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Skater · 06-09-2015, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoldAdventure

I only made my comment to relieve the pressure before the beating each other over the head could start, in good humor and not as an insult to anyone.

Glad to hear it, but it wasn't one of the comments I was referring to.

tjdonahoe · 06-09-2015, 08:31 AM

Hey there I like my kenworth,it's loaded weight is 55,500 lbs pulling a pup with a gross of 43500 lbs, no worries......

DoublTrouble · 06-09-2015, 09:36 AM

Hopefully, aquadogs was able to glean some relevant information that they can use to make an informed decision about tow vehicles. There is definitely a lot here!

Ampman · 06-09-2015, 10:29 AM

Terra Yacht,
That's amazing! Those folks are having way too much fun. Good times. Thanks.

DoublTrouble · 06-09-2015, 01:19 PM

Garfield · 06-09-2015, 04:41 PM

Been towing our 25 footer for three years with a lowly V6 SUV (gasp!). No issues. Wouldn't change a thing.

SteveSueMac · 06-09-2015, 06:00 PM

DoubleTrouble - was that pic for me???? 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

DoublTrouble · 06-09-2015, 06:39 PM

Indeed!

ckottum · 06-09-2015, 06:42 PM

Not sure if the o.p. with a 25' Airstream is still watching, but among the sure-footed SUV's with full independent suspension are the vehicles in this thread, along with how some Airstreamers have set them up. There are other SUV's with similar suspension.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...rs-134917.html

The full independent suspension Airstream will follow these nicely when a deer runs out in front of you, and you need a quick steering maneuver to miss it. Or other things in your path. A safety element that solid axle, high center of gravity tow vehicles cannot match.

Goin camping · 06-10-2015, 12:23 AM

02 3/4 Chevy Suburban. Used to tow with a Ford PSD. Burb rides better and tows just as well.

Norm States · 06-10-2015, 03:43 AM

RAM Air Ride Suspension is the way to go. Love it.

rostam · 06-10-2015, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckottum

The full independent suspension Airstream will follow these nicely when a deer runs out in front of you, and you need a quick steering maneuver to miss it. Or other things in your path. A safety element that solid axle, high center of gravity tow vehicles cannot match.

I don't want to start an argument here, and just want to share my experience. I have been driving for more than 25 years, and in that span have been in multiple accidents. I have heard your argument about better handling vehicles mentioned by multiple folks on this forum, and it made me ask myself the following questions:

1) How many times have I managed to evade an accident by making sudden lane changes or emergency maneuvers?

2) Would I not be in any of the accidents I was in, had I had a better handling vehicle, with lower center of gravity, and more advanced suspension?

My answer to 1) is, only once. And it was actually last year. I was driving and a creature jumped in front of me. I made a sudden lane change at highway speed (an instinctive reaction), and avoided an accident. My point is this has happened only once in 25 years of driving. Also, I was driving a 6000# full size SUV with over 10 inches of ground clearance, and I still managed to safely do the lane change.

My answer to 2) is, no. I cannot think how a vehicle with a lower COG and better handling would stop any of the accidents I was in. Actually, the only loss of control accident I had was with a sporty sedan.

This makes me question the importance of handling attributes in accident avoidance (towing or not). I would love to hear the experience of others folks, and see if its any different than mine.

ckottum · 06-10-2015, 11:33 AM

The two us commuting in rural Minnesota over the years we have hit four deer and avoided many, many more with our sporty sedans.

cheryl

Garfield · 06-10-2015, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rostam

This makes me question the importance of handling attributes in accident avoidance (towing or not). I would love to hear the experience of others folks, and see if its any different than mine.

Interesting post, and truthfully I might very well have chimed my agreement with you...until two summers ago. My wife and I were on a trip up north on a two-lane highway, and being unfamiliar with the area were running low on fuel and getting a bit antsy. Both my wife and I got preoccupied with a possible gas station and I didn't notice the car stopping in front of me waiting to turn left. (A classic error if you're a pilot: when there's a problem, the pilot files and the co-pilot diagnoses...but I digress). Suffice it to say I was heading directly for a rear end collision with an 11,000 lb rig and no way of stopping in time...and it was my fault.

Maybe I was just lucky, I don't know, but I hit the brakes and cranked the steering wheel hard to the right and managed to just miss the car by passing to the right on the gravel shoulder doing nearly 50 MPH before pulling back on to the blacktop. Easily one of the scariest things that's happened to me in 40 years of driving. After recovering, I was absolutely shocked at how well controlled our rig handled. I never imagined I'd ever have to push my rig to the max, but I did that day and have thanked the towing gods ever since for having the privilege of owning extremely well behaved towing rig.

slowmover · 06-10-2015, 04:14 PM

Fully independent suspension on a TT makes for better cross wind resistance, better ability to handle tripping hazards, and better braking, not just better handling according to TV steering wheel inputs.

A TV that is inferior in this respect is an otherwise inferior tow vehicle where the trailer is more likely to stay upright. Literally, where the TV becomes the source of the problem.

Driving "skill" is not the point. Reducing -- minimizing -- risk IS the key on a valid statistical basis. The best design is demonstrably safer.

The experience of others proves nothing one way or another. On these threads it's just confirmation bias.

m.hony · 06-10-2015, 04:57 PM

Cars do hold the road better snd corner better. I just go a little slower in trucks. Cars ride better over rough pavement- they don't have all that bouncin' an' swayin' an' hoppin' goin' on. I am able to navigate downtown a little quicker in a car. I did live 6 years between cars and had pickups and SUV's in between.

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BoldAdventure · 06-10-2015, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m.hony

Cars ride better over rough pavement

You apparently never owned a C3

m.hony · 06-10-2015, 07:32 PM

Nope. Always wanted a Corvette, but will likely never own one. It still handles better than a pickup or SUV.

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

tjdonahoe · 06-11-2015, 07:37 AM

We have lots of deer on our back roads, quite a few people swerved to miss them, usually ending up in the borrow ditch upside down, I do not swerve, I hit the brakes staying in my lane, if they are still standing there, so be it, at least I am still upright , usually the ones who ended up in the ditch upside down don't make it.....

ROBERTSUNRUS · 06-11-2015, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

We have lots of deer on our back roads, quite a few people swerved to miss them, usually ending up in the borrow ditch upside down, I do not swerve, I hit the brakes staying in my lane, if they are still standing there, so be it, at least I am still upright , usually the ones who ended up in the ditch upside down don't make it.....

Hi, hit the horn and slam on the brakes; If it doesn't move, hit it. People cause more problems from panicking and take other vehicles with them.