Highway speed with boat trailer

[pecheux]

Good day, My boat trailer is equipped with 12 inches wheels and grease buddies. It is so easy to pull I hardly feel it back there. Question Is driving at 70 mph ok pulling this rig ? Tx

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

I believe the recommended top speed while towing a trailer of that size is 55 or 60. However, if I said that I never exceeded that top speed while towing my 18 footer I'd be lying. You are talking about the boat in your avatar, correct? I guess it mainly depends on the driver, some people do not feel comfortable towing very fast, and some don't mind. Does your trailer have a problem with swaying at those speeds? The only time it could create an issue (in my opinion) is in the event of a blowout.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

I did some testing with my rig towing at different speeds on the highway, it was very scientific...I held my hand on the tire at rest stops during a 2000 km trip.

There is no doubt that any speed above 60 mph (100km/hr) increased tire temperature exponentially, at 80 mph I was seriously afraid of the tire coming apart (the trailer was "light", boat and motor-no fuel). The tire temperature at that speed was hot enough that I couldn't hold my hand on it for more than 30 seconds.

At 60 mph (100km/hr) the tire was cool enough that the pavement was hotter in the sun. I would never tow my boat at any sustained speed over 80 mph for any reason after my test, I could smell hot rubber at the rest stops at this speed!

That being said I have no qualms towing at 65 mph which seemed to be the sweet spot with occasional sprints to 80 mph to pass...which just so happens to work out what most people tow their boat at.

Funny how those darn engineers work that out huh!

 

[rentprop1]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

for some reason towing a 22 foot pontoon on a tandem axle trailer , I cant get more than 65 mph with a Dodge 1500....don't know if I'm afraid to put my foot all the way down ( might as well toss my wallet out the window ) cause I can't afford the fuel, or due to the drag of the toon ??

 

[epic1]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

it's not a race. My state limits towing to 65mph...

 

[nlain]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

I pull my 18 foot boat at 70 on the interstate, have found myself at 80 and it was towing well, slowed down, stay well back from traffic for stopping room. I stay near the speed limit most of the time.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

I tow my 17' jet boat at 75mph (with a car, mind you!) and haven't had any issues. (other than getting 11 mpg) The tires are warm, but no more than what the hot pavement itself probably heated them up to. Probably depends vastly more on the weight capacity of the tires and proper inflation than anything else. An overloaded tire will have heat issues, one that has some headroom should be fine.

 

[ThrashN]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

I towed a small boat like that from PA to FL doing about 75-80 the whole way.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

Whats the speed rating of your trailer tires? Most of the folks here say to only use an ST tire on trailers. Since most ST tries have a speed rating of 65 MPH, why run faster than the tire was designed for?

 

[pecheux]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

I towed a small boat like that from PA to FL doing about 75-80 the whole way.

Where do I send that speeding ticket ?? LOL Just kidding I like to read someone did such trip with similar trailer. Tx

 

[pecheux]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

I believe the recommended top speed while towing a trailer of that size is 55 or 60. However, if I said that I never exceeded that top speed while towing my 18 footer I'd be lying. You are talking about the boat in your avatar, correct? I guess it mainly depends on the driver, some people do not feel comfortable towing very fast, and some don't mind. Does your trailer have a problem with swaying at those speeds? The only time it could create an issue (in my opinion) is in the event of a blowout.

Yes it is that little boat trailer combination as per my avatar. It never sways no matter how fast I drive and as I wrote I hardly know it's there behind my vehicule. I had all sort of boat kits, including a 21 footer with big wheels and none ever swayed .. (but this one was heavy) so I dont know the swaying feeling. LOL

I have actualy checked the wheels hubs with my hand after 20 to 40 miles trips and they are surprisinly cool ... so these grease buddies do their job, but oddly enough it never crossed my mind to check tire temperature ... I will at the next outting. Tx

 

[pecheux]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

Whats the speed rating of your trailer tires? Most of the folks here say to only use an ST tire on trailers. Since most ST tries have a speed rating of 65 MPH, why run faster than the tire was designed for?

I actualy dont know the tire speed rating ... is it showned on the tire sidewall ? I so what code do I look for ?

Tx

 

[Maclin]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

Remember that a shorter wheel/tire combo turns many more rpms than a taller one, so those 12 inchers are really running the bearings hard, like a dachshund trying to keep up with a greyhound. Those tires and bearings will see many more rpms in their lifetimes even at more reasonable hiway speeds.

Having typed all that in, I am just agog at the speeds I see trailers being towed at anymore. Up to 60-65 is the limit at which LT tires can dissipate heat faster than they generate it. But I do enjoy reading about all the different ideas on what is a reasonable and safe towing speed.

 

[pecheux]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

For the moment ... boat being badly lighted garage all I can read on the tire wall is 1.80 X 12 load range B Highspeed. The trailer is a "Yatch Club" brand (bought new)

 

[Fisnfool]

Texas Transportation Code - Section 545.352. Prima Facie Speed Limits

Texas Transportation Code - Section 545.352. Prima Facie Speed Limits

Web page dated August 10, 2007 ( You could call your local Highway Patrol for current law)

http://law.onecle.com/texas/transportation/545.352.00.html

For less than a 26 foot boat.

Quote from the Texas law:

(2) 70 miles per hour in daytime and 65 miles per hour
in nighttime if the vehicle is a passenger car, motorcycle,
passenger car or light truck towing a trailer bearing a vessel, as
defined by Section 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code, that is less
than 26 feet in length,

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

Might have exceeded 80 once or twice but I stayed above 70 all the times.

Having typed all that in, I am just agog at the speeds I see trailers being towed at anymore. Up to 60-65 is the limit at which LT tires can dissipate heat faster than they generate it. But I do enjoy reading about all the different ideas on what is a reasonable and safe towing speed

12" is nothing. What's scary are those tow behind welding rigs. They have tiny tires and those numb skulls passed me when I'm @ 75mph. Oh yeah, those doggone home made utility trailers are a hoot too.

 

[767Captain]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

Highly unlikely the tires are designed, built or rated for more than ~60 mph... Got a lot of insurance?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

65 mph is as fast as I ever tow. Swaying can be controlled a lot by loading of the trailed item.

 

[walt-oxie1]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

Coming from someone who pull a boat trailer daily, I would recommend staying about 60mph or less. You are not really gaining anything by driving much faster. Not to mention it is safer. I have had a tire blow on a trailer with a loaded mullet boat (1300lbs of fish) and it was a real eye opener on slowing down. Remember, if the axle has a wider track than what you are towing it with, it will snatch you off the road.

 

[nlain]

Re: Highway speed with boat trailer

A link to trailer tire facts.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTrailerTireFacts.dos