Is there such a thing as overdoing it on TV power?

[Vitaver]

This being my first trailer and pickup truck, when I heard that with a Diesel Ford 350 'you won't even notice you are towing', I got one. I have no complains but I can't compare either. After I bought it I found out it is a full tonne TV and don't even remember how many cylinders it has. The users' manual is about 900 pages and I stopped half way, to be continued.

How much is too much? Is there a decreasing reward curve, and if so, where? Trailer is FC27FB. BTW, torque is a 9 followed by some zeros, about double what the RAM offered (and a few more toys to boot) so I went with Ford. Turning radious is kinda of horrible, I need a football field to make a U turn.

(I did not know Ford makes 450's and beyond, which is probably a good thing).

[CRH]

No....

[xrvr]

You bought a new tv and didn't know it was a one ton.? It'll work for you, though.

[SteveSueMac]

It depends on your philosophy - if you're a fan of the Goldilocks zone - then yes, there is such a thing as too much power. In theory, there is a finite amount of power needed for your type of towing - too little and you can't do the job - too much and you overpaid.

Since you're talking about a diesel 1 ton truck, it's likely more than you need but by how much? It's not like you went out and bought a Kenworth and tied your Airstream to it.

You may find - as I did with a diesel 3/4 ton - that it's perfect for towing - but not in the Goldilocks zone for anything else - like being a daily driver.

So theory and philosophy aside - in the real world there is rarely a single perfect choice without compromise so hook up, go camping, have a blast and enjoy your rig! [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Sovereign25]

I've noticed that the stiff suspension on my 2500HD can bounce my smaller trailers around... just something to look out for.

[paiceman]

The F350 is identical in performance to the F250 with the exception of slightly heavier payload and towing - I've had both and currently have an F350. Ask a question on TV here on the forums and you'll get a number of personal preferences and advice as to what you should have done or what you can do.

We like Fords, so there was never a question as to which brand to buy. We traded in our F250 and got the F350 simply because. Don't need it, but if my wife would have let me I'd have gotten an F450 DRW, just because. The torque and horsepower are the same on the two models. I personally don't think one can over due it with a TV, but then as I said you'll get lots of input on your question.

Enjoy.

Bud

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by paiceman

... We traded in our F250 and got the F350 simply because. Don't need it, but if my wife would have let me I'd have gotten an F450 DRW, just because.

Enjoy.

Bud

I love it when people are honest!
I feel the same way!
Bruce

[Alluminati]

By getting a 350 instead of a 250, you probably paid more, and got a stiffer ride.

Typically a 350 won't tow more than a 250, but you can load more in the bed.

[kscherzi]

It's been claimed the heavy duty trucks are hard on the Airstream shell. The stiff truck springs can transmit more road shock than softer riding vehicles.

[Bill M.]

You have a good truck to tow with. Properly hitched I do not think it will hurt the Airstream. I might look at an Airsafe hitch if I did think the stiffness of the TV was a problem.
I once camped in a campground that had a 25' Airstream towed by a 450. (a bright yellow 450}. He was the talk of the day for a few days.

[moosetags]

This simple answer to your question is no. you can never have too much power when it comes to pulling a heavy trailer.

Over the past eleven years, we have had three Airstreams and four tow vehicles. We have camped in our Airstreams for almost 1,800 nights, and have towed them over 160,000 miles all over the country. We have had and have one half ton, two three quarter tons and a one ton tow vehicles. Without a doubt, the one ton diesel pick-up does the best job of towing.

Brian

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

It's been claimed the heavy duty trucks are hard on the Airstream shell. The stiff truck springs can transmit more road shock than softer riding vehicles.

This is true. To mitigate road shock transferred from the truck to the trailer you can 1. lower TV rear tire pressure, and/or 2.Install air suspension in the TV, and/ or 3. remove the helper spring, and/or 3. Use an Air Safe hitch (which is what I do)

[dkottum]

We've found that 400 ft lb of torque will easily take our loaded 25' Airstream anywhere we want to go with it, probably need to reduce speed on steep grades 1% of its total service. We've had that power in gas and diesel engines, the diesel provides that power at lower RPM and is more economical.

The transmission and axle gearing also matter, our 8-speed with 3.92 gearing is perfect for this combination. I would pull a 30 Classic with it by upgrading the brakes on the Classic so we always have plenty of trailer braking on long descents with the heavier trailer.

The suspension is relatively soft, which always gives a comfortable ride for us and our Airstream (nothing has even broken, come loose, or fallen down). That is in compliance with the warning in our Airstream Owners Manual never to use a heavier tow vehicle spring rate than needed.

We want safety, stability and comfort when towing. After a few experiments, we iinstalled a Hensley/ProPride design hitch which ensures our towing combination is always rock solid stable in all weather, road and traffic conditions.

We are away from home 7 months each year, our tow vehicle is also our daily driver. Those months are not spent endlessly traveling roadways, but to travel to destinations where we can unhook our Airstream and enjoy our retirement, and move to another when we want. Comfort, convenience and size matter. In our ninth year of extensive Airstream travel, this truck works out very well for us.

[gwydir]

Remember, "Nothing Exceeds like Excess"........words to live by.

[mikextr]

There is no "too much" on the tow vehicle if it doesn't also serve as your daily driver. For a few grand more you could have gotten the F450 dually. Now that's a TV! My TV has to be a daily driver so I went the "Goldilocks" route and chose the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Luxury, performance, and towing capacity all rolled into 1 nice ride.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by moosetags

This simple answer to your question is no. you can never have too much power when it comes to pulling a heavy trailer.

Over the past eleven years, we have had three Airstreams and four tow vehicles. We have camped in our Airstreams for almost 1,800 nights, and have towed them over 160,000 miles all over the country. We have had and have one half ton, two three quarter tons and a one ton tow vehicles. Without a doubt, the one ton diesel pick-up does the best job of towing.

Brian

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[MelGoddard]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

You have a good truck to tow with. Properly hitched I do not think it will hurt the Airstream. I might look at an Airsafe hitch if I did think the stiffness of the TV was a problem.
I once camped in a campground that had a 25' Airstream towed by a 450. (a bright yellow 450}. He was the talk of the day for a few days.

'AIRSAFE"????
A Goose neck hitch on an Airstream????
DO TELL!

[MelGoddard]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

This is true. To mitigate road shock transferred from the truck to the trailer you can 1. lower TV rear tire pressure, and/or 2.Install air suspension in the TV, and/ or 3. remove the helper spring, and/or 3. Use an Air Safe hitch (which is what I do)

ANOTHER "AIRSAFE"???
A 'Goose Neck' hitch on an Airstream???
DO TELL!

[MelGoddard]

Originally Posted by mikextr

There is no "too much" on the tow vehicle if it doesn't also serve as your daily driver. For a few grand more you could have gotten the F450 dually. Now that's a TV! My TV has to be a daily driver so I went the "Goldilocks" route and chose the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. Luxury, performance, and towing capacity all rolled into 1 nice ride.

I LOOKED AT THE SPECS OF A NUMBER OF VEHICLES, AND BOUGHT A FORD F-150 ECOBOOST.
Now that I've used it for the full year, it seems to handle a 8800#gross FC quite well. My average tow weight is around 8000+a little, and I use an Ezy-Lift hitch, with friction bars.

[NWRVR]

Originally Posted by gwydir

Remember, "Nothing Exceeds like Excess"........words to live by.

Yup, anything worth doing is worth overdoing....