towing speeds

[sonoma1993]

Why do most auto manufacture recommend towing speeds of 55mph?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: sonoma1993
Why do most auto manufacture recommend towing speeds of 55mph?

Because it keeps the roads moving!

 

[MoPHo]

cuz when you make a turn going 90mph in an SUV towing something, its just not safe.

 

[Ornery]

1. I believe it's to keep from overheating the tranny, but can't find a link to back that up...

 

[EMPshockwave82]

i thought it was stress on the transmission as well

 

[laurenlex]

CYA. Liability.

 

[sonoma1993]

im also assuming it when u have to stop in a hurry, going 70 mph while towing going to take awhile to stop

 

[bonkers325]

so you dont kill other people on the road when you have to stop short and your trailer comes flying off at 75mph

 

[iamwiz82]

transmission, braking ability, lowered gas mileage, stupid people, the answers go on and on. But sonoma1993 pretty much covered it.

 

[laurenlex]

uh... trailers have their own brakes.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: laurenlex
uh... trailers have their own brakes.

Yes, some do. Lots do not.

 

[Soapy Bones]

Generally people have nailed it, too much strain on transmission and overheating are major concerns. Braking is also a concern but as it was mentioned, they have brakes. In Ohio it is illegal to pull anything over 16' without trailer brakes hooked up and working, however that law varies from state to state. You also must have an electronic brake controller in your vehicle to activate those brakes, they dont just work on their own unless they are surge brakes (worthless).

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: lather164
Generally people have nailed it, too much strain on transmission and overheating are major concerns. Braking is also a concern but as it was mentioned, they have brakes. In Ohio it is illegal to pull anything over 16' without trailer brakes hooked up and working, however that law varies from state to state. You also must have an electronic brake controller in your vehicle to activate those brakes, they dont just work on their own unless they are surge brakes (worthless).

I know LOTS of people in both MI and OH and I can guarantee you that they don't use their trailer brakes. I have even broken the law in this regard. I was flat towed a couple of times with a tow strap and it was nothing short of stupid and extremely dangerous.

 

[sonoma1993]

what are surge brakes?

 

[Soapy Bones]

When I tow I generally have the trailer brakes on VERY light as I like to have control of the trailer no matter what it is, 20' TT or 40' Fifth Wheel. Its nice to have them there though if you need to manually slide them on so you can stop in a hurry.

We don't deal with surge brakes very often so my understanding is somewhat basic but my understanding is that there is no electricity that runs to the brakes, they are inertia activated at the toungue of the trailer/tow vehicle hitch point. As you slow down on the tow vehicle there is more pressure at the toungue which in turn activates, and here is where im a bit fuzzy, the brakes on the trailer. I'm not sure if this is a hydrolic system from the toungue or exactly how that works. The problem with this is that you have very little control. If you slow down your brakes will activate on the trailer no matter what, and sometimes you do not want that to happen. THis is why we almost always use electric brakes and anything I've ever sold/dealt with primarily has them.

 

[The Stigenator]

when i tow on teh focus, i can do 70mph but its like really heaving at that.. did 80 once. but it can do 55 no probs. i ofcourse engine brake on my car, its a stick shift.. so hardly have to brake to slow down.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
when i tow on teh focus, i can do 70mph but its like really heaving at that.. did 80 once. but it can do 55 no probs. i ofcourse engine brake on my car, its a stick shift.. so hardly have to brake to slow down.

YOu actually tow something with a Ford Focus? What? A tricylcle? It cannot be safe at all!

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
when i tow on teh focus, i can do 70mph but its like really heaving at that.. did 80 once. but it can do 55 no probs. i ofcourse engine brake on my car, its a stick shift.. so hardly have to brake to slow down.

YOu actually tow something with a Ford Focus? What? A tricylcle? It cannot be safe at all!

its perfectly safe as long as he stays with in the manufacturer spec. unfornanetly the focus the maximum weight the focus is rated for is 1000 pounds WITHOUT any cargo in the actual car.