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09-12-2014, 09:51 AM
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#41
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
St. Catharines
, South Western Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,367
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Airrogant
I'm starting to get the impression that AS trailers aren't very special when it comes to their mechanical and electrical design. An AS TT is just another SOB with a pretty, curvy face. One look at how the cabinets were fastened tells quite a story.
Thought for the day: Perhaps the TV isn't overkill. Perhaps the AS is underkill.
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Think of Airstreams as a piece of fine art. Treat them with respect, take care of them, and don't get rough with them and they will endure and be a great investment.
Airstream's were originally designed to be towed with family sedans, not HD trucks.
__________________
Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
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09-12-2014, 10:35 AM
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#42
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Not really.
Streamline, Silver Streak and Avion, all did the same thing.
Andy
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Not really.
Avion has a proper frame. NO FRAME PROBLEMS.
Their frame absorbs road shock before it gets to the shell.
Ever wonder why Avions leak less? Its because the
shell flexes less because of their stiffer frame.
Look what happened to pickups lately, stronger frames.
Don't me for being blunt.
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
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09-12-2014, 10:44 AM
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#43
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Granted, the OP's tow vehicle is overkill for his trailer, but all this talk about 3/4 ton trucks being too heavy for even a 34' is ridiculous.
About a year ago when I still had a late model 31' I wanted to get a newer 1/2 ton truck for a tow vehicle, and to that end spent about a month studying the weight capacities, and towing capacities of the 1/2 to trucks. If you routinely carry more than your spouse and a full tank of gas, you are routinely overloaded.
Then if you want to add things like a topper, generator, bikes, grill, and all the other things we like to take camping with us, I would have been overloaded ALL the time when towing.
Our current trailer has a tongue weight of 1200 pounds +,-, and after towing it for almost a year, I believe any smaller tow vehicle than we are using would be dangerous.
30' Airstreams were easily towable with the family sedan way back in the 60's, but not at the weight and size they are today, IMHO.
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Regards,
Steve
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09-12-2014, 10:47 AM
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#44
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by r carl
Not really.
Avion has a proper frame. NO FRAME PROBLEMS.
Their frame absorbs road shock before it gets to the shell.
Ever wonder why Avions leak less? Its because the
shell flexes less because of their stiffer frame.
Look what happened to pickups lately, stronger frames.
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This is absolutely true, as I owned an Avion, and my father had several Avions, however because they are built heavier, and not as "rounded" as Airstreams, they were significantly harder to tow, in the day.
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Regards,
Steve
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09-12-2014, 11:02 AM
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#45
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Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,255
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
Granted, the OP's tow vehicle is overkill for his trailer, but all this talk about 3/4 ton trucks being too heavy for even a 34' is ridiculous.
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But that's a discussion for another thread. This thread is specifically about towing a Caravel, which is almost the tiniest Airstream out there, with a fully loaded weight under 2500#, and a tongue weight around 250#. Lets try and keep it on topic so we don't wander too far off into the general topic of towing.
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Stephanie
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09-12-2014, 07:13 PM
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#46
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3 Rivet Member
1965 17' Caravel
Curtis Wright
San Marcos
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 231
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thanks to eveyone and my decision.
i would REALLY like to thank everyone for their input. it is such a pleasure to have a community that helps so much.
i kicked around a lot of vehicles for my 1965 caravel. wanted awd or 4x4 and liked the idea of diesel for the torque.
just put my money down on a 2011 BMW X5d that i am picking up tomorrow.
i know it is not the mainstream choice, but think i will like it especially because it will also be a great ride when not towing.
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09-13-2014, 12:01 AM
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#47
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4 Rivet Member
2004 16' International CCD
Chicagoland
, Illinois
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveH
...but all this talk about 3/4 ton trucks being too heavy for even a 34' is ridiculous.
About a year ago when I still had a late model 31' I wanted to get a newer 1/2 ton truck for a tow vehicle, and to that end spent about a month studying the weight capacities, and towing capacities of the 1/2 to trucks. If you routinely carry more than your spouse and a full tank of gas, you are routinely overloaded.
Then if you want to add things like a topper, generator, bikes, grill, and all the other things we like to take camping with us, I would have been overloaded ALL the time when towing..
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It is pretty clear that some of our members haven't recently waded into the "facts" of today's tow vehicle options. Modern tow vehicles generally come in three flavors. Severely underpowered (read Honda minivan), payload-challenged (read 1/2 ton pickup), and capable (read 3/4 ton and up). I require a 3/4 ton truck to manage my load. It isn't opinion. It is fact. Suggesting that I should be driving a "payload-challenged" truck (that would be grossly overloaded) to keep my trailer from shaking apart is irresponsible and dangerous. It is so outrageous that it even sounds like the kind of crap that you'll hear on a used-car lot.
Blaming modern "capable" trucks for the fragility of modern AS trailers borders on ludicrous. That's like blaming an AS trailer for overheating a Chrysler 300's engine. The reality is that the current AS trailers appear to be just a wee bit on the wimpy side. Just read the forums and tell me that these trailers don't require ridiculous amounts of futzing. There are several new examples every day. I'm not basing this on my experience (which has been very positive with one exception) with the product, I'm basing this on the words of those who own AS trailers who frequent this site.
DAILY CHALLENGE: Can ANYONE produce documentation (fact not opinion) from AS that there is such a thing as having "too much" tow vehicle for a given trailer? If not let's just nip that crap in the bud.
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09-13-2014, 12:03 AM
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#48
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4 Rivet Member
2004 16' International CCD
Chicagoland
, Illinois
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kevinkatz
ust put my money down on a 2011 BMW X5d that i am picking up tomorrow.
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Congrats! I predict that you will be VERY happy with your decision. Let us know how it goes once you get it, and please post a picture or two.
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09-13-2014, 04:49 AM
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#49
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Good choice, only reason fir anything else would be payload as had been mentioned. Enjoy youR Bimmer. Jim
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