How fast do you tow your 5th wheel?

[SDCOToyhaul]

We pull a 38' toy hauler with a 2014 Ram 2500. Generally pull about 60-65 mph but in situations where getting passed is dangerous, will kick it up to 70. (prefer to pull over and let traffic pass if possible) Did upgrade the tires from 10 to 12 ply for a little cushion. Had a blowout at 50 last spring (12 pr tires) and will tell you that the tire was the least of the worry's. The tread can sure raise havic with the wheel well and trim. Lucky I was still on home turf when it blew.

[DGBPokes]

I had a friend with a big 5 er and his attitude was "nobody was going to pass him". Her attitude was " I am leaving nothing at home". He wouldn't slow down, and she wouldn't lighten the load. He refused to weight the trailer. He was just so puzzled why he had so many blow outs. Over and over, and over they had a tire failure. It got so bad, he carried two spares. One time, it did major damage took out water heater, lines.

He blamed the trailer designers and the tire companies.

We see it all the time in the summer, temps over 100 and 5 era on the side of the road with a flat. So load it up and pedal to the metal...........

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by drdarrin

Since I pull my 5er primarily in CA, I tend to keep it about 55. When I escape CA, I keep it at 65 max. I average about 9 pulling, 12 empty around town and 15 highway. Pulling, I prefer to be the slow guy everyone is passing. Getting it rolling is not a problem. Getting it stopped safely is another matter.

HONEST answer!!!

[Cummins12V98]

2015 RAM Aisin 4:10's towing a combined load of 32,500#, 1,750rpm's 60mph. West coast hand calc AVERAGE 9mpg. Throw in head winds it will be less.

[NFlcamper]

Not a 5th wheel, but 27' toy hauler at 9,400# I tow 60 - 65 mph, occasionally up to 70 to pass and get 9 - 11 MPG with the Dodge in my signature. Only 7 MPG with the previous GMC Z71 5.3L. when I couldn't carry as much as I do now in the same trailer.

[caissiel]

I have a ScangaugeII and use it for all my towing
I will travel at 62 mph and if side wind I will see mpg display lower down and will reduce speed to 55/60. If I follow a transport at a safe distance the mpg rate increase well above 15 and then I will tag along.
Frontal wind does not effect mileage as much as side wind so slowing down is not required. I will drive 70 while in fast traffic but let the traffic flow faster so no one fills my front safe distance from the other vihicles.

[tuffr2]

F-450 towing 16,000 5er.

At 65 - 70 with the wind 10.8
At 65 - 70 into the wind 9

One time with a strong tailwind 11 mpg and I could tell as the towing seemed extra easy.

[Wilber1]

Doubling your weight doubles your stopping distance. Doubling your speed quadruples your stopping distance.

[Army Nurse]

We took a 3500 mile cross country trip last summer with our 2014 RAM 3500 DRW (6.7 Cummins diesel with 68RFE auto trans). I averaged 11 MPG pulling our Montana High Country 340BH (about 13500 lbs) at about 60-63 mph from Tacoma, WA to Fort Campbell, KY. 63 is about the max I am comfortable at while towing. The truck would certainly do more, but why chance it?

Then, there's the braking... With the standard electric drum brakes and factory controller, stopping is not terrible. I just keep a comfortable and safe following distance, and I slow down a lot on wet pavement as well. Again, why chance it?

[dave&ginny]

I've read all sorts of ideas on speed while towing and most are hog wash. HERE ARE THE FACTS...... It really depends on you and your equipment.

Never out-drive yourself, the main issue is how well your equipment is matched. If your truck is PROPERLY equipped to pull your 5th wheel....there won't be any or little chucking and the wind won't make much of a difference. I had a F350 equipped perfectly (this took a lot of money) to pull a Redwood and it was comfortable pulling 75-80 mph. which I did for hours on end because I was in a hurry to get from point A to B due to business.

My point here is that it can be done if you have the ability and budget to pull it off. Now I drive a Motor Home 65 MPH and I'm content.

[smurfsofwar]

I find this thread interesting. Comfort zones are all over the map. I don't tow a 5er at all, in fact my little trailer behind my 2500 is literally a third of the weight of some of your 5ers yet I still consistently set the cruise at 99-105kmph and just chug along. Getting there is part of the fun. Getting there in one piece is an added bonus

[Wilber1]

Even if your truck at trailer are perfectly matched, doubling your speed will quadruple your stopping distance. Physics.

[Dale & Mark Bruss]

We drive the speed limit only if it 55 mph or less. Our max speed is 62. We don't mind being passed. We are about 44,000 lbs total. We have enough truck to go faster but we have an awful lot to stop.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by Wilber1

Doubling your weight doubles your stopping distance. Doubling your speed quadruples your stopping distance.

Originally Posted by Wilber1

Even if your truck at trailer are perfectly matched, doubling your speed will quadruple your stopping distance. Physics.

Wilber1, you are of course correct, but there's no arguing logic or science with some folks. (I'm trying hard to suppress any comments about science deniers that will get me edited.) As witnessed by some of the posters above, they think money will overcome physics and safety. Their money also somehow cancels the action of the wind, since, "the wind won't make much of a difference." Interesting that so many included MPG with their MPH reports except those that tow very fast, again, I guess fuel costs doesn't matter when you have so much money. All the speeders seem to ignore the danger not only to their family or property, but also the danger to everyone they encounter along the way. I hope those being influenced by these reports will take all that into account before taking off on their own adventures.