Safe speed to travel when towing?

Cupie · Guru

Safe speed to travel when towing?

Long Weekend · Guru

Like most people above I try to tow at my tugs comfortable speed of 90km/h. I also check my mirrors constantly - seemingly like every 30 seconds!

Regarding the truckies, if I see one behind that seems to be having a bit of trouble getting past I call them up and let them know that firstly, I know they are there, and secondly I'll pull over when I see a safe spot - like a left turn slip lane. Almost always they will respond kindly, that is, no abuse about how I am holding them up!

(Likewise, often a truckie will pull over on a steep road to let others pass. I always call up and thank them.)

But I would really like to comment on using cruise control. I will only use cruise on a dry, straight and level road. When wet, winding and undulating, it is a no-no.

I once drove between Boorowa and Yass in the rain using cruise over the winding and hilly road. The cruise constantly 'kicked' in enough to feel the back move around a bit. From then on I became cautious about using cruise.

The Melbourne Trailable Yacht Club has an article on their web site about a member towing a large boat on the Geelong Road in the rain using cruise control and jack knifed without any warning. Those who know that road will know that you cannot get a flatter and straighter road anywhere in Australia! When the driver and his wife - who was following towing a caravan! - looked at the spot later on they could see the slightest rise in the road.

Murray

Retired - My Long Weekend Lasts All Year.

Plendo · Guru

At the risk of hijacking a thread on towing speed, I feel I need to come to the defence of the poor cruise control.

I have been using cruise control for about 30 years, and yes early on they were primitive tools with very coarse control, and they could easily have caused problems in less than perfect conditions. However, things have come a long way since then.

Many modern vehicles have the cruise control so well integrated, it is always on (as in it is not possible to turn it off). Their graduation and control is excellent. They do not cause the problems that the scare monger site use as excuses for not using cruise control.

It comes back to what this whole thread is about, you drive the way you feel comfortable, and confident. You use the tools you feel appropriate. If you are not comfortable with cruise control, then by all means do not use it. But please do not try to scare people away from using a tool that can make their drive easier, and safer based on a myth.

Cupie · Guru

I'm rather un qualified to speak on the subject of cruise controls , but I'll do so anyway. That's what's done on forums isn't it?

The cruise control on my Patrol is a hand throttle. What a dangerous thing that device is. Can't see what it would be used for although on one occasion on a long straight flat stretch I used it for a few minutes to stretch my aching legs. Probably should have stopped for a cuppa. It certainly wasn't relaxing as I had to lean forward to keep my hand on the control, ready to disconnect it if things went wrong.

As Plendo stated cruise controls have come a long way. I have used the one on my town car a 2014 'all new' Mazda 3 & it's fantastic. Does all sorts of wondrous things without my intervention even slowing if I get too close to the vehicle in front.

As for towing in CC ... who knows?

Baz421 · Guru

Cupie wrote:
I'm rather un qualified to speak on the subject of cruise controls , but I'll do so anyway. That's what's done on forums isn't it?
The cruise control on my Patrol is a hand throttle. What a dangerous thing that device is. Can't see what it would be used for although on one occasion on a long straight flat stretch I used it for a few minutes to stretch my aching legs. Probably should have stopped for a cuppa. It certainly wasn't relaxing as I had to lean forward to keep my hand on the control, ready to disconnect it if things went wrong.

As Plendo stated cruise controls have come a long way. I have used the one on my town car a 2014 'all new' Mazda 3 & it's fantastic. Does all sorts of wondrous things without my intervention even slowing if I get too close to the vehicle in front.

As for towing in CC ... who knows?

Well I agree your're definitely unqualified - what you are doing is illegal ie fixed throttle on public roads.

Hand throttles, as you describe, were used to warm engines in the old days of slow revving diesels and primarily to "crawl" across very rough country when it was so rough you couldn't keep your foot on the accelerator to get a smoth hill climb/descent, especially in stony country.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 15th of December 2014 10:33:20 AM

rockylizard · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
Well I agree your're definitely unqualified - what you are doing is illegal ie fixed throttle on public roads.
Hand throttles, as you describe, were used to warm engines in the old days of slow revving diesels and primarily to "crawl" across very rough country when it was so rough you couldn't keep your foot on the accelerator to get a smoth hill climb/descent, especially in stony country.

Gday...

And of course the hand throttle used to be for using the PTO (Power Take Off) on the Landy as well as other tractors and agricultural equipment.

I must admit I used to love the hand throttle on me old Landy for creek crossings as well as steep and rocky low range climbs.

The other thing I loved about me old Landy as well was the "air conditioning". Below the windscreen there was a flap with a handle that let ya push the flap outwards to let the air rush in while ya were driving ... bloody great on a hot day

OH yeah .. and the crank handle - no probs if the battery was flat ... jest get out the crank handle and kick her over

Despite how much I now love my Discovery 3 Landy - there are just some things I will always miss.

OOPS .. and deep apologies for going Off Topic cry jest couldn't help meself.

Cheers - John

Cupie · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
Cupie wrote:
I'm rather un qualified to speak on the subject of cruise controls , but I'll do so anyway. That's what's done on forums isn't it?
The cruise control on my Patrol is a hand throttle. What a dangerous thing that device is. Can't see what it would be used for although on one occasion on a long straight flat stretch I used it for a few minutes to stretch my aching legs. Probably should have stopped for a cuppa. It certainly wasn't relaxing as I had to lean forward to keep my hand on the control, ready to disconnect it if things went wrong.

As Plendo stated cruise controls have come a long way. I have used the one on my town car a 2014 'all new' Mazda 3 & it's fantastic. Does all sorts of wondrous things without my intervention even slowing if I get too close to the vehicle in front.

As for towing in CC ... who knows?

Well I agree your're definitely unqualified - what you are doing is illegal ie fixed throttle on public roads.
Hand throttles, as you describe, were used to warm engines in the old days of slow revving diesels and primarily to "crawl" across very rough country when it was so rough you couldn't keep your foot on the accelerator to get a smoth hill climb/descent, especially in stony country.

-- Edited by Baz421 on Monday 15th of December 2014 10:33:20 AM

I agree that using the hand throttle if not illegal, then it aught to be ....

You of course have a source for your assertion that "ie fixed throttle on public roads" is illegal? Or is that yet another urban myth.

Does your argument that it was 'used in the old days to warm slow revving diesels' apply to 1996 Petrol 4.2L EFI Petrol engines like mine?

Perhaps the 'rough country' argument may provide sufficient justification for it being fitted.

ps. re. 'what you are doing' .... I don't use my hand throttle. Only tried it once as described in my previous post 'on one occasion etc.' & quickly discarded that option.

-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 15th of December 2014 06:52:42 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Just blame wombat rocky, I do, cos he aint around to argue biggrin

aussie_paul · Guru

Plendo wrote:
At the risk of hijacking a thread on towing speed, I feel I need to come to the defence of the poor cruise control.

I have been using cruise control for about 30 years, and yes early on they were primitive tools with very coarse control, and they could easily have caused problems in less than perfect conditions. However, things have come a long way since then.

Many modern vehicles have the cruise control so well integrated, it is always on (as in it is not possible to turn it off). Their graduation and control is excellent. They do not cause the problems that the scare monger site use as excuses for not using cruise control.

It comes back to what this whole thread is about, you drive the way you feel comfortable, and confident. You use the tools you feel appropriate. If you are not comfortable with cruise control, then by all means do not use it. But please do not try to scare people away from using a tool that can make their drive easier, and safer based on a myth.

Yes, I agree Plendo. I would not be able to operate our rig if I could not use CC responsibly. A great help.

Aussie Paul. smile

Baz421 · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
Baz421 wrote:
Well I agree your're definitely unqualified - what you are doing is illegal ie fixed throttle on public roads.
Hand throttles, as you describe, were used to warm engines in the old days of slow revving diesels and primarily to "crawl" across very rough country when it was so rough you couldn't keep your foot on the accelerator to get a smoth hill climb/descent, especially in stony country.
Gday...
And of course the hand throttle used to be for using the PTO (Power Take Off) on the Landy as well as other tractors and agricultural equipment.
I must admit I used to love the hand throttle on me old Landy for creek crossings as well as steep and rocky low range climbs.
The other thing I loved about me old Landy as well was the "air conditioning". Below the windscreen there was a flap with a handle that let ya push the flap outwards to let the air rush in while ya were driving ... bloody great on a hot day
OH yeah .. and the crank handle - no probs if the battery was flat ... jest get out the crank handle and kick her over
Despite how much I now love my Discovery 3 Landy - there are just some things I will always miss.
OOPS .. and deep apologies for going Off Topic jest couldn't help meself.
Cheers - John

Yeh I LOVED series 1 ragtop.

Goin fishin,, I'm 14-15 years of age so in pax seat,,, -3DegC at Meadows SA,, about 4AM ish,,, landy conks out,,, I HAVE TO GET OUT open the bonnet and with a long screwdriver tap the carby EVER SO GENTLY (not) to move the ice.

Away we go, only to repeat this several times.

As we had several stops we were running late (fishin lines in before dawn was the go) and we went faster,,, probably hit 70kph at some stage WOW,,, but downhill to the coast around Waipinga Beach we flew and froze even more.

The side flaps were a real turn off to me.