Burt Compton - Marfa wrote:
Of course the bottom line is to drive a little slower - as well as
having the right tyres on the trailer.



I just checked with my friend in Germany and confirmed that 80 km/hour
is their max legal glider trailer towing speed.
If we had the same law, that would be a max speed of only 50 MPH in
the USA.

So as much as the Germans like to drive fast in their cars, they
apparently tow their glider trailers at a reasonable speed.

My strategy is to maintain good tires, a tight hitch, start driving
early and try not to stop (like not stopping to thermal on a cross
country.)
60 MPH gets you there. Save gas / save your glider.

You save so much time when you don't have stop to change tires, and back
track to find the fender, then stop in town to get another tire. And if
you have find help to roll everything back up on to the tires .... well,
makes 60 seem OK!

One of my favorite trailer anecdotes is a friend that drove from Florida
to New Mexico for contest, buying 4 new tires along the way. Made good
time at 90 mph in between, though.

Lots of pilots do have tow vehicles and trailers that can tow safely at
75. The real problem is determining you have that combination without a
disaster if you are wrong.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (netto to net to email me)

- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl

- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz