Is it expected we tow our camper at the speed limit??

[Barry G]

Agreed! But for me my car struggles towing that weight up hills so we are forced to slow down...but damned if that means I shouldn't be towing cos my cars not powerful enough!!!!

Spot on Linda. 
Anyway, so long as you can maintain reasonable revs and speed in whichever gear you are in going up hill you are in the right gear for you car, payload and conditions.p
Whatever speed that is in 3rd gear, for example, may well be the 'correct' gear in that instance.
Hills don't last forever, so the P plate hoons can just get a little bit older learning some patience behind you until it is safe to move over to let them pass.

[firefox]

Personally i think it should work with + or - 10% of the marked speed limit. I hate being stuck behind cars doing 70km in a 100km zone. I know what towing is like some have seen my 9MTR 3.5T caravan i tow. I normally sit on about 90-95 in 100k zones. It's good for the car, good for fuel.

I have to also consider braking at these speed. Pulling up 3.5T behind the car is tricky (straight!) yes i have 4x huge 12" brakes pulling the trailer up but i really drive to mindful of the surroundings the road type etc.

i.e in some roads where the road has been repaired i normally will drop to 85km/hr purely as the road is all bumpy and i get thrown all over the place. If i put the brakes on heavy the trailer jumps all over the place.

I'm within all my limits, but i think its gets back to towing within your limits.! Thats simple..

P.s i never acceralate in double lanes (always to the left) and in most cases if i see a few cars behind me, i'll even just back off that fraction to ensure they all get past and are happy doing their +10% of the posted speed limit..

[Brutus]

Simple, let the conditions dictate the speed you drive at. 100k/h is the limit not the desired speed. Just like 0.05 is the legal limit for alcohol whilst behind the wheel.

As a person who has been affected by tragedy resulting from a speeding motorist I have zero tolerance for any person caught speeding. I just wish the fine/penalty was greater as the one I have is with me for life.

For all of you who might think it's okay to do 110 in a 100 zone but when you next tow your camper try and pull it up in a hurry and see how much further it takes you to stop, you might just learn something

[kiva]

I think the question should be "Why do people feel the need to drive slower when towing than when not towing?"

Safety. There is a serious amount of momentum with a vehicle and trailer travelling at speed, hence braking distance is increased.

[KingBilly]

1. Increased braking distance
2. Decreased vehicle maneuverability should something bounce in front of the vehicle

I typically drop my speed between 5-10 kph because I'm towing a bloody heavy camper trailer, not because my car is not powerful enough.

Safety. There is a serious amount of momentum with a vehicle and trailer travelling at speed, hence braking distance is increased.

So all B doubles should only do 90kph?

KB

[Rumpig]

Hills don't last forever, so the impatient twats can just get a little bit older learning some patience behind you until it is safe to move over to let them pass.

fixed it for you...sadly it's not just P platers who need to learn some patience

[BigJules]

I drive as fast as I bloody can. Get out of the way you slow b4stards. Well, I used to. Last few trips I have taken more leisurely approach and say on the limit up to 100-105kph, to see what sort of difference it made to my fuel consumption.

This discussion is relevant to all drivers, whether towing or not. If you can't make the limit, don't hold everyone else up unnecessarily. Towing 3.5T around I would always look at what was happening behind me and wave folks past where they seemed unsure if they could mKe it past me.


Julian

[Bird]

If you can't make the limit, don't hold everyone else up unnecessarily.

in my best Herbert voice..


"...but its my right to sit on 80 in a 100 zone for 1000klms holding everyone up and never pull over.. they can wait... until I get there then pull over and then and only then can they pass me.. "
(c) nearly every old **** with a caravan I've ever seen.

[jetcrew]

I personally love the cb channel stickers.

Ken & barb CH 19

I call up

KEN Barb do you copy

Ken here

ken thats a nice van you have there where have you been

oh barb and I have been at XXXX

Ken where are you heading

We are heading to XXXXX

 ken if you dont mind is there any chance you an barb could hurry the FCUK up because we all want to get somewhere. And your doing 80KPH

Radio goes quite

Ken , ken ,ken do you copy

next thing ken pulls over

Love it I do it all the time... sometimes even others on scan join in.... I figure Ken wants me to call him by putting his number on the back of the van.

Jet

[Bird]

I personally love the cb channel stickers.

Ken & barb CH 19

I call up

KEN Barb do you copy

Ken here

ken thats a nice van you have there where have you been

oh barb and I have been at XXXX

Ken where are you heading

We are heading to XXXXX

 ken if you dont mind is there any chance you an barb could hurry the FCUK up because we all want to get somewhere. And your doing 80KPH

Radio goes quite

Ken , ken ,ken do you copy

next thing ken pulls over

Love it I do it all the time... sometimes even others on scan join in.... I figure Ken wants me to call him by putting his number on the back of the van.

Jet

[Marcus73]

I've gotta remember that one... Love it!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[oldmate]

I personally love the cb channel stickers.

Ken & barb CH 19

I call up

KEN Barb do you copy

Ken here

ken thats a nice van you have there where have you been

oh barb and I have been at XXXX

Ken where are you heading

We are heading to XXXXX

 ken if you dont mind is there any chance you an barb could hurry the FCUK up because we all want to get somewhere. And your doing 80KPH

Radio goes quite

Ken , ken ,ken do you copy

next thing ken pulls over

Love it I do it all the time... sometimes even others on scan join in.... I figure Ken wants me to call him by putting his number on the back of the van.

Jet

An absolute pisser. I will remember that one hahahahaha

[Pipeliner]

1. Increased braking distance

That's a good reason to leave more distance between you and the car in front, not to travel slower with an open road in front of you and a queue of cars behind!

2. Decreased vehicle maneuverability should something bounce in front of the vehicle

OK, that makes more sense - but if something "bounces out" close to you, 5-10kph speed drop is hardly likely to make much difference.

[Marschy]

That's a good reason to leave more distance between you and the car in front, not to travel slower with an open road in front of you and a queue of cars behind!

The difference in braking distance between 100km and 110km is around 10 metres, that increases with mass.

OK, that makes more sense - but if something "bounces out" close to you, 5-10kph speed drop is hardly likely to make much difference.

Refer to my response above.

No harm in being cautious. However, the harm that impatience can cause can have fatal consequences.

Cheers, Marschy

[xmasbaby67]

We usually tow at the speed limit. 

Jet that is bloody hilarious and makes me want to install a cb in my Prado just to do that 

Would have loved to have done that on our way home from Lightening Ridge earlier this year hahaha 

[Brucer]

P1 platers in NSW can only legally do 90kph AND are allowed to tow.
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/licensing/gettingalicence/car/provisional_licence.html

Personally I think the contributes to more accidents than it prevents. A law abiding P Plater doing 90 can hold up a long line of traffic on some roads, which in turn causes dangerous overtaking manoeuvres.
I'm with the OP in that I am often unable to maintain the speed limit when towing on uphill grades no different in that way from so many trucks, but to have legal road users actually prevented from driving to the full limit in otherwise safe conditions IMO does not make the roads safer.

[austastar]

Hi,


We have a few old rules on the books here, 90 kmh with a trailer, not many know about it.
It is observed more in breach than compliance, and harks back to the '50s when a pillion speed limit was introduced for motorcycles I suspect.



Link


cheers

[UIZ733]

Yes.

[#jonesy]

Did a couple of checks of legislation.

The Australian Road Rules say you can travel at whatever the sign says except if you are a bus with a GVM over 5T or another vehicle with a GVM over 12T then it is a max of 100kph.

That is how it is in Vic.
Rules are about 90% the same between states. The 10% is getting smaller. Takes years though to change and agree.
Australian road rules are "model" rules which the states tweak 
Heavy veh laws are going to adopted by most states as they are written. ( not WA and NT I believe)

Licence rego drink driving etc are up to each state.
Can't fight something in court based on another States laws. Basically come to my state play by my rules. When I come to your state I obey yours.
As for the OP I agree keep up or let me past when safe.

[DRB120]

We will generally sit within 5k's of the speed limit. But must say having a V6 Prado I will use around 3L Per 100 more towing at 110Km's compared with 95-100Km's.

I think it really just comes down to common courtesy, if you can move over and let them go by then do so. In saying that everyone just needs to learn a bit of patience.

My biggest annoyance is when Im doing the limit with trailer in tow and some moron wants to sit 2 metres away, in which case Ill start to slow down and if they dont back off a light tap of the brakes will usually make them understand.

[woolgoolgaoffroad]

We will generally sit within 5k's of the speed limit. But must say having a V6 Prado I will use around 3L Per 100 more towing at 110Km's compared with 95-100Km's.

I think it really just comes down to common courtesy, if you can move over and let them go by then do so. In saying that everyone just needs to learn a bit of patience.

My biggest annoyance is when Im doing the limit with trailer in tow and some moron wants to sit 2 metres away, in which case Ill start to slow down and if they dont back off a light tap of the brakes will usually make them understand.

Totally agree !!

[Pog]

Tow at whatever speed you feel comfortable with - that is your right as a driver to keep everyone safe.   Only you know how safe you feel!

But FFS - if you're traveling slower than the speed limit keep a good eye on what's going on behind you and let people pass wherever and whenever you can - that's courtesy and will be appreciated.   

Even if you're traveling at or near the speed limit do the same.   It's not up to you to slow someone else down who might be traveling over the limit - that's their problem!

Exactly...  Courtesy on the road goes along way on the road.

[cyberess]

In the NT we have a 130kmh speed limit which my setup can do even towing --  bit high on the fuel consumption at that those speeds.

But soon I will not have a hope in hell doing the speed limit  , as were getting open speed limit again in the NT. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-15/open-speed-limit-trial-alice-christmas/5022962?section=nt

It's a rather useless move IMO, as a  lot of that road is unfenced with live stock on the road etc.

 

[_Gecko_]

I have a old falcon panelvan and a home built trailer that i put electric brakes on.
I drive slower for a few reasons.
-My panelvanvan has 380 000 odd thousand k's on the orig motor, so she sometimes doesnt have the steam for some hills
-My van has ancient braking system so i like to leave a gap in front of me that i can feel comfortable with, if anyone has driven and old falcon they know what i mean.
 (and damn you little car drivers thinking that gap is for them....)
-If i cant do the signed limit i am the first one to call on the UHF and let anyone know i will pull over for them to pass once safe and i do pull over and wave people through. (not to many replies though on uhf i must add.)
-Also the fact i love my van, she goes everywhere and doesnt let us down too much for all i put it through.

I now live on the road full time and am loving it, need to get me some Myswag stickers so least you know who your yelling at for holding you up.
But i am not going to stop seeing this amazing country of ours!


Gecko

[TOPNDR]

Nanango to Kilcoy yesterday, towing the Q on the speed limit. Young miss y-gen screaches to a halt at a side street, thankfully realising that she wouldn't make it onto the highway without me T-boning her.

She then proceeds to overtake me across double white lines, leading to a sweeping left hand bend that she couldn't see around.  And then overtook the car in front, again across double white lines.

And they say bikers are temporary Australians!