We have a new 13 foot with the standard tires which are ST 175/80 R13, steel belted SUPER TRAIL load range C. They have a max load of 1360 lb at 50psi and are mfg in China. The trailer is basic (no propane system, no water tank, no A/C, no toilet) and weighs about 1540. Add another 100 when we pack for travel. Any idea of what is the safe speed for these tires???
Mon, 04/28/2014 - 19:55
#1
Safe towing speed with standard tires
I may be able to help some as i have had my share of tire problems. that is a decent tire for the wieght you are carrying on that trailer so your not pressing it to the limits.You can safely hold 62 to 65 mph with that tire in the dead heat of the summer. In the cooler weather i would try to hold about the same speed with 63mph being about the norm. don't fear if you get up to about 68 mph for short 10 minute burst or an occasional 70mph when passing someone..... A trick you can use when you stop is to feel the sidewall temperature (not the tread) as this will tell you the actual flexing of the sidewalls if it is too much and could lead to a bubble on the side or ply separation up top..... I am a very big user of tire monitors that tell the temperature and the pressure of the tire while sitting in the convenience of your tow vehicle..... You will see how pressure rises in the tire as temperature goes up. Don't make the mistake to adjust pressure when this happens as pressure should always be set when tire is cold or you could have bigger problems. I have been a big user of TST Tire Monitoring systems (other brands are just as good) valve stems must be metal and not rubber for obvious reasons and the flo thru sensors are just too long for our tires so stick with the stubbies that have to be removed if you need to air up a tire..
This is the exact set i am using right now.
http://tsttruck.com/product/2-tire-pressure-monitoring-system/
You don't really need them but it is sure great for peace of mind.... you have a very light trailer so tire problems will be rare
Joe & Linda
New River, Arizona
2013 Casita SD 17'
Thanks for the information. We tow with a Toyota Highlander 4 cyl and try to hold the speed to 60 mph although it can creep up. The trailer has about 190 of the 1540+ lb wt on the tow ball and tows well with no sway and stops well with electric brakes. When we picked up the trailer last year I asked re towing speed and was told to just follow the posted speed limits. Note that these can be 75 mph or more in Oklahoma / Texas.
Your tongue weight should be about 10% of the total weight of the trailer and your close enough and wouldn't worry..... do you have a stabalizer bar attached? At about $35 i never run without it and i'm using a full sized dodge Ram 4 door. It only takes one little doggie to run out in front of you to get that little trailer swaying.... this is a touchy subject with many but i always use one. Even ahead of a WDH. I drove semis for thirty years so this following test i don't recommend you try but i got on a desolate road and got up to about 65mph and cut the wheel real hard and it got to swaying real bad but i got it under control..... I stopped changed my drawers and put the stabilizer/sway bar on and did the same test. this time i couldn't get it to sway and i had the same heavy ram tow vehicle. cheap insurance but be warned to loosen it up when it's raining so you don't continue going straight when you come into a curve on a wet or snowy road.
If you already know this stuff accept my apology as i only mean well :)
Joe
Joe & Linda
New River, Arizona
2013 Casita SD 17'
I found your response very infofmative. Are there any other times the sway bar should be removed?
I have a 13ft. Scamp w/ electric brakes.
Thanks,
Ron
Ronald A.
Rain and snow you basically just loosen the tension completely loose so there is no friction on the pads. other than that i loosen it up when backing into a camping spot and if you think you will be jacking it real tight while backing up to completely remove it so you don't bend the little ball.... that's it. I'm amazed how many people go out and spend lots of money on a WDH but don't go the extra few bucks for a sway bar. There are many people very confident without one but do that quick miss the dog maneuver one time and you may change your mind.
I seen two vehicles today while driving down the highway and one of them was swaying real bad where people where afraid to pass him (he was doing 70mph)..... He had a F350 ford with about a 23 foot trailer and a real nice heavy duty WDH but no sway bar.... very cheap insurance and it installs on the passenger side of the vehicle.
glad to be of some help :)
Joe & Linda
New River, Arizona
2013 Casita SD 17'
I, too, own a Scamp 13 standard and I keep my speed at 60 tops. Raining, tight traffic, congestion, I go slower. I do not use a sway bar, but I do have electric brakes. I also notice people hauling it along the thruway many times when I'm traveling with their trailers swinging behind them around 70 - 75 mph. Very scary.
We added the sway control bar and am very pleased as the Scamp 13 stays tight behind the Highlander with very little movement. I added it after coming back home and running into Oklahoma cross wind gusting to 35+. Just a bit more info... We have a stripped 2014 trailer, no water tanks, no propane, no AC, no shower, no awning and still weigh 1550 plus. I am pulling with a 4 cyl 2004 Toyota Highlander with a 3000 lb tow capacity. It pulls ok at 60mph but we are looking for the larger 6cyl version if we do any mountain driving.
Just remember this...speed limits are for DRY HIGHWAYS!!!
<p>Doug Allen 2016 Ford F-150 2018 Lance 1575</p>
I believe all tires have codes that indicate the max load and the max speed. My 19Deluxe 5th wheel tows so nicely that I sometimes catch myself going 75. Then I coast back to 60 - 65. I do not like to set the cruise control, the Tacoma (6 cyl.) would shift too often, even against head wind. I let it slow down more driving in the mountains. Also, the gas mileage goes down a lot with increased speed due to air resistance.
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
Almost all trailer sway is caused by low tongue weight. The Scamp folks say that the 13" Scamp has a tongue weight of about 100 lbs. Just filling the fresh water tank could drop that tongue weight to close to nothing. So as you pack up your scamp for your scamper be aware of how you are affecting tongue weight.
Having said the above I know of some vehicles that can not pull any trailer without swaying. Those vehicles have very soft suspension. It is actually the vehicle swaying which causes the trailer to swing. If you have questions about how your vehicle will tow a trailer try to talk with other people that tow with the same vehicle. If a vehicle tows any trailer (within its weight limits) well it should tow a Scamp.
Happy travels
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