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Old 05-06-2013, 06:52 PM   #1
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2016 30' International
Calgary , Alberta
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Looking for Serenity

Hi Everyone. My family had an Airstream in the 70's, and here I am coming back to them! My lovely wife os quite taken with the Serenity and the Signature so thought I'd do a little research here before buying. We're in Calgary and I'm about 10 years away from retirement so want to start slowing down a little and an Airstream is just the ticket. I have some questions about TV's and look forward to some help! Am considering an F-150 with the bigger eight and the tow package- anyone use thos as a toq vehicle? Thanks in advance for your help!
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Old 05-06-2013, 06:57 PM   #2
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Welcome! In my opinion, any Airstream will contribute to your search for serenity :-)


Your story resonates with me. We just got started this year and I wish I started 20 years earlier!! What sizes/weights are the trailers you're looking at?

Here's to serenity!!
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Old 05-06-2013, 09:02 PM   #3
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Size of tow vehicle is one of the more contentious issues on this Forum. Do a search or just peruse the tow vehicle sub-forum and you will see what I mean.

For what it's worth, I have pulled my 1986 31' Sovereign, weighing roughly 4 tons, about 50000 miles with a 2004 Nissan Titan, 5.6l V8. Never have had a problem. Sure, I have spent some time in 3rd gear doing 45 in the "Granny" lane on some of those long 7% grades you get out West but those moments are very few.

A well equipped 1/2 ton, with tow package, will do fine, in my humble opinion.

Mike
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Old 05-06-2013, 09:03 PM   #4
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Thanks for your reply. We'll be looking at buying a 30 ft international signature or serenity. We need room for our teenage son!
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Old 05-06-2013, 10:15 PM   #5
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serenity=vintage....
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Old 05-07-2013, 12:18 PM   #6
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55hours at the office = no time to refurbish! I'd love to redo a 70s circa unit, but it would take me years to complete!
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Old 05-07-2013, 02:01 PM   #7
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We went to a 30' Serenity last August. We love it. We tow with an F250 crewcab diesel, but we have many things to tow and my husband insists on plenty of power.
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Old 05-07-2013, 02:40 PM   #8
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FIW. My heavily modified 3/4 ton Dodge w/Cummins diesel with nearly a full payload of gear in the back crossed the scales at 10,500 with just a 25FB International Serenity with 1,175 pounds of tongue weight attached.

A 30' foot Airstream (the aluminum part is always 3' shorter since Airstream measures their length from the backside of the rear bumper to the front flange of the ball socket area of the hitch) typically has close to a 10,000 gvw.

You may find that the combination weight of a fully loaded 1/2 ton truck plus the 30' trailer at max load will exceed the combination towing ratings. Also, the truck axle ratings, wheel ratings and tire ratings all come into the equation when trying to move some of that hitch weight to the front axle with a weight distribution hitch.

One can fill up a month's worth of sleepless nights reading the tire arguments, the tow vehicle arguments, new versus "mature" units arguments, the correct hitch arguments and that does not even open the doors to suggested improvements as soon as the trailer gets home.

A few times, my eye balls felt like the windows on slot machines in the cartoons from all the readings.

But you can really learn a lot before pulling the trigger. This is a wonderful resource of "experience" from folks with nearly all variations and combinations of the aforementioned equipment.

Visit a dealer with lots of models, both new and used, to see and carefully check out floor plans, lengths, capacities. Sit on the sofas foe 30 minutes like you were watching TV, can you get in and out of the dinette, what about the cabinet over that front bed, what about the floor space beside that front bed, are the cabinets low enough the wife can see what is in them without a ladder? These are some of the questions that come to my mind now that the trailer is here.

I can truthfully say from all the information I read on this forum I found after making the buying decision on the trailer, that if I knew then what I know now, I would have acquired a different floor design, different length trailer unit and appropriate tow vehicle to begin with.

Good luck in your research and reaching a decision.
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Old 05-09-2013, 05:01 PM   #9
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Thanks for the thoughtful advice! Unfortunately there are no AS dealers I Alberta, so I have to make a looong drive to BC or Saskatchewan to see one in rl. I believe I'd be ok with a 1/2 ton but plan to study all the posts on tv's carefully. Appreciate the counsel.
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