Just purchased a 1999 34' Excella

[Larry C]

Forget the Ford, look for a Dodge/Cummins Quad Cab 2500.

[Minnie's Mate]

I don't think there is a big difference in the towing power between F-250 and F-350. The suspension is heavier and capable of more cargo in the bed is biggest thing, I think.

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

I don't think there is a big difference in the towing power between F-250 and F-350. The suspension is heavier and capable of more cargo in the bed is biggest thing, I think.

The only caution regarding going from 3/4 ton to one ton vehicles is that it always doesn't get you a corresponding greater towing capacity. Usually the heavier components in the tow vehicle can cut down towing capacities. So use caution here if you are comparing the same engine and axle ratio between 3/4 and one ton vehicles.

Jack

[Streamer1]

I think you will be fine with ANYBODY's 3/4 ton Diesel. I have a Ford F250 CC short-bed and it is a great truck.

[Pop Rivet]

Originally Posted by ciquing

Thank you! We are presently towing with a '95 G20 Conversion van 3/4 ton with 184k will be purchasing new tv. We are seriously contemplating an F250 Quad Cab 6.0 diesel Super Duty 2WD with tow package. Is there any need for us to think about a full ton F350?? Of course, more is always better, but is this over kill to tow the 34' Excella?? Any thoughts??
Thanks!
Mona and Michael

First things first. I salute you and your family for your service in the Army. Thank you.

Now down to business. Both the Ford and the Dodge, Properly equipped, will do the job - - - but - - - If you are looking for a T/V that is a pleasure to drive and ride in while doing the job even better, go with a Chevy or GMC 2500 with tow pkg. I full timed for over 5 years in an 34' triple axle Avion, 10,000# unit, and had 3 big block Chevy's and one Ford. The Chevy's were, in my humble opinion, the best solution.

But - Now you have the trailer so don't take our word for it - test drive your T/V with and without the 34' before you buy.

And welcome to the forum. This is a strong group of deticated and fun loving folks - Kid's and pets included.

[firedog]

Hi all, I am also a recent owner of a Excella 29 footer,I bought the tow package with the Excella April 29th 2007,its a 3/4 ton Yukonand it pulls the 29 footer so easy,with the 6.0 vortec engine .I highly reconmend this as a option for a Tow vehcile .

Originally Posted by David Alan

First things first. I salute you and your family for your service in the Army. Thank you.

Now down to business. Both the Ford and the Dodge, Properly equipped, will do the job - - - but - - - If you are looking for a T/V that is a pleasure to drive and ride in while doing the job even better, go with a Chevy or GMC 2500 with tow pkg. I full timed for over 5 years in an 34' triple axle Avion, 10,000# unit, and had 3 big block Chevy's and one Ford. The Chevy's were, in my humble opinion, the best solution.

But - Now you have the trailer so don't take our word for it - test drive your T/V with and without the 34' before you buy.

And welcome to the forum. This is a strong group of deticated and fun loving folks - Kid's and pets included.

[elolson]

Now that it has been some time since you bought the 34' rig, any thoughts? I guess for anyone else getting this far into the reply's I can add a blurb about AC. We are down here in Tucson and spent two weeks up in Globe, AZ at the Apache Gold Casino rv parking lot. It was the end of June/First week of July and Phoenix was setting records for heat. I was up there to work, hauling 80k lbs acid a trip from the smelter at Miami to the big open pit in Morenci. I was running nights and sleeping days. Needless to say, a big old aluminum skin in AZ in Summer is one hot hell hole. Due to an, a'hem, unfortunate incident with the ac on a previous trip, we had already upgraded to a 15k BTU heat pump. This was throwing the braker, added an auto-transformer and this made all the difference as far as keeping the unit running. Still had hot/weak breaker tripping more than I thought was necessary.

Never really did have the BTU's to cool the rig. If I sealed off the bedroom/bath then the front area was OK, not cool, but not horrible. There was no way to get the bedroom cool and I had tin foil on all the windows, it was a redneck special for sure.

Apparently, the excella I have, 2000, is already wired for dual units, I bet y'alls is too. Joe down at Oasis RV in Tucson, the local AS dealership, said all I have to do is drop it in, they took care of the upgraded control unit with zone control during the 15k BTU install and would just have to switch it over to a unit installed in place of the "less than" fantastic fan. This lets you keep the 30 amp, but run a unit dedicated to the bedroom so that it can actually get cool. It would have been a good improvement, but I need to save up the scratch to invest in the second unit. Right now we are heading into fall so no big deal, but trips down to Mexico are fun in the off summer season, but AC is king.

So if you are going big, with the 34', and are in the SW, then consider a second AC unit for the bedroom if you are going to get any use at all during the heavy summer months.

[bake315]

I for one will be adding a second A/C before our next summer trip. One unit is vastly inadequate unless you have a fully shaded site, and even then it's iffy when the ambient temp is anywhere near the century mark.

[elolson]

Amen brother. I have inquired about a 50 amp upgrade to run two at once, but that is a whole lot more work. If you search the internet then there is some couple that did just that at Patrick the Traveling Irish Wolfhound They wired the rig for 50amp with a custom pigtail for a 50 amp to two 30amp split. Most of Mexico is 30amp, so no dice there but 50amp is common in US, and as you know, unless you have major shade, then 100deg, a 34' airstream, and solar loading is one miserable experience .

[SilverToy]

Dave, elolsen, etal....

I to have had some, well.....warm experiences when the temps head north of 95+ degrees. As more quailified than I have mentioned, there are definate issues with getting the temps down in a 34ft'er when the murcury goes above 95F....

That being said, the AC does reduce the temp fairly well if you follow the following series of activities...

a) Hook up the electric
b) Open the front FF and turn to high vent IN
c) Put the rear vent onto HIGH OUT
d) Go about setting up the rest of the campground

After the rest of the trailer is set-up and ready for you to 'common in' you can go in and turn the AC on to high. Give it about 10 or 15 minutes and youy should be ready to cool off.... Not likely that you'll need a parka, but at least there will be the temp differential that makes AC so comfortable to walk into....

Again, this is NOT a parka type experience, and temps above about 95F do present MORE propblems, but this series of activities has helped to make the 34 a REALLY great place for us - all 5 of us. Oh, and a dog!

Just don't light that stove!

That's another email!

Peace

Axel
SilverToy

[elolson]

Good suggestions. Mine all revolve around getting the awnings out as soon as possible and fully extended. I did get caught in a micro-burst and completely bend all the support rods on the main one . Still, keeping the sun off the skin is the main goal.

[PhilipKS]

Hello all!

I also have a '99 34. I Purchased MyAS on Ebay in March 2010, and finally picked it up in Tucson in September 2011 (and have been fulltiming since then). The PO kindly stored it for me as I was overseas.

My first experience towing would have been great if the skylight in the rear hallway hadn't of blown off in Eastern Arizona. Of course, I didn't notice anything wrong. A helpful trucker waved me over and told me of it. Those skylights don't last long in the SW! I've replaced it, and the front one too, but now plan to replace both of them again with something more substantial than OEM.

I've read this thread and others, and agree that I'll be adding a second AC unit in the bedroom before next summer (funds allowing). So far, the only other thing I have done is to replace the shower head, but there is a list building!

It has been fun learning the systems and having those 'Ah-ha!' moments. Figuring out the thermostat in the bedroom was for the fantastic fan was really enlightening! There was not a single piece of documentation when I picked it up. I was sorely dissappointed when the manual I ordered from Airstream did not cover the appliances. I've been downloading them ever since, but it isn't quite the same as having the owner's packet that ties everything together. Oh well.

My tip for this thread: Get a label maker! Label the City Water connection as well as the Black Tank Flush! That could have been a disaster in the making, but I was being observant . Someone had a black cap on the City Water hookup, and a white cap on the Black Tank flush...and I had no books.

Happy Streaming!

Philip

[elolson]

Hi Philip, welcome to the 34' club. We face special challenges and in particular the whole heating cooling thing.

You know, I lost my rear sun roof as well when I first bought my rig, blew right off. I since had them both replaced and all the other plastic on the roof replaced as well as resealed. Desert southwest is pretty harsh on plastic.

I spent a lot of time plugging drafts. There is a rubber doughnut on the gas line feeding the stove (? it was a while back and I don't recall the particulars) that helps to seal the inside of the trailer from the outside through the external furnace cover. This can come loose leaving a pretty good draft under your sink. Your batteries under your front couch need to be covered up on the inside, there are big vent holes to the interior. The square cover in the bedroom, streetside, covers access to the hot water heater, AS cut a Big A$$ hole in the floor to run the plumbing but leaves a major air leak from the outside to the inside at this location. Back side of fridge is not sealed real well to exterior. I have augmented all of these locations in an attempt to reduce cold drafts and hot outside air. If you find others, please post.

My shocks and brakes were shot on mine, something to check out. Hope you enjoy it. Too bad we missed you, we are here in Tucson and also know Alamo well. We stayed at a park about 5 or so miles towards Tularosa on the mountain side of the road, a Western theme'd place.

Take care.

E

[Aviator]

Love our 34' as well. It has hosted a lot of good times for our family.