in the morning so that we're in early afternoon and have ample opportunity to relax and get the "kids" some exercise.

Marcm157 · 10-23-2017, 01:11 PM

I have pretty serious back, neck and hip injuries form a previous line of duty injury. I find that 300 - 350 miles is my limit in one day. Used to be able to travel much further...

Dustdevil · 10-23-2017, 01:12 PM

Longest when I used to tow the TT was about 400 miles or so, in a single day. Could have gone farther, but the next logical stop was at 800 or so, and we just decided to take it easier and break it up. But in the MH, we have done 790 or so in a single day, with a few stops along the way.

michael.g · 10-23-2017, 01:32 PM

The most I've towed our previously owned Hybrid TT in a single day was about 620 miles, New Orleans to home. Our Xterra towed very well so it wasn't a hard tow. Our previous tow vehicle, a Chevy Astro, required more attention when towing and I didn't tow much more than 400 miles at a time.

-Michael

redsnapper · 10-23-2017, 01:34 PM

I thoroughly enjoy the open road.....
When I feel like it, I stop......when I don't.....I won't

curver900 · 10-23-2017, 01:37 PM

over 800 miles per day... depending on how pumped up possibly more.. when tired just pull over take a nap an back at it..

oldmanAZ · 10-23-2017, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolaw

How far do you normally tow your TT in a given day during a trip.

I have a tripped plan to the Big Ben area (Texas) that is 611 miles (one way) and was wondering if I should make the trip in a day or split it up. I'm pulling a Jayco Whitehawk 31RLTS (~37') 8500lb with a 2017 F250 diesel.

This will be my first long tow so I'm wondering what the experienced drivers do.

Right back atcha.

How far do YOU usually tow or have you towed?

This is your first long tow, so I'd suggest you split it up unless you've already towed in the 450+ range.

A couple of other considerations: Age and sunset/sunrise. As we've gotten older, longer days towing are harder on us. Also for us, trying to make time when driving into the sun is no fun. Driving west we stop early to avoid that, and, of course, going east we start a bit later than usual.

**JFlightRisk** · 10-23-2017, 01:42 PM

About 300 miles a day, accounting for stops for us or the pooch. For us, it's the journey, not the destination.

**norty1** · 10-23-2017, 01:45 PM

We rarely drive over 300 miles in a day. We know we average about 50 mph which includes several short stops. Works out to not over 6 hours on the road.

On long trips, we stop for 2 nights every 3rd day.

We are not in a hurry to get there, those days are over!

DonaandDon · 10-23-2017, 02:04 PM

I look at it this way. It gets light around sevenish, after breakfast then breaking camp, dump and flush were usually on the road by 8:30-09:00. Given sunsets around sevenish and you have to setup camp. Although in an emergency (death in the family) I have driven from Harlingen Texas to Chicago, some 32 hours straight but I figure life is to short, I'm retired, and I still love my wife.

PlayersZ28 · 10-23-2017, 02:06 PM

My longest run was probably 975mi in 18hrs to beat a winter storm on the way home. When we go to the SW for the winter I drive 12-16hrs running 60-65mph on the highways. Once we are in the SW then the drives are shorter but getting there and back I drive long days and stay in FlyingJ/Pilots for overnights. I do all the driving and we only stop long enough to fuel while travelling.

TCNashville · 10-23-2017, 02:11 PM

We usually tow around 5-600 miles a day. For us it's not the journey but the destination due to time constraints. My '12 F-250 only has a 26 gallon fuel tank so range before stopping is limited to around 230 miles [20 gallons usable] or about 4 hours of drive time between stops. Plus I know at the end of the towing day there's going to be a 12 year old single malt scotch waiting for me.

Drolaw · 10-23-2017, 02:17 PM

[QUOTE=oldmanAZ;578694]Right back atcha.

How far do YOU usually tow or have you towed?

Great responses..seems to be about the individual comfort level.

I usually tow the TT to our local lake/camp ground (Cranes Mill Park/Canyon Lake) which is about 55 miles one way. Twenty miles is on the highway and the rest on FM roads.

I have to admit, I'm a little nervous. The last time I towed anything this distance was when I was in the military driving across Germany on the Autobahn. That was over 28 years ago.

tjpolsin · 10-23-2017, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolaw

How far do you usually tow your TT in a given day during a trip.

I have a tripped plan to the Big Ben area (Texas) that is 611 miles (one way) and was wondering if I should make the trip in a day or split it up. I'm pulling a Jayco Whitehawk 31RLTS (~37') 8500lb with a 2017 F250 diesel.

This will be my first long tow so I'm wondering what the experienced drivers do.

I have a 26BHS (8100#) behind my Ram 2500 diesel. The ride is smooth and the trailer doesn't sway, I could easily tow 8 hour or more without getting stressed from towing.

But for me, 600 miles would be too long of a day sitting in the truck and I would split it up the enjoy the trip.

Magnolia Tom · 10-23-2017, 02:57 PM

We make a once a year trip to Ft Davis from Houston. Right at 600 miles. We break that into 2 days. Remember you are probably going to average somewhere close to 50 mph when you add stops for fuel and bathroom breaks. I would split up the trip on this first long trip, then maybe lengthen the time behind the wheel on subsequent trips if you’re comfortable doing so. If you have kids like I do, you’re going to need to break it up for your own sanity [emoji23]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Midnightmoon** · 10-23-2017, 03:18 PM

Longest 1 day tow for me was Orlando Fl to Western PA. 930 miles in one long 18 hour day. Not something that I would want to do again if I have the choice.

In normal situations we try and use 500 miles as our benchmark. I'm still pretty fresh at that point and still have enough time to set up and make dinner.

NCMFFD · 10-23-2017, 03:23 PM

We’ve done with the 400+ miles days. We’ve dropped it down to 300-350 miles per day and adjust our schedule.

When we have the luxury to take our time, the <250 mile days are so much easier and enjoyable.

RedHorse1 · 10-23-2017, 03:31 PM

We recently completed a 36 day trip that covered about 6800 mi with about 4500 mi actually towing. The longest hop was about 350 mi and the shortest about 175 mi. Our longest one CG stop was 10 nights. We had two 1 night stops and the rest were scattered between 2 to 7 nights. Several years ago I did a 12 hr hop and was exhausted and said, “never again”.
I’m now retired and we’ve discovered the joy of the trip rather than focusing on the destination. I try to keep the day’s mileage under 300 when I can.

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