1968 Sovereign hitch weight

[rostam]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum. My wife and I are thinking of buying a vintage Airstream.

I was looking at the airstream website, researching, and saw that the 1968 Sovereign hitch weight is listed as 415 lbs. I know this is for a dry trailer and suspect it is without options (propane tanks, batteries, spare, etc.). Does anyone know the real hitch weight with the options, weight distribution hitch, and the trailer loaded to around GVWR? How would water tanks affect the hitch weight? (if at all). Also, how usable is a restored 1968 Sovereign is? Can it be towed across the country? How many more years does it have in it?

Thanks a lot for your help!

[idroba]

I would not worry much about the hitch weight. It will probably be higher than the 415 #, it is not uncommon to be in the 700 to 800# range. Modern weight distributing hitches will allow you to level out the trailer very easily.

I think the '68's still had front water tanks, above the floor. In that case the hitch weight goes up with the tank full. Again, not a real issue in my mind.

Without a complete inspection no one can tell you much about the life remaining in a "restored" '68 trailer. There is a huge variation on what someone may say is restored. Curtains, countertops and floor coverings constitute "restored" to some, but frame, running gear, axels, tires, and floor condition, as well as brakes, couplers and lights are what keep you on the road.

You may need a bit of help from someone who has Airstream experience before you take the plunge. I would hate to see you disappointed and not get a good rig to begin with. A 44 year old Airstream in excellent condition, which has had constant upkeep will go many more years and lots of miles. One which has been neglected where it counts may barely make it home.

[rostam]

Dear idroba,

Thanks a lot for the detailed response. I appreciate it.

Unfortunately, I am limited by my TV's hitch weight limit, which is 600 lbs (it can tow up to 7500lbs). I am still researching to see which Airstreams have a loaded hitch weight that would work for me.

Best

[idroba]

In general, that is a static, or dead weight limit, and with a weight distributing hitch, it is not the number you need to worry about. Look on it and see which "class" it is (three or four) and let us know. More can be done from that information.

[rostam]

The hitch is class IV, rated at 7500#, yet the hitch weight is 600#. I know people who have towed trailers with much higher hitch weights with no problem (so far). Yet, somehow I feel uncomfortable exceeding it. I guess this restricts me to smaller AS TT.

[idroba]

My 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a two weight system for the hitch. It is limited to a 500# tongue dead weight trailer (not using a weight distributing hitch) but requires a weight distributing hitch system for tongue weights above 500#. It does not list a tongue weight maximum using the WD system. My Argosy 20' is tongue heavy and has a 700# tongue weight so I use a WD hitch with no problems or violation of the manufactures ratings. Your tow vehicle may be the same, but of course I am not sure. You might check with the vehicle dealer, although many of them don't know that much about their hitches.

Would anyone else chime in here please? Does the dead weight limit on a hitch receiver on a tow vehicle apply when you are using a WD hitch? It has always been my understanding that the WD hitch system allows you to go to a higher tongue weight on the same hitch receiver. I did a quick Google search and did not see a real answer to that question.

[rostam]

My car's hitch weight is 500 without WD hitch, and 600 with WD hitch. The car is very capable (everyone I spoke to says these figures are very conservative), but for some reason foreign cars are down rated in the states. I guess what I need to do is actually weight the trailer hitch and make sure its within the range.
Thanks for your input and help idroba!