sisu1a wrote:
About driving 60: Although it may leave you with less energy in the
equation to manage, *I feel like driving much below the speed limit
(like doing 60 in an 80 for instance) *is far more dangerous to
yourself and the other drivers on the road, since you then make
yourself an obstacle that needs deviated around. With every car that
passes you, your odds of being hit by one of them increases. By
driving the same speed as the cars around you, you are much less
likely to be hit by one of them. Sometimes I slow down a bit too, but
usually only to get a different set of drivers around me because I've
had it with the knuckelheads around me. I am not worried about ME
crashing, I am indeed worried about one of 'them' hitting me though.
Most folks do not put much thought into driving, and it is usually
demonstrated for me every time I drive.

Eric wrote:
At 60 mph on an Interstate (most of my trailering) seems just as safe as
75, because passing is easy. Two lane roads, regardless of the speed
limit, is where the danger is. Most of that danger occurs when I have to
drive *less* than 60 mph, due to traffic, hills, and curves. Since it's
not related to brakes, I'll leave the issue for another thread.

Perhaps this is the start of that "new" thread:

The NTSB statistics on crashes between Class 8 semis (big trucks) and
automobiles (four-wheelers) reveals that ~ 70% of these accidents
involve the four-wheeler striking the big truck from behind (the
reverse is, fortunately, quite rare). Compare the rear of that
semitrailer with LED tail and marker lights, not to mention at least 8
1/2 feet of DOT tape with the rear profile and lighting intensity of
your basic glider trailer. There's little question that the risk of
being rear-ended increases in proportion to the speed differential.
Good lighting does attenuate this risk somewhat, but doesn't come
close to eliminating it.

That said, there are, as Eric points out, excellent economic and
safety/stability arguments for that 60 mph speed. (arguments I now
take seriously, BTW, since my tow vehicle is a VERY thirsty pick-
up.) Personally, however, I would have a creepy feeling at the back
of my neck with a 15-20 mph differential between me and all those SUVs
coming up behind me, even if the lane(s) to the left of me were
unobstructed. The good news is that the majority of professional
drivers deal well with these closing rates, the bad news is that so
many non-professionals don't. Here in New Jersey, I've had to move
right or left to avoid being hit from behind on at least three
occasions this past year. In one case, the car then hit the truck in
front of me.

I've ordered a new set of LED tail and marker lights, a round brake
light to place high on the back of the fin and some DOT tape for the
trailer and, when they're installed, will reduce my maximum towing
speed a bit with the clear understanding that I'm balancing economics
and risk. I'm applying the DOT tape all the way 'round, but that's
another story...

Ray Warshaw
1LK