Greetings!

[SFletcher]

Hello there! I'm in the UP (Michigan's Upper Peninsula)and I am a long time lurker here and I'm hoping to purchase my 1st Airstream as soon as humanly possible. This has been a dream in the making for me since I was a kid, so I'm doing my best to learn as much as possible before I take the plunge. I'm working with a 2016 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk as my TV. It's rated for 4500lbs, so I'm looking for something light. Hopefully vintage. My budget is yet to be determined, but that's my final hurdle. I have been considering getting a Silverado now rather than later. It would definitely open up more options for me, but I'd like to keep it as light and simple as I can to start with. I'm very excited to start this journey and thanks for including me here!

- Stacy

[ROBERT CROSS]

Happy hunting...

Bob
🇺🇸

[Bearstream01]

Welcome Stacy! Very excited for you!

[overlander64]

Greetings Stacy, and Welcome to the Forums! Something to check with your Trailhawk in addition to its maximum tow capacity is the maximum allowable hitch weight. All too often, the manufacturer limits that to 10% of the rated tow capacity, and it may be more difficult to find and Airstream or Argosy with a loaded hitch weight under 450 pounds than it will be to find an Airstream or Argosy (particularly Vintage) that will have a gross weight under 4,500 pounds.

When shopping, you may find this link to be of help. It is to a document on the Airstream website that lists the empty weight and hitch weight of Airstream travel trailers beginning with 1954 models and continuing through 2013. The document also lists gross weight ratings, but that does not begin until 1989 models. Generally, the older Vintage models were considered to have a net carrying capacity of between 800 and 1,000 pounds. When I was shopping for my Airstream back in 1995, I just added 1,000 pounds to the published dry/empty/unladen weight of the trailer to get an idea of its probable gross weight, and added 175 pounds to the dry/empty/unladen hitch weight to get an approximation of the likely gross hitch weight.

With your Trailhawk, my suspicion is that a Vintage 1961-1963 Airstream Bambi, 1964 Bambi II, or under 22-foot Vintage Airstreams. I suspect the an Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre or 6.7 Metre would also work well, but the 7.3 Metre may be a bit beyond the comfortable parameters for a Trailhawk. The photo below is of the Minuet page from the 1979 Argosy Brochure, and gives an idea of typical floor plans for the smaller trailers. The Minuets are 6.0 inches narrower than the standard Argosy and with the two shorter sizes, many will have composite aluminum floors.

[dbj216]

Greetings from Colorado Stacy: Overlander64 knows his vintage Airstreams. I also enjoy the vintage Airstream hobby and enjoy renovating them. Airstreams last a long time due to their aluminum bodies, and they are more expensive due to their aluminum bodies. The classified section of there Forums has maybe 100 used Airstreams for sale. Mine included.

I have a 1969 Globetrotter 21' that I renovated. I call it a new Airstream in the old body. The trailer weighs 3400 pounds and the hitch weight is 350 pounds. But like Overlander64 says, the trailer gets heavier when you fill it with fresh water, two propane tanks, cooking utensils and dishes, clothes and food. So I guess my Globetrotter weighs 4000 pounds loaded and the tongue weight is 400 pounds. My Globetrotter comes with a weight distribution hitch that also controls sway and with the some of the tools needed for trailer towing like a jack, leveling blocks, lug nut wrench and the like. It also has some dishes in it. The hitch takes some of that tongue weight and distributes it to the front axle of the tow vehicle. It makes towing more stable. I like to say the Globetrotter is all ready to tow home.

We towed it with a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a V8 engine. That vehicle worked well enough for us. Since Airstreams have a rounded shape, winds are less of a factor.

Anyway, good luck on your search. My Globetrotter is advertised in these Air Forums classifieds. You can read all about it there, or you can read all about the other 100 trailers advertised there. There are plenty to choose from.

David

[SFletcher]

I really appreciate the welcome wishes!

Overlander64- Thank you for so many helpful details! That weight PDF has been my go to guide when I find a trailer I'm interested in. Its an essential reference for sure. I'm glad to know that I'm on the right track with the models/years I'm interested in. I definitely have a learning curve when it comes to weights. GVWR is one thing, but I wasn't sure if I added the tongue/hitch weight on top of that or if it was already accounted for. I'm hoping that with some patience and my willingness to learn I'll find the best fit for my needs.

David - I love your 69 Globetrotter! I've come back to it many times on the classifieds. It checks all my boxes for an older model with the important renos already done. It's just a little bit heavy for my current TV I think. This is a perfect example of why I'm considering upgrading to a truck or SUV with a bit more towing capacity. I have family in Arvada, so if it's still available when I visit CO next, I'll reach out. I'd love to see it. Thanks for the welcome and the info

[moosetags]

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. You are going about your Airstream endeavor the right way. The information that you have already received from some of the old timers here is invaluable. Best wishes in your pursuit of Airstream. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Brian

[SFletcher]

Thanks Moosetags! Invaluable, indeed! This whole forum is the best resource I could hope for. Having a great community behind you is one of the pleasant, but unexpected perks I found that comes with Airstreams.

[STREMN]

Welcome to the Community! We're glad to have you with us.

Sounds like you've got a good solid foundation for decision making. We did sorta the same thing...truck first and then shopped around for something that fit our needs. It took @6 months but it worked out in the end.

All the best for your new adventures!

[SFletcher]

Thanks Stremn! I appreciate that. I’m giving myself a good solid year to get this plan in motion. If it all comes together sooner that’s even better. It’s honestly torture not being out there on a beach somewhere right now! I’m lucky to have plenty beautiful destinations close to home, but I’m definitely ready to experience them, and ones I haven’t met yet, in a whole new way. Dreamin & streamn, right ?!?

[Bubba L]

Welcome to the neighborhood. As you can see, a lot of helpful information coming from knowledge and experience. You’ll find your Airstream the same way we did. By keeping your eyes on the Classifieds and checking some of the regulars like Airstream Hunter and Vintage Campers. We picked up our 55 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. We saw the add here on Airforums. Good luck and hope you find what you want.

[dbj216]

Hello again Stacy: We are less than a hour away from Arvada and you would be welcome to look at my three vintage Airstreams. We can discuss all the good and the bad about old Airstreams so maybe you will be better informed when you go look at one. And the things to check out carefully. By the way, I certainly am not trying to "sell" you my Globetrotter. It just seemed to match what you are looking for. But there are many, many other trailers that would work also. I am a lousy salesman.

We are having a Colorado Airstream Club rally the third week in July. You could drive there from Avarda and see maybe 25 vintage Airstreams and tour them during the open house. The link is attached below. There is likely a vintage Airstream rally in Michigan also. It is a good opportunity to see them inside and out.

David

https://www.rmvac.org/

[SFletcher]

Bubba L - thanks for the encouragement and welcome! I’ve been a long time watcher of the classifieds here and it feels good to know that I’m getting closer to taking the plunge. I love the variety and how detailed people can get with the descriptions and work they’ve done. It’s helped me get a baseline for what I like and what maybe would not work best.

David- that’s incredibly generous of you! And I didn’t think you were being a salesman! I recognized your AS the second I saw it because it truly has been one I keep coming back to. I totally appreciate your info and willingness to help a soon to be newbie out I checked the dates for that rally in CO. It could possibly work for me. I’ll keep you posted! Also, there is a rally rolling through WI and Upper MI late aug-sept. At least 3 or 4 of the stops are very close to me. That link was a huge help. The Porcupine Mountains here are one of my favorite places ever in the UP. Definitely going to try to make that one. And thank you again for offering to let me tour your rigs. I’ll drop you a message when I know when I’ll be out your way next.

[dbj216]

Well, that would be fun for me. I enjoy talking Airstream trailers with most everybody. The DW and I are going to the international rally the last week in June, and then the Colorado Vintage Airstream Club rally the third week in July. Otherwise we are home and bored. I really need another vintage Airstream renovation to fill my afternoons.

You can always send a private message via these Air Forums. I find it works well.

David