I'm hitting craigslist and ebay for a TV. Right now we do not have one, and we will need to move our AS soon. We're planning to sell our two current vehicles.
Having the typical female attention span for all things mechanical , could anyone spell it out to me in easy, plain English: are there any family vehicles out there - modern or classic - that could pull (without damage to either) our 31' Sovereign?
We need a vehicle that seats five. We're trying to pass up the hopelessly ugly 20-year-old rusted, cracked trucks (don't want to shame the Airstream name) and the over-the-top insanely expensive new trucks . Is there an all-purpose vehicle out there?
- Natasha
__________________ Terry & Natasha Turner '76, 31' Sovereign International Land Yacht Remodel Madness
I saw a guy towing a 30' two weeks ago with a mid 70's cutlass and said he had no problems, however I would not do it. Since your AS will outweigh most cars I would not do it. I am sure some will say any large car or van will do but I prefer my f250. You may look for a ford f series with a crew cab as that will seat 5, i know here in florida dealers still have 08's that are really discounted. Mine had a sticker of 46,000+ but was discounted to 33,000.
An Airstream buddy of ours pulls his '76 31 footer with a Chevy Suburban and it does well on the flats but bogs down a bit in the mountains. Plenty of room for gear and kiddos with the Burb. No doubt you'll get a load more information soon on this Forum. Good luck with your decision.
In 1976 the tow vehicle of choice would have been a full size car from any one of the manufacturers, Ford, Chevrolet, Mercury, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Lincoln, Cadillac, Dodge or Chrysler. There are a few members of this forum who still use a 1970's full size car with a large engine.
Bill
__________________
Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
Depending on your needs, a full size van with a 10k towing capacity, and Excursion, Expedition, or Suburban would all work nicely. You'll find prices on used, low-mileage Club Wagon style vans particularly appealing when compared to SUV prices; although there are some attractively priced SUVs out there right now as well. Whatever you find, the largest engine you can get, low rear end ratio (except maybe in the Excursions where the 3.73 is adequate with the V10) and factory tow package with the 10k lb tow rating is what you'll want to look for.
Happy hunting!
Roger
__________________ AIR 2053 “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.” Robert Heinlein 1994 Airstream B190 & 2006 Bigfoot 25B25RQ
Depending on your needs, a full size van with a 10k towing capacity, and Excursion, Expedition, or Suburban would all work nicely. You'll find prices on used, low-mileage Club Wagon style vans particularly appealing when compared to SUV prices; although there are some attractively priced SUVs out there right now as well. Whatever you find, the largest engine you can get, low rear end ratio (except maybe in the Excursions where the 3.73 is adequate with the V10) and factory tow package with the 10k lb tow rating is what you'll want to look for.
Happy hunting!
Roger
*** and for a 31, I'd go with a Suburban 2500 (3/4 ton) - Don't pay extra for the third seat. You can get six in the first two and have room for two full sized coffins behind the seats... That from a former funeral director. Alternately dog kennels, cribs, etc fit nicely in the back. The 2500 pretty much has the tow package included, but do note that the hitch on older ones is weaker (pre 2008) - many have replaced them for a couple of hundred bucks. I went from a 'burb to a Silverado. With a family the big honkin' fully air conditioned Silverado is the better choice.
Good luck, Paula FORD (how's that for irony?)
__________________
Today is a gift. That's why they call it "the present"
I'm hitting craigslist and ebay for a TV. Right now we do not have one, and we will need to move our AS soon. We're planning to sell our two current vehicles.
Having the typical female attention span for all things mechanical , could anyone spell it out to me in easy, plain English: are there any family vehicles out there - modern or classic - that could pull (without damage to either) our 31' Sovereign?
We need a vehicle that seats five. We're trying to pass up the hopelessly ugly 20-year-old rusted, cracked trucks (don't want to shame the Airstream name) and the over-the-top insanely expensive new trucks . Is there an all-purpose vehicle out there?
- Natasha
One word:
Suburban.
__________________
Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91
MY 68' manual that came with my Soverign only showed pictures of cars pulling them. Back then I believe trucks where for working not taking the family on vacation.
Previous owner of our 85 31' pulled it with an 80's Olsmobile sedan, then two half ton Suburbans (not at the same time). Used a dual cam and put seveal trips between Cincy and Florida, Arkansas, and other places without bending anything. I'm sort of thinking that a full 3/4 ton might be overkill.
Not sure I have the courage to use an Olds, but I'd sure like to have seen it.
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Family Car to Pull 31' AS 
, could anyone spell it out to me in easy, plain English: are there any family vehicles out there - modern or classic - that could pull (without damage to either) our 31' Sovereign? 
(don't want to shame the Airstream name) and the over-the-top insanely expensive new trucks 
. Is there an all-purpose vehicle out there?
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