Trailer Towing Speed

sharonbolton · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 7:58 am Post subject:

Our 2005 CD 22 rides on a Magic Tilt trailer with surge break mechanism. The tow vehicle is a 2007 Chevy Silverado crew cab pickup, 1500 series half-ton, heavy duty, with 6.0 litre V-8 engine, and tow package.

All this is new to us this year (2009), so we have been ascending the learning curve. Since the end of May we have trailered the boat an estimated 2,600 miles from our home base in central Lower Michigan. Mostly trips have been in Michigan, but one trip to the Thousand Islands on the St. Lawrence River in northern New York accounts for about 1,200 miles.

Generally, we find it comfortable towing at about 60-65 mph on expressways (our Michigan speed limit on X-ways in 70 mph), and back off to 50-55 mph on main two-lane highways with 55 mph speed limits. A lot depends on condition of the roads – bad pavement dictates slower travel, lots of curves slows us down, etc.. At these speeds we generally can rely on cruise control to maintain a steady pace. Gas mileage drops to about 10-11 mpg towing, from about 15-17 mpg without boat and trailer.

Dick Bolton (after approval by Wife Sharon B)

Levitation · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:59 am Post subject:

Depends on the road and the traffic - but with a Diesel 2500HD truck, the R25 and trailer at 10,500 pounds tows quiet as a mouse at 70 on expressways... Coming down out of the mountains of the Virginias on 2 lane highway, we were considerably slower 40-50 much of the time...

baboos_boat · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:49 am Post subject: Towing Incident

We have never had any problems towing my CD22. Always do about 50 - 55 mph and try to stay ahead of need to slow down and stop.

In 2004 I towed the boat from Oak Harbour, Wa. back to Fairbanks. Also had a new BIg Foot cabover camper on my F-350 Ford Diesel. One evening in Canada just after dark, while trying to make a campground, a young moose stepped into the road. We passed so close I could have wipped its nose off with a hankerchef. What braking I had time to do worked just fine with surge brakes. Other than that once no problems.

Doryman · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:24 am Post subject:

jack&susan · Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject:

You couldn't have a better tow vehicle. I use to have a F-250 diesel, towed a 25' Airstream, 8000 lbs.+, and it was rock solid. Now I tow the same trailer with a diesel Excursion. I always tow the speed limit but when the road/traffic conditions are not ideal I slow down and leave plenty of room for stopping.