19 Foot Bambi Home Today.

[firedog]

I am very pleased with my Bambi.My truck pulls it very easy.I was a wanna bee for 3 years and thats how long it took me to find a airstream that i could afford and tow with my 96, dodge dakota 4x4 318 v8.

[mickleton]

We are scheduled to take delivery Friday, June 30th. Hitch will be installed on my 2005 Dodge Dakota 4X4 quad, 287cid. Can I tow with stock mirrors on the truck? PS- No experience in trailering. I was told my dealer they will give some training prior to departure. Will have to tow home about 70 miles.

Thanks
Larry

[CanoeStream]

Originally Posted by mickleton

We are scheduled to take delivery Friday, June 30th. Hitch will be installed on my 2005 Dodge Dakota 4X4 quad, 287cid. Can I tow with stock mirrors on the truck?

Sounds like a good combo. Please let us know of your more developed experience on 2-lanes in the Alleghenies or W.Va. if you ever get there.

Airstream says the 23' is 8' wide. If your mirrors aren't tow-package extendable I'd say you'll appreciate the extra visibility of some aftermarket mirror. I have stock GM extendable mirrors and an 8'6" wide Safari -- that isn't nearly as nice as tow-package extendables when I pulled my 7'9" or so Argosy. I could really see what was going on with the Argosy. I currently can't see the curb side of my Safari while underway. My GMC manual actually says the tow-package extendables are not for trailers over 8' wide (a little C.Y.A. there...). Having convex mirrors on both sides of your tow vehicle also adds a lot!

[mickleton]

Thanks Bob, so I can live with the stock mirrors until I find a suitable replacement. I did not want get in the truck on delivery day and find out I can't see anything. I will try and find some mirrors this week.

Larry

[CanoeStream]

Originally Posted by Canoe stream

I have stock GM extendable mirrors and an 8'6" wide Safari -- that isn't nearly as nice as tow-package extendables when I pulled my 7'9" or so Argosy. I could really see what was going on with the Argosy. I currently can't see the curb side of my Safari while underway. My GMC manual actually says the tow-package extendables are not for trailers over 8' wide (a little C.Y.A. there...). Having convex mirrors on both sides of your tow vehicle also adds a lot!

BTW - the tow package mirrors I have do have the lower panel convex mirrors. I just went out and measured. From the outside edges of the mirror glass while extended it measures 106" -- this on an '06 GMC 2500 pickup.

[sparky5]

For what it's worth I tow a 19' Bambi with my 2004 Dodge Dakota 4X4 V8 also- no problems. I opted for the 19 ' because I tend to "collect" things when I trvel and I wanted the option of coming home with a heavier load than I left with. I also looked at the 22', but would have been limited in my extra stuff capacity. I have had NO PROBELMS at all with the combination I have, in fact I don't even know it's there when towing. Sometimes I forget and look in the rear view mirrow and briefly wonder who is following me so close! The 19' would definately be too small for a family of 5 unless you can pack all 3 kids into the dinette bed- but they'll grow out of that before you know it!

[swebster]

firedog, welcome and congradulations! Alway nice to see someone from my neck of the woods get bitten by the bug. Went to University of Lowell and grew up in Billerica. My folks still live in North Andover. Enjoy!