towing speed limit

[woodyracing]

the speed limit for towing on a motorway is 60 mph
which seems very slow, does anyone actually stick to that speed ?

[Bob Pearson]

We aim at 65-70, the police have never bothered us. The biggest problem is that we are excluded from the outside lane, this means that when two lorries are driving side by side for mile after mile you cannot overtake.

[Tim Falce]

I averaged 57.777 mph, Croft to London on Sunday afternoon, so I was 2.2 mph under the limit
Being sensible though, Have you ever made an emergency stop at 60+mph whilst towing, or in the wet? I think 60 mph is reasonable. I also think the 56mph speed limiters for trucks should be done away with, that would help to stop the bunching in lane 2.

[woodyracing]

I've never towed but I'd guess going at 60mph that all the trucks will be trying to overtake.

[ghinzani]

Only modern Lorries (note the correct term here) are governed to 56mph, many of the older ones go much faster - I had a guy here at the farm in a Volvo F88 from 1973 that easily does 80mph loaded with trees!

[Tim Falce]

I think all trucks need to have limiters fitted by now,even the F88, is it still running? That brings back memories.
I could never get more than 70 mph out of our F88s.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by ghinzani
Only modern Lorries (note the correct term here)

We calls 'em wagons round here!

[ghinzani]

Whatever - its just that Trucks to me are Railway Wagons. I'm sure it was an F88, I will have to wait for the pics to develop (anorak) but he certainly had the deisel pump opened up judding my the geet cloud of black smoke!

[ghinzani]

hmm poor spelling by me there and I noticed it too late to edit it - it should say "judging by the geet cloud of black smerk"

On a similar note on towing...I'm picking up a trailer for my car this weekend and there won't be a stabiliser on it. Is a stabiliser needed when towing a car on a trailer?

p.s. I didn't realise the limit was 60 so it's a good job you posted!

[Spudgun]

I always thought the limit was 50 from driving in convoy to kart meetings with my cousin.. Oh well, what do I know? I've never had to tow a trailer..

[bacon sandwich]

No Woody - I don't think many people stick to that - only if they have to because of the weight they've got behind them!
I think Bob - you have highlighted a good point which in my opinion, no-one knows - that if you are towing a trailer - you cannot go in the outside lane on a motorway - the amount of big 4x4's I see thundering down the outside lane at about 80!
I think the frightening thing is people hack along without realising what's behind them is snaking from side to side in the wind.
I always think of Police Camera Action! and the caravan toppling over on it's side - taking the towing vehicle with it - it don't take much or long!
Pmol - ypu're testing my knowledge now - but I believe you do need a stabiliser these days - but I do stand to be corrected!

[Chris Y]

Originally posted by bacon sandwich
I think Bob - you have highlighted a good point which in my opinion, no-one knows - that if you are towing a trailer - you cannot go in the outside lane on a motorway

Don't follow my example and learn tha hard way. Warwickshire police gave me a fixed penalty (3 points) for doing just that - trying to get past a pair of battling lorries

[Tim Falce]

Is a stabiliser needed when towing a car on a trailer?
I never use a stabiliser, and they are not a legal requirement. If the car is loaded properly you shouldn't need one. The only time i have ever had any snaking problems has been whilst towing a caravan, when high sided vehicles get to close overtaking. Then you get low air pressure inbetween and that's when the problems start.

[Morris 1100]

You must have more weight foward of the axle for stability, if the trailer shakes you need to move the car further foward.
The car must be secure on the trailer, don't just run it against some chocks and stick the handbrake on!
Tyre pressure on the trailer is very important! This can cause instability.

Notice that center of the car is foward of the centre of the axles of the trailer and the trailer is still sitting almost level, I towed this car 800km!

[Peter Mallett]

One could of course ask why?

[Morris 1100]

Because I didn't want to be near it!

[Warwick]

Heed Morris 1100's advice I have towed a car with as it turned out a car that wasn't loaded properly,it was a rear engined off roader loaded front on which placed the weight to far back.

At 80kmh it developed a slight weave which in a fraction of a second turned into a massive weave and meant we went from heading North in the outside lane to facing South off the side of the road on the inside lane.

We were very lucky there was no one in the lane beside us and we didn't do any damage to us or anyone else,after reloading the vehicle rear on we set off again and had no further problems.

Speed limit in NZ with a trailer is 80kmh,although most people ignore it and unless you are doing something silly you aren't likely to be ticketed

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by Morris 1100
Because I didn't want to be near it!

[carrera]

60 mph would have been fast enough coming back from the last meeting at Mallory, as it was the M1/M25 roadworks/accidents combined to give an average speed of about 25 mph.
When towing keep a good distance between you and the guy in front.

[graham bahr]

generally i tow at 70 although sometimes will go higher to avoid loosing too much speed if a steepish hill is imminant,
as for stabalisers i've never used one, i just work out the position on the trailer that the car car has to be in to tow best and make sure i always load it in the same place, if for whatever reason i have something other than my usual race car on the trailer i can usuall get it roaded right first time by standing back and looking to see how much nose down the trailer sits in conjuction with the the amount that my tow cars rear suspension is compressed.
as for the third lane i never use it, the police seem to ignore trailers that are towing straight and steady provided they aren't braking the overal speed limit. but i would say useing the third lane is just asking to be busted.

[Morris 1100]

Another problem you can get with racing cars on trailers is rear wings, people forget that the wing gives downforce so the faster they tow the more weight is on the rear of the trailer and the more unstable it gets.

Then there are brakes, I use electric brakes and they are the best, you can wind them up or down depending on weight and conditions.
Over ride brakes need the car to stop the trailer to work the brakes and there is no adjustment for conditions, If the tow car is skidding down the road with all the wheels locked up chances are that the trailer brakes are doing nothing!

[Morris 1100]

I wonder what this bloke thinks of his stabilisers

[Chartman]

I tend to stick to 60 mph but then I tow with a 10 year old Ford Transit camper van and thats about as fast as it goes, trailer or not.

[DAVID PATERSON]

I tow at 60 - 70 mph, but i'm conscious of doing everything gently, accelerating, braking and turning. My best advice is make sure you regularly check the wheels, tyres and bearings on your trailer.

It amazes me how many people put ****ty, mismatched tyres on their trailer and wonder why it walks around. I have identical radials in near new condition on my trailer and it tows really well.