Quote:
Originally Posted by Inn exisle
...wanted to know if anyone can give me an idea of what size Airstream I can pull with a Toyota Tundra thats rated at 7200 lbs.
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Greetings, Bill, and welcome to the Forums....
Thanks for asking for opinions - you will find some pretty conservative voices here...and some not so conservative.
To start to answer your question, please consult this list published on the Airstream Factory Website:
http://www.airstream.com/airstream/p.../weights-1.pdf
Remember, this is just a start, be advised that many here on the Forums have weighed their units and have reported that the list is a bit on the "skinny" side - that is to say that most units weigh in several hundred pounds more than listed.
You must also add propane, water, food, clothing, gear, toys, etc. to the total...for most that runs between 1,000 and 1,500 lbs. - That weight can vary considerably on both ends. The important thing is to realisticly estimate the total - "things" add up in a hurry.
On top of the above total (empty trailer tare and added items) most of us here advocate a 10% to 20% safety factor - add that to the total...
Then back into what trailer is appropriate for your Tundra.
Next, budget a good weight distributing hitch and anti sway device. Finally, and, most importantly, after you get everything loaded and hitched up, visit a CAT or similar scale and weigh each axle individually, preferably each wheel - a total weigh WITH additional weighs for adjusting the weight distribution bars should not be more than twenty bucks. Also check the GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) - the total of the combined weight of the trailer and the Tow Vehicle - this is frequently a limiting factor. The weigh in at the scales is money well spent and GREAT insurance.
Now, let's not forget the pucker factor....keep in mind that the trick of safely pulling a trailer is not how fast you can go up a mountain, but how safely you can stop and manuever in a critical situation (as in an emergency downhill stop starting from a too fast downhill speed)...the life you save by using an appropriate Tow Vehicle (TV) may be one of us on the Forum!
Happy Airstreaming and Safe Towing!