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SteveH · 10-05-2014, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airrogant

Unfortunately there are "experts" here who have told me that my 3/4 ton truck is too big for pulling any AS, and that it is tearing my trailer apart. It was actually suggested that I own too much truck for a 34' AS! Take that advice with a grain of salt...

I in fact own a 34' Airstream, and I am here to tell you they are either ignorant, or misinformed.

Gringo · 10-05-2014, 11:10 AM

We just recently bought an '03 F250 SD with a 7.3 Power Stroke down in Houston. We bought it specifically as a TV for the AS. While we were shopping around, we went to three of the specialty diesel truck shops in the Houston area. We saw three or four fairly decent Excursions with the 7.3, which was the only engine we were looking at. I'd suggest that shopping around a little with the Diesel truck fanatics might find a few SUVs with big diesels

westernjeep401 · 10-05-2014, 12:07 PM

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H9Nzl56K6G8

1/2 ton.

ALANSD · 10-05-2014, 03:02 PM

I sold my V10 Excursion last Winter. Still regret it. It was a great truck, though kinda big for me to drive around town. I wish I had bought an Expedition though I went way smaller. What I have now works but it is not a great tow vehicle just a falr one.
For those with large families it seems a full size van makes sense.

thehandyman · 10-05-2014, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbj216

Deja Vue. Remember the Airstream Caravelle of the 1980s? It was shown behind a 4 cyl Ford Fairmont. God help us! Maybe its time again for Airstream to return to its roots of light weight, low drag trailers. Maybe there is a market for V6 towables. Many RV manufactures are advertising "lite". My 24' Trade Wind twin has a full bath, sleeps three, reasonable galley and weighs about 4100 lbs with about 500 lbs tongue weight (my estimates.) I can tow it with our 06 MDX V6.

So as our favorite tow vehicles fall by the wayside, the towable RV industry will have to take that into account.

David

KJRichie We were thinking the same thing at the same time!

I have a 24ft Caravelle 3500lbs on the axles 600lbs tongue weight can't imagine pulling with a 4cly.

BentMetal · 10-05-2014, 04:30 PM

Hey. I bought an Ecodiesel in July 2014, and pulled my 1972 26' Argosy 3500 miles this summer. Easily averaged 20MPG while pulling. We were floored by the mileage.

westernjeep401 · 10-05-2014, 04:44 PM

I couldn't imagine pulling a 5900 lb Mobile Scout box with a 112 hp/210 lb ft torque 351 with a 79 E-350 Ford Club Wagon van...but in the day, that was a decent rig.

Andrew T · 10-05-2014, 05:43 PM

If you would like a big spacious SUV to tow with check out the 2015 Ford Expedition Max. It has been mildly reworked for 15 and now has the 3.5 Echoboost drivetrain from the F150.

Compared to the old Excursion it has independent suspension front and rear which makes it massively more stable with a fraction of the road shock. It rides and handles better than any pickup you can buy and seats 7 or 8 comfortably.

The 18" tires it comes with are not great so either change them or go to the 20" wheel option. I hope this helps.

Andrew T

Silverflames · 10-05-2014, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perryg114

Probably a full size van is the way to go. Problem is they don't make very many for passenger use because you really need and want a crossover, at least that is what they are forcing on us. I guess I will worry about this in 10-20 yrs when my Excursion wears out.

The Expedition with the tow package is about 9000 lbs towing capacity.

Perry

With enough time, love, and money, any car or truck can be kept on the road!

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

SSquared · 10-05-2014, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew T

If you would like a big spacious SUV to tow with check out the 2015 Ford Expedition Max. It has been mildly reworked for 15 and now has the 3.5 Echoboost drivetrain from the F150.

Compared to the old Excursion it has independent suspension front and rear which makes it massively more stable with a fraction of the road shock. It rides and handles better than any pickup you can buy and seats 7 or 8 comfortably.

The 18" tires it comes with are not great so either change them or go to the 20" wheel option. I hope this helps.

Andrew T

I just looked at the Ford, GMC, and Chevy web sites for their full size SUVs. They all quote tow ratings. I don't see any statements that their ratings are based on the new SAE towing standard. Am I overlooking anything? It would be nice to know if the numbers can be compared with the numbers on pickups.

Tincampers · 10-06-2014, 04:32 AM

2015 Ford Expedition | View Towing Specifications | Ford.com

907airstream · 10-06-2014, 06:15 AM

I finally found an excursion that was in great shape. I got a pretty good deal on it. The only way I'm let it go is if someone steals it from me. It pulls my 34 footer like nobody's business.

dkottum · 10-06-2014, 02:14 PM

Payload is on the door jamb and different for each individual vehicle, max tongue weight on the particular hitch installed. Need to look there.

crisen · 10-06-2014, 03:04 PM

Max tow rating is actually a pretty useless number for people who tow travel trailers and expect to carry anything in the vehicle, like passengers. What matters is the GCWR, As an example if you look up the base curb weight in the above link, it is under the Capacities tab and add the max tow rating to it you will find that you are at GCWR. This means that once you add options, people and "stuff" your maximum trailer weight is reduced from the Max Tow number.

BoldAdventure · 10-06-2014, 03:06 PM

One of the Families we follow the dad bought a 3/4ton van and sent it to get converted. Can you say "CAPTAINS CHAIRS"

perryg114 · 10-06-2014, 03:11 PM

I can't afford anything new anyway so tow ratings are irrelevant.

Perry

Garfield · 10-08-2014, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airrogant

Unfortunately there are "experts" here who have told me that my 3/4 ton truck is too big for pulling any AS, and that it is tearing my trailer apart. It was actually suggested that I own too much truck for a 34' AS! Take that advice with a grain of salt...

Please provide a link...I need to read that thread.

kscherzi · 10-08-2014, 04:35 PM

My 2003 Expedition has a 1,600 lb payload. Basically same underlying frame and suspension as today's model. I put about 950 lbs on the tongue. After loading large dog in rear and our junk in back seat still under both axles by about 200 lbs overall according to CAT scale.

PeterH-350LE · 10-08-2014, 05:14 PM

Get a 3/4 or 1 ton Chevy van if you want payload and 10K towing capacity.
Change to 16" rims and LT Michelins and soften the tow with 600 or 800 pound bars.
That's a nice ride!

PeterH-350LE · 10-11-2014, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airrogant

....And with the brainwashed veterans who should know better, but who keep repeating this tired, old nonsense anyway.

With some effort, it is possible to not sound offensive and make your point anyway!!
First hand experience is what I found to support the statements made by "brainwashed veterans". I tow with a 1 ton extended Chevy Van. The bars that came with the Reese system equaled about 1200 pound bars and the ride was horrific. TV and trailer were like 1 continues stiff board 53 feet long. Doors were flung open and stuff was all over the trailer. As soon as I hit 60 mph, the trailer started to sway. I replaced the bars with 800 pound trunion bars and the entire set-up, ride, sway changed. I now have what I would call a soft independent ride and have not once on a 1500 mile trip experienced any sway.
And thats a fact!