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03-27-2008, 10:24 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
1986 31' Sovereign
La Crosse
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 11
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Will this truck handle it?
Hello all, first post.
I am getting a 1986 Sovereign 31'. I have a 1995 Chevy K1500 (1/2 ton) regular cab long box 4x4 truck with a 5.7L v8 with an automatic transmission. Do you think this will be an OK tow vehicle?
What would you recommend for sway control equipment?
Thanks
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03-27-2008, 11:08 AM
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#2
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
.
, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Welcome to the forums.
We have a 31' Sovereign that is lighter in weight, and a 3/4 ton truck with comparable engine to tow it. At times it is barely adequate to tow our trailer, you may want to look at a 3/4 ton truck.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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03-29-2008, 06:12 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2005 39' Land Yacht 390 XL 396
Common Sense
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,319
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My "opinion" is, unless your truck has a towing package and lower differential gears of at least 4:11, you will not be satisfied towing that big and heavy of a trailer with that truck.
In regards to sway control, I think the Hensley is the best, but at $3K, it is also the most expensive.
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03-29-2008, 07:36 AM
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#4
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Retired Moderator
1992 29' Excella
madison
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,644
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sfelsheim
welcome aboard! good to see another badger on the forum.
your truck will do ok if you have 3.73 or lower gears. i used chevy 1/2 tons for years with no problems other than a lack of power on really long hills.
you will find 3rd gear to be the best, resist the temptation to put your truck in overdrive even on long flat stretches. you will heat the ATF up in a hurry. the 700R4 tranny you have is a good unit IF it is kept cool and out of overdrive.
if you plan on upgrading your truck at some point i would suggest one of the '99 and later chev 2500 models with the 6.0 motor and 4L80E trans. i have one with 4.10 gears '00 model, best tow vehicle i have ever owned.
a full load equalizing hitch will be a must, friction sway control a minimum.
john
__________________
you call them ferrets, i call them weasels.
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03-29-2008, 07:45 AM
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#5
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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1500 Iffy
IMHO, that's asking a lot of a small block. Especially without the tow
option. Best advise, give it a few short trips, see how it feels.
You will find a lot of opinions on hitches and sway controls, but there are
many threads you can search for help. Spend some time look'n and do
what your comfortable/safe with and enjoy your new Stream..
By the way welcome aboard.
we require photos
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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03-29-2008, 08:01 AM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
waynesboro
, Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 105
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What does a 31' AS weigh?? My dad pulls his 29' salem with a 4.7L dodge 1500 quad-cab no problems... its no speed demon but does the job. I would guess the AS is about 1500-2000lbs heavier though?? But then again a lot of the ford f-250's simply have the same motor as the f-150's you just get more suspension.
__________________
1989 345LE
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03-29-2008, 09:53 AM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,719
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Will this truck handle it?
Greetings sfelsheim!
Welcome to the Forums and the world of Airstream ownership!
Quote:
Originally Posted by sfelsheim
Hello all, first post.
I am getting a 1986 Sovereign 31'. I have a 1995 Chevy K1500 (1/2 ton) regular cab long box 4x4 truck with a 5.7L v8 with an automatic transmission. Do you think this will be an OK tow vehicle?
What would you recommend for sway control equipment?
Thanks
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I purchased a '95 K1500 Z71 club cab pickup with the factory heavy duty trailer towing package new to tow my '64 Overlander. It was my least favorite tow vehicle as it had marginal power to tow my Overlander -- we were creeping at less than 35 MPH going through the Eisenhower Tunnel on I70 in Colorado. It did, however, have a better 4WD system than my '99 K2500 Suburban.
The heavy duty trailer tow package on the '95 K1500 pickup was either 6,000 or 6,500 pounds depending upon the model. Mine had the 3.73 gears (4.10 were not available on the 1500), transmission fluid and oil coolers. I gave up on the 1500 and traded for my special-ordered '99 K2500 Suburban in April of '98 and have been a "happy camper" ever since. The 7.4 Liter in the '99 with 4.10 gearing actually gets better towing MPGs than the 5.7 Liter did in the '95.
I have used the same Reese Straight Line Hitch with Dual Cam Sway control to tow either of my trailers since '95 and have been completely satisified with its performance. It is critical, however, follow the initial setup dirctions to the letter.
I would definitely suggest considering a more capable tow vehicle for a coach the size and weight of your '86 Sovereign 31'.
Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
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03-30-2008, 08:51 AM
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#8
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1 Rivet Member
1986 31' Sovereign
La Crosse
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 11
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Thanks everyone for all your information!!
I will be picking up the AS next weekend, so I am pretty excited!!
I will post pictures when I get it.
Thanks again
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03-30-2008, 09:05 AM
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#9
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Liquid Cooled
2017 27' Flying Cloud
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
near Indy
, Indiana
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 745
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The previous owner of our 1985 31' Excella towed it with a 1/2 ton Suburban with 3.73 and a 5.3. Before that he used another K1500 Suburban, and before that an early 80's Oldsmobile, which would have had a pretty similar construction.
I think he set his expectations accordingly, and was generally pleased with the result over many tens of thousands of miles.
We use a 1500HD with a 3.73 axle and the 6.0 engine, and I'm generally satisfied. We had quartering crosswinds at 20 gusting to 30 on our trip to Chickamauga last week, and we did get some sway from trucks, but it wasn't anything unmanageable.
If you want to go 65 or 70 mph I think you'll find yourself wishing for a little more truck, but if I was in a hurry I certainly wouldn't be pulling a trailer.
(Am I the only one who gets the irony of retirees driving at 70 mph? Going to be late for work maybe?)
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03-30-2008, 09:30 AM
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#10
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Aluminut
2004 25' Safari
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, Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,477
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John pretty much summed up what I was thinkin'.
Quote:
Originally Posted by john hd
sfelsheim
welcome aboard! good to see another badger on the forum.
your truck will do ok if you have 3.73 or lower gears. i used chevy 1/2 tons for years with no problems other than a lack of power on really long hills.
you will find 3rd gear to be the best, resist the temptation to put your truck in overdrive even on long flat stretches. you will heat the ATF up in a hurry. the 700R4 tranny you have is a good unit IF it is kept cool and out of overdrive.
if you plan on upgrading your truck at some point i would suggest one of the '99 and later chev 2500 models with the 6.0 motor and 4L80E trans. i have one with 4.10 gears '00 model, best tow vehicle i have ever owned.
a full load equalizing hitch will be a must, friction sway control a minimum.
john
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