Squarestream 5th wheel - all aluminum! very,very rare!

[wanderer1]

I do believe this one on Ebay is the super rare Airstream "Squarestream" 5th wheel. Seller say's it's all alum,and it's right around the correct year. It has custom stripes/paint on it.If I had the extra money,I'd buy it - no matter what shape it's in! May never see another one. eBay Motors: Airstream 35ft 5th Wheel Camper (item 280189806830 end time Jan-12-08 12:55:52 PST) Why couldn't the seller post more pictures?

[overlander63]

Yes, it's definitely a Squarestream 5-er, really a rare bird. I don't care for the painted graphics on it, but if it was painted once, it could be painted again. I wonder why the fridge is not included with the coach.

[lewster]

'easily towed by half ton trucks'..................................

WHAT IS THIS GUY SMOKING????????????????????

I've NEVER seen a 5er of this size towed by anything less than a 3/4....with most being pulled by 1 tonners.

Just another idiot with a mission....say anything....do anything.....but sell!!!!

YRMV

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by lewster

'easily towed by half ton trucks'..................................

WHAT IS THIS GUY SMOKING????????????????????

I've NEVER seen a 5er of this size towed by anything less than a 3/4....with most being pulled by 1 tonners.

Just another idiot with a mission....say anything....do anything.....but sell!!!!

YRMV

I noticed that lie as well, but I am learning to choose my battles in my old age.
BTW, there is a 5-er here in the RV park that could easily be pulled by a V6 Dodge Dakota. It's about 22-24' long, and weighs just over 3,000 pounds. A little bitty thing.

[azflycaster]

This ebay ad is a good candidate for Roger's section in Airstream Life. The trailer may be a great buy, but ... No pictures and mis-information are not the way to sell a trailer.

BTW, the reason a 1/2 ton truck can easily tow it is: The dry weight is only 1 pound!

[Lumatic]

Were the 5th wheels only squarestreams? What years were 5th wheels made? Why not more?

[Andrew T]

They built both Argosy and Airstream Land Yaght Fifth wheels but not very many. They had some nice advantages at the time. The weight was good for those days and the interior was the same finish as a classic Airstream trailer. Not even close to being 1/2 ton towable however.

Long term they had several quality issues. Keeping the leaks out of them was a challenge. Though the exterior skin and framing was all aluminum the interior skin was luan wood with a paper covering like all other square rv's so it was easily water damaged. and if they had a slide out the frame was not strong enough so the rear end sagged changing the shape of the glide room opening. This meant jacking the unit up to get the room in and out, this was common with most slide-outs of the day.

Andy

[overlander63]

I also remember some of the last Airstream 5-ers were rebadged SOB's (I think Dutchmen). They were very typical of SOB construction, and called Integrity.

[Andrew T]

The Integrity's were made by Airstream in 96-98 if my memory serves. They were made in Jackson Centre in half of the Hension axle factory. They were a much better fifth wheel than the earlier ones but they had a fibreglass roof instead of rubber which caused all sorts of leak issues as they aged.

Andy

[wanderer1]

I don't know,it might be possible with todays new tow ratings for half tons. My 32'er's empty weight is 5600 lbs! So I'am guessing the 35' square 5er empty weight is around 7-7500 lbs. Question is,doe's it have a slide out or not.

[azflycaster]

It is not the tow weight that is the problem in most cases. It is the load weight of the truck. The pin weight plus any thing else in the truck need to be compared to the load weight rating of the truck. Also the pin weight is over the rear Axel and can not be distributed to the front as you would with a TT and a WD setup. Pin weights on 5th wheels run in the 15% to 20% range.

[jimmini]

Originally Posted by wanderer1

I don't know,it might be possible with todays new tow ratings for half tons. My 32'er's empty weight is 5600 lbs! So I'am guessing the 35' square 5er empty weight is around 7-7500 lbs. Question is,doe's it have a slide out or not.

Squarestream 5th wheel

GVWR 11,000 lbs

DRY WEIGHT (NO OPTIONS) 8900 lbs

HITCH WEIGHT 2000LBS

[wanderer1]

I stand corrected . I will now be hiding in the corner.

[jimmini]

Originally Posted by wanderer1

I stand corrected . I will now be hiding in the corner.

Sorry but you dont have to hide in the corner, you can stand or sit.

I have been trying to ask seller a question on his posting on E bay but can not get that page to load.
If some one can get to the seller I would like VIN # and date made off the street side of trailer data plate and any other photos he has for the squarestream history and registry.

[Rog0525]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

This ebay ad is a good candidate for Roger's section in Airstream Life. The trailer may be a great buy, but ... No pictures and mis-information are not the way to sell a trailer.
BTW, the reason a 1/2 ton truck can easily tow it is: The dry weight is only 1 pound!

Thanks for thinking of me and the column.

btw, jimmini's info on the weight is correct. You can see the weights on an '89 35' fiver in a manual on Fred's Airstream Archives.

[PWRSTRK]

My recollection is that they built only five of these aluminum-skinned 5ers.


Tom

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

BTW, the reason a 1/2 ton truck can easily tow it is: The dry weight is only 1 pound!

Boy, those "options" must really add up!

[jimmini]

Originally Posted by PWRSTRK

My recollection is that they built only five of these aluminum-skinned 5ers.


Tom

Right now it look's like they made about 125. About 5 with slideout's.
this number subject to change.

[jimmini]

I could not place a bid or ask seller a question.It Will not open page .Is this some fake type of add?

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by jimmini

I could not place a bid or ask seller a question.It Will not open page .Is this some fake type of add?

Jim - I just asked the seller a question and it worked fine...

Are you trying to buy another squarestream????