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10-12-2013, 02:20 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Winnipeg
, Manitoba
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 72
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Topic: 30 foot Airstreams any kind
We are considering a 30ft Airstream because we would like more options in
Regards to the tow vehicle. As initially we where sold on a used 34ft classic
but Realized some can be so HEAVY and would require a f150 or 250 so
then we considered the Excella! As we don't want to buy a 250 anything!!!
Reason I started this discussion is so those who CURRENTLY own a 30ft, can ring in and help others understand the tow vehicle needed to pull it.
A) Please tell us what 30 f Airstream you own? And it's dry weight ?
B) Please tell us what tow vehicle you use and how good it pulls?
Thank you all for chiming in on this topic.
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10-12-2013, 03:29 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,029
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1967 30 foot with a dry weight of 4650. Our tow vehicle is an F150 with small V8. Our towing area is the mountain west.
But this could take a while for you, so take a look at the attached document.
Lynn
__________________
ACI Big Red Number 21043
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10-12-2013, 03:30 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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See my avatar and signature.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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10-12-2013, 03:52 PM
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#4
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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1975 Sovereign 31' empty dry weight is around 6,000#. Tow with an 2003 F150 4.6 V-8 with factory tow package, 3:55 limited slip rear end. We are close to maximum rated capacity though, which IIRC is right around 7,000#. We primarily tow in the coastal plains of NC and stay out of the deep mountains. If we go to the mountains we use the 1996 F350 Crewcab Powerstroke Diesel.
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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10-12-2013, 04:30 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m.hony
See my avatar and signature.
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I think my trailer is about 7300# dry.
GVW is 10,000#.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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10-12-2013, 04:39 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,118
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I have a 1988 32' Excella. But I tow it with a 2500 diesel. It tows great.
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10-12-2013, 04:50 PM
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#7
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4 Rivet Member
1978 31' Sovereign
1984 31' Excella
Springfield
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 325
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1978 31' Sovereign towed with 1999 Suburban 2500 with big, big motor.
My father-in-law, who hauled bumper hitch trailers and travel trailers always told me that while a 1/2 truck may pull a trailer, a 3/4 ton has heavier suspension and brake parts.
My vote would be for 3/4 ton.
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10-12-2013, 06:33 PM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2004 30' Classic
Hillsborough
, New Jersey
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 203
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Dry weight for the 2004 - 30 foot Classic is 7250lb
2007 Toyota Tundra 4 door, 5.7 l with towing package
I get 10-12 miles/ gallon
We have over 50,000 miles on both truck and trailer and have traveled all over the country including the mountains of Colorado, New York, New England etc
It is a great tow vehicle. Wolf146
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10-12-2013, 09:02 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2014 31' Classic
2015 23' International
2013 25' FB International
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,222
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Our existing TV will adequately handle the jump from a 2013 25FB International Serenity with a GVW of 7,300 pounds to a 2014 Classic 30 with a GVW of 10,000 pounds. The factory empty weight of the Classic 30 at 7,395 exceeds the GVW on the 25FB.
We looked at a 2011 34' Classic and the 11,500 pound GVW would exceed the combined trailer and truck with payload allowance for our existing truck.
__________________
WBCCI Life Member 5123, AIR 70341, 4CU, WD9EMC
TV - 2012 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins HO, automatic, Centramatics, Kelderman level ride airbag suspension, bed shell
2014 31' Classic w/ twin beds, 50 amp service, 1000 watt solar system, Centramatics, Tuson TPMS, 12" disc brakes, 16" tires & wheels
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10-12-2013, 09:43 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Excella 500
Charleston
, South Carolina
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,073
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1974 31' Excella and a 1990 Chevrolet G30 1 ton van with a 350.
Acceleration from a stop isn't that great, but once it gets going pulls like a dream.
__________________
As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.
- Andrew Carnegie
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10-12-2013, 09:51 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
2019 28' International
Leonardtown
, Maryland
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 262
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2001 AS classic 30 ft. Scale weight 8,000. Tow with Dodge 2500 6.7 cummins. No problems towing. I do not cut conners and sacrifice safety.
__________________
_________________
Rebee - WBCCI #1325
2002 Classic Ltd 30'
2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7 Cummins
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10-12-2013, 09:56 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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I towed a 1998 Excella 30', with a GVWR of 8,300. It usually weighed between 7,400 and 7,800 when we towed. Dry about 7,000.
At first I towed it with a Silverado 1500, 5.3L, 4 speed automatic, tow package. This truck would pull the trailer pretty well as long as I stayed out of the mountains. On steep grades the transmission would overheat, even with the auxiliary transmission cooler. This truck/trailer combination always exceeded the combined weight rating of the truck. The tongue weight and all of the things I carried in the truck was always really close to or exceed the payload capacity. The weight on the rear axle always was close to or exceeded the axle weight rating.
I also pulled this trailer with a Silverado 1500, 5.3L, 6 speed automatic, tow package. This truck would tow the trailer anywhere without any mechanical issue. Though, this truck/trailer combination always exceeded the combined weight rating of the truck. The tongue weight and all of the things I carried in the truck was always really close to or exceed the payload capacity. The weight on the rear axle always was close to or exceeded the axle weight rating.
Now I use a Silverado 2500, 6.0L, 6 speed automatic. Some would say overkill, but I carry a lot of weight in the truck bed. I do not like my present truck and will soon be going back to a 1500. I will re-arrange how I carry things to put more load in the trailer and less in the truck. And, I will leave some things at home.
__________________
Alan
2014 Silverado LTZ 1500 Crew Cab 5.3L maximum trailering package
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10-13-2013, 07:26 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,029
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You know, about the best you can say is that there is huge difference in weight, depending on how old the Airstream is. Those newer Airstreams would just squash our poor F150 flat while vintage ones like ours do fine with it.
Lynn
__________________
ACI Big Red Number 21043
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10-13-2013, 08:15 AM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
1994 30' Excella
Truckee
, California
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 261
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We tow our '94 30' Excella with a 2012 Ram 1500 Hemi with 3.93 gears. At the CAT scales we were right at the limit. No bed cap, bikes, or kayaks. Only a 30 lb BBQ and propane cylinder in the truck bed. Our AS has a tongue mounted generator and security box that adds about 300 lbs. It works just fine, and since we live in the Sierras, we frequently pull mountain passes.
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10-13-2013, 08:23 AM
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#15
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,408
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My 2003 30' slide out with full liquids has a net CCC of 660 lbs. Gross is 9100. I estimate that our typical weight when not carrying water is around 8,200 lbs. Hence my use of a 3/4 ton vehicle. As noted once you get into the never versions of the Classic line, you dealing with some serious weight.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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10-13-2013, 08:57 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
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In a TV Overkill is a Good Thing
Here's a verbatim tutorial I posted in 2006 in response to a similar question. Perhaps it will help in your decision. The bottomline: The the pre-2000 5.7 liter and the post 2000 5.3 liter Chevy or GMC Suburban or Tahoe with the 3.73 rear axle is inadequate, or barely adequate, for pulling a 30' Airstream.
From 1996 until May 2005, I kept looking for marginal improvements in towing while balancing fuel consumption not towing.
1996: 1995 2-WD Surburban with pre-Vortec 5.7 liter (350 cu in), 3.73 rear end, pulling 1976 Airstream Safari 23'.
This wasn't a bad combination in coastal Carolina and the east coast where we lived at the time, but it didn't do well in the mountains of NM. (11 mpg towing and 17-18 mpg combined).
2001: 1999 4-WD Surburban with Vortec 5.7 liter, 3.73 rear end pulling 2000 Airstream Safari 27'.
The added power of the Vortec engine was offset by increased weight of 4-WD and larger trailer. Performance in mountains was marginal. Non-towing average MPG was lower than 1995 Suburban. (11 mpg towing and 15-17 combined)
2004: 2003 4-WD Z71 Suburban with Vortec 5.3 liter, 3.73 rear end pulling 2000 Airstream Safari 27'.
The advertised increase in horsepower of the 5.3 over the 5.7 is great for non-towing, interstate highway cruising; but a big disappointment for towing. The extra horsepower comes at higher RPMs and results in less torque and marginal towing performance on mountain grades.(12-14 mpg towing and 17 combined)
2005: 2005 4-WD Silverado 2500 HD with Durmax Diesel pulling a 1976 Sovereign 31’. A towing machine, but not a very good vehicle for driving around town, so I bought a 2005 Pacifica for city driving.
What you need. I need 4-WD, but if you don't otherwise need 4-WD, stick with 2-WD. That gives you 500 pounds of additional towing capacity and improves your non-towing gas consumption by about 2MPG.
If you want a tow vehicle that must double as your non-towing, take the kids to soccer practice, family car; the 1500 Suburban 5.3 liter is a nice compromise vehicle if you can find one with a 4.10 rear end. If you want to optimize mountain towing, look for a 6.0 liter with 4.10 rear end. If you want a towing machine, and you care naught about MPG, get the 8.1 liter and the 3.73 rear end.
Bottom line... you will never be satisfied with 5.3 liter and the 3.73 in the mountains, but it's the most fuel efficient combo Chevy offers (12-14 mpg towing and 17-18 mpg combined maybe better with 2-WD and keeping your speed below 62 mph.
The 4.10 rear end behind the 5.3 will make you less unhappy, in the mountains and may be all you need. The 6.0 liter with a 4.10 will make your heart sing in the mountains, but make your heart will ache at the gas pump (11 mpg towing and 13-14 mpg combined).
Since I posted this in 2006, I now own a 2007 Classic 30 (GVW 10000), and I pull it with a Chevy 2500 HD Duramax.
By the way, Dry Weight is a mythical concept that should not enter into your TV calculations. We are never really "Dry."
Hope this helps.
Ken
__________________
Ken L 2019 Flying Cloud 27FB
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 6.2L Max Tow Four Corners Unit WBCCI #5783
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10-13-2013, 08:58 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2014 31' Classic
2015 23' International
2013 25' FB International
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,222
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I project that the combination weight of the 2014 Classic 30 and our loaded truck could be close to 19,000 pounds. We were at 16,000 pounds combined weight at the CAT scales with the 25FB.
__________________
WBCCI Life Member 5123, AIR 70341, 4CU, WD9EMC
TV - 2012 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins HO, automatic, Centramatics, Kelderman level ride airbag suspension, bed shell
2014 31' Classic w/ twin beds, 50 amp service, 1000 watt solar system, Centramatics, Tuson TPMS, 12" disc brakes, 16" tires & wheels
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10-13-2013, 08:34 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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I still need to go to the Cat scales for the true numbers, but I think our combined rig might weigh 14,000#.
We are not unhitching tonight because we are leaving in the morning.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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10-13-2013, 08:47 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,668
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2007 30' Classic. Dry weight 7460#. weight loaded with all accessories, bikes, bike rack....ready to camp; 8500-9000#s (per scales).
I have towed with:
2000 Express van 1500; 5.7 L. Overloaded in every spec. Handles fine, underpowered.
2010 Avalanche 1500, 5.3L. Overloaded in every spec. Handled fine, underpowered, but not as bad as the Express.
2011 Escalade EXT,6.2L. Overloaded rear axle only. Power was fine.
2011 Silverado 6.0L gas. Fine in every way.
2012 Denali XL, 6.2L. Overloaded rear axle. Power was fine
2012 Silverado 2500HD, 6.6 Duramax. More than fine in every way.
2013 Denali XL (same as above)
2013 Silverado 2500HD, 6.6 Duramax (same as above)
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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10-13-2013, 09:16 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2012 30' Flying Cloud
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 682
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2012, 30 Flying Cloud. Around 6300-6400 dry wt. tongue 880#. Pulled it first with a 2011 Chevy crew cab 1500 with the big 6.2, 403 HP engine. 8 mpg if you tow on hiway, some hills and 65 (sometimes 70) mph. You stop a lot for gas with the 26 gal tank. The 1/2 ton TV did OK, but you had to gear down/slow down going up hills. You also had to plan ahead merging into busy traffic--acceleration ok, but it is a gas engine and thus not a ton of torque--even with the big V8.
Now have a 2012 Chevy 2500 Duramax diesel. 3.73 rear and of course the Allison transmission. 12mpg towing at 70 on the hiway. 14 mpg at 60 mph. 36 gal fuel tank. You can't overheat the engine, you can accelerate into traffic with ease. I run it on cruise control and it very seldom shifts down going up hills unless real steep. You have to check the rear view mirror to even know the trailer is there. The truck has total control of itself and it's load accelerating, cruising, climbing, descending and stopping ( look at 3/4 ton brakes and compare to 1/2 ton) ( look at springs and suspension). Wouldn't go back to 1/2 ton gas unless I went to 25 ft or smaller.
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