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06-02-2012, 05:45 PM
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#1
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Member
Name: John
Trailer: 99 Scamp 16
Idaho
Posts: 45
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Towing speed
How fast does everyone drive while towing their scamp trailers and such on highways and interstates, what about on gravel roads?
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06-02-2012, 05:54 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: Scamp
Posts: 7,056
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Trailer tires are rated at a MAXIMUM 65mph. It's a good idea to keep the speeds well below that. Some states, Oregon and California are two, have a maximum of 55 mph while towing. I generally tow between 55 and 60 mph, even in Texas and Montana where freeway speeds are 80mph.
Gravel roads are a different matter. That all depends on the how rough the road is. A nice smooth gravel road, like found in AZ I might get up to 25mph. Most slower. I'm in no hurry and would prefer to NOT damage my Scamp.
__________________
Byron & Anne enjoying the everyday Saturday thing.
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06-02-2012, 06:45 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: Dave
Trailer: ,Bigfoot 25 foot plus Surfside 14 foot
British Columbia
Posts: 1,148
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Since I would never, under any circumstances tow a trailer I value on a gravel road, I cannot comment on speeds there. Trailer tires are rated for an absolute max of 65 mph, assuming proper inflation and loading, and are balanced well.
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06-02-2012, 06:56 PM
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#4
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Member
Name: Ollie
Trailer: 1991 Scamp 13'
Virginia
Posts: 84
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a couple years ago I got passed by a Boler that was fairly booking it..around 75+. I actually saw said Boler lose a hubcap and couldn't/didn't care to catch up to wave at the driver. Their loss.
I usually go 50-60, sometimes 65 if it's a flat road with good paving. Gravel and dirt, etc. 20-25. I lived on one, my parents still do and sometimes the best scenery is at the end of a gravel road. Dents and dings can be marks of a life well-lived (yeah..I would like to have an immaculate trailer, too someday, though)
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06-02-2012, 07:04 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,640
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I have a sign in the back window of the camper that states our speed is <66 MPH and they can talk to me on the CB 19 or FRS 12.
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06-02-2012, 07:55 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2007 Casita
Posts: 3,428
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I won't comment on highway speed cause it depends if I am in a hurry or not.
But gravel roads, of which I prefer not to travel on. Only been on a couple since I bought the Casita one on the way to the Miracle Mile (whatever, I didn't experience a miracle) anyway, as slow as you can goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Because as slow as I drove that road, I still had dings and pit's on the fiberglass!
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06-02-2012, 08:46 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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I drive at the optimum speed for the trailer and Tow Vehicle combo which I am using. Generally speaking. that will be below the posted speed limit on the open highway due, to some extent, to fuel conservation concerns.
Driving slower than traffic in the right lane is much less a problem with a trailer than without one, since most other drivers see the trailer and anticipate the speed difference.
They also tend to be much more accepting and understanding of Slow RVs than of other slow traffic.
It is important to use a greater following distance with a trailer than when driving a sports car also... and try to anticipate traffic and react sooner and slower as well. Remember that the traffic behind you may not be able to see what you see, and must be given a little extra time to stop, slow, or pass whenever possible.
Speed is only one of several driving habits which must be modified when towing Vis-a-vis driving only a car.
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06-02-2012, 09:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Trailer: Cardinal (Restoring)
Posts: 245
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Currently in California you best not do over the 55, as our state is broke and trying to collect revenue by ticketing more RV's.
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06-02-2012, 10:15 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RRIZZO
Currently in California you best not do over the 55, as our state is broke and trying to collect revenue by ticketing more RV's.
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You will be relieved to know that while California has more than three and a half times the population of Illannoy, it can't match it's debt!
[but Illannoy just recently raised the speed limit on trailers!]
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06-02-2012, 10:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: Dave
Trailer: ,Bigfoot 25 foot plus Surfside 14 foot
British Columbia
Posts: 1,148
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RRIZZO
Currently in California you best not do over the 55, as our state is broke and trying to collect revenue by ticketing more RV's.
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But of course! It is simply good marketing. One does everything in one's power to ensure that tourists have a pleasant stay and will want to return again, and to tell all their friends about the extremely pleasant time they had - word of mouth marketing is one of the most effective systems in the internet age!
But then ....
That would mean ...
So they should ....
Oh, dear....
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06-02-2012, 11:04 PM
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#11
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Moderator
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
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I always set the Cruise Control for 55.
Drive55.org
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
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06-02-2012, 11:11 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: Dave
Trailer: ,Bigfoot 25 foot plus Surfside 14 foot
British Columbia
Posts: 1,148
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson
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Assuming that your car is geared for 55 mph driving - great. My truck goes into high gear at 62 mph - will not engage the second level of overdrive below that speed.
Many cars are actually geared for best efficiency at speeds much higher than 55.
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06-02-2012, 11:12 PM
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#13
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Moderator
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RRIZZO
Currently in California you best not do over the 55, as our state is broke and trying to collect revenue by ticketing more RV's.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BCDave
But of course! It is simply good marketing....
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Let's please not go there.
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
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06-03-2012, 05:30 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,707
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I'm cheap... I admit it. I figured out a loooong time ago, that I can't spend the same nickle twice. Fuel is EXPENSIVE on the west coast. Paid over $81 to fill my truck yesterday, and that will get me on the road for six business days. Sigh.
So... when pulling the trailer I travel 55-60mph and have found out that (typically) the truck gets the best MPG at 57 mph. I try to keep as much money in my pocket as I can for transportation costs, so I can spend it on other things.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
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06-03-2012, 06:42 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Name: Bob Ruggles
Trailer: 2015 Escape
Michigan
Posts: 1,537
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I'm usually under 60 when towing unless I have to go a bit faster when passing. As for gravel roads, it all depends on the condition of the road.
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06-03-2012, 07:02 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2007 19 ft Escape 5.0 / 2002 GMC (1973 Boler project)
Posts: 4,148
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Hi: All... Before we bought "Our Escape Hatch" it had been to Alaska...so it came complete with some stone dings. No more gravel towing from us.
I had some bumper stickers made for our vehicles that states... "I'm driving as fast as I can afford", and at $4.75 a gal. thats not so fast!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie
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06-03-2012, 08:02 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1983 13 ft Scamp
Posts: 3,082
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60 or less
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06-03-2012, 04:23 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1982 Fiber Stream and 2001 Casita Spirit Deluxe (I'm down to 2!)
Posts: 1,989
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"It Hurts My Motor to Go That Slow"JT
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06-03-2012, 08:00 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Name: Dave
Trailer: ,Bigfoot 25 foot plus Surfside 14 foot
British Columbia
Posts: 1,148
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If my trailer tires weren't so wimpy - my preferred towing speed would be what my preferred (most comfortable) driving speed is
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06-03-2012, 08:04 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Name: Andrew
Trailer: Modified Trillium Jubilee
Ontario
Posts: 240
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On Friday, I was trying to get before dark to Pinery Provincial Park and drove with the traffic at about 68 mph (110 km/h) and got under 13 mpg (over 18L / 100 km).
Today, on the way back, I took it easy driving at about 56 mph (90 km/h) and got 17.4 mpg (13.5 L / 100 km). That means that on the way back I saved about C$20 on gas...
That was with V6 Buick Rainier pushed by Trillium Jubilee
__________________
I wish to be one day at least half as good as I think I am today. Andrew Kalinowski
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