24ft Caravelle

[rostam]

Hi all,

Does anyone know what is the loaded hitch weight of a 24 ft 1980 Caravelle? Airstream website has the dry hitch weight as 347#, but I am interested to know the loaded hitch weight to see if my TV can handle it.

Thanks a lot!

[drboyd]

The difference between dry weight and loaded weight is how much stuff you put in it.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by rostam

Hi all,

Does anyone know what is the loaded hitch weight of a 24 ft 1980 Caravelle? Airstream website has the dry hitch weight as 347#, but I am interested to know the loaded hitch weight to see if my TV can handle it.

Thanks a lot!

The only way to determine loaded tongue weight is to load the trailer and weigh the tongue. And the dry tongue weight is more of an educated guess than fact, it can be a hundred pounds or more off.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

tongue weight should be 10- 15% total weight... You say 24 foot but it is 23 or 25 foot and that gives you three possibilities. Not sure which you have...

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

tongue weight should be 10- 15% total weight... You say 24 foot but it is 23 or 25 foot and that gives you three possibilities. Not sure which you have...

Airstream offered a 24 foot Caravel for 1980, though I have never seen one in person.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by drboyd

The difference between dry weight and loaded weight is how much stuff you put in it.

That is correct. However, the 347# dry hitch weight on Airstream website is not helpful as it does not include optional equipment and variable weight.

I guess what I want to know is the hitch weight with 1) propane tanks filled, 2) batteries, 3) spare tire, 4) fresh water tank full, and any other accessory that might affects the hitch weight. This way I would know how much stuff I can put in it without going over my TV's hitch weight limit (which is 600#).

[rostam]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

tongue weight should be 10- 15% total weight... You say 24 foot but it is 23 or 25 foot and that gives you three possibilities. Not sure which you have...

A 24 ft TT was offered in 1980. Here is the link.

http://www.airstream.com/files/libra...9e44a02f5d.pdf

Just go to the last page.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

My mistake, I was searching under Airstream Caravel, not Argosy Minuet. I hope you find the info you need.

[mutcth]

Curious - is this one of the rare front kitchen models, or the more typical front-dinette, center bed mdoels?

Tom

[rostam]

Originally Posted by mutcth

Curious - is this one of the rare front kitchen models, or the more typical front-dinette, center bed mdoels?

Tom

Yes, its front kitchen(and rare!)

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by rostam

I guess what I want to know is the hitch weight with 1) propane tanks filled, 2) batteries, 3) spare tire, 4) fresh water tank full, and any other accessory that might affects the hitch weight. This way I would know how much stuff I can put in it without going over my TV's hitch weight limit (which is 600#).

First of all, congratulations on having a 1980 Caravelle 24. You have a rare bird there, and a very nice trailer. They only made Caravelles for one year--1980--and (for Frank's benefit ) they are essentially all-aluminum Argosy Minuets.

We have a 1980 22 foot Caravelle and our loaded tongue weight runs around 400 pounds.

The biggest thing that affects the tongue weight is the fullness of the fresh water tank, as that's 25 gallons (200 pounds) and located right at the front of the shell. Unless I am going to need a full fresh water tank at the destination I travel with fresh water tank half full (and waste tanks empty) and use a little less spring tension on the weight distribution bars.

How does a spare tire enter into it? Do yours have a spare tire carrier? Our 22 foot doesn't. We carry the spare in the tow vehicle.

Bottom line is I doubt the 24 foot Caravelle will exceed your 600 pound tongue weight limit.
.

[mutcth]

Originally Posted by rostam

Yes, its front kitchen(and rare!)

Oooh! Have never seen one of those in person - Colin Hyde just finished restoring one for a client. Sweet floor plan with the two L-shaped couches and tons of windows. Enjoy that trailer!

Tom

[rostam]

Originally Posted by Nuvite-F

First of all, congratulations on having a 1980 Caravelle 24. You have a rare bird there, and a very nice trailer. They only made Caravelles for one year--1980--and (for Frank's benefit ) they are essentially all-aluminum Argosy Minuets.

We have a 1980 22 foot Caravelle and our loaded tongue weight runs around 400 pounds.

The biggest thing that affects the tongue weight is the fullness of the fresh water tank, as that's 25 gallons (200 pounds) and located right at the front of the shell. Unless I am going to need a full fresh water tank at the destination I travel with fresh water tank half full (and waste tanks empty) and use a little less spring tension on the weight distribution bars.

How does a spare tire enter into it? Do yours have a spare tire carrier? Our 22 foot doesn't. We carry the spare in the tow vehicle.

Bottom line is I doubt the 24 foot Caravelle will exceed your 600 pound tongue weight limit.
.

Thanks a lot for the useful info. Just to clarify, I do not have a 24 ft Caravelle (yet), but I am looking for one as it seeks to be within my TV's specs. I know they are rare, but I am hopeful of finding one.


One more Q for you. Does the waste tank's weight also add to hitch weight? (Is it also in front of the vehicle?).

Best

[TG Twinkie]

If it is in front of the axle(s) it adds weight to the tongue. The further forward, the more weight.
It is common practice to travel with the waste tanks empty or near empty as much as possible.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

If it is in front of the axle(s) it adds weight to the tongue. The further forward, the more weight.
It is common practice to travel with the waste tanks empty or near empty as much as possible.

Thanks!

[Nuvite-F]

Originally Posted by rostam

One more Q for you. Does the waste tank's weight also add to hitch weight? (Is it also in front of the vehicle?).

The waste tanks are wherever the bathroom is. On our 22 foot that's in the rear.
.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by Nuvite-F

The waste tanks are wherever the bathroom is. On our 22 foot that's in the rear.
.

Thanks!