Why 50 mph for 500 miles?

[JDubien]

Hello everyone,



Can anyone explain why the manual reads when towing, not to exceed 50 mph for the first 500 miles of towing? I've got 1700 miles on my truck already. I need to tow my trailer out of town and speed limits are 65 to 75 mph on the highways. What is the benefit of not exceeding 50 mph?



Thanks,

 

[ASchwartz]

Those are limits for vehicles not towing. The limit for towing a vehicle is 55mph, not much more than the 50 mph recommended. So, drive 50 mph, enjoy the scenery, break in your engine, and get better mileage.



Avi

 

[RDusch]

If you've got 1700 miles on your truck, hook it up and go, no worries, the harder you drive the better.



Rick

 

[ASchwartz]

Well now that I thought about my post a bit, I remembered that I drag raced my truck after only 1,000 miles on the odometer. So much for breaking it in. However, I have seen many truck trailer combos flipped on the side of the road due to unsafe driving.



Avi

 

[Tony T.]

My understanding was to not exceed 50 mph the first 500 miles not towing as to brake in the rear end. Maybe I missed the part of 50 mph while towing You got 1700 miles on it I would tow away. In fact when I left the dealership with my truck it had 21 miles on it and I drove the 50 miles home at 55,65,& 70 mph not 50 I would have got ran over at that speed or a lot of sign language telling me I was #1. I started towing my TT before it had 1000 miles on the odo. I changed my rear end fluid at 15K miles and it looked new. I have 36K now with no problems.



Tony

 

[macdaddy]

Hello everyone,



Can anyone explain why the manual reads when towing, not to exceed 50 mph for the first 500 miles of towing? I've got 1700 miles on my truck already. I need to tow my trailer out of town and speed limits are 65 to 75 mph on the highways. What is the benefit of not exceeding 50 mph?



Thanks,

The 50/500 thing is for the axel's and nothing else. Once you've attained this milestone (50/500) load her down and pour the coals to it!!!.



A schwartz, 55 MPH limit while towing is only Ca as far as I know. Washington as well as Oregon you can tow what ever is posted.



Mac

 

[ASchwartz]

The 50/500 thing is for the axel's and nothing else. Once you've attained this milestone (50/500) load her down and pour the coals to it!!!.



A schwartz, 55 MPH limit while towing is only Ca as far as I know. Washington as well as Oregon you can tow what ever is posted.



Mac

Thanks Mac.



Avi

 

[ASchwartz]

Well now that I thought about my post a bit, I remembered that I drag raced my truck after only 1,000 miles on the odometer. So much for breaking it in. However, I have seen many truck trailer combos flipped on the side of the road due to unsafe driving.



Avi

That drag racing was in 4 high, so much for those axles and transfer case.



Avi

 

[p-Bar]

Break it in the way you are going to drive it. Pulling a trailer will breakit in faster.

 

[Doubleclutch]

If you want a pointy-head, like mine, MacD is right- it's a metal break-in thing, ring and pinion thing style going from no-load to load. The contact area "work hardens", and that's about where the knowledge reaches the top of my pointy end. Good luck with the new truck!!!

Greg

 

[bighornram]

I read on this site that a recommended breakin was 1000 miles easy, varying speeds not to exceed 55 mph and then I followed the manual's directions and pulled at 50 mph for 500 miles. I had traffic backed up almost all the time BUT now I can't blame myself if something is blamed on bad breaking in technique. I want to enjoy my truck for many years to not follow simple breakin instructions.

 

[Grizzly]

I would do exactly as the Owner's Manual says. DC obviously had good reasons to write what they did. If you want your truck to perform for you and last a long time, do the right thing.

 

[JDubien]

I appreciate all the feed back everyone. I'm going to do like the manual says, after all, I want my truck to last and for what they cost, it's cheap insurance.



Thanks,

 

[SHyans]

First 500 miles, no towing. Next 1500 miles towed at 21' travel trailer while on vacation for a week or so. Avg 60-65 mph. 21k now, not a single worry up to this point. :-laf Purrs like a kitten.

 

[TravisG]

J-Dubien- You better stay off of The "10" if you are only going to go 50.



On second thought you probably ought to stay off of the 60, 202, the 101, and 51 for that matter. Those people would run ya right off the road out there.

 

[Dieselnerd]

When I read my owners manual I missed the tow at 50 MPH for the first 500 miles. All I noticed was don't tow until you have driven 500 miles. I was certain it didn't even say tow at 50 for 500 miles until I looked in my manual again after seeing this thread. There it was . I used a slide in camper for a couple of thousand miles last summer and never towed until my annual trek to AZ for the winter. By then I had over 7000 miles on the truck and I didn't drive at 50 but usually around 65 or so. I think my rear axle was "work hardened" by then so I won't worry about it now.

 

[Grizzly]

I appreciate all the feed back everyone. I'm going to do like the manual says, after all, I want my truck to last and for what they cost, it's cheap insurance.



Thanks,

Way to go.

 

[10.5 Dave]

I started a 2200 mile pull at 24,000 gross with 900 miles on my rig. I'm at 30,000 miles now,I don't think I hurt anything.

I don't think I've ever driven 50 mph on the freeway in my life.

 

[SHyans]

I started a 2200 mile pull at 24,000 gross with 900 miles on my rig. I'm at 30,000 miles now,I don't think I hurt anything.



I don't think I've ever driven 50 mph on the freeway in my life.

Hear, Hear!!!

No guts, no glory... . right on Dave!!