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VicIde · 02-08-2013, 03:39 PM

Hello,

I just bought my first Airstream this week - a 2012 25 FB Eddie Bauer. I need to buy a tow vehicle and I notice that there is a lot of active discussions around tow vehicles.

I'm looking at a 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ 5.7 and 3.42:1 axle. with a tow package. It looks like it has a tow capacity of 9,600 lbs. The GVWR of my trailer is 7,300. Will this be enough to tow without any issues? I don't want to buy too large of a truck since it will be my main day-to-day vehicle.

Thanks. I'm excited to be part of the Airstream community!

Vic

Inland RV Center, In · 02-08-2013, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VicIde

Hello,

I just bought my first Airstream this week - a 2012 25 FB Eddie Bauer. I need to buy a tow vehicle and I notice that there is a lot of active discussions around tow vehicles.

I'm looking at a 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ 5.7 and 3.42:1 axle. with a tow package. It looks like it has a tow capacity of 9,600 lbs. The GVWR of my trailer is 7,300. Will this be enough to tow without any issues? I don't want to buy too large of a truck since it will be my main day-to-day vehicle.

Thanks. I'm excited to be part of the Airstream community!

Vic

Vic.

Install a transmission oil cooler and you will be good to go.

You can tow anything Airstream makes,with your TV.

Andy

overlander63 · 02-08-2013, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VicIde

Hello,

I just bought my first Airstream this week - a 2012 25 FB Eddie Bauer. I need to buy a tow vehicle and I notice that there is a lot of active discussions around tow vehicles.

I'm looking at a 2009 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ 5.7 and 3.42:1 axle. with a tow package. It looks like it has a tow capacity of 9,600 lbs. The GVWR of my trailer is 7,300. Will this be enough to tow without any issues? I don't want to buy too large of a truck since it will be my main day-to-day vehicle.

Thanks. I'm excited to be part of the Airstream community!

Vic

The truck would probably be much better if it had 3.73 gears. I just did a walk-through on an EB today, and the tow vehicle was a 4x4 F250. Ride was very smooth, with no bouncing around, and the truck was more than enough to handle the trailer. Since yours is also an EB, it would probably be a good idea to get a 4wd truck, since getting out there is part of what that trailer is made for.

Aviator · 02-08-2013, 04:54 PM

yes

**DKB_SATX** · 02-08-2013, 04:58 PM

I don't believe Chevrolet put a 5.7l engine in the 2009 Silverado... LTZ were standard with the 5.3l and some bodies had optional 6.0 or 6.2 V8s.

In Florida, without a lot of big hills around, the 5.3 should do OK. For occasional steeper grades you may need to tolerate lower gears and higher RPM but it'll do it. People towed with a lot less torque for a long time.

dznf0g · 02-08-2013, 06:51 PM

DKB is correct. no 5.7....but that's Ok as the 5.3 has more torque and HP than the last of the 5.7s. I question the 9700 lbs with a 5.3 and 3.42s. That's awfully close to the 10,000 lb rating for a max tow package with a 6.0 and 3.73s.

msmcv51 · 02-08-2013, 08:17 PM

I have been towing a 1987 25' Sovereign for the last two years with a 2001 F150 S-Crew 5.4 and a 3.55 rearend with a trailer towing package, no problems on the flats or through the Tennesse mountains.

Wazbro · 02-08-2013, 09:07 PM

You will need to watch your payload. The trailer tongue weight will take close to 800lbs of the payload, plus passengers and gear.

overlander63 · 02-08-2013, 09:26 PM

Okay, I dd a little further checking, and the tow rating for your truck with 3.42 gear and 5.3 engine is 6800 pounds, not 9600. I don't know where that number came from, but it is not listed for that truck at all. So, to anwer your question, NO. It will NOT tow the EB. You will need to find a tow vehicle with more towing capacity.

excellaf350 · 02-09-2013, 02:40 AM

It will do it if you get steeper gears but dont expect a speed demon. The 3.42's just dont cut it in the towing world. I have a 2005 Yukon 1500, 5.3l, 3.42 4x4. I purchased my 1990 29' and figured it would be ok to tow... The trailer is under the tow rating and the package was just under the combined rating empty. I pulled it 100 miles and decided I was buying a new tow vehicle when I got home.

If the truck had 3.73 or 4.10 gear it would have been much better. I was not comfortable pulling a slight hill in second gear at 4000 rpm to try and keep it in the 40 to 50 mph range. Flat land I was able to stay in 3rd at about 2500 rpm and maintain 60/65 mph. Any grade at all and it was in 2nd to get up the hill. Forget OD if you have 3.42's you can only pull it in D. Now the newer trucks have a much better trans that the 05's but they HP and TQ thru a 3.42 gear just doesnt cut it.

I got home, pulled the check book out and went truck shopping. Bought an 03 F350 7.3 psd... now I can hit a 6% grade with the trailer loaded to the max, kids and wife in the truck, bed full of firewood and she doesnt even come out of OD at 70 mph... plenty of power to pull anything I want

.

My suggestion would be to get the 2500HD with the 6.0L and say a 3.73 gear and you will be reliable, and comfortable towing. It will have plenty of power for the hills.

excellaf350 · 02-09-2013, 03:19 AM

Oh and this really depends on how much towing you plan to do. If you furthest trip is 150 miles from home in flat FL ground and you do it once a month maybe every other month... no sweat get the 1500 with a 3.73 gear and you will be ok. If you are going 800 miles from home, 1 or 2 times a month I would definately skip it and go for the 2500/6.0L combo.

Kosm1o · 02-09-2013, 03:30 AM

Had the same truck, same year, same package, and towed my 28 footer all over without any issue. Sure it's a little slower up the steep passes out west but so what. My advice is don't change vehicles just for that trailer.

Jim Clark · 02-09-2013, 05:49 AM

What Andy said. Use you truck for a while then decide.

Jim

VicIde · 02-09-2013, 06:37 AM

Thank you all for your great input. Gives me a lot to think about and consider. Much appreciated!!

Vic

excellaf350 · 02-09-2013, 08:16 AM

I think he is saying he doesnt have a truck so he is looking to buy one. One more thing to consider is fuel mileage. My 05 yukon during the 100 miles I towed was getting 8 mpg. My dieseld gets 13/14 (in tow) and could care less about the trailer behind me. As I said the 1500 will do it if you get the taller gear. Not a speed demon and you will be looking for gas stations but it will do it.

IMO if I already had the 1500 and was going to stay local, I would stick with it. If you are looking for a truck you need to consider what your plans are. I dont take my trailer out a lot but when we do go we take off for 800/1000 mile trips. For gas, nothing beats a HD truck with at least 400 ft lb of tq. IMO. Im in the NE and frequent very steep and long up hill/down hill runs. I had trouble on flat ground and no way near comfortable pulling a trailer up a hill that weighed just as much as my truck. Gears, gears, gears... they make the difference.

dkottum · 02-09-2013, 10:02 AM

Good grief. We have a Ram 1500 5.7 gas engine and Airstream wherever we want without difficulty. When without the trailer it is a nice daily driver and it is easy on gas (as trucks go), without the $.25+ extra cost of diesel fuel.

doug k

Kosm1o · 02-10-2013, 06:16 AM

Likewise. I don't want to get beat to death in a 3/4 or 1 ton all year when not towing. I take maybe two long trips a year and maybe go west every other year. I can put up with my half ton for that. Yep, I know the ride is better now than it used to be but my half ton rides like a dream. I just wish they made them 4" lower to the ground. At 64 its getting tougher getting in and out. And the cargo? Very difficult getting out of the bed.

tuffr2 · 02-10-2013, 11:11 AM

Take into consideration that you might want a bigger or smaller trailer in the nearer than expected future. A large SUV or 1/2 truck with the right gears will work for a 25 foot AS.

If you want to get a bigger trailer someday then at that time you can also get a bigger truck.

To me that 25 foot range is in between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton. Also I agree it depends on where, and how far you will be towing.

scamp · 02-10-2013, 08:02 PM

I have a 2012 silverado 4x4 with extended cab 5.3L and 6 speed trans with 3.42 final drive with locking diff ,z71 suspention,with heavy duty tow package includes trans and engine oil cooler it's towing capacity is 9700lbs I have towed my 19 foot flying cloud no problem tons of power .so much it goes many times into four cylinder mode on moderate acceleration and cruise. I'm getting about 19 miles per gallon while towing and 29 miles per gallon without. At aprox 100kph, that's imperial gallon not u.s. gallon. I know your towing more weight then me but ,you should be ok,

mefly2 · 02-27-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wazbro

You will need to watch your payload. The trailer tongue weight will take close to 800lbs of the payload, plus passengers and gear.

EXTREMELY important to know the limits and stay within range... we went with a 3/4 T for that reason. (830+ lbs just for the hitch weight *some of which is redistributed depending upon hitch preference* PLUS propane, any personal items in the AS in front of the axles, level & location of various of liquids in the AS, anything in the rear of the TV like gens, fuel, bikes, tools, & toys doesn't leave a lot more for payload ... you can't forget the driver and passenger(S)) I, too, am almost 65 and really am amazed at the comfort levels now available in the 3/4 T choices; what a difference in towing with the 3/4 versus our older 1/2 T. Of course, YMMV and you can expect a slightly stiffer ride in the 3/4 with stock springs.