Best Old Trailer for 2006 Tacoma V6 Truck?

[barbara4rb]

Hi, I've wanted an old Airstream for years, and been watching the papers, eBay, local area. I am looking for an old Airstream and been reading the posts here. (I'm so glad I found this forum!)

Last year I purchased a V6 Tacoma truck with tow package. I have towed many loaded utility trailers, and a 22' car-hauler loaded with metal roofing material (~4000 pounds) without any problem. Truck is rated to tow 6500 pounds.

Are there other V6 Tacoma owners on this forum? Can you tell me your trailer/towing experience? I appreciate any guidance you can offer as to best size/weight trailer for this vehicle. I have a workshop where the trailer will live, 22-24' is max size. Thanks!

[Creampuff]

I'm not a Tacoma owner but I believe you will have to stay in the the smaller trailer range like the Globetrotters (19'). The Safari is probably the top end and you may have problems towing in the mountains of NM.
Some of the older trailers (ie my '57 22' FC) are actually built about 800 lbs lighter than the mid '60's 22' models so you would have an easier time with those.
Bottom line- you'll probably want to get a beefier tow vehicle if you want anything 22'-24'.

[clintn]

My '07 Tacoma tows 19' Bambi adequately. After years of towing w/ F-350, Lance camper, and boat . . . or, backhoe, or flatbed loaded with steel, I missed power and speed at first. Once I got used to a more relaxed approach to "getting there" I became content.

You know it's back there. 60-65 mph on the flats, 50-55 over Donner Summit or up Tehachapi Pass. There was one long hill on 395 that I climbed at 40 rather than holding 4000 rpms for a long time. When I got to the top I had an Airstream and a lot of pics of the Eastern Sierra.

Trailer's wider and taller than truck, so backing, especially w/ single axle, is tougher on my male ego than I'm used to, The up side is that the bigger you go the fewer places you fit. I didn't have to enlarge my shed, level or widen one of the driveways. We like camping alone beside some water feature off a logging road, or down some dirt road in the desert as well as rallies, and I think we have more options. Setting up, un-hooking, and touring backroads in a small 4X4 works well.

We average 19 mpg here in the NoCal Foothills . . . 12 to 14 towing our Bambi. I don't miss hundred+ dollar diesel fill-ups, and we wouldn't be going to Oregon after we get back from Chicago if we still had our SOB.

[overlander64]

Greetings barbara4rb!

Welcome to the Forums!

Originally Posted by barbara4rb

Hi, I've wanted an old Airstream for years, and been watching the papers, eBay, local area. I am looking for an old Airstream and been reading the posts here. (I'm so glad I found this forum!)

Last year I purchased a V6 Tacoma truck with tow package. I have towed many loaded utility trailers, and a 22' car-hauler loaded with metal roofing material (~4000 pounds) without any problem. Truck is rated to tow 6500 pounds.

Are there other V6 Tacoma owners on this forum? Can you tell me your trailer/towing experience? I appreciate any guidance you can offer as to best size/weight trailer for this vehicle. I have a workshop where the trailer will live, 22-24' is max size. Thanks!

Airstream built two different series of trailers that may appeal to you and work with your tow vehicle. The first, and probably more readily found, would be the Argosy Minuet -- 1977 through 1979 -- including the 6.0 Metre Minuet (19' 6"); 6.7 Metre Minuet (21' 6"); and 7.3 Metre Minuet (23' 9") -- sold as 20', 22' and 24' respectively with empty weight of 2,450 pounds, 2,725 pounds, and 3,820 pounds respectively. The second, and somewhat less commonly found would be the Airstream Caravelle produced during 1980 and possibly part of 1981 -- in lengths of 20', 22', and 24' -- with empty weights of 2,539 pounds, 2,799 pounds, and 3,317 pounds respectively. In the case of the Minuet, only the 7.3 Metre is of tandem axle design; and I believe that the same is true of the Caravelles (only 24' being tandem axle?), but am not certain of this fact. These coaches are also narrower, being only 7' wide making them a nice match for narrower tow vehicles -- they are also wonderful behind full-size tow vehicles as they are only very marginally wider than full-size tow vehicles such as my Suburban and Eldorado.

Good luck with your research and trailer selection!

Kevin