What Speed do You Feel Comfortable Cruising on the Highway?

I have a 1999 v6 5spd which I love! On my long straight commute through the desert the speed people travel is usually 85+ mph (CHP included!). I feel like I'm still in everybody's way when I'm going 80 in the slow lane. I'm constantly tail gated and honked at and it's getting pretty old.

I'm comfortable driving faster but I don't know what my truck can handle for extended periods. I usually stick to 80 MPH because that's 3000 rpm in 5th. Any faster and I feel bad for my poor truck.

Does anybody else have this issue? Or have experience driving faster then 80?

 

As long as your not going way under the posted limit, who cares what other people think. I dont take my truck much over 75. Mainly cause mileage suffers.

 

As long as all your bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, steering components, etc... are all in good working order (i.e. not worn out), your tires are properly inflated, you should be able to hit 100mph. Not exactly safe for other reasons, lol, but you get the idea...

Since these trucks aren't exactly known for getting good gas mileage at even 65, driving 85+ is going to be even worse, like negative MPGs, lol

But honestly, drive whatever speed you feel comfortable with. Who gives a crap if people are honking at you. You're already in the slow lane, what the hell do they want form you?! Just let them be inpatient jerks. Just take comfort in the idea that the brain aneurysm they're working on will kill them soon enough.

The only time I get a little frustrated at slow drivers is on 2 lane highways when they aren't even going toe speed limit, and aren't using the pullouts.

Just get this bumper sticker:

 

I thought this was why we were given middle fingers??...

 

i have a '17 and i spent months setting up my truck for highway driving and super solid handling at speed. and it's really amazing up there if you're comfortable with it, but it's not for the faint of heart. i am regularly above 90.

 

yeah driving through the desert highways out here in CA means you gotta be going at least 80 or be prepared to have people ride up on your ass, I usually just set the cruise to 80 on those stretches and don't really go over that. Not that I don't feel like my truck can handle 85+ but it's just not very safe no matter what you're driving. Gas mileage on these trucks is god awful at anything over 65 anyway so I don't really even take that into consideration.

 

In Poland the highway speed limit is 87mph but even with my 4Runner I drive mostly 65-70mph. Not that that 4Runner lacks of power or comfort but it is to annoying for my taste to jump in and out of left lane (regardless of your speed it is illegal to drive on the left lane when the right lane is empty - the left lane is for passing only). At high speed it requires a lot of effort, having eyes around your head and predicting what other drivers might just do (mostly something stupid and suicidal).

The gas mileage is the other thing. I measured my 4Runner, which has very similar gas mileage to my Tacoma: at 65mph I'm getting 21mpg, at 85mph it's only 18mpg. The best speed for economy is 55mph on 5th gear - 23mpg. (All number are specific for my trucks and depending on engine and equipment these values might be different).

Few months ago I tried my 24 years old Tacoma for speed - it was easy to get to 87mph and driving was no drama at all (besides the wind noise). But I did it to see if this little i4 still has some horses left. On daily basis I prefer to drive at 65mph or less for comfort. That few mph above don't buy me anything.

Regarding the engine wear, 3k +/- rpm is a sweet spot for power and efficiency. This is that part of envelope where the engine has max torque - this is where you have the best acceleration too. At the same time it is the rpm with the minimum wear. The most practical is between 2200 and 3400 rpm.

 

I prefer 65-70. Just seems happy there. I use the car if I want to catch the go hurry people.

 

drive responsibly with other traffic conditions in mind

recent traffic situation for me...

coming back on i80 in Iowa late in the evening, going about 70~75 up and over a hill there was an 18wheeler trying to pass me on the left not knowing the left lane was closed ahead down the hill.

I could either speed up to 95mph and try to get ahead of him (but I knew the big tractor trailers gain speed going downhill (more so depending on the load they are hauling)) ... that damned gravity is something else
or hit the brakes rather hard to get back down under 60mph and hope he saw me in his side mirror and did not hit his brakes as well. I flashed my high beams to alert him he could get in front of me and all worked out well, but it could've been a sticky situation with that lane closure down the hill

 

Stay in the right lane, drive the speed limit (w/e it is over there) and just keep a smile on your face....possibly invest in some steel bumpers

I usually drive 65-75 depending on the road, but will usually do 80 when I drive to FL due to time and other state's limits (I'll drive 8-10mph over)

 

The speed limit.

 

Recently, I've gotten into the habit of driving at the speed limit and staying in the right lane. The reason being that I get very frustrated playing "musical chairs" with other drivers who are inconsistent with their speed. If I'm driving the speed limit in the right lane, I usually don't have to worry about making a maneuver except when I have to overtake a slow truck. It's much less nonsense and lane-changing with the ambient traffic, and so what if I get to my destination five minutes later than if I had been going 80?

 

do any states have no posted speed limit?
I remember in the 90s Montana had no limit during daylight hours

 

I average around 19 mpg going 80, so not too bad I suppose. Any faster and it drops dramatically, I understand the pain.

Our trucks have an electronic limit at 110. Don't ask how I know. Haha I might just get that sticker...

I was just in Montana last week. Speed limits posted everywhere but you could legally tow at like 80 which is crazy seeing as there were these crazy triple trailer setups (like nothing I have ever seen in California) passing me going like 85.

 

I can only imagine how horrific a triple trailer wreck at 85mph would be

 

not sure what year they had to post limits per federal regulations but found this interesting...

"While Nevada and Montana lost their policies of limitless highway speed, they did find a way around the federal policy. Both limited tickets to low-cost penalties that didn't penalize drivers' records. The crime wasn't deemed speeding. Rather, it was wasting energy."

 

There were some crazy setups! My favorite I saw (believe me or not, but I know what I saw) was an old rusty 90's f350 dually rolling some major coal with what must have been a 35' 5th wheel followed by a 14' cargo trailer followed by a 20' flatbed trailer loaded with dirt bikes/quads/etc. I gave him a wiiddee birth when I passed him. Every time there was a breeze I could see his entire rig dance like a snake. I hope he made it wherever he was going...

 

I tend to avoid Interstates if at all possible .

Average speed around here is 75 mph in a 55mph zone

 

Haha that's hilarious!! I love Montana.

 

It's the same here in California. 65 mph on most highways but people constantly going 80+ and the CHP plays right along.

I saw a video (I will try to find it) of a guy riding a motorcycle over 100 on a freeway right near where I live (LA) and a CHP officer pulls up next to him and motions slow down. Didn't pull him over or anything, just motioned for him to slow down. Then CHP took off. It's crazy. Makes us "law abiding" citizens seem like the bad guys.