Do I really need that much??

[Daquenzer]

“Loaded” means low payload.

[Steven62]

Asking the specs is missing the point. The point is you can tow a 25 foot Airstream with a standard size pickup. I am not claiming mine is better for the job then an F150 or a Tundra or Chevy 1500. Simply that any of these with a towing package can do the job.

[SteveNdebbie]

Originally Posted by Steven62

Asking the specs is missing the point. The point is you can tow a 25 foot Airstream with a standard size pickup. I am not claiming mine is better for the job then an F150 or a Tundra or Chevy 1500. Simply that any of these with a towing package can do the job.Attachment 338041Attachment 338042

Great TV/TT pic!

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by Bobbo

I'm not Steven62, but I am glad my payload isn't that low. My payload is 1895#. Between the tongue weight of my 23FB and our (fluffy) weight, I would have no payload left for generator or camping gear if it was only 1220#.

I agree! What are you driving? We towed a FC23FB with a Touareg Diesel just fine. In fact, the light tongue weight of that 23FB was the reason we were able to get by. A 25-27’ is another story.

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

I agree! What are you driving? We towed a FC23FB with a Touareg Diesel just fine. In fact, the light tongue weight of that 23FB was the reason we were able to get by. A 25-27’ is another story.

17 F-150 XLT 3.5l Ecoboost w/Max Tow

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by Steven62

Asking the specs is missing the point. The point is you can tow a 25 foot Airstream with a standard size pickup. I am not claiming mine is better for the job then an F150 or a Tundra or Chevy 1500. Simply that any of these with a towing package can do the job.

Agreed. You can tow a 25' Airstream with a standard size pickup.

However, not every standard size pickup, even with a tow package, can tow a 25' Airstream. Which is the very point in asking the specs.

[nryn]

Payload was the only reason I stepped up to a 250. I wanted a 150 size truck but couldn’t get one with the options I wanted *and* enough payload to handle my family, our bikes, some camping stuff, and an Airstream (didn’t matter if it was a 25’ or a 27’). This was going strictly by payload and axle weight ratings. The only 150 class machine that could handle it was one with Heavy Duty Payload Package, and by the time I bought I could only get it in a lower level trim.

One can make it work with a half ton and a 25 or 27 foot Airstream—I saw quite a few of these setups on a recent trip to the Smokies. At least one was working *very* hard to get up a mountain, though there may have been other factors at play there. If you travel with more than two people and carry a modest amount of stuff you’d either have some weight juggling to do or have to be OK with being at or over some documented limits for your truck/trailer combo.

I went with a 250 for our 27 and don’t have to worry about payload or mountain grades or really anything except parking garage height . So I am quite literally a happy camper with my setup. What I learned through the process and what I tell people who ask me now (other than I’m not an expert but did my homework well)—if your tow vehicle is also your daily driver, pick it as a daily driver first then get a trailer to match. If your tow vehicle is only a tow pig, size it to the trailer you want. But I neither tell people to disregard weight ratings nor do I get dogmatic about any of this.

[SteveNdebbie]

Payload...why not put all the heavy items (if necessary) in the TT?

[nryn]

Originally Posted by SteveNdebbie

Payload...why not put all the heavy items (if necessary) in the TT?

I don't feel like taking stuff in and out of the Airstream all the time (and securing it for travel) but that's certainly one way to do it.

[SteveNdebbie]

True. We travelled without a family and our payload capacity was 1325 lb. so we were okay. That does raise a question that I have been pondering. If I bought a Zero DS motorcycle, how could I (or anyone) take it along? The weight is about 320 lbs?

[mtbackpacker]

If you are closer to the limits (note I didn’t say exceeding) then a set of airbags on a half ton class truck can make a big difference in my experience. Firm well controlled handling of the weight when needed and almost as nice to ride in when empty. It’s almost like cheating and getting the load handling of the 3/4ton but you don’t give up the benefits of the half ton.

[out of sight]

Originally Posted by nryn

Payload was the only reason I stepped up to a 250. I wanted a 150 size truck but couldn’t get one with the options I wanted *and* enough payload to handle my family, our bikes, some camping stuff, and an Airstream (didn’t matter if it was a 25’ or a 27’). This was going strictly by payload and axle weight ratings. The only 150 class machine that could handle it was one with Heavy Duty Payload Package, and by the time I bought I could only get it in a lower level trim.

One can make it work with a half ton and a 25 or 27 foot Airstream—I saw quite a few of these setups on a recent trip to the Smokies. At least one was working *very* hard to get up a mountain, though there may have been other factors at play there. If you travel with more than two people and carry a modest amount of stuff you’d either have some weight juggling to do or have to be OK with being at or over some documented limits for your truck/trailer combo.

I went with a 250 for our 27 and don’t have to worry about payload or mountain grades or really anything except parking garage height . So I am quite literally a happy camper with my setup. What I learned through the process and what I tell people who ask me now (other than I’m not an expert but did my homework well)—if your tow vehicle is also your daily driver, pick it as a daily driver first then get a trailer to match. If your tow vehicle is only a tow pig, size it to the trailer you want. But I neither tell people to disregard weight ratings nor do I get dogmatic about any of this.

Agree. I started out looking at 1/2 ton trucks for the extra space I needed. I also thought they would offer some extra payload over my SUV but I soon found out that was not the case. In some cases the SUV had a better payload that the 1/2 ton trucks. So, for a few thousand more I decided on a 3/4 ton. Now, no need to worry about loading, weight distribution hitches, trips to the scale, etc.

The daily driver aspect is an important consideration for most people. But I found that my RAM short-bed with 149" wheelbase will fit into any supermarket parking space. Getting into the space is a little harder. For this, a tight turning circle is the biggest factor. My RAM has a turning circle equal to most 1/2 tons so it's not a game changer for me.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by SteveNdebbie

That does raise a question that I have been pondering. If I bought a Zero DS motorcycle, how could I (or anyone) take it along? The weight is about 320 lbs?

The advertised curb weight of a Zero DS is 317#. (oops, you said that.)
If your tow vehicle is a truck, I'd say the best option is a front receiver (Curt makes them, 'bolt up' 500# limit.) + a VersaHaul and carry it on the front.
Just be sure you have capacity on your front axle.
I'd like to do it with a Vespa, but I'll start small with a bicycle.

Option 2, better. Tow with a Van.

[SteveNdebbie]

But a van?! 🥴 We had a Toyota Sienna before the MDX which was about the most practical and well designed family/stuff hauler ever invented but now that kids are in college I can’t imagine going back to the van! Actually we are taking the MDX with out three adult kids plus our daughters boyfriend (likely future spouse from China) to a beach house on the gulf coast this summer without the Safari. Using our luggage carrier on top due to limited space. But once the MDX needs replaced not sure what we will replace it with. Maybe a Ridgeline? We do want a good handling every day driver vehicle. Really like the MDX for that.

[SteveNdebbie]

“Our” three adult kids (spell checker)

[SteveNdebbie]

I think I found the van!

payload 2500 lbs

[n2916s]

That Endurance V8 is relatively bulletproof! When I traded my 1st generation Titan in, I had 213,000 miles on it and the motor had never been touched.

It is a gas hog if you routinely get into it but smooth dependable power otherwise...

[SteveNdebbie]

When we visited Kenya in 2014 they did not seem concerned about payload capacity.

I guess we are all just a little more cautious here in the US