Why 70mph ?

I’ve towed a fair amount of stuff in my 40 years as a driver, including 1000s of miles with this old 5th wheel built like a brick shithouse, with my f150 and it was definitely at the upper limits of the truck. But I honestly don’t get the desire to travel 70mph with a trailer. I’ve been pretty happy to down shift and do 45 or less up an incline with the semi’s. I expect towing with the Tacoma to be no different. Once equipment is meeting all the ratings, almost 100% of towing incidents are speed related.
So why ?

 

Same reason people speed I’d assume.


Friday is in like 2 days, why are you rushing this?

 

Muffukkas got places to go, so if you slow, move yo ass out the way

 

friday thread on a wednesday... nice

 

I drive 60 or so pulling my trailer. It’s actually a more relaxed drive. Very rarely do I have to pass and deal with the left lane.

 

I think there is an innate desire to not be the one people are passing and honking at. Maybe a pride thing? I don’t know. I cruise 45-65 uphill depending on the grade and length of the hill. 70-75 on the downhills. I just find what’s comfortable for my little 1st gen. I try not to push it but let it do it’s thing.

 

Go around me, I even use pull-outs (if it's relatively convenient to me), no worries.
And when I pass those wrapped around a tree, or they did multiple rollovers before the camp trailer disintegrated, I'll have the wife call 911 with a guessed location. Again, no worries.

 

Because the speed limit is 70 it doesn’t mean you have to go 70 , especially with a trailer. When you are towing at high speed the dynamics completely change. Most people are ignorant of the dynamics while towing. Swerving for something while towing at high speed likely means you will roll the vehicle and trailer. Making a sudden emergency stop also means you may roll vehicle and trailer. In addition you need a lot more distance to stop. Another problem most people who tow RV’s and boats are basically weekend warriors and don’t have all that much experience towing. There is certain inherent danger in that especially if going 70 or more. While there are many California laws I don’t like two that I do is 55 mph max while towing/third axle and you need to stay in the right lane while towing except while passing. On a 3 or 4 lane highway you can only drive in the right 2 lanes while towing.

 

I haven’t passed anybody in 12 years. 12 f’n years

 

Based on decades of driving for work here’s why.

First, so as not to be run over by big rigs doing 70 and not having a clue about lane restrictions

I’ve see the CHP drive right by rigs doing 70 in the fast lane. Of course they don’t enforce cell phone laws either. Like any law no enforcement = no law.

 

Same here, especially after having a "China Bomb" (trailer tire blowout) first time out. Believe most camper tires probably are rated 65 mph anyways.

 

I drive 90.2% to 106% of my age - fiddy fi to sixty five - deal with it

 

I will be afraid of you in 15 years! Of course the Tacoma can’t tow that fast. LOL!

 

Are you going to tow that 5th wheel with a Tacoma. I would think the pin weight might exceed payload limits.

 

Who can say I avoid Interstates if at all possible.

To me Towing is not ever a timed event

 

Why? Because people are f**kin morons. If they are towing over 3000lbs and doing 80, which I see plenty of, they don't have a clue what they are doing. Like those guys on bikes doing 120 in and out of lanes - a pebble on the road could easily cause a wipe out and then dead. Same pebble could kick up from someones tire and same result, dead.

 

Why does this thread keep coming back

 

Because it sucks

 

Honestly it took me a minute to wonder whether you were complaining 70 was too fast or too slow. Campers around here like to do 10 over just like the rest of traffic, so 80-85 ish.

I keep mine happy at 65, and try to take secondary highways over interstate whenever possible. Who wants to set camp after low-key road raging for five hours? Why is that fun?

If you want to haul donkeys, good for you, I'll keep right and let you go right ahead. Just keep that future yard sale away from me.