Tips for first timers

[DeltaRon]

Hello, new to forum. Just bought my tow vehicle; a 2015 Chevy Tahoe with max towing package, 2WD. We want to buy the 2015 25 Flying Cloud, twin bed. Visited Colonial in NJ last week. Here's my concern. Am I going to have problems towing the 25 FC with this SUV which is rated up to 8,500 towing capacity? Everyone keeps telling me "no problem" but I'm still not convinced, particularly after driving I-26 between I-81 and Asheville NC last week on way back to GA from NJ. I bought an SUV because I really don't like pickups. Did I make a mistake and have to drop down to the 23 FC or Bambi?



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[Alphonse]

DeltaRon and Coach,
The trick to understanding tow vehicles is not only their towing capacity but their cargo capacity as well. By the time you hang the loaded tongue weight of a 25' AS on a 1/2 ton truck, you simply do not have much cargo capacity left. By the way passengers and the dog count as cargo. So the carrying capacity of the tow vehicle can quickly become an issue depending on how much stuff you want to carry.

With that said, the 25 footers can be pulled well by a 1/2 ton truck. Just remember you are likely not going to have the carrying capacity left to load the tow vehicle down heavily with additional cargo. Of course good weight distribution within the specs of the manufacturer is critical (i.e. weight distributing hitch and scale tickets to prove the numbers).

This topic of tow vehicle capacity gets a lot of attention here on the forum and you can spend days reading opinions on this one. That said, the subject matter of vehicle dynamics is complicated and needs to be given a great deal of respect. The safest bet is to stay within stated capacities and recommendations from the vehicle manufacturer.

[nautiqueman]

Delta
Send me an instant message with your contact info and I will call you Thursday
Nautiqueman


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[Condoluminum]

DeltaRon- A new Chevy Tahoe with HD Towing package can easily tow a 25FC.. Dropping down to a 23 would only shave a couple hundred pounds off empty weight, and you'd lose a lot of storage and living area.. We've owned our Excella 25 more than 10 years, and towed with '94 Suburban (200 hp 5.7L V8) and with '02 Ford Excursion (250 hp 5.4L V8) and both did very well.. As long as you have WD hitch and set up correctly, you can go anywhere.. You have option to increase or decrease weight of trailer almost 500# by controlling fluid levels in fresh, gray and black water tanks before a drive. If you are going to be doing serious mountain driving, you can lighten trailer by emptying tanks, and worst possible case is to slow down to 50 or 55 mph for a few miles, while thinking about all the money saved by not investing in a 3/4 Ton or larger truck...

[Wayne&Sam]

DeltaRon- No problem at all.

[Brucehamon]

Fourth weekend!

[Pulverizer]

First timer here... bought a 1977 29' Ambassador in June from a great couple who had it since new in St. George Utah and they had kept her stored indoors! Got everything to function properly before we put 3800 miles on her from AZ to Chicago and back... now I need a few little parts, knobs for the refrigerator controls at the bottom and looking to put new curtains all the way around the interior... Having lots of fun beating the AZ heat this summer. Thanks for the tips! All the best!

[Condoluminum]

Welcome and Congratulations Pulverizer! Looks like a great Airstream, and in great shape... Glad you've already road-tested it, and started the process of "fixing it" to meet your needs.. Great advice for others as well, to go slow with investing and fixing until you really get clear on how you will be using and traveling with your Airstream... Kind of like a new pair of shoes, your Airstream may not be perfect fit on Day 1, but with time and use it will become a very comfortable place to unwind and enjoy the good things in life!

[trussell6778]

Hello all this is my first time on the forums. Just had a 2005 safari 28 delivered on Sunday. I was wondering where I would look for information on what sort of microwave I could put in there. Glad to be here and excited for my new AS!

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by trussell6778

Hello all this is my first time on the forums. Just had a 2005 safari 28 delivered on Sunday. I was wondering where I would look for information on what sort of microwave I could put in there. Glad to be here and excited for my new AS!Attachment 217153

Do you want to mount in cabinet or sit on flat surface. Either way a visit to Loews, etc should give you some ideas.

[RumbleStrip]

We are new to the forums and we just bought our first Airstream! I can't believe the wealth of information this community has to offer. I am having a hard time getting anything done because I can't tear myself away from the forums

[ppeaches]

We just bought a 1975, 27 ft. Overlander. We know nothing about what type of insurance we should put on it? Help!

[gambita]

New here in the forum :-)
Picking a 2015 interstate airstream next week.
Any recomendation which is the best insurrance co in MA.
Thanks

[bigbidule]

Frenchy new ( and newbie ) to this forum. I am looking for import a moho ClassiC or Excella with 454 BB ( crazy thing in Europe!!! ) to France. It is very hard to make approve an american moho in my country grrrr but some ways exist ! So, before, I have to read all topics to be a little more "specialist" . Thank you for your welcome and...sorry for my bad "english". Marc

[jbxx]

New user!!! Bought a 2014 23' Flying Cloud today. Can't wait!

[sandlapper]

Congrats to all you folks, a great day indeed.

Now get out there and do the thang, you will love it.

john

[cwf]

P.S.... make sure you bring along your sense of humor... try to not let it become that four letter word...... "WORK"....enjoy!

[Seven Brook]

Congratulations on your Airstream! You will love it! Welcome to a whole new world! Enjoy!

[streamslave]

Hello folks!
I just wanted to say thanks to you & the forums for helping me & my wife get our '67 on the road.
We are currently awaiting axles from Inland, & several other things need finished but we are getting there!

[Flht2k]

Newbie here
Have decided to step up and purchase an AS. Really like the features of the 28 inter signature and the also the features of the FC 28 with twin beds. Does the factory build to spec?I would like twin beds in the inter signature. If not, any dealers in california provide this service.

Thanks