Airstream Wannabe from Delaware

[bearded19711]

Hi Folks,
I'm a longtime wannabe Airstream owner and I am halfway to that goal. I now have what I think is a nice tow vehicle. I'd been coveting the VW Toureg TDIs and when my previous vehicle was totaled by a tractor trailer, I jumped on a 2014 all set up for towing. Love the vehicle and it is rated by VW to tow 7716 lbs. with a 617lb. maximum tongue load. As has been discussed here and elsewhere, VW does not recommend weight distributing hitches. Various people use them anyway with reportedly good results so I am not concerned about using one when the time comes.
That being said, I still want to stick with an Airstream that has gross and tongue weights within the permissible ranges. I like the layouts of two late model Airstreams that would be below those limits:

• AS Sport 22FB - 4500lb. GVWR, 393lb. tongue weight
• AS FC 23FB - 6000lb. GVWR, 467lb. tongue weight

Those tongue weights are not what can be expected when fully loaded though I'm sure. Does anyone have experience with either of these models and what is a realistic real world tongue weight for them.
This may have gone beyond what an introductory posting should be. I apologize if that is the case.
Thanks for any help or suggestions!

Steve

[bearded19711]

Folks,
I realize now that it was out of line to ask technical questions during an introduction. Please forgive me for this. I finally found a thread that addresses my questions and will post there in the future. Thanks for you patience.

Steve

[Belegedhel]

Welcome to the forums! Don't sweat it, this is a very supportive and forgiving forum.

[FCloud9]

Welcome Steve,
I cannot answer your technical questions but welcome to the forum and Airstream community.
We purchased our Airstream and tow vehicle in 2014 and our very happy towing our 20' Flying Cloud with our VW Touareg. We decided our TV and Airstream were a great paired setup for our needs w/o going diesel. So far we have towed 12,000 miles and visited more than 25 states. Expect we will have our AS for rest of our lives and for now we could not be happier with our decision. Happy shopping and maybe we will see you down the road.
All the best,
FCloud9

[Piggy Bank]

I would recommend the 22 over the 23 for a couple of reasons. And we looked at both, and bought a 22.

Here is what you are getting if you select the 22 over the 23:

1) It is narrower, and is easier to see around than the wider 23.
2) It just weighs less. Easier to pull. Easier to stop.
3) It is considerably less expensive.
4) The bed is actually longer
5) Still have great kitchen counter space.
6) Still have bathroom with operable window.


If you go with the 22 over the 23, you are giving up:

the interior finish in the 23 as an option,
a slightly larger refrigerator,
an oven,
some storage space that the 23 has over the 22,
larger water and waste tanks,
2nd vent fan,
2 batteries.

The 23 probably costs 20-25% more than the 22.

The other main consideration that you may not have considered is "payload" and how that factors into what you vehicle has been engineered to do safely.

That 7716 pounds that your vehicle is rated to carry MAY also include vehicle contents and any roof rack contents, not only the weight being towed on the frame.

Now if you look at the specs more closely and there is a separate calculation on payload and towing capacity and you feel like you have room to spare, then that might change the answer.

I know that with my Tundra, it is rated to tow a lot of weight (about 10,000 pounds) .
But the payload is only about 1400 pounds. So add the tongue weight, people inside the vehicle besides the driver, and contents, and we are close to that with the 22.

[SCOTTinNJ]

23 has two axles, 22 has one. Just another point to consider.

[cwf]

Welcome!! Airstream? They still make those???

The VW issues won't affect your long term use of the VW?

[dkottum]

I see you have moved this over to an appropriate thread, so I responded there.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...134917-16.html

[bearded19711]

I'm really overwhelmed with all the useful information everyone has contributed. I will take it all into account when I find that perfect Airstream!
You can count on seeing the full rig when it is together!
Thanks again!

Steve

P.S. So far, the VW TDI recall issues only apply to the 2 liter 4 cylinder models. Hopefully that will remain the case!