Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Opinions please: Towing a U-Haul 5x8 trailer faster than 55 mph

Sorry - slight correction.. Longer trailers definitely pull better with less chance of 'sway'...(loaded correctly, of course)..

Yep, read the tires. I would NOT exceed the tire rating.

You'll be fine. Hundreds of those trailers are drug up and down the interstates everyday at speeds greater than 55mph. Would I bomb down a mountain going three digits? No. Cruise 70ish across texas and Colorado? Sure.

I've pulled trailers close to a million miles going to rodeos all over the west. From 1 horse single axles to 36' stock trailers and some tractor trailers. Load them tongue heavy and put 10 pounds more air than the tires are rated for. Keep them level or tongue low when loaded. A few of the trailers like your renting are prone to whip so if the above doesn't help get a bigger one. Speed doesn't seem to affect this at all.

YMMV, Fred

I've hauled a number of U-Haul trailers many times between 70 and 80 mph without a problem..
Just use common sense and drive appropriately for the traffic conditions..

Most utility trailers have ST rated tires that max out at 65 MPH. Much higher, they will start to over heat because of the sidewall flexing. Can you get away with going faster---maybe. A blowout at 70 mph on a trailer is fun to watch if it happens to someone else. Remember: Just because you can, doesn't mean you should, speed that is.

It's been my experience nothing good comes from being in a hurry with a trailer, forward or backward.

Remove their 55 mph sticker !!!! Haul ass ,them little tires will spin right off the rim !!

Same here....coast to coast. One trip was under 50 hrs.....67 Camaro both times.

Load it properly and rock on, 55 is silly, on interstate.

Tow any speed you want, but don't plan any successful liability claim against u haul if the trailer self destructs and your bike gets totaled.

CHeck hitch, chains, tires, pressure, bearings.

Drive sensibly. 55mph is dangerous on interstates down in America.

First rented a U-Haul (4x6) to move to AZ from PA in 1961, and my 54 Chev with the OHV 6 hardly would turn more than 60 - so we chose 55. Since then I have rented many, many and learned quite a bit about U-Haul. They build them strong, use good materials and have a well-proven design. And, seems they use better tires than those we usually get at tire stores for our light trailers. All of the above is to their advantage - avoidance of road trouble means good rep and repeat customers. There is a reason why you see so many sailing down the Interstates - running fast - without problems.

Apply the advice given above by some experienced trailer guys (size, loading, tongue weight, etc.) and have a good, safe and speedy trip.

I'm probably one of the few guys that had a blow-out with a U-Haul trailer on the freeway, and walked away.

I rented a U-Haul tow-dolly, different than the trailer, but same limitations. Started in Alabama with decent, but worn tires on the dolly, and 56 Chevy sedan as the load. By the time I made Tennessee, one of the tires had to be replaced, it was shredding the tread. I asked for an inspection of the dolly and was told it was "good to go". I was given two new tires and rolled on.

By the time I reached Oregon, the tires were down to 25% tread and badly cupped. I had a half a day to go, screw-it, press on. Mid-day on the freeway, the right dolly tire blew, dragging my pick-up into the guard rail, and the load. We bounced down the guardrail, and I did as best I could keep the two vehicles straight. The pick-up finally caught the guardrail or a post, bounced to the left, and we came around 180 with the tow dolly pushing us forward.

When everything came to a screeching halt, the pickup was sitting in the right lane looking back down the freeway at oncoming traffic, the tow dolly hitch was wrapped under the rear pickup axle and the 56 Chevy was sitting up against the guard on the dolly facing in the direction of travel, beside my door.

Point being - check the equipment, and make sure it's performing as it should. I should have turned the defective one in when I reached Tennessee, or used an auto transporter. If it doesn't look right, don'y accept the rental.

Most, but not all, ST tires have a 65mph speed rating. I have some of the new Goodyears made in America and they are an ST with an 87mph rating. Having lost a tire tread while towing, I can tell you it isn't fun and frequently causes some pretty bad damage.

Make sure they're aired up. Check the bearings. Make sure your tongue weight is good. But if you dump that thing going over 55, you better have a rider on your insurance.

Have a drive on trailer for a 51 Willys Jeep the wife has.

Buddy was in a hurry to get home from NM hunt once...

I"ll just say that it hit 3 digits for quite some amount of time, but he claims it never hurt the trailer because the trailer or tires were never on the pavement at that point....

I towed the same trailer from AL to AZ, and I had it crammed to the gills. I averaged about 75 most of the trip(I was glad to leave AL). No issues, but I made sure it had good rubber before I left.

I wouldn't limit my speed to 55. But about 65 is as fast as I want to pull any trailer. Since most trailer tires are rated for 65 that is a good limit in my opinion.

plug in Sammy Hagar