How fast do tow?
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Midwest
towing my 38ft travel trailer at around 9200 pounds I have found I am much more comfortable at 70-72 than I was at 65. The truck gets the same MPG either way. But the front end wander is less troublesome.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 159
Likes: 1
I towed a travel trailer to Alaska and convoyed with a guy towing a 9500 pound 5th wheel camper behind a 6.0L F250. While going down the mountains, he would pass me at 90+mph and coast up the next grade. Some people are crazy and all you can do is stay out of their way and have your fire extinguisher ready.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa, OK
I like to tow right at 68 - 70 mph. If I have to pass, I may go as high as 72 - 75 mph. For the 6.0L, you get pretty decent fuel economy at 2000 RPM (69 mph) and on level roads it will stay in 5th gear. If I get headwinds, I slow to about 65 mph to keep it in 4th/5th gear. If you go slower than about 62 mph, the transmission will downshift to 4th all the time and actually hurt fuel economy. The Hensley hitch along with about 15% of trailer weight on the hitch allows good stability with this rig. Only crosswinds above 30 mph will force me to slow to 60 mph.
The AF32D also has pretty decent brakes, but I definitely keep a big following distance. When I get in urban / suburban interstates, I slow down as many jerks will fill into my following distance. You have to be very vigilant.
I gave up long ago on "ST" trailer tires. Most are pure junk. I'm lucky to have 16" wheels on the Arctic Fox and now run LT truck tires on the trailer. That means I no longer have to worry about the 65 mph tire speed limit or the countless other excuses that tire manufacturers try to throw at you. ST tires are built to jump a very low specification hurdle.
The AF32D also has pretty decent brakes, but I definitely keep a big following distance. When I get in urban / suburban interstates, I slow down as many jerks will fill into my following distance. You have to be very vigilant.
I gave up long ago on "ST" trailer tires. Most are pure junk. I'm lucky to have 16" wheels on the Arctic Fox and now run LT truck tires on the trailer. That means I no longer have to worry about the 65 mph tire speed limit or the countless other excuses that tire manufacturers try to throw at you. ST tires are built to jump a very low specification hurdle.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 7
From: Tennessee
I usually tow my Airstream around 65 MPH. Sometimes when traffic is light and the road is smooth I might push it to 75 going down hills. Sway control is important. The rougher the road the slower I go. If I was pulling a big old top heavy square box, I would probably go slower. Without sway control I don't think I would go over 55. I had a close call North of Birmingham, AL when I hit a rough spot in the road. I ended up one lane over with the trailer swaying bad. I had backed off the sway control because I was stupid enough to follow the instructions. I will never again back off the sway control because of rain. It was a really rough spot where they had patched about a 40 ft section over and over again. I am not sure if I drifted because of bump steer or if I jerked to get out of the bad spot. I ended up hitting the trailer brakes to get the trailer calmed down but the Excursion held steady once I was on real pavement again. I don't like the twitchy nature of the Excursion or any other large Ford truck I have driven.
Perry
Perry
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Midwest
I like to tow right at 68 - 70 mph. If I have to pass, I may go as high as 72 - 75 mph. For the 6.0L, you get pretty decent fuel economy at 2000 RPM (69 mph) and on level roads it will stay in 5th gear. If I get headwinds, I slow to about 65 mph to keep it in 4th/5th gear. If you go slower than about 62 mph, the transmission will downshift to 4th all the time and actually hurt fuel economy. The Hensley hitch along with about 15% of trailer weight on the hitch allows good stability with this rig. Only crosswinds above 30 mph will force me to slow to 60 mph.
The AF32D also has pretty decent brakes, but I definitely keep a big following distance. When I get in urban / suburban interstates, I slow down as many jerks will fill into my following distance. You have to be very vigilant.
I gave up long ago on "ST" trailer tires. Most are pure junk. I'm lucky to have 16" wheels on the Arctic Fox and now run LT truck tires on the trailer. That means I no longer have to worry about the 65 mph tire speed limit or the countless other excuses that tire manufacturers try to throw at you. ST tires are built to jump a very low specification hurdle.
The AF32D also has pretty decent brakes, but I definitely keep a big following distance. When I get in urban / suburban interstates, I slow down as many jerks will fill into my following distance. You have to be very vigilant.
I gave up long ago on "ST" trailer tires. Most are pure junk. I'm lucky to have 16" wheels on the Arctic Fox and now run LT truck tires on the trailer. That means I no longer have to worry about the 65 mph tire speed limit or the countless other excuses that tire manufacturers try to throw at you. ST tires are built to jump a very low specification hurdle.
On trailer tires, I hate the way LT tires make your trailer want to tramline, so I went with an ST tire rated at 75MPH. Greenball and Goodyear both make models that are rated to 75 mph.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Wilsonville, OR
You can go as fast as you want but can you stop? That is the major safety concern. I drive a motor home that is 40,000 lbs and pull my Excursion and going at posted speeds in city traffic I have blowen through several red lights. Scary not fun. Can you stop is the key? Practice a panic stop and you will be surprised how far all that tow weight and speed can push you pass the spot you planned to stop at. If you are pull 9K at 70 MPH you better hope that you have an open lane next to you. Been there.
Make sure those trailer brakes grab first.
Make sure those trailer brakes grab first.
is a BAAAD MAN
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 5
From: Winston Salem NC
I think in flat places like Florida I set my cruise on 62-65, but if there are rolling hills like in central NC I don't use the cruise and speed up a bit down the rollers up to like 70 and then taper off a bit (55-60} as I crest the hills. That helps fuel economy and it keeps the OD from downshifting.
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Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa, OK
You can go as fast as you want but can you stop? That is the major safety concern. I drive a motor home that is 40,000 lbs and pull my Excursion and going at posted speeds in city traffic I have blowen through several red lights. Scary not fun. Can you stop is the key? Practice a panic stop and you will be surprised how far all that tow weight and speed can push you pass the spot you planned to stop at. If you are pull 9K at 70 MPH you better hope that you have an open lane next to you. Been there.
Make sure those trailer brakes grab first.
Make sure those trailer brakes grab first.
I do agree that TV/TT combos do not stop as well as they could. I upgraded my electric brakes to 7000# rated brakes. They still could be better, even though they are the best I've ever towed in 14 years of RVing. ID like disks with hydraulics tied into TV.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 16
From: Ouray, CO
I wonder how effective the brakes are on the ex being towed, if the engine isn't running producing pressure for the brakes?
Joe28443
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 4
From: Hampstead NC
60-65 at most. Some downhill runs I found myself at 70 but I know the Ex does not have the stability my Dually had. With the Dually I felt secure 70-75 but still kept it 60-65. With the diesel I pull best at 65-70. I hope the chip will help out closer to 65 as I like that speed best.
My biggest concern has always been the ability to stop quick or go around trash without sway. The Ex does not have enough control in these areas, or at least to my liking. On a side note with 23 years pushing a sled as a cop I have driven over 140, slid on ice at 55, jumped embankments, done 180 spins and played doing all sorts of stupid acts called Executive Protection driving. Cute name for driving stupid but I learned how bad things can be. The longer the trailer and the heavier it is will also determine how fast. My trailer is 20 feet and weighs 7000 loaded. It is the most stable trailer I have pulled in 20 years. My last was a 38 foot 5th topping 15,000. It too was stable but I think the triple axle and dually on the truck gave it stability.
Drive and try to stop or turn quick to see where you are comfortable. Just like racing it is not how fast you can drive but how fast can you stop. Most of all drive and tow as much as you can and enjoy the fun that goes with it.
My biggest concern has always been the ability to stop quick or go around trash without sway. The Ex does not have enough control in these areas, or at least to my liking. On a side note with 23 years pushing a sled as a cop I have driven over 140, slid on ice at 55, jumped embankments, done 180 spins and played doing all sorts of stupid acts called Executive Protection driving. Cute name for driving stupid but I learned how bad things can be. The longer the trailer and the heavier it is will also determine how fast. My trailer is 20 feet and weighs 7000 loaded. It is the most stable trailer I have pulled in 20 years. My last was a 38 foot 5th topping 15,000. It too was stable but I think the triple axle and dually on the truck gave it stability.
Drive and try to stop or turn quick to see where you are comfortable. Just like racing it is not how fast you can drive but how fast can you stop. Most of all drive and tow as much as you can and enjoy the fun that goes with it.
I have a 34' trailer myself and know what you mean about stability. Since I got the Propride it's been a lot better. I myself have been the executive protection training and had a blast. What state are you in?