Visit our Popular Forums

trevisgardne · 09-10-2006, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookeville34

I get the feeling that if I said I was towing the trailer with a TRUCK with a 5000lb tow rating, instead of a car with a 5k tow rating there wouldn't be that much said.

I've towed my 73 31ft with a V6 03 Astro. To Fall Creek Falls.

You will be fine. Get a good weight distributing hitch.

Trevis

AZstreamin · 09-10-2006, 01:57 PM

cookeville34
I'm glad to see you did the right thing by taking your Airstream to the scales this is smart. A couple of points to consider 4200 lbs is 84% of the 5000 lb capacity, a hitch system will add on average 100 lbs and you still need to get all your stuff for a weekend in the vehicle. You really need to look at GCVWR. No manufacturer, even with mods, will advise you to tow at 100% of capacity. In the end I know you will do what you want. Please do so with caution. I wish you safe travels.
The reason for my persistent point is that in the mere 3500 miles of towing my new AS I've already seen two trailer roll-overs and they were nasty. Both situations were over correction of sway. It was an eye opener and both accidents may have been prevented by drivers traveling at lower speeds and better matching their tow vehicle to the trailers. Both examples were very long trailers towed by 1/2 ton or less trucks with a short wheelbase.

BTW I read in your profile that you have a 1988 F250 I know you said it easier for the Mrs. to get in and out of the wagon but with the margins so thin on this combination why wouldn't you use the truck?

AlbertF · 09-11-2006, 08:21 PM

Cookeville34, could you post the entire VIN? That would tell us about the model of trailer. For example is it I31T9J0162? That would be a 1979 Sovereign International (31') with twin beds.

I wouldn't buy air bags. A weight distributing hitch is the only way to properly and safely carry the tongue weight, balanced over the four tires of the car. Even coil overs are for carrying heavy loads in the vehicle, not for supporting the tongue weight of a trailer. The weight on the rear of the car results in weight taken off the steering tires.

cookeville34 · 09-12-2006, 07:42 PM

Hey, I didn't really expect all the excitement over my old trailer, but its very interesting to read everyones point of view. I posted a pic of my trailer on the my profile part of the system. The serial number is 131T9J0162, and there is some alien writing stamped in above that. I'll take a pic of the entire plate later on.

cookeville34 · 09-12-2006, 07:44 PM

Forgot to mention....I added further insult to injury and moved the trailer around the yard with my 88 F150 6cyl. Just being a smart azz, lol.

JimGolden · 09-12-2006, 08:23 PM

So have you gone to see the P-38 Lightning (Glacier Girl I think it's called) that is in your town?

I know I know, totally off topic, but I used to get down that way and always went by your town but never got to go into it. I always wanted to see the restored P-38 that at least one guy died trying to recover it and a lot of guys went broke for. Not too many of those left flying...

JimGolden · 09-13-2006, 06:40 AM

I messed up. I had the town wrong. Sorry!

I've been by both towns and got them mixed up. It's Middlesboro KY where the airplane is.

DOH!

SafeHarbor · 09-14-2006, 07:26 PM

Despite what we all opine on these forums, Airstream had some advice to us in the owner's manuals that started, "If you plan to buy a new tow car to tow your Airstream . . ."

And it didn't get much more complicated.

For 1979, remember 1979? Pollution equipment was so primitive that a 1979 V8-350 Chevy pickup went phew, belch, when trying to accelerate and couldn't get out of its own way, much less get good fuel mileage.

Well, guess what? Into this mess Airstream said,"Divide the total weight of your trailer by the cubic inch displacement of your automobile engine. This ratio should be between 10 and 20 pounds of trailer weight per cubic inch of engine displacement. "

There were other recommendations, too, but the '92 Buick Roadmaster is a vehicle anchored more in the past than in the future. Just as there's nothing like it sold today, there was nothing else that wasn't like it in 1979 to tow an Airstream except some exceedingly trucklike trucks.

So, how does the wheelbase of the Roadmaster compare with the '79 Caprice and Country Squire? How does the horspower compare?

I guess what I'm getting at is that we've become so accustomed to overpowered, overly capable vehicles that we think that those who came before us were complete idiots.

Lamar

cookeville34 · 09-18-2006, 07:46 AM

Thought I would add that I bought a new Husky 10000# Weight distibuting hitch. Also, kitchen/living room arear is stripped to the walls, after washing 20 odd years of filth off, we started primiming the front interior walls. Without starting a new thread, I read in my owners manual there was a kit for adding beds above my twin bunks how does that work out?

SierraBreeze · 09-18-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookeville34

Without starting a new thread, I read in my owners manual there was a kit for adding beds above my twin bunks how does that work out?

Check these pictures of some Airstream bunkbeds

http://sierranevadaairstreams.org/me...c/gallery.html

They are the last two pictures

cookeville34 · 01-04-2007, 04:00 PM

Thought this was interesting:
We were on our way to Atlanta on I-75 Tuesday and spotted what looked like an 04' Cadillac towing a tri-axle Airstream or Avion. It was in the opposite lane so I didn't have time to snap a pic, but the car seemed to be towing the trailer fine about 65-70mph. The only additions I noticed were aftermarket mirrors on the Caddy. I think all the newer caddys are front wheel drive.

AlbertF · 01-04-2007, 05:55 PM

I'll bet those were McKesh mirrors.

Jwcberk · 06-28-2012, 09:26 PM

We are planning to do almost what you did Cookeville 34. We bought a 1994 Buick Roadmaster, with the factory tow package. Will tow our seventies 24" Airstream with it. However, I would like to upgrade the Buick somewhat for extra safety. We were advised better shocks and tires, a better hitch (the car has an older 3,500 rated hitch) and maybe a sway bar for extra stability.

The mods were advised by a great guy at Can-Am RV, and they would sure be able to do the mods for me. However, they are in Canada, some 10-12 hours driving from where we are in New York. I would go there if I have no better option, but if anyone knows a reliable address to do this kind of work closer to NYC that would be a great help.

Cookeville, any update on your experience with the larger trailer?
Jack