the headaches of summer towing

[rob10858]

summer is almost here and already the road construction and folks pulling travel trailors and driving motor homes are out in force. i just wonder if some of these rigs are very underpowered or if the drivers just feel that their in no hurry, so why go the speed limit. imo the most dangerous thing that someone pulling a load can do is travel 10 to 15 mph below the posted speed limit. if the vehicle cant maintain highway speeds, then it should be on the side roads and not the interstate. sorry if i sound p... . ed off, but when you get trapped behind one of these rigs in heavy traffic its dangerous to you and everyone else out there when you need to get out to pass, and have already lost your momentum because of the slow driver in front of you. all towing vehicles lose speed on uphill grades, and gain it going back down. we realize that [or should] but the other folks out there dont seem to understand. those of us that pull every day on our interstates know what im talking about. there is a long list of pet peeves that i have about todays highway towing, but ill let yall take it from there.

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[danandamy]

The truckers don't mind me when I'm pulling my 33' travel trailer. Usually wind up seeing how many gassers we can smoke and have passing contests going up and down the hills. Got into one of these contests going into Albequerque last year. A Greyhound even got involved. At one point he blew past me, he must have been doing 85 #ad
Those folks riding were just sitting in there like nothing was going on. I guess my pet peeve has to be the guys who refuse to get out of the hammer lane even though they know you want to go around them. Arrgghhh!

Daniel

 

[Ramboy00]

I think you will find that a lot of those folks are just plain terrified. A lot of them must not give any thought to the traffic they will have to deal with when they buy them.
Phil

 

[Shovelhead]

The only thing I've found worse, is when two of 'em want to ride side-by-side at or below the speed limit for several miles. Makes me wish I had gone for the bazooka option when ordering the CTD. Also, have you noticed that the more cell phones you see in use while driving, the less drivers are using their turn signals?

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Ed Anderson
99 3500,6x4,QC,Auto,4. 10,Everthing 'cept leather,stock until warranty runs out.
'76 H-D FLH, '98 FLHTCUI
"Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly"

 

[Okie-Go]

Have ya ever noticed the ones haveing trouble are power chokes. I passed a guy 4 times last year on the way to Phoenix. Of course he passes me going down hill. Also he would stop for fuel then drive like crazy to catch me. I just let him go and minded my own rig.

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, anti spin 3. 54 axle, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[GTX]

I think it should be mandatory in drivers ed to teach how to tow, maybe a 40 foot TT, not just a 2 door spec that can't get out of its own way.

 

[Joe G.]

And then there are the RVs from El Monty RV Rental!!! #ad
#ad


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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,DTT TC/VB,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[samb]

I agree that slow drivers should stay in the slow lane. Most people you see out there on the road during the week are retired people. They have plenty of time and most of them are out to see the Good Old USA and don't have to be in a hurry. Sooner are later all will be out ther doing the same thing if the Good Loard is willing. Awful lot of them people has earn there place out there. I have a friend that landed on Nornady Beach on D-day and fought all the way to Berline. I joined the Navy during the Korean war at the age of 17. I was there during the Vietnam war and most of the cold war. 15 years of that was spent in submarines so you see I have earn my right to be out there so when you see me and my frind going along at 55 or 60 as long as we are in the slow lane don't give us a hard time.
Sam Buchanan

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97, Lamanie SLT, clubcab, driftwood, 3. 5 spicer 70 rear axle
96 Coachmen Royal 285rk 5th wheel, 11,000 #

[This message has been edited by samb (edited 04-12-2001). ]

 

[Joe G.]

Sam,

I don't think anyone gets excited about slow rigs in the slow lane. It's the slow rigs in the hammer lane and the ones on a two lane road that refuse to pull off at a turn out. Especially the rentals driven by people who have no business in anything larger than a VW.

I have great respect for combat vets. My dad served in the Pacific in WWII and my father-in-law was a gunner in the Eighth Air Force and prisoner of war. You guys have earned the right to go as slow as you want.

 

[RHARVEY]

It will be interesting to see what happens this year as we cross I40 headed east. Now that I have a truck that I can gain speed going up hill instead of loosing when someone fails to look in the rear view mirror when they decide to pass. This happens normally on an uphill climb and they pull out in the hammer lane and I have to slow down to keep from making a 'grill' impression on them. I have thought about an air horn just for notification purposes... #ad
#ad
#ad
. Not that loud, maybe just loud enough to peal the chrome off the bumper!!!My dad had a saying when he got behind one of those slow drivers. . 'If you are going to milk it,put a shed over it. . (Arkansas heritage). .

Rick

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RICK
97 2500,CC,5 SPEED, 3. 54 Limited Slip,Psychotty System,K&N, Pre-Turbo ISSPRO 3" Pyrometer & Boost Guage,Silencer Ring Removed
15,000 RBW 5th Wheel Hitch,25' Excel 5th Wheel,Rancho RSX17000 Shocks,Amsoil Dealer,Straight Piped

 

[rob10858]

certainly no disrespect meant to any casual tower. but the problem nowdays seems to be there is no in-between the fast and slow lanes. how many times have you had someone pass you on the shoulder when going the speed limit because of traffic? ive probably had this happen to me twenty times in the last few years. people should feel free to tow at whatever speed they are comfortable with, but not on todays highways. go the speed limit, or an accident is waiting to happen to you. believe me. ive never had a problem with anyone doing the speed limit in either lane, even if im in a hurry [although a may have a few choice words under my breath] there are people out there that will run you off the road in order to get to their destination 15 minutes earlier. im not a professional driver, but after 16 years of pulling, ive seen things get worse and worse. again, no disrespect. be careful and enjoy the ride

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[SlyBones]

Actually its big rigs in the hammer lane. The trucker going 6mph that steps out to pass the trucker going 5mph.

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1997 2500 4x4, CC, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, 68K, Everything inc Leather, K&N, 4" BD cat-back, otherwise stock, Isspro Gauges(3), 285/75/16 on Alcola's, RS9000's, Molded Side Steps w/ Ground Effects, Chrome Trim, Canopy, ProFlaps F&R, BedLiner, Aux. Lighting F&R, and tons more.

 

[LEEH]

Right on target SLYBONES, wouldn't mind so much if the trucks I am overtaking would wait a minute before pulling into the hammer lane to pass another truck so I could get by. A lot of them feel that they own the road and the little 4 wheelers can use the road if they don't need it at the time. Listen to the CB sometime, and you will hear them talking about blocking another 4 wheeler!

 

[BCFAST]

What's all this about respect or no respect??? I dont care what war you fought in 50 years ago, it still doesnt make it safe, or correct to be in the fast lane while travelling at the speed limit or less... no matter what you're driving. I think England has the best highway laws: at the posted speed limit of 70mph, an officer wont stop you if you're doing 85, so long as you are being 'polite' about it... . no weaving in and out, signalling to change lanes, etc. A British buddy of mine gave me a classic example about this... if you should be driving the speed limit at 3am on a Tuesday, you're the only car on the road for 20 miles in either direction, a policeman will give you a HUGE ticket if you are not using the slowest lane! Why? Are you an emergency vehicle? NO... Are you passing? NO... then you have absolutely NO BUSINESS being in any lane other than the slow lane! This idea works for me. Slower traffic stay right, EXCEPT TO PASS.

 

[dabubba]

now guys remember- there are some truck firms that have limiters on their truck ie. swift max they can do is 62mph and the drivers com link goes nuts if they excede that even going down hill- there are some states which limit which lanes semi's and rv trailers can be in- my pain is when grandpa get in those lanes and goes 52mph on sunday afternoon in heavy traffic this stynks #ad

Okay I'll have cheese with my wine-- make it gooda #ad


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*Won Ton* 01 3500 eth 6spd- ez, pacbrake,practical solutions idler,MBII cb mount, bombed texas ranger CB,ultra boards, pace edwards roll cover, rbw little rocker, rhino liner,& NWC-TDR hitchplug,Mud flap,& More to come
*Pull Toys* y2k Cardinal 29rlb-lx, 175w solar panels, 1. 5kw trace inverter, dish net sat

 

[illflem]

BCFAST, I agree about staying in the slow lane, but out west it seems that the right lane is very deteriorated from heavy truck traffic and is a rough ride. When there is no one wanting to pass I tend to drive in the left lane and just move over when a faster rig approaches. No tickets so far.

 

[rotohead]

So much of this can be minimized if people would learn to pay attention to what's going on behind them as much as what's going on in front of them. Paying attention to 50' to 100' in front is obvious but if people would anticipate traffic out in front as far as the eye can see, that can make decisions to pass etc. with less potential for conflict. I guess what I'm saying is people need to take their blinders off and look ahead and back, not just what's right in front/behind them. Towing is not a time for daydreaming. You want to sightsee, pull off to the side of the road.

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'98. 5 2500 QC ISB 4x4 SLT, Auto w/Transgo shiftkit, JRE 4" exhaust w/5"Tip, DD II's w/Module&Elbow, VA box, Rancho 9000's w/in cab adjust, Mag-Hytec trans&diff covers, Jacobs E-Brake w/BD autoloc, trans temp, boost & EGT gauges, 2Low Kit, Air Horns, Catz MSX, Drawtite Front Hitch, Brite Box, Steel Horse Billet Grilles, AirBullDog hood induction system

 

[Joe G.]

Some people are just hopeless morons. If you are ever on a freeway in Phoenix and see a Volvo in the left lane with a cracked windshield going about 10 MPH below the speed limit that's my brother-in-law. Someone will shoot him one of these days.

 

[rob10858]

another thing that irks me is when someone flys up on my tail, only to pull up along my trailor to have a look at my equipment and stays there for the next 5 miles. before you know it, your coming up on a slow vehicle and there your buddy sits right in your blind spot. i hate to admit it because i try to respect everyone out there, but sometimes i "accidentally" drift a little over into their lane to get their attention, after this they usually get on down the road and out of my way. one helpful hint that i try to follow follow when experiencing road rage is to think that the person that is endangering me and theirselves could very well be my mom, wife, or child that just doesnt know any better. when you look at things this way its a lot easier to excuse someone elses lack of drving skills and common sense. hell, we all do some stupid things out there, i just try to learn from my mistakes, some drivers never seem to learn.

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