Question about Highway Towing Spades
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Topic: Question about Highway Towing Spades
Posted By: bankman
Subject: Question about Highway Towing Spades
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 10:25am
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Good day to all. We are new to The Forum and have recently purchased our first 2018 r-pod 190 back in April. We have been on three short trips mostly local and each one under a hundred miles round-trip with almost no highway driving. My question is we will be embarking on our first long trip of about 2200 miles round trip with almost all highway driving so. What is the average maximum speed the most will pull r-pod. Thanks in advance. We're not really new to camping as we camped for 10 years when the kids were smaller but that was long time ago. And that was pulling a pop-up.
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Replies:
Posted By: Nlconner
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 10:40am
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I towed my 180 at 76mph across South Dakota and Wyoming one way. It towed fine at that speed but really affected my mpg. On the return trip I ran 70. I noticed no difference in towing the trailer except 1.5 mpg better. My luck as I was bucking a 7-10mph wind both ways. I was hoping to have a good tail wind coming home.... Nope! Tow vehicle is a 18 F150 SCREW with 3.5 EB.
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Posted By: MoPod
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 10:46am
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Check your tires, the maximum speed for which they are rated could be a limiting factor.
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Bill & Nancy
2015 RPod 179
Previously 2010 RPod 176
2014 Explorer Sport
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 10:47am
You should check your tires rating. C range tires normally have a max of 60-65 mph. Even if you have D or E load range tires, speeds above 65 are not very smart. There are things more important than mpg to worry about with excessive speed.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 11:47am
I generally won't go above 70-75. We have D-rated tires rated to 83mph or something like that.
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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod"
2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4
Three cats
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Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 12:28pm
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To some degree is also dependent on tow vehicle. People using a tow vehicle rated the multiple times the weight of an RPod (think deisel pickup) will have no trouble going 70-75. My Ridgeline maxes out without pushing it beyond a reasonable amount does best at 65 or so max on a highway. Agree with tire rating advice of others here. Since we usually go a bit slower, we often look for state highways rather than using the interstates. IF going through less populated areas, they can be just as fast and way more interesting. Enjoy your trip!
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 2:51pm
What is a towing spade?
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: bankman
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 2:55pm
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 3:29pm
Thanks , I never exceed 65, and always travel at the limit if less. I have D rated tires and an EEZ Go TPMS system, so I know tire temps and pressure on the TT.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 4:13pm
The maximum speed at which I tow is 60 mph with rare excursions to 65 mph if we hit a downhill run. Any faster and the mileage suffers.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 6:10pm
I'll slow down in a strong headwind because it does kill gas mileage. At 70-75, we can usually get 11-13 mpg with our setup and minimal winds.
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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod"
2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4
Three cats
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 6:54pm
Going 70 or more with an R-pod just seems like you're asking for trouble. The maximum trailer-tow speed in California is 55. We might push that a little bit, but never over 60.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Posted By: PilotPodder
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 7:35pm
60 mph is my normal speed on the interstate. I take my time, stay in the right lane and let everyone pass me. MI to FL and back this winter and just now up to the UP of MI and back to lower MI. No issues, best mileage, no stress. Like Mike Carter, I also have a EEZ TPMS to keep track of all tire pressures and temps. Really highly recommended. Also, have a torque wrench to check you lugs every 400-500 miles and make sure they are 100 lbs. torqued. If anyone has a 179, reinforce the black tank outlet before you go long. I have a couple of videos on what happened to mine this winter. ~PP
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Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — https://johnmarucci.com/r-pod-video-list/ - My RPod YouTube Videos
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 8:35pm
We have logged over 25,000 miles on our 177. Normal speeds are 65 for us, unless posted lower. Like others, we aren't in a hurry to get into trouble, enjoy the journey and smell the roses along the way.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2018 at 5:15am
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65 mph.
If you can reach your destination in 3 days at 70-75 mph, and also 3 days at 65 mph just taking a little longer, why bother with the higher speeds? My usual trip takes 4 hours 15 minutes for 248 miles each way, at the 65 mph limit, which includes a break and fuel stop. If I went 60 mph, it would take a little longer and I might get 1 mpg better, still would have to stop for fuel (just in case) and a break. At 70 mph, I could maybe shave 15 minutes off the trip, but still would need the fuel stop and a break, but cost me another 1 mpg likely. SO I just go speed limit. If I encountered higher speed limits (70-75?? not sure which states have those) then I might press 70 mph, but no higher. I'm just not in that big of a hurry. Leave earlier?
A lot depends on the tow vehicle power, and the weather and road conditions too. If the actual speed limit is 75 mph, and the road is straight as an arrow an no bad winds and light traffic, then it's the tow vehicle capability, tire pressures, fuel mileage, blah blah blah, you get the idea.
Whatever you are comfortable with.
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2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler
2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD)
2013 VW Touareg TDI
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2018 at 7:53am
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I set the cruise control at 60 (GPS says 63), as a general rule. When we get into hills or mountains (with relatively straight roads) where we need to down shift some, I set it at 55. When it downshifts it stays at about 3600 rpm, max, which is the optimal torque for our engine. If there is a strong head wind and I'm getting a lot of downshifting, then I also set it at 55 unless the wind is blowing so hard that the truck is struggling at 55. But, if I've got a 30 mph tail wind, I might drive 70, close to the maximum range of my D tires. The point, for me, is to drive to the optimum engine output for mileage and torque, so as to not waste gas or strain the engine.
When we travel, we try to keep it relaxed. Going really fast with a trailer is not relaxing. For us, if we are in a big hurry to get "there," we'll drive the car and fudge the speed limit all the way, but when traveling for fun and recreation, it's more comfortable to leave the anxiety and stress at home. If we get to our destination an hour later, as far as we are concerned, so what?, we're still there and haven't broken anything or spent more than we should on gas to get there.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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