New Member

[corgikat]

Hi Everyone! I am glad to have found this site. After camping for 15 years in tents, four in a pop up, and four in a small trailer we are finally going to take the plunge and capture our dream of owning an AS! We are seriously looking at a 2007 Safari SE FB. The vehicle we plan to tow with is a 2001 Yukon XL 1500 4WD. The weight and our load looks like it will be well under the limit ratings for the vehicle, but I still have concerns. Does anyone here have any experience with this combo? I have been looking around this site, but have not quite mastered the technique yet.
Thanks,
Kat

[Fyrzowt]

First, Welcome to the forums!
I don't know how the weight compares, but I towed my 25' 1998 Safari to Yellowstone and back with no issues whatsoever - with my 1996 Tahoe.
I must warn you that you will get varying opinions on this. Some won't tow anything with less than a 3500/350.
Dave

[soldiermedic]

I tow my 19' CCD (4500 lbs GVWR) with a 2005 Chevy 1500 2WD. No issues to this point. I have seen someone tow the same vehicle with a trailblazer because the blazer's manual states (4700 lbs) towing capacity. Try not to go over 80% of your vehicles two weight rating.

Steve

[TBRich]

Kat...welcome to the forum and good luck with your upcoming AS buy...you're going to like it a lot...

The 80%-of-the-TV's-tow-capacity rule of thumb seems to be the consensus on the forum...and yes, you will get lots of varying views about towing and towing vehicles...

Check out the Towing, Tow Vehicle and Hitches Subform for lots of discussions that will give you informtaion to consider...it'll take some sifting through, but you'll come to a solid decision...

Towing, Tow Vehicles & Hitches - Airstream Trailer & Motorhome Community

Happy Trails and we'll see you on the road soon!
TB

[moosetags]

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

Which Safari FB are you looking at, the 25' or the 27'? The 25' will possibly work with your Yuk XL, the 27' probably wouldn't.

We have an '05 Safari 25FB. Will generally pull it with an '05 Yukon XL 2500 4x4x4 (Quadrasteer) with the 6.0 liter. We have also pulled the Airstream with our '04 Tahoe with the 5.3 liter. The Yukon XL does a good job in all conditions. The Tahoe strains to do the job. Your half ton Yuk will probably do about as well as my Tahoe. It will work, but you will be at its towing limit.

[jnerges]

Glad you joined us, the Forum's group are a great help and the price is right. We went with a 2500 HD and have not regretted it. We had to do a bunch of back and forth trips over the passes on I 90 in Washington. We hardly knew anything was back there.

One thing for sure, Airstreams tow great. The 1/2 ton truck might do it but I love the piece of mind with a 3/4.

John

[myoung]

We just completed a trip to Arizona from California by way of Boston. Although I grew up in the East, I had forgotten just how steep the grades are on those little bumps that some people call mountains there. The Berkshires, Western New York, and Maryland and West Virgina along I-68 with hills seldom greater than 2,000 feet were much, much more challenging than any mountain range we've crossed in the West. The grades out West are much more gentle and forgiving. The grades in the East are not.

So, you might take the area of likely traveling into consideration when choosing a TV.

[corgikat]

Thank you all for your information on towing my potential Safari 27 with our current Yukon XL. I am using the link to the towing info and sifting through all the great information posted there. What a terrifc source of information you all are! I bow!
Kat

[gotohatteras]

We have always thought that the "tail shouldn't wag the dog"...in other words...the tow vehicle should weigh at least, if not greater than the trailer...IMHO. Does that make sense?

[CombatMedic]

Welcome to our shiny happy world! Hope you find the right AS for your TV!

[ROBERT CROSS]

WELCOME ABOARD
Whatever you decide to tow with, inspect the reciever closely. G.M. has had some issues with cracking on some of their trucks. I've even had customers replace the factory hitch with a good quality class 4 or 5.
Better to have more than you need, than to need more have!!

Good luck in your quest!!