Show us your small Tow Vehicle set-up

[TCwheels]

Originally Posted by FastEddieB

If you don't mind my asking, do you know your actual tongue weight and the maximum listed for your vehicle?



I'm just trying to get a handle on the limits others are facing in this department.

Lexus recommends 525 max with WDH, FC20' is 631


WBCCI #7246
AIR #91367

[FastEddieB]

Thanks.

I'm calling Andy at CanAm in the morning to help get a handle on my situation.

[mbruneaux]

Originally Posted by Harry911

Small is fine as long as it is heavy duty! :-D



and



It is a Land Rover Defender 90 with a 150 HP engine.

- Harry

Yeah! another Landie!

[Harry911]

Originally Posted by rostam

I really wish those Euro Airstreams were available here in North America. If I am not mistake your's is an International 684, a 27 footer, with 4400# dry weight (Tongue weight: 240# to 330#). IMO, the interiors are also much nicer in Euro Airstreams.

It seems lengths are not comparable (different hitch length, US bodies are wider), but 27 is probably a good approximation. Weights are 4400#/330#, quite different balances and lighter. The interiors are *very* modern and were a major driver for us to buy an AS.

- Harry

[carl2591]

to me it appears when looking at European models the wheels are actually further back on the frame. As he noted the trailer is a #4400 with #330 tongue tells me this may true as most US versions are more tongue weight with same overall weight.

Is that true or am i just seeing things


PS any picture of interior to see...

[rostam]

Originally Posted by carl2591

to me it appears when looking at European models the wheels are actually further back on the frame. As he noted the trailer is a #4400 with #330 tongue tells me this may true as most US versions are more tongue weight with same overall weight.

Is that true or am i just seeing things


PS any picture of interior to see...

I think you meant in European models the wheels are actually further forward on the frame which is true and hence the much lower tongue weight.

Here is a link to UK Airstream site with some interior photos:

684 Gallery - Airstream & Company

I wish we had a 27 footer Airstream with 4400# weight here in North America. Seems the European get all the good stuff when it comes to cars and RVs...

[cory_can]

I'm not sure where everyone is looking but the 27' models are 5300-5500lbs depending on body width, not much different than NA models...only ~300lbs in a widebody compared to a 27FB. The tongue weight are lower because of the location of the axles. Europeans have a different theory on tongue weight.

MTPLM (lower limit) 2399kg (2.3M)/ 2499kg (2.5M).

MTPLM (lower limit) - the fully laden mass of the caravan in the manufacturer's standard specification which is stated in the publications by the manufacturer for tow car matching.

POPULAR OPTIONS WEIGHTS
Caravan Mover 60kg
19" LED TV 4.3kg
Air conditioning 34kg
Solar panel for roof (min) 4kg
Zipdee awning 42.2kg
Satellite system—fully automatic 20kg
Loose lay removable carpet 8kg
Leather upholstery 5kg

[rostam]

Originally Posted by cory_can

I'm not sure where everyone is looking but the 27' models are 5300-5500lbs depending on body width, not much different than NA models...only ~300lbs in a widebody compared to a 27FB. The tongue weight are lower because of the location of the axles. Europeans have a different theory on tongue weight.

Here is 27 FB's specs from airstream.com:

Dry weight: 5868#
GVWR: 7600#
Dry tongue weight: 791#

Here is International 684's specs from airstreamandco.com:

Dry weight: 4398#
GVWR: 5278# to 5896#
Nose Weight (Laden, depends on options fitted & loading): 242# to 330#

So, dry weight is ~1450# less, GVWR at least 1900# less, and tongue weight at least 600# less. Hence, Euro spec'ed Airstreams are significantly lighter.

[cory_can]

ok, you're 'sort of' right. The wide body 27' (684 2.5m) is 4630lbs compared to 5868, so ~1200lbs. After you add in standard features that anyone in NA would want....awnings, AC etc. it will get closer but there's still a gap. Most of the difference is probably frame weight and it's simply because the cars are less heavy duty (on average) so the trailers are designed for less overall payload. Their payload limits are pretty stingy. Personally, I would rather have a heavier trailer that I don't have to worry about, rather than something light that I have to constantly be kg counting.

[carl2591]

Originally Posted by rostam

I think you meant in European models the wheels are actually further forward on the frame which is true and hence the much lower tongue weight.

Here is a link to UK Airstream site with some interior photos:

684 Gallery - Airstream & Company

I wish we had a 27 footer Airstream with 4400# weight here in North America. Seems the European get all the good stuff when it comes to cars and RVs...

yes further forward of course.. that battery door on sliders is dam cool for sure.
i know we pay a lot less for AS here but the ones over there a lot more COOL for sure.

what is cost difference between one of the hooked up euro models vs us model in same length and trim.

man that is nice 684 is the place to see dreams come true.

[AlbertF]

My former tow vehicle, a 2001 Volvo S60 towing a 1975 Overlander.

[timhortons]

Albert what's the engine and transmission in that Volvo ?

[ALANSD]

Love that Volvo .. CanAm set up ?

As for me thought I like the Expedition, I think I could do well with a V8 EXPLORER. Same size as my current Trailblazer but more power

[andreasduess]

After finishing another season towing with our Odyssey, I have nothing but good things to say about minivans as TVs.

Adding LT tires with very stiff sidewalls has made a pleasant difference and made a previously good ride even better. I towed our trailer to Can-Am last week on a windy and blustery day with the first snow threatening and never once had an issue with trailer sway or any feeling of instability.

[billbay]

HI guys My name is Will Bayley from Perth western australia
I have a Sang Yong 2 litre 6 speed diesel we have towed our Airstream across Australia and back around 5000 miles no problems plenty of power and aircon with heat equivalent to the arizona desert (we call our desert the Nullabour)
I used to tow it with a 1954 f100 however the petrol is around $6 dollars a gallon up to 8 dollars a gallon on the nullaboor which is around a 900 miles from east to west so the Sang Yong is saves me at least 50% on fuel we love the vehicle it has a 2 litre mercedes motor awseome vehicle

[slowmover]

Hello Mr Bayley from Perth! Glad to have the contribution. I enjoy reading over on you alls "Caravanner" forum. Switching to a turbodiesel from a 7-liter V8 improved my mileage by about 50%


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[AlbertF]

Originally Posted by timhortons

Albert what's the engine and transmission in that Volvo ?

The car is a base model - 168 hp 2.4 litre 5 cylinder, no turbo, and a five speed manual transmission.

A couple of years ago, I wrote about my experiences here:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...a-95927-4.html

Yes, it's a CanAm setup - in fact, a complete custom receiver, not a modification of a factory-built unit. The car still has a Jordan brake controller as well. Otherwise, the car is essentially stock.

[timhortons]

Originally Posted by AlbertF

The car is a base model - 168 hp 2.4 litre 5 cylinder, no turbo, and a five speed manual transmission.

A couple of years ago, I wrote about my experiences here:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...a-95927-4.html

Yes, it's a CanAm setup - in fact, a complete custom receiver, not a modification of a factory-built unit. The car still has a Jordan brake controller as well. Otherwise, the car is essentially stock.

> Yes, it's a CanAm setup - in fact, a complete custom receiver, not a modification of a factory-built unit.

I guessed that. Thanks for the info. Volvos seem to have a nice frame/body and wide stance.

[Tom_T]

The 1985-89 928s (85-86) or 928 S4 (87-89) was seriously considered by me to tow our 1960 Avion T20 & well within limits for shortish trips to Vintage Trailer rallies, & would've looked cooool!

Porsche offered a factory tow option & accessories (front fender mounted wide towing mirrors, etc.) for the 928, and was rated by the German TUV (their US-DOT) to tow private campers & such up to 4144# & 3127# otherwise for braked trailers with their factory option long gooseneck Euro style ball. We would've had Andy T. set ours up with a custom version with 2" receiver & torque drag link for WD to tow our vintage silver twinkie. Alas, the wife wanted a "real" usable back seat - not 2+2 & more stowage room, so we're now looking at a used `03-06 or `08-10 Porsche Cayenne S (as you see from my topic in TVs).

I posted some pix at the Fantasy TV topic of some pix of 928s from the USA & EU/UK in tow mode which I found while researching it - it's link below ....

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...ml#post1543144

Post #140 at the above link.

An `89 928S4 & `86.5 928S that we looked at, another 2 Cayenne+AS as we plan now (not our rigs), the 1960 Avion sales brochure of the "new" T20 model towed by a `60-61 Olds Dela 88 wagon (possibly our actual T20 which was #2 of the line), & our Avion with F150 coming home July 2012 in pix below ,,,,

Cheers!