|
|
10-04-2014, 04:37 PM
|
#1
|
Rivet Master
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
|
Where have all the good Tow Vehicles gone?
I just bought a 30' Airstream Bunkhouse, I have 4 kids and lots of stuff. They stopped making Excursions in 2005 and stopped making the 3/4 ton Suburban in 2013. What's a family guy like me to do? Ever drive with 4 kids jammed in a pickup? I have a diesel Excursion now but it won't last forever. I know there are conversion companies but that's seems a bit extreme. It's surprising there are no big SUVs left up for the task. 3/4 ton with diesel that is.
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 04:42 PM
|
#2
|
2 Rivet Member
2015 27' Flying Cloud
1984 31' Sovereign
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 49
|
I hear ya. It's all about demand. As I remember the demand for 3/4 ton suburbans was down to 2500 per year. If GM can't make any profit then it's history.
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 04:44 PM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
2007 25' International CCD FB
Northridge
, California
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 516
|
I think I''ll have my 96 Suburban forever. I dont want a pickup. Its easier to load stuff with the barn doors.
Lilnomad
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 04:54 PM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
|
There's two kinds of SUV owners in this world.
Those who love Barn Doors, and those who haven't had them yet.
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 05:04 PM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,322
|
I would also include the heavy duty vans like the Ford E-350. There was a time when it was available with the diesel. It pulled our Airstream nicely, and had lots and lots of interior room. It had short overhangs and a 138" wheelbase. It had a nice towing package. And it had barn doors!
On the down side was the foot room in the front seats. The dog house and wheel wells encroached significantly on foot room.
David
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 05:36 PM
|
#7
|
2 Rivet Member
2015 27' Flying Cloud
1984 31' Sovereign
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 49
|
Agree. I'll keep my 1999 c2500 "barn door" as long as it will let me.
I do wish for a little smother ride when it's not loaded down but I'll put up with it.
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 05:40 PM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
|
4 door pickup trucks are just SUVs chopped off without the 3rd seat which are useless away.
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 05:50 PM
|
#9
|
2 Rivet Member
2015 27' Flying Cloud
1984 31' Sovereign
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 49
|
You are obviously in the majority thus the demise of the 3/4 ton SUV. But some of us don't see the advantage of a pickup truck.
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 06:37 PM
|
#10
|
Site Team
2007 30' Classic S/O
Somewhere
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,436
|
How about a Sprinter?
__________________
S/OS #001 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9L 6 Speed
16" Michelins, Hi Spec Wheels, Max Brake, Dexter 4 Piston Disc Brakes, Carslile Actuator, Equal-I-Zer, Dill TPMS. Campfire cook. BMV-712. DEMCO 21K Lb Cast Iron coupler
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 06:41 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,322
|
You know, we used to tow with some pretty marginal stuff, like 1970 station wagons.
I hear over and over again that we are towing with vehicles way to big and stiff, like one ton pick ups in my case. This can damage the fragile and flexible Airstream. CanAm in London, OT sure has me wondering why we need these big tow vehicles. Andy T likes the Jaguar sedans.
So is a Ford Flex an option? It would have the room for a big family.
David
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 06:49 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
|
There's a reason why the owners of the old diesel Suburbans and Excursions love there vehicles so dearly.
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 06:58 PM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
|
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
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 07:04 PM
|
#14
|
Builder of Diesel Jeeps
2014 28' International
Sedona
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 226
|
Consider remanufacturing your EX should that become necessary.
__________________
14 Serenity 28'
15 Grand Cherokee EcoD
#5261
|
|
|
10-04-2014, 07:17 PM
|
#15
|
Full time Airstreamer
2014 30' FB FC Bunk
Anywhere
, USA Living.Somewhere.Yonder
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,359
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcopps
I hear ya. It's all about demand. As I remember the demand for 3/4 ton suburbans was down to 2500 per year. If GM can't make any profit then it's history.
|
Pretty sure CAFE had something to do with it as well.
|
|
|
10-05-2014, 01:52 AM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
|
The problem is large SUV's are considered a car instead of a truck and they are in a different category as far as EPA regs. I guess this is why the CAFE standards hit the SUV's harder than trucks. This is also why vehicles like the Excursion are considered worst in class. You are compared to sportscar like crossovers etc.
Perry
|
|
|
10-05-2014, 06:41 AM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,119
|
I think they are including pickups in CAFE now The TV situation is gonna get worse. I think that is part of the reason for the big jump in prices of trucks.
|
|
|
10-05-2014, 08:10 AM
|
#18
|
Rivet Master
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
|
In this regard with CAFE, Ford is the ahead of other US manufacturers with the introduction of turbo charged small displacement engines that can also put out the power when needed but deliver better mileage solo. Dodge is attempting the same with their EcoDiesel. GM, Toyota and Nissan will have to catch up. RV manufacturers will have to adapt to the change in tow vehicles and trailers will probably have to be more "Europeanized" to save weight and be more aerodynamic. I'm not sure what will happen to the state of Class A, B and C RVs with their Ford V10s. Watching the Tour de France and seeing all the smaller trailers and Class A/C on the side of the road tells me it can be technically done its just whether the US RV market will accept that style of RV. I can imagine Airstream will have to develop lighter trailers too going back to the earlier days when they were lighter than current models. Many SOBs with similar lengths in the 26 to 32 foot range even with slides are lighter than similar Airstream model lengths but SOB aerodynamics and their high profiles override that advantage.
|
|
|
10-05-2014, 08:21 AM
|
#19
|
Rivet Master
1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,322
|
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!
|
|
|
10-05-2014, 10:17 AM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
|
It would seem to me the lack of a 3/4 ton SUV would be a fatal flaw in the large bunkhouse travel trailer business plan. So what if it sleeps 8 if you can only seat 5. I can get 7 in my Supercrew, but not leagaly. Those things are built for work, not for play.
I'm just a newbe, but I tow regularly with F series trucks, backhoes, skid steer, cargo trailer. I'm a diesel guy, towed a camper with a Honda Pilot and didn't like that at all. I can't see how I'm going to tear apart my Airstream with a truck. If you drive responsibly and respect your load, what's the difference between a diesel truck and a gas car?
If it's going to tear apart an Airstream, there should be SOBs spewed down the highway.
I belive the task of finding and rebuilding 10-15 year old Excursions has just begun. It just seems silly to be towing a 2015 trailer with an old truck.
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|