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ROBERT CROSS · 01-24-2013, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrUKToad

Thanks for that Moflash, I shall file it with all the other "Oh no, you're going to kill us all" posts.

I'll say it again, read up on Andy's work on his website and in his regular "Hitch Hints" column in Airstream Life. You will quickly see that towing is so much more than just weight and playing around with numbers.

You don't have to agree with his take on towing, but given that he's run a successful business specialising in towing solutions for travel trailers for over 40 years, you should at least respect his experience and knowledge in his chosen field. I can assure you that Can Am as a business would never let an unsafe or untested set up off their lot if they weren't 100% happy with it. However, you appear to know better....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travel Bird

I totally agree with Mr UK Toad. Andy is the best. We followed his advise and couldn't be happier. We even went to CanAm after we purchased out new 'Stream!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travel Bird

We tow our 27FB with our Ford Expedition EL and a Hensley Hitch. Done!! Andy Thompson advised is and it's perfect.

I feel exactly the same.
We tow our 25" Classic with a 2006 8.1 2/3 Suburban.
It tows like the Burb isn't even there.
And Can-Am Andy had nothing to do with it.
I have all the Americans right here on the Forums to thank for that.

Bob

richinny · 01-24-2013, 08:31 PM

Airstream330 if you stay with the less heavily loaded models you'll end up with more payload capacity. i ended up at 1804 lbs. you'll probably have to order it because the dealers like to add lots of options.

RUMSHIP · 01-24-2013, 09:03 PM

Ok enough with your physics lessons. Your axle weights and payload capacity. Enough with 1/2 ton 3/4 ton 1 ton bla bla bla.

http://youtu.be/cedMN8Hx0DU

Smile and enjoy a little inner boy fun!

dkottum · 01-24-2013, 10:53 PM

Airstream330, leasing the F150 sounds like an excellent choice. You will learn a lot about YOUR towing needs. You won't need us to tell you what you must have.

In the meantime these new trucks are undergoing transition and offering equipment that makes them better and more economical vehicles for towing as well as general service.

You've already got as good a grip on the tow truck argument as those who are posting here, including me. So please join the next argument, new one every few days.

doug k

slowmover · 01-25-2013, 05:01 AM

The tow vehicle is almost irrelevant as their are so many types of vehicles that can tow an Airstream quite well.

What matters is steering/handling and braking.

Proper hitch, proper set-up of same, and TT disc brakes are where discussions should lead.

Whether a decent-handling minivan or a crappy pickup truck (which is all of them) the lash-up is central, the brakes are immediately peripheral.

Spreadsheet analysis of pickup truck "weight ratings" is so fraught with fundamental error that it is not a reliable guide. The assumptions behind "frontal area restrictions" and aerodynamic-related problems do not include TT's like an A/S.

The best TV is the one which closely fits all solo duties . . and can tow the trailer. Not the other way 'round.

.

ROBERT CROSS · 01-25-2013, 05:26 AM

Think of it as the polymath of toe vehicles....
Jack of all trades master of the 80/20 principle...

never mind.

Bob

Skater · 01-25-2013, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moflash

Not real impressed with Andy if he let you go out the door with a Toyota Sienna that has a max tow rating of 3500 lbs and a total payload of approx 1200lbs knowing full well that you and your 5 children that ride with you and that you were going to pull a 28ft Airstream with a real tongue weight of appox 1000 lbs and a GVW 7600lbs.Plus the weight of the hitch they installed and wd system.
Wow!! Have you ever looked underneath your Sienna and looked at the the size of your drive axle and CV joints(about the diameter of a US quarter) much less the rear trailing axles and coil springs?
I read about these tow vehicle selections and I just cant believe the number of people out there that not only risk their lives but more importantly innocent people around them.To save gas? Money? Ride quality?What?
I would have liked to read the disclaimer that you signed from CanAm Rv center on this deal.
Definitely not cool MRUKTOAD

What you may be missing is that Andy does reinforce the vehicle - he doesn't just slap a hitch on it and call it a day. I was pretty confused by his setups until I realized that he modifies the car to add frame rails and the like. (Personally, having had a heavy duty transmission fail, I'd still worry about that issue, but that's just me.) I have no connection to Can-Am at all, and I tow with a truck - we need it for the space anyway.

Wingeezer · 01-25-2013, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RUMSHIP

Ok enough with your physics lessons. Your axle weights and payload capacity. Enough with 1/2 ton 3/4 ton 1 ton bla bla bla.

Top Gear Trucks - YouTube

Smile and enjoy a little inner boy fun!

Damn, my real motive has been revealed!

Brian.

HeadWest · 01-25-2013, 06:38 PM

Airstream330, great idea on the leasing.

I ended up at my local Ford dealer today and looked at and drove an F150 that is close to what I'm thinking about ordering. It was a heavily optioned supercrew Ecoboost with 5 1/2 foot bed, max tow. The Ford website and brochure shows at payload capacity of 1900 pounds, the door sticker on this truck was 1593. I expect what I'm going to order will be very close to this capacity. Again, I'll be well within the numbers for tow rating and GCWR with the 28 International. It is strictly the payload that I'll be right tight to the max amount. Tires are by far my biggest concern with running close to the the max in payload and will do an LT tire either ordering it that way or changing the p metrics to another tire as soon as I receive the truck.

I did look at and drive an F250 and just cannot go that route for my other needs. I'm not knocking it for others as tow vehicle but both my wife and I will be driving it as a daily driver. With the crew cab and 6'9" bed it is a huge vehicle any way you look at it.

If down the road I need sell it and move to a different truck I'm fine with doing so. From looking at the used trucks and seeing the high resale prices, I'm not too concerned about the cost to switch this out in the future if I decide that is what I need to do.

One other item I have seen mentioned here and elsewhere is optional gas tank sizes on the F150's. From everything I'm seeing, the 2013 US trucks have a 26 gallon tank if 2 wheel drive and the 4 wheel drive ones are all 36 gallon. I don't see an option on gas tank sizes so this might have been on prior model years.

Wingeezer · 01-26-2013, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadWest

If down the road I need sell it and move to a different truck I'm fine with doing so.

If ever you do find the need to move up in size you may not find it as bad as you think.

I remember the day I drove our 3/4 ton off the lot after having owned a 1/2 ton, I really wondered if I had made a mistake. It felt huge, and our plan was to use it as a daily driver!

It is surprising how quickly we can become used to something though, within a day or two it felt perfectly normal.

My wife - all of five feet on a good day - has no problem with it, and in fact she does a whole lot more driving with it around town than I do! I think she kind of enjoys it sitting up there so high!

Of course I recognize that not everyone will have the same experience as us. At times, it is not as easy to park. There are generally things you can do to compensate - but not always.

I have gotten to the point now that if we sell the trailer, I know that I will no longer have a sensible rationale to keep the truck, but I will be loath to let it go!

Brian

HeadWest · 01-26-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

If ever you do find the need to move up in size you may not find it as bad as you think.

It probably won't be too bad as you said. For right now, we are going from a BMW X3 and a BMW 330i as our daily drivers so even the F150 crew cab seems huge.

Road Ruler · 01-30-2013, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moflash

Wow!! Have you ever looked underneath your Sienna and looked at the the size of your drive axle and CV joints

Our 93 Nissan van was similar. The original CV joints had over 300,000 miles on them and never had a problem. The van spent 100's of hours towing all over the Continent. It's not how big the tug is. What matters is how well it handles the load.