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jacobjm · 05-15-2016, 03:46 PM

I want a 30' Airstream Classic, but hoping not to have to buy a huge truck to tow. Any SUV options? Based on the weight, which dry is around 7,000 and wet is upwards of 8500 or 10k depending on the model.

Any vintage super SUVs that might be an option?

Thoughts?

Thanks

Ted S. · 05-15-2016, 04:12 PM

I use a diesel Ford Excursion, love it but it's a 2005. They don't make them anymore. Suburbans stopped the 3/4 ton 2500 in 2013 but no diesel option since early 2000s.

rostam · 05-15-2016, 04:19 PM

As they say, you can't have your cake and eat it too. There are no mid size SUVs rated to tow a trailer that heavy. I guess you could go up in tow vehicle size or down in trailer size to reach a possible combination.

FCStreamer · 05-15-2016, 04:42 PM

I faced a similar dilemma. I was looking at the Classic but the weight was a bit much for my F150. The Flying Cloud/International 30 I could do. In the end, the lighter, more modern looking interior of the Flying Cloud won my wife over, and I didn't have to switch tow vehicles (for that reason). I am now going to tow it with an Escalade.

tjdonahoe · 05-15-2016, 05:15 PM

I like my dodge 2500 with a 6.7 to tow my 31' classic....

**jcanavera** · 05-15-2016, 05:53 PM

Yeah, the Classic 30' or 31' trailers are heavy. I'm a van person and at the time I took the 3/4 ton van with the 6.0 liter engine and 4.10 rear axle. It's rated for 9,900 lbs and personally every time I head down to Branson Mo., I thank my stars for the big engine and tall axle. You can get by with less, dependent upon where you tow. Personally I really wanted that 3/4 ton vehicle due to having the slide out which inflicts a lot of hitch weight. The beefed up suspension also makes the towing combination handle the dips and bumps in the road. I had a half ton van pulling a 27' Safari that weighed in about 2,000 lbs less than the Classic. The half ton van could not use OD when towing (manufacturers recommendation) and bumps and dips on the road were much more noticeable as the Safari dipped up a down a little more due to the softer 1/2 ton suspension and shocks.
My 3/4 ton van allows OD towing per the manufacturer and truly is a heavier duty transmission.

So when looking at engines, don't forget to look at the rear axle ratio's that are available. The taller that rear axle the better towing performance you will get. The converse is that driving without the trailer will be more expensive since that taller rear axle will negatively affect your mpg. Funny thing though is my half ton van which required 3rd gear towing gave me the same mpg when towing, as my 3/4 ton van does with taller axle and larger engine does pulling the 2,000 lb heavier Classic.

If you can find a 6.0 liter GM product with at least a 3.73 or 4.10 rear axle you will get a good towing vehicle with plenty of power. Note that the older 3/4 vehicle will have this engine and axle options. Half ton GM's didn't have the 4.10 and the heavy duty tranny. Now if you tow in the flat lands you won't need something as extreme as mine.

Jack

dkottum · 05-15-2016, 06:40 PM

I would look for a basic model Ford Expedition with the Ecoboost engine, and contact these guys for advice on tires, shocks, and chosing and setting up a weight distribution and sway control for it.

http://www.canamrv.ca/towing-expertise/

thiel · 05-15-2016, 10:01 PM

I think there are options if you want to get SUPER pricey:

-- Land Rover
-- Mercedes GL series
-- Porshe Cayenne (maybe, depends on tongue weight)

I'm no expert, but I remember these three sticking out as mid-size vehicles that can haul a ton. If you've got 100k!

thiel · 05-15-2016, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

I faced a similar dilemma. I was looking at the Classic but the weight was a bit much for my F150. The Flying Cloud/International 30 I could do. In the end, the lighter, more modern looking interior of the Flying Cloud won my wife over, and I didn't have to switch tow vehicles (for that reason). I am now going to tow it with an Escalade.

...and cheaper than switching wives too!

FCStreamer · 05-16-2016, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thiel

...and cheaper than switching wives too!

Ain't that the truth!

Drcrow · 05-16-2016, 07:19 AM

Generally along the same lines, I have just bought a Ford 150 six-cylinder with the EcoBoost and also just purchased and have yet to take delivery of my International 23FB. I'm not concerned about the towing but I am interested to know if anyone has any experience with loading 2 motorcycles (350# each) in the bed with respect to payload capacity. I'm not quite sure how much to figure the 6000 pound fully loaded Airstream into the payload calculation.

FCStreamer · 05-16-2016, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drcrow

Generally along the same lines, I have just bought a Ford 150 six-cylinder with the EcoBoost and also just purchased and have yet to take delivery of my International 23FB. I'm not concerned about the towing but I am interested to know if anyone has any experience with loading 2 motorcycles (350# each) in the bed with respect to payload capacity. I'm not quite sure how much to figure the 6000 pound fully loaded Airstream into the payload calculation.

That may not work. You can figure roughly 15% of your trailer weight will be put on your hitch as payload. So around 900 pounds of your payload goes there. That F150 probably has somewhere around a 1500 pound payload. Check your stickers. 700 pounds of bike on top of that is putting you over the line. You, my friend, should have gotten a F250 or maybe a F350 if you want to carry 700 pounds of bikes with you.

kscherzi · 05-16-2016, 07:25 AM

The largest new SUV is the Ford Expedition. Maybe Chevy suburban too. Depending on model the Expedition can tow close to 10k.

GenXair · 05-16-2016, 08:14 AM

I tow my 2014 International Signature 25FB with a Nissan Armada LE w/tow pkg option. Maximum towing capacity is 9,100 lbs., maximum hitch weight 910 lbs.

**jcanavera** · 05-16-2016, 08:21 AM

Be careful though in getting advice from a dealer. Most I have run into have no experience or expertise regarding towing requirements. I ordered my van rather than take one off the lot. As I was making choices on the options, the sales person asked me questions about my choices and admitted that they had no one there who was knowledgeable about towing. In some cases the manufacturers actually have brochures that are called towing guides that can give you detailed information regarding vehicles and options. I know Ford had one at one time. Not sure about GM. In many cases again the dealerships don't carry them or their sales people don't even know if they have one. Check with the manufacturer's customer relations and see if they can send you one.

Jack

beachbouy · 05-16-2016, 10:30 AM

Our TV is 2015 GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLT and it pulls our 2016 Airstream International Serenity with a base weight of 6,382 lbs/gross 8,800 lbs beautifully with a Equal-i-zer Weight Distribution System w/ 4-Point Sway Control.

m.hony · 05-16-2016, 10:38 AM

I tow my 30' Classic with a 1/2 ton pickup.
I'm not sure any mid size SUV would be up to it.

wlanford · 05-16-2016, 10:45 AM

We tow our 2016 30' Classic with a 2015 BMW X5 diesel. We had our hitch receiver installed and reinforced by Can-Am RV (Andy Thomson). We also use a Hensley hitch. It tows great! No problems over 12,000 miles so far including a trip out west up and down in the Rockies. So far we have averaged 15-16 mpg overall while towing. And the shorter wheelbase/shorter turning radius of the X5 lets us do U-turns that were impossible before with our Toyota Tundra. A MUCH better towing experience in every way over our previous Tundra!

dkottum · 05-16-2016, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drcrow

Generally along the same lines, I have just bought a Ford 150 six-cylinder with the EcoBoost and also just purchased and have yet to take delivery of my International 23FB. I'm not concerned about the towing but I am interested to know if anyone has any experience with loading 2 motorcycles (350# each) in the bed with respect to payload capacity. I'm not quite sure how much to figure the 6000 pound fully loaded Airstream into the payload calculation.

You should be able to, especially if towing locally. Your Airstream has a very light hitch weight, you should be able to keep it to 600 lbs which is the recommended 10% of fully loaded Airstream. Then you need a good quality and sufficient weight distribution hitch to distribute your Airstream hitch weight and possibly some of the motorcycle weight evenly among the truck's axles and a potion to the Airstreams axles. We don't know what your truck's weight, GVWR, or GAWR are so it's only guesswork from here.

Get the combo set up for towing and be sure you have a strong enough weight distribution hitch, load your gear in the trailer and bikes on the truck and take it to a truck scale and see what you have. You may be able to adjust trailer loading and the weight distribution system to get a good setup.

Dead weight isn't everything, even though ratings and internet advice seems to think so. Motorcycles in the bed raise the center of gravity of the truck, it will be less stable in turns and may effect braking some. You may be within weight ratings but you ought to drive a little more carefully because of the nature of this type of load.

On the other hand you do have perhaps the most stable trade trailer on the market, streamlined design, low center of gravity, and full independent suspension. The truck's weight ratings don't recognize these advantages either.

Ocean Bum · 05-16-2016, 11:02 AM

I tried towing with full size SUV - Dodge Durango and it towed but with a struggle! I bought the Durango to tow 25 foot airstream and ended up trading it in for RAM 1500 Laramie. My truck drives a lot more comfortable than the Durango. Even though the Durango did better in gas, the Laramie's comfort is like other. At least test drive one - it is worth the extra bucks ion gas and it tows as if nothing is back there. Gotta remember there is something back there and watch going around tight corners.