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08-13-2014, 05:23 PM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Superior
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 442
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Towing a 30' AS with Armada
Question for y'all.
I have a 2012 Nissan Armada 4x4 with the tow package. I think this affords me 9100 lbs towing capacity. It has all the nifty coolers for oil, trans, blinker fluid, etc.
It tows my non-AS trailer just fine. That trailer is about 24' tip to tail and as aerodynamic as a 7-11.
In the future (soon, PLEASE), I'd like to upgrade to an AS, preferably a roughly 30 footer. Used, 15-25 years old maybe. I'd outfit it with WD/SC, 'cause I'm already sold on those technologies.
How do you think I will do with the Armada? Is anyone out there towing this length AS trailer with an Armada?
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08-13-2014, 10:57 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
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I tow my 1986 31' Sovereign with a 2004 Titan (same power train). Some 55000 miles now and the truck just passed 174000 miles. The 5.6 V-8 is a beast -- it has never faltered once but you need to keep the RPM's above 3000 on steep grades for both torque and effective cooling.
The Titan has a 5 speed automatic with tow/haul and I tow with overdrive locked out.
Do check your door sticker, though, and check your payload. Mine is pretty low so I travel light as my tongue weight takes up a big chunk of it.
Mike
__________________
Sorta new (usually dirty) Nissan Titan XD (hardly paid for)
Middle-aged Safari SE
Young, lovely bride
Dismissive cat
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08-14-2014, 07:20 AM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Superior
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 442
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Mike
No steep grades out here in CO, so that's not a concern. Ha!
Seriously - I put the tranny in 4 and tow mode. Leaving it in D just doesn't work, the 5th gear is to tall.
Thanks for the data point. The Titan is effectively the same as an Armada, just longer wheelbase. Do you have WD/SC?
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08-14-2014, 08:08 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 25' International CCD FB
Northridge
, California
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 516
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In this blog they started with a Armada and towed a 30ft Bunkhouse..maybe you can email and ask for imput..
http://airstreamlife.com/maze/2008/12/
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08-14-2014, 08:42 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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The older lighter trailers IMO will not pose a problem for your proposed tow vehicle.
My chevy 5.3 has been able to maintain 70 mph on EVERY road I have driven on except for an 8% grade south of Globe, AZ.
Someone will for sure tell you that you will need to trade your TV in on a new diesel, but it ain't so.
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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08-15-2014, 06:13 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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I have a '95 30' trailer. Curb weight on the side of the trailer is something like 8500 lbs (I don't remember the exact numbers). Add in the "wet" stuff (propane, water in the tank, etc.), plus your stuff, and I think you're going to be pushing the limits of your tow vehicle. How much you want to bend the rules set by the manufacturer is up to you and a matter of great debate on these forums. I don't recommend getting into that argument - just decide for yourself and move on.
I've been watching the newer half ton trucks like the F-150 with a tow capacity of 11,000 or 12,000 pounds, and I think that would be the minimum vehicle I'd want for our trailer (and in fact there are plenty of people using them to do just that). If they offered them in the cab/bed/trim level configuration we want, we'd probably replace our F-250 with one.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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08-15-2014, 10:40 AM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
Vintage Kin Owner
Superior
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skater
I have a '95 30' trailer. Curb weight on the side of the trailer is something like 8500 lbs (I don't remember the exact numbers). .
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Curb weight on yours is 8500??? See here:
Classic Floor Plans & Specifications - Airstream
A new 31' AS is about 7400 lbs dry. I wonder why yours is 1000lbs more?
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08-15-2014, 02:18 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,566
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skater
I have a '95 30' trailer. Curb weight on the side of the trailer is something like 8500 lbs (I don't remember the exact numbers).
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Spec sheet shows 8300 GVWR, 6350 curb weight. Should be lots of room to a 9100 rated tow capacity, if that is what it is (subject to truck payload limits).
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08-16-2014, 01:56 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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Oops, sorry. Thanks for the correction.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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08-16-2014, 06:04 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
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Eric,
I have a Reese Straight Line with friction anti-sway. Works fine. The 31' tracks beautifully behind the old Titan. I want an Anderson but can't justify replacing something that works just because it is more complex and messier...
Next trailer, perhaps.
Mike
__________________
Sorta new (usually dirty) Nissan Titan XD (hardly paid for)
Middle-aged Safari SE
Young, lovely bride
Dismissive cat
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