Towing at a maximum controllable speed
Towing a trailer is a very challenging business. It gets more complicated when you drive at high speeds. Different factors play a role in causing this. Therefore, it’s important to have a controllable speed. The basic factor to consider is the increase in weight to be towed and the connection between the vehicle and the trailer. Other elements like heavy traffic or strong winds will just increase the trouble. Although factors such as wind and traffics cannot be controlled, you can control your speed. One company in San Francisco California that practices safe and controllable speed while towing is Auto Towing.
Recommended speeds for towing
Safely accomplishing driving maneuvers with a trailer may take longer. However, the lives of other motorists, pedestrians, and passengers are on the line. Driving a trailer at high speeds, therefore, is not needed. That said, how fast should be the maximum? There is no speed below which no disaster can happen or above which disaster is inevitable. However, there is a threshold that is considered safer beyond which things may get messier. The threshold varies with the vehicle type, towing method and amount of load being towed.
Maximum controllable speed
It is the speed at which an external factor such as wind or a sudden swerve can cause the vehicle to lose its operator’s control. There is no way to set a precise towing speed limit. This is because it relies on a couple of variables such as the driver, the towing vehicle and driving conditions.
For instance, when going out for a towing job, relax and test the waters. Incorrect loading of the cargo might lower the maximum controllable speed of your trailer. Bumpy roads mean that speed will even get lower, same as heavy traffic and cross-currents. Whenever you feel that the trailer has started swaying, ease off the accelerator until it has stabilized.
In addition, keep in mind that there might be government regulations in place limiting how fast the trailer is driven. Before setting off, go through the regulations enforced by the transport agency in your locality to avoid landing in trouble. One day, my friend decided to spend a sunny afternoon at a lake boating. The only guidelines on how fast we could drive there would be speed limits posted and the towing skills of the driver. If he had gone boating in Hawaii for example, the legal driving limit would be between 50 and 55 mph. this is irrespective of what the signs say. The recommended speed for customers who rent towing equipment at U-haul is 45mph (around 75kph).
Therefore, always keep in mind that no matter how fast you want to get there, towing at high speeds is a recipe for disaster. Towing requires concentration and care, not speed.