Tow Vechicle Formula

[dkottum]

Don't make the mistake of thinking oversize and overcapacity comes without consequences. A ton or more extra vehicle weight plus extra load capacity (which is likely to be used) needs more money to buy, service and repair. It's extra weight requires an exhaust brake to control descent which is unsafe to use on slippery, icy roads, which can be seasonally common on mountain passes. It's high center-of-gravity makes it tipsy when things go out of control, its poor emergency maneuverability makes it more likely to get out of control, and its weight more likely to crush the roof in event of rollover. Its heavy unsprung weight and stiff springs can be rough on passengers and Airstream.

We have towed throughout the country with our 1/2 ton Ram Hemi, learned how to use the engine/transmission fully for best results for the terrain and conditions at hand, and load it according to our and the truck's capability. Great tow vehicle, so much so we just bought another with the broad torque range and economy of a relatively small diesel engine and flexibility of an 8-speed transmission. There may be some consequences, but in our judgment less than an oversize tow vehicle.

[perryg114]

I am with the tow vehicle and trailer should be about equal weight crowd. I forgot to connect the umbilical for the first 200 miles of our trip back home from FL. I tow a 31 ft trailer (7000lbs) with a 2000 Excursion. I noticed some increase in braking distance but otherwise the rig handled and stopped well. The red flag was the brake controller being blank. Had I been some place other than FL, it might have been more of an issue and I definitely felt stupid afterwards. Had I been in a lighter weight tow vehicle I have a feeling the trailer would have really pushed the smaller tow vehicle around with no trailer brakes. I like having a little margin for stuff like this. Yeah you can run a smaller vehicle at it's limits and also limit what and how much you can carry or you can get a bigger vehicle. If a 150 costs the same as a 3/4 ton then why buy the less capable tow vehicle. Inflated towing specs show the 150 and the larger trucks to have the same capacity but not really.

Perry

[PKI]

A nailhead belongs in Ol'Yeller and making miles on the vintage racing circuit. For tow duty, drop in a nice late model Corvette mill with a six speed manual and cruise your way across the miles putting smiles on folks along the way.

Actually, you have a very nice rig. Caution to drive it conservatively and maintain an attentive driving style. You have enough power to exceed safe travel velocity in very quick fashion.

Pictures would be a nice addition to the thread. And now that you have sucked us in, how about the story behind the rig. It would be nice to hear about the adventures of a vintage RVer.

Lots of smiles to the miles with a rig like yours. Travel safe. Pat

[jonnie3]

Originally Posted by LeeSchelin

Does any one know how I can calculate what I want to use as a tow vehicle and the Airstream we want to purchase?

Weight of car verses weight of trailer?
Braking capability of the car and trailer?
Tongue weight of the trailer?
Horse power & Torque of the car?

If you know of a website, could you share the link?

Thanks

Lee...

CAUTION. I just went through the same decision. I was advised by an Airstream dealer that the Toyota Tundra was the perfect tow vehicle for any Airstream. So I bought one. Towed my 2015 25FB FC all last summer. My 2015 Tundra was rated at 9800 lbs towing capacity. It pulled great. Then I started doing research on payload and axle ratings. Come to find out, my truck only had a 1336 lb payload (occupants plus cargo). Once you add in a camper top or a tonneau cover, your significant other, and dog, you will already be over your maximum payload rating, as well as your gross axle weight rating. The only way to know what your vehicle is rated at for sure is to look at the actual sticker for the specific vehicle. Remember the same vehicle can have different ratings, so it's important to look at the ratings for each vehicle. It is located in the drivers door jam. I ended up trading it in on a ram 2500. I am much happier. And by the way, some discouraged me from doing this and felt that the tundra was a great choice for a tow vehicle even though my weights had been exceeded.

[switz]

The chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

Overloading a tow vehicle's axles and tires or towing capacity puts one in the position of a test driver looking for the weakest link in the vehicle. The increased stress on bearing and brakes could become problematic.

I pulled a new empty 2013 25FB International Serenity from Los Angles, up the mountain grade at Palm Springs and finally to the East side of Phoenix. The scales reported the axles were within limits on the 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI diesel.

After loading the trailer for camping and having the wife and gear in the car, we drove to the CAT scales again. The car was laboring on the relatively flat terrain with the trailer at 6,800 pounds of the 7,300 pound GVW. The Mercedes axle ratings were exceeded.

We found a new 2012 Ram 2500HD Cummins and have enough capacity now to safely tow the 10,000 GVW (9,200 pounds camping ready with all the stuff aboard) 2014 31' Classic.

The Mercedes found a new towing job with the narrow body and lighter 2015 23D and tows with no strain and the axle loads are within limits even when extra stuff is in the car with us.

[kb0zke]

Wally Byam's book recommended that the tow vehicle outweigh the trailer. Back when he wrote that, cars were made of fairly heavy steel, and his aluminum trailers were really light. Today, steel is rare, and Airstreams are heavier. As others have said, run the numbers.

An easy way to figure, if you aren't sure just what Airstream you will get, is to work with the numbers of the heaviest one on your list. Work with gross weight, not dry weight. 10-15% of that weight will go on the rear axle of the tow vehicle.

[nvestysly]

I was hoping Andrew Thompson (AndyT ? on Air Forums) from CanAm RV in Canada would see and reply to this thread.

Andy presented a seminar at Alumapalooza several years ago that addressed this very issue. His approach made quite a bit of sense to me and demonstrated why some relatively small vehicles can suitably tow relatively large trailers without problem. The same is not true for all vehicles - Andy incorporated horsepower, torque, transmission ratios, final drive ratio, wheelbase, track width, rear overhang and other parameters in his calculations. By the way I test drove a Ford Taurus Andy had setup and it was towing a 30 ft Airstream in the flat lands of central Ohio and it was a marvelous setup! I can imagine that vehicle towing around the country without any major issues. What it may lack in the mountains was more than compensated for in general handling and agility!

I consider Andy an expert on the subject. Perhaps he will provide you a copy of his seminar notes or speak to you via phone or contact you via email to give you some insight into the considerations he believes are important.

[kb0zke]

"By the way I test drove a Ford Taurus Andy had setup and it was towing a 30 ft Airstream in the flat lands of central Ohio and it was a marvelous setup!" If that's where you do all of your towing, it would work just fine. How well will it do in the Ozarks, to say nothing of the Rockies?

That said, which Taurus was used, and how was it equipped? I didn't see anything on Ford's site about towing in a quick glance, but with the proper setup I suppose it could tow something, but I wonder about a 30' coach that is fully loaded (10,000 pounds GW).

[jcl]

Originally Posted by kb0zke

"By the way I test drove a Ford Taurus Andy had setup and it was towing a 30 ft Airstream in the flat lands of central Ohio and it was a marvelous setup!" If that's where you do all of your towing, it would work just fine. How well will it do in the Ozarks, to say nothing of the Rockies?

That said, which Taurus was used, and how was it equipped? I didn't see anything on Ford's site about towing in a quick glance, but with the proper setup I suppose it could tow something, but I wonder about a 30' coach that is fully loaded (10,000 pounds GW).

The Taurus on CanAm's site and which has been written about in Andy's articles is an SHO, equipped with a 365 hp Ecoboost V6. Same powertrain as the F150. All wheel drive. Note that the Taurus has a lower curb weight than a typical F150. By all reports, this powertrain will have no issues in the mountains, partly due to the forced induction which handles altitude well, and partly due to peak torque coming in by 1500 rpm.

[Bill M.]

I think that as a starting point the manufacturers payload rating and tow rating compared with the weight of the Airstream is worth reviewing.

[Gneiss Guy]

I have been pulling my FC 30' with a long-box truck that I bought to pull a 5th wheel. I notice most folks use the short-box. I have a cap on my truck and it gives me space for my bikes, kayak paddles, chairs, etc. I have never pulled with a short-box truck and wonder if it is easier or more difficult to maneuver with the shorter wheelbase. I ask because I am considering another TV and have found a beautiful F-250 Lariat at a great price, primarily because it is a long-box 4x2. It is either that, or have a Ram 2500 4x2 built with a short box.

[dkottum]

Longer wheelbase has a larger turning radius and is harder to maneuver. On its own. It is also harder to maneuver the Airstream with it. We went from 120" wheelbase to 140", either not long by pickup standards. But it is one thing I liked about the previous truck much better

However it's not always about what feature is a little better. If you can get a great deal on a nice truck and can live with longer wheelbase (you know what they are) it's good to save some bucks when you can.

[J. Morgan]

For me,,,, short beds just look better than long beds. Kinda like how two door cars look better than four door cars. But that is me.

It is seldom when a long bed wont put a trailer where a short bed can put a trailer, a longer tow vehicle might mean more pull ups to get in the same place as a short tow vehicle though.

Some will say that a longer tow vehicle makes a more stable combination going down the road, which is probably true in a pinch, but it makes no difference with my hitch system.

Superat stultitia.

[switz]

We went with the shorter bed (6' 4") Ram 2500HD because of the two full sized rear access doors for the crew cab which made for a longer truck anyway. With the 31' Classic attached with the ProPride hitch, we are just over 52' long.

In some states there can be a length limit of 53' if some LEO gets a burr under their saddle.

There is a substantial difference in the parking routine between the Classic behind the Ram and the 23D behind the Mercedes ML320, even though both trailers have dual axles. The much shorter wheel base of the Mercedes rig does make maneuvering into a difficult spot easier.

Having grown up on a farm backing up both tractors and wagons and trucks and wagons, I find all it takes is patience on my part despite the audience. The best parking aid when I am alone is the rear mounted Voyager came on both trailers. I get out often to see if the track is where I ned it to be, even though or despite the wife providing inputs.

One has to also look up in some locations because of the overhanging tree branches...