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08-05-2005, 05:27 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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I think that a Ford 250 is some what of an overkill.
A 150, with a transmission cooler works fine.
Remember, back then a Ford 1/2 ton would adequately tow any Airstream trailer built.
You won't set speed records, but then Airstream owners never tow very fast.
"NOT"
Andy
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08-05-2005, 05:43 PM
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#2
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4 Rivet Member
1961 26' Overlander
Gabriola Island
, British Columbia
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 474
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Thanks Andy
Just thought I would add a note about transmission cooling.Not all Ford transmissions of the same model are alike.I rebuilt the C5 on my little Bronco after pulling my boat fried it, with an oil cooler.The two clutch packs had only three clutches each.I remember only two on my Pinto.I rebuilt it with 5 clutches and top quality Raybestos clutches.Also a shift kit.When I pulled the Airstream up from Seattle with the little truck (I know really stupid) the transmission ran cool, no slipping or overheating.In the future before doing much towing with another Ford I will do the same rebuild.The Gil Younger shift kit only cost a few dollars and makes the truck shift beautifully.
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08-09-2005, 12:24 PM
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#3
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Moderator dude
1966 26' Overlander
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,497
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That GIL shift kit in an auto tranny is the best money spent when getting ready to tow a load over 2000 pounds. I have used that company for 3 tow vehicles. It's currently in the van listed below.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - Streamless.
1966 Lincoln 4 door Convertible 462 4V 1971 Ford LTD Convertible 429 4V Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
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08-09-2005, 02:35 PM
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#4
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Tom, the Uber Disney Fan
2006 30' Safari
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,693
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Andy, I just purchased an F-250 Powerstroke diesel supercrew in April to tow our soon to be purchased '06 30' AS. Please tell me I didn't purchase the wrong truck!
P.S. I keep a truck 10 years minimum and put more than 150K on it as a daily driver (50+/day) and planned for long term and economy of operation when towing and commuting.
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08-09-2005, 02:48 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1993 30' Excella
whitewater
, north of cheddar curtain
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,259
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minnie,
you have the right truck.....and a good one it is.
__________________
Illegitimous noncarborundum(dont let the bastards wear you down)
The only true nobility is found through giving good food to your friends- Anton Careme
beauty is in the eye of the beerholder-cosmo fishhawk
if something is too good to be true, its usually gone before i get there-mister boffo
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08-09-2005, 03:23 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Minnie's Mate
Your going to tow a 2006 30 foot Airstream trailer, not the Queen Mary.
I would forecast that with that tow vehicle, you will punish the front of the trailer.
Super heavy duty tow vehicles are not necessary in order to properly tow any Airstream. What they do accomplish however, because of their stiffness, is to be very abusive to the front of the trailer, and especially if the trailer "running gear" is not properly balanced.
It's been happening for 40 years, and it will continue to happen. Carnival people prove it everyday. They tear up Airstream trailers about as fast as someone can repair them. The reason why? They all have super heavy tow vehicles.
A 3/4 ton truck or a Suburban, with a soft suspension system, is more than adequate.
Andy
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08-09-2005, 03:50 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1958 26' Overlander
Mesa
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,742
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Huh?
First you say an F-250 is overpowered and then you say a 3/4 ton is fine. They're the same thing. If anything a 1/2 ton truck or SUV is underpowered and doesn't have the transmission and suspension to safely tow a 30' Airstream trailer. A 70s era Sovereign yes, but not the new heavy models.
__________________
1958 Overlander
2011 Wolf Creek 850N TC
2011 Ford F-250 Crewcab (6.2L), 3.73RE
WBCCI #5661/AIR #5661/TAC # AZ-6
4CU 1st VP
My '58 Overlander Restoration and Travel Blog:
https://mellomikesairstreams.blogspot.com/
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08-09-2005, 05:04 PM
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#8
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In
Frame cracked? Abusive use? Nah, you can do anything to the frame of an Airstream.......
Heavy duty tow vehicle towing an Airstream trailer without any wheel balancing, can result it severe damage to the frame.
.......
Andy
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Which wheels are we talking about, the trailer or the tow vehicle? I know it's important that both be working properly, but which do you think caused this particular problem? As always, thanks for the "heads up", Andy.
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08-09-2005, 11:46 PM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
1977 23' Safari
Hillsboro
, Oregon
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 348
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate
Andy, I just purchased an F-250 Powerstroke diesel supercrew in April to tow our soon to be purchased '06 30' AS. Please tell me I didn't purchase the wrong truck!
P.S. I keep a truck 10 years minimum and put more than 150K on it as a daily driver (50+/day) and planned for long term and economy of operation when towing and commuting.
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If i was towing a 30' trailer around this country i couldnt think of a better truck to do it with. Lots of steep climbs and decents to deal with. You want, at least imo, a lot of cushion with your towing capacity. Best not to be near the limits of the truck.
__________________
Van
2009 F-350 FX4 Crewcab 4x4 6.4l
former '78 Argosy 20' Minuet owner
former '77 23' Safari owner
former 25' Fun Finder X-250BHS SOB owner
current 26' Komfort Trailblazer 262BSLE SOB owner
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08-10-2005, 06:15 AM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
1997 30' Excella
Waddell
, Arizona
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 313
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Re: Tow Vehicles
There is not a current 1/2 ton truck made that will tow my 30' Excella without exceeding the truck's GVWR.
I'd describe my 05 F250 as being "very firm" with regards to suspension. It rides much better than either of the two previous F350 Fords I used to own.
__________________
Steve Heywood
Waddell, AZ
1999 19' Bambi (SOLD)
1997 30' Excella (SOLD)
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08-10-2005, 08:28 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1958 26' Overlander
Mesa
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,742
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[QUOTE=Steve Heywood]There is not a current 1/2 ton truck made that will tow my 30' Excella without exceeding the truck's GVWR. [QUOTE]
Exactly!!
__________________
1958 Overlander
2011 Wolf Creek 850N TC
2011 Ford F-250 Crewcab (6.2L), 3.73RE
WBCCI #5661/AIR #5661/TAC # AZ-6
4CU 1st VP
My '58 Overlander Restoration and Travel Blog:
https://mellomikesairstreams.blogspot.com/
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08-10-2005, 08:34 AM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
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Now What?
Andy, I have a 1 ton Dodge and use it to tow my 1981 31' Excella. If you are saying that the suspension is too much and will negatively impact the trailer what can I do to reduce this impact?
You mention properly balanced running gear, can you expand upon that or point me to a link that tells more? Is there anything else I can do to minimize the impact my stiffer suspension has on the trailer?
-Alden
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
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08-10-2005, 08:40 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2005 28' International CCD
Pagosa Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 811
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alden Miller
Andy, I have a 1 ton Dodge and use it to tow my 1981 31' Excella. If you are saying that the suspension is too much and will negatively impact the trailer what can I do to reduce this impact?
You mention properly balanced running gear, can you expand upon that or point me to a link that tells more? Is there anything else I can do to minimize the impact my stiffer suspension has on the trailer?
-Alden
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For about $50 per wheel these balancers are being used by many with good results.
http://www.centramatic.com/
__________________
"would you rather have a mansion full of money or a trailer full of love?"
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08-10-2005, 08:47 AM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
1961 26' Overlander
Gabriola Island
, British Columbia
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 474
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GVWR maximum load on tow vehicle you are not carrying all trailer weight in box.Need to look at rated towing capacity.Also if suspension in tow vehicle too stiff equalizer becomes inneffective.
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08-10-2005, 09:15 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,190
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Sometimes the simplest solutions are best..........
If your tow vehicle is rough on your trailer.....Slow down
If your trailer is rough on your tow vehicle.....Slow down
If the weather is bad.................................Slow down
If it is hot outside.....................................Slow down
If the road is hilly or curvy..........................Slow down
This is advice from a not so technical type person. But
some cowboys gots smarts real good.
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08-10-2005, 09:44 AM
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#16
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Retired and Retreaded
1972 26' Argosy 26
1974 31' Sovereign
1978 28' Argosy 28
Oklahoma City
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 47
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Tow Vehicle
I tow my '73 31' Airstream with a '88 Ford 150/300ci 6/4 speed. I had no problems at 65mph. Some hills caused the cruise to slow to 55mph.
__________________
ED MATLOCK
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08-10-2005, 01:06 PM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
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I'm told this is like owning a boat...
Ok, the air hitch looks like a good idea, so do the balancers.
This is getting expensive!!!!
-Alden
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
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08-10-2005, 01:15 PM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
schaumburg
, confusion
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 285
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so Andy you are telling us that if we have an f250 that is over kill yet if I had a airstream that weighed 10000 pounds and I do believe that a 30ft with a slide out is around 10000 lbs that a f150 could handel it. wrong. every 150 i have seen can not carry that kind of weight.
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08-10-2005, 02:55 PM
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#19
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edmatlock
I tow my '73 31' Airstream with a '88 Ford 150/300ci 6/4 speed. I had no problems at 65mph. Some hills caused the cruise to slow to 55mph.
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I agree...but the weight difference between a 1973 31' and a 2003 31' is about 3000#'s I tow my 75 with a F150 small V-8 and it does fine, but it also has a modified chip and factory towing package on it.
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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08-10-2005, 05:28 PM
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#20
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1 Rivet Member
2019 27' Globetrotter
Sarnia
, Ontario
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 9
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Windstar as a tow Vehicle?
Alot has been written about tow vehicles, I have a 2001 Ford Windstar SEL with a 3.8L engine and a trailer tow package (transmission cooler, wiring harness). I am currently looking into purchasing a 2006 Safari 25 SE - SS. My dealer will install a proper hitch, another transmission cooler, brake controller and upgrade the wiring harness on my van and assures me that I will not have a problem towing. Should I be concerned?
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