Speed towing your van.

valnrob · Guru

Speed towing your van.

Mark · Senior Member

Normally between 95-100, like Neil i am comfortable with my set up and how it travels. Also within that speed range the cruiser is lumping along at around 17-1800 rpm which is beatifull for the L/100. Trucks don't need to get too close either which is great.
Mark

-- Edited by Mark on Sunday 16th of June 2013 07:24:43 PM

-- Edited by Mark on Sunday 16th of June 2013 07:24:59 PM

Wombat 280 · Guru

About 90 with a Nissan Pathfinder. On the freeway Saturday traveling bare back to Port Macquarie doing 110-115 a van behind a Ute passed us doing 120 + and was gone in a flash . over about 40 k's we passed 4 highway patrols sitting on the verges in the 100 zones and not one gave chase and the ute never slowed regardless of the signed speed

Grams · Guru

We are the same as you, 90-95kmh is fine for us. I have been behind others driving at 80kmh but it doesn't bother me, I'm not in any hurry at any time. The ones that speed I feel blessed they have overtaken us, those I want to be as far away from as possible.

ozjohn · Guru

17'6" tandem Pop Top at 90 - 95KPH.

Onedodger · Guru

18ft Tandem 90 to 95kph on good roads.

Unsealed roads max 80kph.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I tow at 85-90 kph because it feels comfortable. Things happen more slowly at a slower pace.
In the course of a working day we see people towing at ridiculous speeds because the speed limit says they can.
They also tow in 5th gear and cruise control. Disasters waiting to happen.
Please do this safely.

justcruisin01 · Guru

90/95 max & a lot less when road conditions are not good.

JC

GaryKelly · Guru

I wonder what Bill12 has to say about using 5th gear with his slide-on. Would using 5th be a prob when carrying as opposed to towing?

NeilandRaine · Guru

we tow a 21ft6 Jayco with a Pajero, 85/90 kph is comfortable and economical

Delta18 · Guru

GaryKelly wrote:
I wonder what Bill12 has to say about using 5th gear with his slide-on. Would using 5th be a prob when carrying as opposed to towing?

Not a problem at all as long as the speed is appropriate for the conditions.

Personally I don't select 5th (overdrive manual) below 80kmh with car only, more like 90 with the van on.

I usually sit on 100kmh in 5th (true by gps) with the van because (a) I am comfortable and the car is most economical at that speed, (b) very few trucks will catch me at that speed and the cars that do will not have problem overtaking.

This speed is of course dependent on road & weather conditions.

Cheers Neil

bill12 · Guru

I do use 5th gear with my slide on the back of the ute, and did 15000kms last bigtrip with no apparent damage, but I do trying NOT to flog the motor or gearbox. It seems to be working as it doesn,t use ant oil and the gearbox , diffs oils are clear.Maybe I have been lucky, but I think that good maintenance is paramount. I am lucky as I can do it my self.Going to try towing the slide on atrailer, and carrying the tinny on a roofrack on the ute. Willpost results. Bill

Rip and Rosie · Guru

The manual recommends under 90 km/hr with our territory, and that's what makes me happy if the conditions are okay.

We let the trucks pass and the speed freaks- which includes rambos with big rigs (places to go and people to see!)

We are on holiday, and its not a race.

valnrob · Guru

It seems most of us prefer the same speeds. We met a guy and his wife who pulled in at Wyandra last year. His type vehicle was aFord Falcon, and 15ft van. He had travelled a fair distance and was going on the next day the same distance again.We said that's a lot of kms but he replied 'ah well, it's really easy for me,I usually go 130 kph.' We stood there stunned. What an idiot. It's not just the person doing the high speed that could be hurt but an innocent party they could hurt.

Safe travels to you all. Take care

Cheers.

Two Strays · Senior Member

Hello All

With a LC 200 and 21ft van I travel at 90-95 kph. No real need to go any faster.

Happy Caravanning

Delta18 · Guru

Is this your Slide-on Bill?

neilnruth · Guru

We do 85-90kph with van. Best economy at that speed.

oz_in_nz · Member

I have just travelled from Newcastle to Townsville via the Pacific and Bruce highways. It was my first long distance towing experience and I had no mishaps thankfully! I have a Kia Sportage and am towing a 13 ft van. I decided that I would not do any more then 95kph and set the cruise control for that speed, but, when not using cruise control, I would look at the speedo only to discover I was doing 100 - 105kph! It never seemed that fast and I was always stunned to discover it. It was a new experience for me being overtaken by everyone! I am usually the one doing the overtaking - per-towing days, but I guess I will get used to it!

-- Edited by oz_in_nz on Monday 17th of June 2013 12:15:21 PM

bill12 · Guru

No.mine's rougher. Its FREEWAY on a 97 ford courier diesel 4wd ute with heavier springs in the back . I do about 90 to 100kms ph. and get between 7 and 8klms to the ltr, as long as the wind is behind or light. head winds make a difference.Works well,if a bit too high at times.Good outfit.Bill

-- Edited by bill12 on Monday 17th of June 2013 04:25:14 PM

kandagal · Guru

We travel at around 90-95kph mostly but slightly slower if bad weather or bad road. . Often my chauffeur will say' Oh here comes another racing caravan' & they pass us at great speed. We shake our heads & wonder WHY.

Delta18 · Guru

As always, those going faster than us are maniacs, those going slower are road hogs... biggrin

Popeye · Senior Member

We do 85-90kph with van

-- Edited by Popeye on Monday 17th of June 2013 07:07:20 PM

freehazzas · Senior Member

85 to 95 if the freeways good is pretty standard for us. 80 if road is not so good.

JayDee · Guru

Totally agree with the speed of 85 - 90 klms per hour. Anything faster could spell disaster if in the event of a problem. I have to keep my vehicle under double wraps on a good road, as it seems to want to gallop up to 100 plus.

Always give the truckies right of way, and I use to slow and pull over to let the long line of traffice pass, only to virtually never get any acknowledge from the cars. Soooo now I just keep on going until a divided road appears.

Got sick and tired of dropping down in the Rev. just to help other people plant their lead foot and then speed away most like over the speed limit.

Jay&Dee

Crashtac · Veteran Member

My old van a Statewide Chelsea 21ft actually had a plaque on it stating 100km/h as the top safe towing speed. My 80 series was happier around the 90k mark though.

The dog lady · Guru

Delta18 wrote:
Is this your Slide-on Bill?

I think that's a picture of my grandfather's rig biggrin

Cruising Granny · Guru

JayDee wrote:
Totally agree with the speed of 85 - 90 klms per hour. Anything faster could spell disaster if in the event of a problem. I have to keep my vehicle under double wraps on a good road, as it seems to want to gallop up to 100 plus.
Always give the truckies right of way, and I use to slow and pull over to let the long line of traffice pass, only to virtually never get any acknowledge from the cars. Soooo now I just keep on going until a divided road appears.
Got sick and tired of dropping down in the Rev. just to help other people plant their lead foot and then speed away most like over the speed limit.
Jay&Dee

Slowing down and then putting the foot down after everyone has passed won't do your fuel economy any good. You are better off to keep cruising at your speed, and let everyone else adjust and overtake as it's safe to do so.

This is what we prefer you do when in the vicinity of an oversize load. Keep it safe.

aussietraveller · Guru

With the van and tug in our avitar we travel to the prevaling conditions and on expressway a maximum of 90 KPH in fourth gear.

Baz421 · Guru

Looks like we're a bit slower than most 80-85 but we are 6.5 tonnes all up and this our best economy for long distances.

My criteria has always been what would I do at X speed on this road if I had a blowout (any wheel), especially going downhill.

I take comfort from the pilot who ditched in the river in New York a couple of years ago, he was prepared for it mentally.

I had a LH front blowout years ago in EH Holden at 120kph on sweeping LH bend, text book says don't brake BUT light braking was the ONLY thing that kept 2 wheels on the bitumen as the EH wanted to pull off road to the left verry vigorously.

hako · Guru

When we first started towing about 18 months ago we'd stick to 80, then as the months went by the speed gradually crept up to where we now do the speed limit and when passing a road train may get up to 130 or so. Remember this is towing an Avan camper which is the same height and width as the tow vehicle...half the weight as well so it is very stable. Every time we pull up I run my hand over all tyres and do a fairly complete visual check of the vehicle looking for anything out of normal
We use about 20% more fuel but I don't have the worry of vehicles including road trains on my tail waiting to pass so we get the benefit of reduced travel time and less worry.

Good Luck.