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02-06-2012, 10:36 PM
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#1
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Guest
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California - 55mph towing a vehicle?
I am making my first trip down to Palm Springs from Vancouver Canada and have been very comfortably travelling 65 to 70 mph through Washington and Oregon with my 2011 Yukon GMC and my 2007 and 2720SL and I just came through the California border today to Redding California and there are signs on the highway that say- Any vehicles in tow - max 55 mph, which I assume means trailers. Likewise I have kind of cut my speed down from 65 - 70 to about 60 mph with my relatively new 15 inch marathons at 60psi with no problems. I notice in Oregon and even California the semi-trucks travel about 10 mph over the posted speed limit. I agree that 65 mph is a good safe speed for a trailer, but it seems odd that you can go 70 mph in Oregon and only 55 mph in California. Has anyone every got a ticket going 65 mph in California? or do I need to keep to the the 60 mph?
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02-06-2012, 11:10 PM
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#2
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sunny Beaches of Los Angeles
Posts: 3,274
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I don't go any faster than 60MPH. It's safer (especially with a trailer), uses far less fuel (maybe 20-30% less) than 70MPH, and I don't have to be on the constant lookout for CHP. They do pull over folks for it.....
Dave
__________________
2000 2720SL & 2007 3124KB
2005 Toyota Sequoia
Twin Battle Born 12v 100Ah LiFePO4 (BBGC2) batteries, 300W solar on rear shell, Link 10, Lift kit, Maxxis 8008 225 75/R15 E tires
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02-06-2012, 11:18 PM
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#3
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Guest
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Well because of all the talk on this forum about tires blowing. From the get go I decided to keep my speed down. I never drove my 2720SL or now my Elkmont over 57MPH. Now there are times like goin down a steep hill when I realize better slow down. I decided that at 57 I was a little faster than what is posted but just fast enough to stay out of the slow lane to allow cars get on or off the freeway.
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02-07-2012, 12:01 AM
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#4
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Guest
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I decided a long time ago for a variety of reasons that it would be extremely foolish to drive over 60mph towing a TM. The signs you saw are correct...55mph is the speed limit in CA for vehicles with trailers. I wouldn't push it over 60...one of those reasons is that our son , who is in the CHP, said that they actively ticket speeding vehicles with trailers.
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02-07-2012, 06:35 AM
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#5
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Guest
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I believe Michigan also has a 55mph limit for trucks and vehicles with trailers. And there may be other states.
For me it's a relief as I normally don't exceed 60mph, and it's nice not having big semi's blowing by me all the time.
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02-07-2012, 06:54 AM
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#6
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Guest
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Crash test
With all the talk about towing and being able to stop safely and survive a crash, I was reminded of this video from awhile back. The insurance companies tested a 1959 Bel Air vs a 2009 Malibu. I remembered those old cars of my misspent youth as being tanks and really thought we were making a mistake trading fuel mileage for structural safety. I never expected the results of this head on crash test.
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02-07-2012, 09:28 AM
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#7
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Site Sponsor
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sunny Beaches of Los Angeles
Posts: 3,274
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Bigbear - I think you got your answer. Slow down, enjoy the scenery, and take some of the cash you save to go buy yourself a meal at In-N-Out Burger! There is one in Redding......
Dave
__________________
2000 2720SL & 2007 3124KB
2005 Toyota Sequoia
Twin Battle Born 12v 100Ah LiFePO4 (BBGC2) batteries, 300W solar on rear shell, Link 10, Lift kit, Maxxis 8008 225 75/R15 E tires
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02-07-2012, 09:47 AM
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#8
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TrailManor Master
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: New Braunfels, Texas
Posts: 919
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In Texas, we have commercial truck speed limits that are 5 mph lower than light duty trucks and cars. Many areas will have a night time limit of 65mph for all vehicles. No minimum for towing. Posted speeds have been increased to 75- and 80 in some places in west Texas. I towed my 3124KB to Arizona recently and on the first full day, I was running close to 70-73mph. Fuel mileage was almost down to 11mpg. I slowed way down to 60-62mph and increased to 14mpg. That was total weight of close to 9k with Tundra, cruiser motorcycle and loaded TM.
__________________
rvcycleguy
TM-2002 3124KB
TV-2003 Toyota Tundra V8 4.7L. Fact. Tow Pkg, air bags
2006 Suzuki Boulevard C50c Motorcycle- crashed- parted out
1956 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Motorcycle-sold
2006 Harley Road King
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02-07-2012, 10:38 AM
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#9
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Guest
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If you have been driving 70 MPH while towing a trailer in Oregon and not have had a ticket then you are very lucky. I believe a section of Interstate might have a 65 or 70 max stretch but that is a single vehicle only. Towing a trailer is 55. Most highways here are 55 with towing a trailer also 55. We have had some horrific wrecks here by people traveling fast with trailers and everything suddenly going sideways so hope you are not one of those that try to go for the most distance in the least amount of time. Eventually it catches up.
Bob
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02-07-2012, 10:40 AM
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#10
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Guest
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From what I understand it all has to do with the number of axles, 3 axles or more and you're the same as a semi truck with a trailer and must abide by the same rules, that's why you'll see large panel trucks doing 65, even though they are bigger than you and your trailer, they still only have 2 axles. I generally follow the semi's, they usually know the best lanes to stay in, especially when merging freeways. I also stick to 60 mph when towing, funny, when you're forced to drive the slower mph you don't get as agitated with other drivers passing you by which makes the drive more enjoyable. The CHP will definitely ticket you for going over the speed limit, CA needs all the money it can get. Also remember to stay in the 2 far right lanes, I got a ticket once for being in the 2nd lane, the lane next to the fast lane, should have fought it as it was a merging lane that became an outside lane a 1/4 mile up but it was in some dink hole town 4 hours away from home.
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