How fast do you drive?

[utmtman]

Today made a propane run to Flying J in Winslow, Az. On the way back had an Es*** Motor Home pass me like I was sittin still. Figured they were doing 75+, I was doing just under 70 (driving my toad 99 GMC Sonoma Pickup) and the speed limit east bound I-40 is 75. Now I always heard its not good to haul your toad much over 65 let alone 75+, and this is not the first time one of them thar big old RV's has passed me on the interstates. Either them folks gots lots of money for diesel or they is just always in one big hurry.
So lets here it, how fast do you drive? I will start by saying I try to keep my RV around 59 to 61. Next!!!!

[bmk01]

Me 60 - 65 mph, If you check tire manufactures web sites they all say max speed for trailer tires is 65 mph, also anything over 60 mph makes your gas milage go down by the square route, (Wind resistance).

[whodo]

We try to stay around 60, unless the posted speed limit is less.

[dutchdi]

We're never in a hurry and drive about 56 mph. Works for us, helps with fuel mileage and have been doing that speed for 12 years. Diana

[jdensie]

Just last week we came up I-95, I-64, I-81 from Fl. to Pa. and was never over 62 mph. If we were faster only to make a pass. This was a 40 ft. DP. Any faster and the fuel drops off a lot. On secondary roads we are between 50- 55 are whatever the condition permits, but not faster. Best fuel mileage is at this speed. Have safe and happy travels.

[stevesandidge]

i find that when driving the hills around ne tn, i 40 and i81 and i 26 that i have to gain a speed advantage going down the hills to be able to reach the top of the next one. i'm in a 37 foot holiday rambler, with a 460 ford engine in it.....i wish i had a diesel lol with turbo of course! lol dad has a bluebird and it maintians its speed goin up and down the hills around here.

[cb5300]

I have a 2008 Monaco Signature (Just traded up from a 2007 Dynasty) and I usually run about 70 mph.

[ibtallwalt]

55 is the top end, with some rare exceptions, and of course less on non-highway routes.

Its the journey, that counts, not how soon you get there.;)

[donnie]

We just bought a 29' Monaco and are on our first trip in it.
I tried to stay around 60-65. At that speed. I feel comfortable.
IMHO, anything faster in a 14,000 pound box on wheels, is not adviseable.

[retired2001]

I try to stay @ 55 mph. It has been the best speed for fuel consumption, from what I can tell. I also take the cruise off when I get into hilly terrain. Works for me and I do let people pass or I speed up, so not to create a hazard.

[utmtman]

I have now found that at 2000 rpm which is around 59 to 61 mph I get my best gas mileage, now averaging 7.5 mpg.

[safari1]

I run 60/61 miles per hour in my 95 Safari motorhome with a 5.9 230 HP cummins diesel. this is right at 1850 RPM and gives me 10 MPG average. By the way ,in Calif hiway patrol says 55 is speed limit and over that they can write you a ticket anytime. 60 is close enough that I havent been bothered though. Of course there are a lot over 65 too!! I would rather not be the one to get the tickets either. John D

[bugs53]

I have now found that at 2000 rpm which is around 59 to 61 mph I get my best gas mileage, now averaging 7.5 mpg.

Took a look at your blog and thought is was great.. I loved the picture of the snow in Utah.

We don't see much of that here.

stan

[utmtman]

Thanks Stan, Glad you liked it. I really need to get in and update it but I have been so busy lately and just have not got back to takin care of business. LOL

[terryb149]

We have a 40' diesel pusher with a cummings 400 hp engine. I find that by keeping my speed around 60 I get the best milage.

[cruzmastr]

It all depends on what we're doing and why. Most times I drive the speed limit or 60 mph whichever is slower but we slow down in bad weather. If we're just getting from here to there, I'll sometimes push it to 66-68 on Interstates (I'm tire-limited to 75 mph). I like slower because it saves gas (60mph increases my trip average mileage by up to 1 mpg) plus I like a leisurely pace (I can look around).

Yes it takes a few more driving minutes but my vacation days typically run from 100 miles to a very few at 500 miles and average less than 300 miles. That figures out to an extra 1/2 hour average and extra hour for my longest days. I don't mind the extra time and often find I'm less tired than when I drive at the higher speeds.

Oh yes, I generally run closer to traffic speeds on congested and/or urban Interstates just to be a bit less of a hazard. It's amazing though how many people speed up to get around or merge in front of a MH then slow down and I end up passing them. Guess they assume a MH couldn't be running fast enough to suit them.

Jim in Des Moines

[jwandpaula]

We try to stay between 55 and 60-----wonder how much fuel and LIVES we would save if we all drove 55 ? Why do we have to wait for our government to tell us to drive 55 to get us out of this fuel mess ?????

[jimsarge]

I drive my 1998 HR Endeavor 37WDS at around 65-70 MPH pulling a dolly with the my toad. I get an average of 10 MPG ever since I have had it since new in 1998. I did try to drive at 55 MPH once and the mileage dropped to 7-8 MPG, so now its back to 65-70 for me. The Cummings 275 with 6 speed auto has no trouble with the hills, as they seem to have disappeared. Jim O.

[pogeybait]

I tow a Jeep Commander and try not to go over 65. When you are towing, you have to take the tow car into consideration. I have a 600 HP Cummings and could certainly go faster. Don't want to hurt anyone including myself or wife.

[bukhrn]

Last year we were driving around 65, and got 8 mpg, with a 30ft class C, with a dolly & toad. This year we made big trip west & back (+/- 7000 mi.), at 55 & got 10.5 mpg.
It did make a difference that we also were in NO big hurry to get anywhere.

[billshr]

I keep it at 60-62 mph with a 400 cummins DP, 40' HR endeavor. It gives me around 8-9 mpg.
Bill

[chips]

Driving around 60 on the Interstate is plenty fast. After all, part of the journey is seeing the scenery along the way. When pulling a toad, they say 60 should be top speed. What more can I say except watch out for those idiots out there.

[jgr1957]

Today made a propane run to Flying J in Winslow, Az. On the way back had an Es*** Motor Home pass me like I was sittin still. Either them folks gots lots of money for diesel or they is just always in one big hurry.


Well, yeah, they gotta get home and put it on the market before they lose another couple of thousand bucks in resale value!

[retired2001]

I "now" drive as close to 55mph as possible w/possible. I calculated that my mpg went up between .5 to 1 mpg when I dropped down to 55 from 60+. I drive a '07 39' Winnebago Adventurer w/8.1L & Allison transmission. I also pull a 2004 1/2 ton Crew Cab Chevy Z71. I would like to be pulling a lighter "toad", but the "resale" on pickups keeps me in this one.

[zeeman]

I drive a Ford 460 in a 37 foot Pace Arrow Class A and pull along a Geo
Tracker. At 75 MPH I get 5 MPG with a gas engine. That's been working
out to about $1/mile. Fortunately, I travel 100 miles or less each time I
camp. Glad that I can afford it!

[murffdog]

Afford it or not, at 75 and towing a car, someday you won't be able to stop and you'll look funny in a ditch someplace.

[mo21012]

keeping the speed between 55 and 60 has made close to a 1 mpg increase in our mileage with a 2007 Fleetwood Excursion 39S. Every bit helps which budgeting for fuel on a trip.

[lindah]

Never more than 60 mph, usually around 55 mph. Get much better fuel mileage driving slower.

[tumwatergal]

We try to keep our speed between 55 and 60 mph. Besides the savings on fuel, it just doesn't make sense to drive a 40-foot rig faster than that for safety reasons. Besides, we full time now and we try not to be in that "hurry up we're on vacation" mind set.

tumwatergal
www.bruceandmargiesfulltimejourney.blogspot.com

[r1kirby]

After being on the road for nearly a year now I have learned several interesting things. The first is that posted speed limits do not apply to anyone. You cannot use the two-second rule on the road. I short, if you leave a proper following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, some idiot will squeeze in between you and the vehicle. There are those who will always tailgate no matter what speed you are traveling.

Posted speed limit do vary from state to state. I most states are posted at 65 mph, but no one drive the speed limit, and God help you if you do. There are several states that have speed limits posted at 70 mph. After talking with my brother-in-law, who has been driving tractor-trailer for over 20 years, I learned the following. A tractor trailer rig with a 53 foot trailer (depending one the weight of the load) at 65 mph, will take any where from three to four footballs in length to make an emergency stop. Think about when the truck is tailgating you, and you should suddenly have to make an emergency stop.

Oh ya, the speed limits in most states are not enforced…. Just food for thought.

[wagon217]

I can't drive 55! Well not on open roads or Interstates. I run a diesel pusher with a 6 speed transmission. For me a good speed for fuel economy and comfort is about 63 MPH. At 60 my RPMs are just below the torque range and any slower my transmission shifts down to 5th witch increases the RPMs. It is recommended to operate the diesel about 200 RPMs over the torque range, so at 1400 -1500 rpms gives me that nice cruising speed.

Happy motoring :)

[jonesrvers]

I drive a 32' class c, ford e450 and pull a jeep wrangler. Best highway speed is 63. Anything higher just does not feel good. Add high wind and I slow to 58. Gas mileage at 60 is 7mpg, 65 is 6mpg, 55 is 8mpg. Wind effects mileage more than speed. Had to make a hard stop once pulling the jeep at 65mph. I sweat bullits but all was OK. Had to change my shorts.

[montanabound]

Usually around 60