posted 11-20-2008 02:30 PM ET (US)        

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In 2006, the Michigan Legislature amended the speed limit for passenger vehicles towing trailers. The speed limit was previously 55 mph for any vehicle towing a trailer weighing 750 lbs. or more. This applied even on highways where the passenger vehicle speed limit was 70 mph.

The amended statute setting the towing speed limit now reads as follows:

"(5) A person operating a passenger vehicle drawing another vehicle or trailer shall not exceed the posted speed limit." See: http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-257-627

posted 11-20-2008 11:52 PM ET (US)            

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I wish California would get that sensible. The limit 55 MPH
for anything with a trailer. The 15 MPH difference between
the trucks in the slow lane and the cars in the fast lane
is dangerous.

Chuck

posted 11-21-2008 11:50 PM ET (US)            

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Bob-

In 2005 or 2006, on my way to a rendezvous, I received a ticket for doing 70 in a 70 MPH zone on I-75 North in Cheboygan County, just north of Indian River. The SHERRIFF's Deputy informed me that it was a 60 MPH zone when trailering - I was to observe posted truck speed limits. I paid the $100 dollar fine on the spot, as I needed my (out of state) drivers license as I was crossing into Canada the next morning.

So your post is not true - at least some law enforcement officers were enforcing the law before it was amended.

posted 11-22-2008 02:58 AM ET (US)            

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Buck - What kind of trailer/boat combo were you towing - what kind/size tires on the trailer?

Reason I ask is that I have never really towed anything for distance more than a mostly empty 6X12 U-haul. I am interested in what traveling 70 mph with a 170 Montauk on the standard issue Karavan trailer w/standard issue tires would do? Is that safe for any kind of distance? I remember getting stopped on the Garden State Parkway one night traveling 75 mph (in a then 55) in a 4 cyl Chevette. The Trooper pointed out my smoking tires as emphasis to how fast and dangerous it was on those little tires. Then let me go as he was a former Marine (yep - membership does have its privileges at times). So now I fear traveling on the interstate at speed with the Montauk because of those little tires and the load on them.

Interested in experiences/opinions from those that do trailer for distance on the interstates.

Side story on the towing of that 6X12 U-haul. Back around Thanksgiving 1988/89, I was about 25/26 yrs old and traveling all alone from Ft. Worth to Marquette in the U.P. with everything I owned in the back of my Chevy S-10 4-banger pick up when I came into a torrential rainstorm in-between Memphis and Nashville TN. I spotted a distant Uhaul sign off the highway outside Nashville and made my way to it (via dead-reckoning after exiting the hwy). The guy at the counter said all he had was the 6X12 but let me have it with my truck because I didn't have much weight I would be putting in it so we filled out the contract. He ran my card, smiled and refused to help me hook it up because of the intense rain. I cursed the guy, loaded my stuff and (because I thought the guy was [penis]) refused to pay for two boxes I took to replace two that fell apart from the rain when I picked them up. I loaded the new boxes inside the trailer and then swore the guy up and down like a drunken sailor and completely undressed and put on the driest clothes I could find right in the middle of the place - scaring a couple out of the store in the process - when he even refused to allow me to use his restroom to change because it "wasn't open to the public". He called the cops - they came - I was still fuming and kept swearing and threatening to do bodily damage to the guy when they arrived (he hadn't given me my copy of the trailer contract yet wanting payment for the boxes). I told them my story - the cops were former Marines [(:-)] - they let the guy know what POS they thought he was, told him that if anything happened with or because of the trailer he might be held legally responsible for letting a customer hook it up on their own, told him to give me the contract and the "free" boxes and wished me safe travels. (They also asked him what time he got off work and told him they would still be on duty...waiting - I had to smile at that). It poured all the way into Ohio where it turned to sleet and I spent the night at a hotel in Lima. The next day it began to snow and I traveled on - got onto the Mackinac bridge and it was soooooo windy I was almost in tears because I was sooooo scared of being blown off with that sail behind my little truck (it kept tipping and yanking me). I was literally crawling across and almost crying like a little girl. I was shaking so bad and thought many times of just stopping and getting my stuff, disconnecting the trailer and leaving it to its fate (I figured I would rather pay for a missing trailer than continue crossing that bridge with it) but I was more afraid that I would get blown over if I did get out of the truck. But I eventually made it. Got to the other side and the snow was coming horizontally as I travelled on toward M-28. The raod was obscured from the snow and it turned night about 5pm but the moon was out so I just kept driving, trying to keep the lake in view on my right thinking I could follow the shore line and thinking how rough the roads up there were. It was fairly light from the moon reflecting off the snow, there was no one around and I was in the middle of nowhere so I just stopped, got out, stretched and took a leak..... and watched the lights of a semi approach and then go by a hundred or so yards away from me - I wasn't on the road. Not even close. LoL. I hustled up, found my way to his tracks and followed the semi almost all the way to Marquette. But man, that bridge! It looked like it would have been one hell of a view if I could keep my eyes opened and they didn't keep watering up. Ha!

posted 11-22-2008 11:18 AM ET (US)         

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Towed my 17 home from north of Chicago, a tad over a thousand miles. Took turns driving only stopping for gas after a couple stops to check the hubs at the start. Once I got the feel for the new trailer behind the F150 I kept it right at 75 because 10mph makes a difference in a 1000 mile trip.

No problems. Hubs never felt anything more then a bit warm to the touch. Got passed far more then I passed at 75mph.

A vehicle doing 20mph less then the average traffic on a busy interstate is more of a hazard then a properly equipped towing rig towing at the flow of traffic.

posted 11-22-2008 08:06 PM ET (US)            

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I got pulled over towing the Montauk at a 61 in a 65 (Calif
trailer limit is 55). He gave me a verbal warning. And
checked out the boat real well.

Chuck

posted 11-23-2008 07:01 PM ET (US)            

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BlueMax -

I was towing Gambler with a 2002 Ford Explorer.

Gambler sits on a tandem axle, glavanized steel trailer with 13 inch Goodyear Marathon tires. It is not the prettiest trailer, but she sits back behind the truck with no sway or fishtailing at any speed and even under hard braking. It is a very stable rig and I've towed her many miles in the past five years.

I do not think the officer was concerned about the rig/tires or anything else other than I was travelling at what he deemed an unsafe speed based on the laws of the state/county where I was operating.

I can't argue the ticket, because I was in violation of the law. What I'm arguing is that "everyone" goes that speed with trailers in Michigan and that the law was "never" enforced.

I will agree that you get your doors blown off by other motorists with trailers if you abide by the previous 60 MPH truck/trailer speed limit. The trucks run 68-70, the cars run 75-80 and the guys with trailers run between 70-75. I try to run 63-70 and keep it below 70, but there are times that I've found myself running 75 with Gambler behind the F-150 - that truck tows it really nice.

Dave