What is some of your Pet Peeve's

[ultrarunner]

12 hours drive time is a long haul for me.

What I find is many drive much faster and going with the flow makes one a target.

Several times cars that passed me on 5 were pulled over by Highway Patrol up the road in California, Oregon and Washington.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

That's when a good radar detector helps. Just got my 5th one.

Of course, it really helps to be an alert driver. And as an actual driver I don't use cruise control or any other driving aids.

 

[WinterDeere]

And here I thought that it was fully possible to drive the speed limit without using cruise control.

"You may reasonably expect a man to walk a tightrope safely for ten minutes; it would be unreasonable to do so without accident for two hundred years." -- Bertrand Russel

I believe he was talking about the mutually-assured destruction (MAD) era of the cold war, in this quote, but I always felt it applied equally well to maintaining one's speed when driving long stretches in a car that just wants to go fast.

My primary means of remaining ticket-free is to have my head on a swivel, and to know the areas likely to be under surveillance. But in those areas I know to be tightly-controlled, I often use my cruise control to maintain speed.

 

[Jstpssng]

And here I thought that it was fully possible to drive the speed limit without using cruise control.

Possible, yes. But a lot easier with CC. Especially when you have a defective right foot like mine... Made out of lead.

Often when coming up the interstate in a winter storm I will drop in behind a tractor trailer going a sane speed, keeping 2 markers between us. (2/10 mile) This keeps my right foot from twitching... I have followed trucks as far as 30 miles that way.

 

[ultrarunner]

I must be doing something right being ticket free five decades…

As a teen working at a dealership it was made very clear one speeding ticket meant being fired and same for home driving privileges…

Somehow we all managed to be ticket and accident free…

At 18 I had to get my own insurance and good grades, work history and clean driving record all factored…

Not so for a lot of my friends that had lead feet, totaled cars and also liked their under age beer…

More than a few times I got the call to drive intoxicated friends home and even was stopped at a check point… they had been drinking but never a drop for me… to much to loose is how I saw it… but my folks were not doctors or lawyers or police and fire…

Once I explained no alcohol in my car and no drinking for me the officer thanked me for picking up my friends… one the son of a deputy…

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Possible, yes. But a lot easier with CC. Especially when you have a defective right foot like mine... Made out of lead.

I may be guilty of exceeding the speed limit at times. Like when driving.

But while going faster (or much faster) than the limit it's rarely at a constant speed. Slowing down for curves, when meeting other vehicles, when catching up with another vehicle and unable to pass, etc.

Also, I do the speed limit in towns and other places where it makes sense. Ironically, it's not uncommon that someone I passed that drove relatively slowly on the open road then passes me later, when going through a town.

That's cruise control at work I suppose.

 

[ultrarunner]

Dodge 1 ton non dual turbo diesel passed me on the freeway at a good clip a few minutes ago.

It was towing a full size Case loader backhoe on a gooseneck with the back of the truck severely squatting.

The trailer had 2 axle with 8 tires.

If a person is going to max+ load why run 80 in the third lane on the freeway?

 

[Jstpssng]

Also, I do the speed limit in towns and other places where it makes sense. Ironically, it's not uncommon that someone I passed that drove relatively slowly on the open road then passes me later, when going through a town

Ditto here. I don't think it has anything to do with CC.

Years ago I had to get home for a minor emergency. I was traveling at 20 mph over the 55 mph limit... With 2 cars right on my tail. We approached a residential area so I slowed down: they didn't and went around me instead. Something about blasting through town at 75 didn't make sense to me.

Just because I run cruise control doesn't mean that I don't pay attention to the road. When you're backing off the throttle I'm doing the same with my thumb, either slowing my speed or disengaging completely. When you are pressing the accelerator I'm increasing my speed, or simply reactivating the CC. On curves I simply disable it momentarily.

 

[Jstpssng]

Dodge 1 ton non dual turbo diesel passed me on the freeway at a good clip a few minutes ago.

It was towing a full size Case loader backhoe on a gooseneck with the back of the truck severely squatting.

The trailer had 2 axle with 8 tires.

If a person is going to max+ load why run 80 in the third lane on the freeway?

Well, it's up to you to get out of their way!!!
Some people do drive like that. They are bigger than you are so feel they have the right to drive like a Dic-
Er, like a jerk.

 

[bcp]

Well, it's up to you to get out of their way!!!
Some people do drive like that. They are bigger than you are so feel they have the right to drive like a Dic-
Er, like a jerk.

i wonder if the driver was also an author.

Bruce

 

[Too many Kubotas]

It was towing a full size Case loader backhoe on a gooseneck with the back of the truck severely squatting.

The trailer had 2 axle with 8 tires.

If a person is going to max+ load why run 80 in the third lane on the freeway?

I can explain the first two.

1) With a typical trailer he put the load too far forward, like people often do.

2) That should mean at least a 25K load rating on the trailer, so about a 16K load would be fine.

3) I'm rarely on multi-lane roads, but if so I always use the third lane, second if I'm passing someone. That's a habit from CA where towing vehicles could only use the two right lanes.

Going 80 mph? That's what I try to maintain, even with similar loads. For example, when on U.S. 50 through Nevada should I really sit there at 60 mph or whatever the speed limit was?

Heck, no. I was doing 80+ heading for Reno empty and did my best to maintain 80 on the way back with some 16K on the trailer. Expected a 5 mpg average on one fill-up, but it was slightly better. Didn't want to spend any more time than necessary on the 1,000-mile trip (one way), so 80 it was.

 

[BackRoad]

I always remind myself "...just because one can, doesn't mean one should..."

Not unusual to run the F-350 at 7 over with an empty trailer on the Interstate, often use CC unless in moderate (+) hills. But I do maintain the speed limit when loaded, or even 5 under when hauling heavy.

There's just too many of "The Others" on the road, and I honestly believe risk rises exponentially in fully loaded conditions if emergency maneuvers are needed. Five additional minutes to complete a 70 mile run is a minor inconvenience...with the gooseneck loaded, and especially with the 5th wheel.

 

[Jstpssng]

A lot of people here with snowplows on front really seem to feel that makes them entitled to drive too fast, and take up part of my lane. I'm not sure what happens when 2 plows meet...
I'm of the opinion that if you can't drive it, park it and get something you can handle.

 

[ultrarunner]

I can explain the first two.

1) With a typical trailer he put the load too far forward, like people often do.

2) That should mean at least a 25K load rating on the trailer, so about a 16K load would be fine.

3) I'm rarely on multi-lane roads, but if so I always use the third lane, second if I'm passing someone. That's a habit from CA where towing vehicles could only use the two right lanes.

Going 80 mph? That's what I try to maintain, even with similar loads. For example, when on U.S. 50 through Nevada should I really sit there at 60 mph or whatever the speed limit was?

Heck, no. I was doing 80+ heading for Reno empty and did my best to maintain 80 on the way back with some 16K on the trailer. Expected a 5 mpg average on one fill-up, but it was slightly better. Didn't want to spend any more time than necessary on the 1,000-mile trip (one way), so 80 it was.

A ticket would ruin my day plus years of added insurance surcharges… too risky.

I’m not adverse to high speeds when legal… I covered 580 autobahn miles on the way to Berlin in a brand new 5 series maxing at 230 kmh or about 142 mph with average speed for the trip around 100 mph.

To haul legal over 10k trailer in California requires a CDL which puts one’s livelihood at risk.

No chance to move it any farther back on the trailer as the backhoe arm was already past the end of the ducktail with only the bucket chained to the back edge.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Five additional minutes to complete a 70 mile run is a minor inconvenience...with the gooseneck loaded, and especially with the 5th wheel.

There's a bit of a difference between a 70 mile drive and a 1,000+ mile one.

Going, for example, 20% over on average results in a 20% time saving. That's meaningful over 1,000 miles.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

To haul legal over 10k trailer in California requires a CDL which puts one’s livelihood at risk.

No chance to move it any farther back on the trailer as the backhoe arm was already past the end of the ducktail with only the bucket chained to the back edge.

I had a CDL while in California, but losing it wouldn't have affected my livelihood. I had it because I chose to drive a Class 8 tractor as an RV, and to be able to pull doubles.

As for how the backhoe was loaded, was there any reason not to have it on there the opposite way, with the heaviest part over the trailer axles?

 

[ultrarunner]

I had a CDL while in California, but losing it wouldn't have affected my livelihood. I had it because I chose to drive a Class 8 tractor as an RV, and to be able to pull doubles.

As for how the backhoe was loaded, was there any reason not to have it on there the opposite way, with the heaviest part over the trailer axles?

I don’t think so but maybe it could have been reversed… it flew by so fast. It was chained down at the 4 corners plus front and rear buckets… but the stabilizers were not from what I can tell.

I saw damage that happened from a drooping outrigger years ago…

Drivers were honking drawing attention and the side that dropped took out a city street light.

 

[bigtiller]

There's a bit of a difference between a 70 mile drive and a 1,000+ mile one.

Going, for example, 20% over on average results in a 20% time saving. That's meaningful over 1,000 miles.

If my math is correct, you do 90mph in a posted 75mph interstate highway?

That's insane.!

 

[Too many Kubotas]

If my math is correct, you do 90mph in a posted 75mph interstate highway?

That's insane.!

Your math might be correct, but what makes you think I'm on Interstates?

If you look it up, U.S. 50 is not an Interstate. It's a mostly straight 2-laner with nothing around. Including traffic.

Of course, there's a definite lack of traffic around here, too, but the roads are anything but straight. That and the grades makes it hard to maintain 80, especially with heavier loads on the trailer.

On the rare occasions I'm on an Interstate it's usually on I-70, and the speed limit is 80. That's where people do pass me, since 80 is what my 3500 and I like. Purring along at 2,000 rpm.

Now, if you mean driving my fun car, that's a different story. Then 20% over isn't even close. Beating the GPS's prediction by 30-40% is pretty standard, and it often includes doing 100% over the speed limit. And definitely no Interstates involved.

Insane? If you say so then it must be, right?

 

[ultrarunner]

Maybe it was before the National speed limit?

Nevada was famous for wide open stretches without limits and road rallies.