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05-30-2021, 07:40 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2021 25' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,720
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Car and Driver confession!
Not trying to create a flaming event here but I do believe that this behavior is more common than you might think…
I am not as critical of the choice of tow vehicle as I am the lack of proper setup and driving skills…
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...airstream-tow/
__________________
Loving our 2021 Globetrotter 25 and our 2022 Ford F-150 King Ranch 5.0!!! Plenty of payload, not even close to axel limits and it drives and rows beautifully…
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05-30-2021, 08:02 AM
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#2
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Trailer Sold, Waving
2019 26' Flying Cloud
Stettler
, Alberta
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,032
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scary Darwin moment.
__________________
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
2019 Airstream Flying Cloud 26RBQ
WBCCI #6679
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05-30-2021, 08:31 AM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
2021 27' International
Fredericksburg
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 239
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very scary story.
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05-30-2021, 08:35 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,067
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My late husband said he would never tow anything, and this kind of story would be why.
Glad no one was hurt, but that could have easily happened.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
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05-30-2021, 08:46 AM
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#5
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1 Rivet Member
1958 22' Flying Cloud
Friday Harbor
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 13
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Wow, that is a very public admission of gross lack of preparation.
I just towed 3000 miles across Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Idaho and Washington. Every now and then I noticed it was windy, but it was the trees telling me about the wind, not the trailer.
Set it up right with the right hitch and enjoy.
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05-30-2021, 09:02 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,592
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I think this type of scenario is quite common. More people than ever before are buying RVs, and most of them know nothing about proper loading, weight limits, cargo limits, etc.
I recently spoke with another RV owner who was pulling an 8,500+ lb. trailer with a Toyota 1/2-ton truck. I asked him how it towed, and he said it was okay but he occasionally had to stop because the truck’s brakes were overheating in the mountains. He’s now considering putting a motorcycle in the bed of the truck to take on camping trips. I asked him about his tongue weight and his cargo capacity and he had no idea. If it fits in the truck, then it must be fine. Right? Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.
It reminds me of somebody who never goes to the doctor or checks any of their vital stats because they feel fine. Everything is great! Until it’s not....
__________________
Dennis
Past:
Airstream International Serenity 23FB
Newmar Ventana 3715
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05-30-2021, 09:17 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,800
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So many things that could be said for this one, but I'll bite my tongue on most of my comments.
1. "A barrowed truck and trailer" (No sure who the dumb** was that loaned it them out)
2. "Never towed before" (But let's start with the one of the largest Airstreams made)
3. "No understanding of setting the tow/trailer up (30 minutes of Andy's video)
4. Most likely has never driven anything bigger than a Toyota Prius (scary thought)
5. Then writes an article for Car & Driver about the trip (#3, but yet I'm sure has a degree in journalism)
Lucky they didn't kill someone, or themselves. Should stick to driving the Prius and take up tent camping.
But the best part, there is a "Gofundme" for the writer from 12/1/2019
https://www.gofundme.com/f/john-pearley-huffman
Oh Well,
Just Saying,
__________________
Paul Waddell
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05-30-2021, 09:19 AM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
2017 25' International
Calgary
, Alberta
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 24
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When I was starting out, an old cowboy friend with tons of experience said to me, loosely quoted, "Once the crap starts hitting the fan, it's a bit late to trade up to a bigger tow vehicle". We've towed our 25' over 50,000 miles in the last 4 years with our F250 without even a single event that resulted in increased heart rate. You've made great choices in both your trailer and tow vehicle.
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05-30-2021, 09:40 AM
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#9
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
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Hi
Indeed, glad nobody was hurt and they didn't have a many 10's of thousands of dollars repair bill .....
One *might* note the lack of any mention of a WD / AS hitch in this mix. That's not to say you can be *sure* it wasn't there. Based on mention of "overloading the rear axle", I'd bet a case of beer that they were towing on the ball.
I can indeed say from first hand experience with a 30' Classic, above about 60 MHP things get a bit wobbly when you "only" have a F-250 as a tow vehicle and you are towing on the ball. What happens above that speed, I've never been crazy enough to investigate.
Yes, there are some tricks on the Classic. You want to tow with a full fresh water tank. You do *not* want to load those back upper cabinets with your gold bar collection .... Even with those tricks, 60 plus the "wrong" wind towing on the ball .... keep one hand on the trailer brake controller ....
Bob
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05-30-2021, 09:48 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2019 25' International
Washington
, Washington, D.C.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,265
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They say that God watches out for children, drunks and fools.
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05-30-2021, 09:57 AM
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#11
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Married with Airstream
2004 25' International CCD
Vancouver Island
, British Columbia
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 934
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I don't even want to talk about stupidity: trailer-rollover-sway-accidents-part-1/
__________________
La Dolce Vita Brick & Mona
We're Married With Airstream dot com
2004 International 25CCD Registered Name "Blue Streak"
2013 F-150HD FX4 SuperCrew Lariart (MaxTow) "Red Dragon"
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05-30-2021, 11:18 AM
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#12
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Half a Rivet Short
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drbrick
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Hi
The *only* part of that I'd take issue with is the "trailer GVWR 50% or less of the tow vehicle GVWR". Classic 30' is a 10,000 pound GVWR trailer. A Ford F-550 (no not a typo) comes in at 19,500 pounds. It only comes *close* to that requirement. Anything else in the lineup falls way short. The 450 comes in at 14,000 pounds. The 350 is in the 10,000 to 14,000 range "depending".
If a 550 is the minimum safe tow vehicle, I don't think I have ever seen anybody safely towing any of the Classics.
Why does this mater in this context? Accuracy matters. Toss in something that's over the top and all the rest of a very good set of information gets mentally discarded. That's not good. It leads to folks doing stupid things.
Bob
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05-30-2021, 11:52 AM
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#13
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diesel maniac
Airstream - Other
Tucson
, AZ
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,531
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle_bob
Hi
One *might* note the lack of any mention of a WD / AS hitch in this mix. That's not to say you can be *sure* it wasn't there. Based on mention of "overloading the rear axle", I'd bet a case of beer that they were towing on the ball.
Bob
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At the end of the article it says they were not using WD.
__________________
Brian
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05-30-2021, 12:23 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,103
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I have been on a lotta caravans. I have checked out a lot of rigs on departure days. I have never seen anybody towing an Airstream "on the ball" on one of the caravans. Why would a Car and Driver writer do that? Because he did not know better. I wonder if he does now? I do not think this article really shows much except that the people who "lent" this guy the equipment were taken advantage of.
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05-30-2021, 12:42 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,702
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💩 !
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05-30-2021, 12:51 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2020 23' Flying Cloud
2019 22' Sport
Sebastian
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,234
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If you read the comments below the article, you’ll see one about the writer aiming for “I’m so stupid it’s cute”. I wrote that response. “ISSIC” is all too pervasive in Hollywood offerings, and TOTALLY inappropriate in a car magazine. I am a long time subscriber to that magazine. Soon to be “was”.
__________________
-Don
(That man in that tiny can)
(Same man, Bigger can)
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05-30-2021, 02:49 PM
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#17
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4 Rivet Member
2024 19' Caravel
Washougal
, Washington
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 335
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Did anyone else notice the complete lack of, "Don't do what I just stupidly did; instead do this..." as a closer to the article?
Not only is this moron endangering others by his incompetence on the road, he perpetuates it by not learning from the experience! The level of irresponsibility by the author is reprehensible...
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05-30-2021, 04:14 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Evergreen
, Colorado
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,592
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steamguy
Did anyone else notice the complete lack of, "Don't do what I just stupidly did; instead do this..." as a closer to the article?
Not only is this moron endangering others by his incompetence on the road, he perpetuates it by not learning from the experience! The level of irresponsibility by the author is reprehensible...
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+1
The author sounds like a clueless moron. He’s lucky he didn’t badly injure or kill someone.
__________________
Dennis
Past:
Airstream International Serenity 23FB
Newmar Ventana 3715
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05-30-2021, 05:01 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1986 31' Sovereign
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
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I worked in Yellowstone for many summers. One of my routines was a weekly foot patrol of our campground (Bridge Bay).
You would not believe how many people just purchase, hook-up and go. The remarkable thing was that they made it that far.
This guy is not helping correct that…
__________________
Sorta new (usually dirty) Nissan Titan XD (hardly paid for)
Middle-aged Safari SE
Young, lovely bride
Dismissive cat
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05-30-2021, 05:08 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2021 25' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Rhode Island
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,720
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Quote:
Originally Posted by n2916s
I worked in Yellowstone for many summers. One of my routines was a weekly foot patrol of our campground (Bridge Bay).
You would not believe how many people just purchase, hook-up and go. The remarkable thing was that they made it that far.
This guy is not helping correct that…
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Well actually, he may inadvertently be doing exactly that!
I always shake my head at the reports of uninformed sales people telling customers that this can tow that… or this is rated at that. The reality is that many sales people are focused primarily on the sale. Lots of bad advice out there.
__________________
Loving our 2021 Globetrotter 25 and our 2022 Ford F-150 King Ranch 5.0!!! Plenty of payload, not even close to axel limits and it drives and rows beautifully…
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