What speed do you tow at?

mdt · 24 April 2007, 21:08

Got a few long halls this week towing the RIB and was keen to know what sort of towing speed others settle on.

And before any one starts taking the moral high ground and or starts quoting the Highway Code, I know what the law of the land says. But, I am just keen to know what you consider to be a cruse.

Pete7 · 24 April 2007, 21:33

55 - 60 is comforable for both boat and disco and its relaxed. Take your time, ribs don't bounce down a motorway very well, ask the editior of Practical Boat Owner as she rolled a rib a month ago

she should have stayed in the kitchen

Nos4r2 · 24 April 2007, 21:48

I tow at between 58 and 65. Fast enough that I don't get in the way of trucks but not fast enough to extract the Michael.

NautiAndNice · 24 April 2007, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

... she should have stayed in the kitchen

Less of that, thank you!
Some of us tow better than we can cook

Poly · 24 April 2007, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

Got a few long halls this week towing the RIB and was keen to know what sort of towing speed others settle on.

And before any one starts taking the moral high ground and or starts quoting the Highway Code, I know what the law of the land says. But, I am just keen to know what you consider to be a cruse.

where you are going, overtaking with the rib is going to be virtually impossible for much of it - so your speed is going to be determined by the truck or caravan in front anyway.

codprawn · 24 April 2007, 22:40

It all depends on so many factors - some things I have towed felt dodgy at 40mph - my boat on the triple axle felt fine at any speed - had to make an effort to keep within the limits.

Beware of steep downhills - not so much on motorways but fast A roads - can feel like the whole lot wants to swop places but as I said it all depends on the setup.

codprawn · 24 April 2007, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

55 - 60 is comforable for both boat and disco and its relaxed. Take your time, ribs don't bounce down a motorway very well, ask the editior of Practical Boat Owner as she rolled a rib a month ago

she should have stayed in the kitchen

She wasn't the one who was in charge of Gypsy Moth IV was she???

NautiAndNice · 24 April 2007, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

She wasn't the one who was in charge of Gypsy Moth IV was she???

Think she was towing the PBO RIB....

codprawn · 24 April 2007, 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by NautiAndNice

Think she was towing the PBO RIB....

Well the skipper of Gypsy Moth IV is after a new job.........

AndyB007 · 24 April 2007, 22:51

Key question - what condition are your trailer tyres in?

If near new they will probably be fine well above what you could expect to tow at (usually speed rated to 170km/h if I recall correctly)

However, if they are a few years old, been left exposed to sunlight suffering UV degradation, been run below recommended pressures and have a few cracks in the sidewall just for good measure, make sure you carry a spare!!

Remember, the stresses on the tyre rise exponentially with speed so the increase from 60 to 70mph (17%) increases the stresses by 36%, at 80mph increased by 78%. If you have any defects they'll soon become apparent!

Andy

whiteminiman · 24 April 2007, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyB007

Remember, the stresses on the tyre rise exponentially with speed so the increase from 60 to 70mph (17%) increases the stresses by 36%, at 80mph increased by 78%. If you have any defects they'll soon become apparent!

Interesting. Why is this?

Cheers,
WMM

mdt · 24 April 2007, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

where you are going, overtaking with the rib is going to be virtually impossible for much of it - so your speed is going to be determined by the truck or caravan in front anyway.

shows how much you know.... did the Forth Road Bridge to Inverness the easter bank holoday monday in 1 hour 39 mins

ok ok so the rib was not on the back. but was just thinking that 50mph was way too easy. Neil I will keep a count of the caravans passed for you.

think the 55-65 sugestion should keep the boys in blue off the case and still let us make forward progress.

mdt · 24 April 2007, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyB007

Key question - what condition are your trailer tyres in?

they are a year old and have done errrr 3 miles

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyB007

f near new they will probably be fine well above what you could expect to tow at (usually speed rated to 170km/h if I recall correctly)

ok will take the brave pills then

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyB007

However, if they are a few years old, been left exposed to sunlight suffering UV degradation, been run below recommended pressures and have a few cracks in the sidewall just for good measure, make sure you carry a spare!!

oh fear not have two spares. and have even dug out the jack.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyB007

Remember, the stresses on the tyre rise exponentially with speed so the increase from 60 to 70mph (17%) increases the stresses by 36%, at 80mph increased by 78%. If you have any defects they'll soon become apparent!

ok but really was not thinking that 80mph would be big or clever so will leave this for some one else to test.

Poly · 24 April 2007, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdt

shows how much you know.... did the Forth Road Bridge to Inverness the easter bank holoday monday in 1 hour 39 mins

ok ok so the rib was not on the back. but was just thinking that 50mph was way too easy. Neil I will keep a count of the caravans passed for you.

think the 55-65 sugestion should keep the boys in blue off the case and still let us make forward progress.

you must have been averaging 90mph - hope you managed to spot the unmarked cars

maybe you would get more sponsorship - for no of caravans passed on the A9
whilst towing the rib...

fjarvis · 25 April 2007, 00:22

he was asking 'fuzz avoidance' questions yesterday and how to come by the scottish polis college stickers for the back of his car....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

you must have been averaging 90mph - hope you managed to spot the unmarked cars

maybe you would get more sponsorship - for no of caravans passed on the A9
whilst towing the rib...

Poly · 25 April 2007, 00:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjarvis

he was asking 'fuzz avoidance' questions yesterday and how to come by the scottish polis college stickers for the back of his car....

mdt · 25 April 2007, 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

you must have been averaging 90mph - hope you managed to spot the unmarked cars

Going by the trip computer 82mph average just for the record.

and yep it was a bit like a Hollywood actress........... 100% fuzz free.

Simon B · 25 April 2007, 10:24

55-65 In lane 1 with lorries for company, usually a better standard of driving than in lanes 2 & 3.

We've got an all new axle at moment with some very good tyres, the whole caboodle tow very well and is stable.

I'd heard the "stress" argument before and but never saw any science behind the figures, it wouldn't surprise me if load rose like this on the bearings. Clearly the kinetic energy will be vastly higher.

codprawn · 25 April 2007, 14:34

Tyres are obviously subjected to more stress the faster you go. For a start you have heat build up which can be substantial. Then you have centrifugal force that is always trying to destroy the tyre along with external frcition of the road and internal friction of the carcass.

I have seen tread blocks peel away from tyre as they have become too hot and gone too fast. A blowout is only seconds away - ask Richard Hammond!!!

Limey Linda · 25 April 2007, 18:22

Please remember that this is one of those situations when "bigger is better" as there is a squared relationship between dia. and forces and peripheral speed and therefore heat, wear and forces. Small wheels are bad, big wheels are good.