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Old 04-24-2016, 12:01 PM   #21
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2007 30' Classic S/O
Orlando , Florida
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 4
Over the past 12 years we have used, with enormous success, the Pullrite hitch system. In my books it leaves all the others in the dust! I think of it as an undermount 5th wheel and the trailer will follow the truck without fear of the truck and trailer meeting.
Please do yourself a real favor and check it out at www.pullrite.com

All the best
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Old 04-24-2016, 12:28 PM   #22
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2016 28' Pendleton
Banner Elk , North Carolina
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2015 f150

We just completed a cross country trip from Wilmington NC to San Francisco with our F150 and 25' Flying Cloud. Couldn't be happier with the Ford's performance. The 3.5L engine was super! Averaged around 11.5 MPG. We're waiting on our new Pendleton and are confident that the truck will handle the extra 300 lbs without a problem. Hope this helps.
Randy
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Old 04-24-2016, 12:52 PM   #23
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1967 26' Overlander
Spartanburg , South Carolina
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You do well to study the Forums so I guess you know by now that some of the comments you get are biased and sometimes plain baloney. I don't know the folks personally but am impressed by the knowledge, and sensiblility of Switz, Lewster and AWChief to name a few. You can learn truth from folks like these.
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Old 04-24-2016, 01:17 PM   #24
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2003 25' Safari
Grayling , Michigan
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I have been looking for a towing vehicle and if I were going with the ecoboost I agree with the others I would go with the max trailer towing package. I believe it only comes with tbe longer box even with the crew cab. The trailer mirrors are not included in the package but would be worth the extra money. We have pulled our 03 25 safari all over the country and mountains witb a Tundra and a reese roller cam hitch with no problem but for a 28 or 30 I would go with a 3/4 ton diesel.
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Old 04-24-2016, 01:47 PM   #25
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2016 25' Flying Cloud
Louisville , Kentucky
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Until just recently I was towing a 19' with a Hensley first with a Mercedes ML350 then with an F 150 Ecoboost (tow package). I switched to the F 150 because we were planning on upgrading to a 25'. Regarding a Hensley hitch on a 19', it may be overkill but I never experienced any sway at all and in one panic stop, it performed great. I will say that the Hensley helped in navigating tight gas stations. I did put a Hensley on my new 25'.
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Old 04-24-2016, 02:19 PM   #26
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2004 22' Safari
Albuquerque , New Mexico
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Quote:
Originally Posted by muskypicker View Post
Hi everyone,



When we were talking to the Airstream dealer, we started talking about sway control and weight distribution hitches. He said the only thing he recommended was to install an Equalizer Sway Control Hitch. He said the disliked Hensley hitches so much that they won't even touch a trailer that comes in with a Hensley, and they make the owner completely unhitch the trailer themselves before the dealer will even touch it.

So, will you please help me with our truck and which options we will need? We live in Colorado and will be doing a lot of mountain driving.

Also, do we need anything other than the Equalizer anti-sway hitch, or will this be sufficient? Safety is my #1 priority.

Thank you all for any help and advice.
Chris
Equalizer Brand Equalizer Hitches are very good choices. There is a Forum called "E Q U A L I Z E R BRAND Equalizer Hitch" with about 9 years of history on this forum. I would recommend the lighter bars though as the 10,000 lb bars will probably beat the trailer to death. I use the lighter bars with a 2004 22 foot and find it works well. I went through the whole nut roll two years ago and read all the "Oh my God" posts about swaying, and found a single statement in the cited forum to be telling. The OP said words to the effect that the only time his trailer swayed uncontrollably with the Equalizer Brand hitch on it was when it was parked in his driveway and they were hit with an earthquake.

That was well stated, and after a significant number of freeway miles with trucks, Class A motorhomes, strong gusting winds and anything else you can think of, I find the Equalizer brand hitch up to the task. I don't begrudge others their brands, but the sway elimination hitches are extremely unpopular with the dealer here in New Mexico as well.

I bought a Tundra to tow my 22 foot Safari, but I am sure a Ford or Chevrolet would work. Chevrolet has a smoking hot military discount including retired military... almost $5k as I recall, but I couldn't find a single truck in Albuquerque that was outfitted the way I wanted it. I only got a $500 discount for the same from Toyota, but their trucks started about $5k below the others as I recall.

Hope this helps.
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Old 04-24-2016, 02:26 PM   #27
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2000 30' Excella
2014 30' Classic
Princeton , Iowa
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Yes, everyone has an opinion and what works for one may not work for someone else. In the end you will have to decide. I have a new FC 26U and I just pulled it 2500 miles with a 1500 Chevy (5.3 engine-3.42 rear end-no tow package) and no hitch. Things went real well. Before that I pulled a 30' Classic 20,000 miles with this TV with no problems. Yes, I run 55 to 65 miles per hour depending of conditions and go down steam grades at 55 miles per hour or less. The max tow package comes with a real low geared rear end that will cut your gas mileage especially when not towing. I watch my transmission temp on steam grades and only one time did I have to slow down to keep the temp. down.
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Old 04-24-2016, 02:30 PM   #28
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2011 30' Flying Cloud
Greenback , Tennessee
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Don't get the "What ifs"

When one starts the "What if? game, where does it stop? My preference is to consider what you know you need, then buy the truck or whatever you think will be adequate for that. The F-150 is a nice rig and will pull that trailer with ease. But what if you get a bigger trailer? What if you decide to pull it up Mt. Denali? What if you have to haul some gold bars? etc., etc., etc.

Now if you just want the 3/4 ton with the DuraMax and are willing to pay the price, that is a different story. Actually I am currently in the throes of truck selection. My 2002 F-250 4x2 with the V10 has done a great job for me for 14 years. It has 103,000 miles on it, has been garaged all the time and looks like a new one. I don't need a new truck, but I sort of want one. My big question is, do I want a 4x4. In the 14 years I have used my present truck, I have had essentially no call for four-wheel drive. What if it snows on us in February on our way to Florida? What if a summer cloud-burst washes out a road in New Mexico? What if I decide to go off road? Will those things happen? Most probably not, so I will take the chance and spend that 4x4 money on something fun.
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Old 04-24-2016, 03:38 PM   #29
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2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario , Ontario
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulnGina View Post
I would go with the F150 as long as it has the Max Tow package on it. More than capable, and the money you save compared to the diesel option you mentioned can go towards more travelling!!
I have an F-150 with Max Tow; works for me with a 25'FC FB.
Next month will tell how good it is with a new 30 FC. when I take it out of storage.
A Reese dual cam seems to work OK.
On it's own, without the Airsteam, the Ford works very well for me; other than a very great turning circle, and taking a very long time to warm up in the winter.
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Old 04-24-2016, 03:41 PM   #30
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What is a 'CAT' scale???
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Old 04-24-2016, 03:59 PM   #31
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2013 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Salado , Texas
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If you are not going to carry a significant load in the truck, the 150 with a maximum towing package would likely do the job and be a lot easier to park and drive. We use the Chevy 2500 diesel 4x4 on a 27' EB with an Equalizer and it operates well within the performance parameters of the vehicle as well as having demonstrated excellent control on the highway.

I have driven a tow package equipped F150 King-Ranch and found it to be slightly weak with the load and trailer weight we pull. Given that you have a much smaller and lighter trailer, I suspect it would do well.
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Old 04-24-2016, 05:01 PM   #32
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1984 34' International
Toronto , Ontario
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I'd walk out of any dealership talking crap about the Hemsley hitch and take my money elsewhere. It's a fantastic hitch, I would not trust anybody who doesn't understand the benefits of it to set up my rig.
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Old 04-24-2016, 05:10 PM   #33
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1978 31' Excella 500
Barrie , Ontario
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Welcome to the AS owner's adventures !! I pulled my 31' to Whitehorse YK and back over 7000 mi trip with my 13 year old GMC 1/2 ton with no problems and averaged just over 12 mpg , I now have a 2014 GMC 1/2 ton and just came home from Louisiana and average 15 1/2 mph pulling my 1978 31' AS .You don't need a "big boy toy " to pull an AS you just need good well adjusted brakes on the trailer. Good luck and hope you enjoy for many years!
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Old 04-24-2016, 05:15 PM   #34
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1978 31' Excella 500
Barrie , Ontario
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CAT scales are scales to weigh large vehicles they are at most truck stops in Canada & U.S . You can drive on and weight your whole truck and trailer,
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Old 04-24-2016, 07:07 PM   #35
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2005 25' Safari
palm beach gardens , Florida
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If you can afford it, the 2500 Chevy or GMC diesel is the best. Ford and Dodge versions good too. I've had four AS's and four TV, 2500 Diesel is the best
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Old 04-24-2016, 07:12 PM   #36
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2005 25' Safari
palm beach gardens , Florida
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Bev, wow, if you are getting that kind of mileage, I want to go to your driving school.
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Old 04-24-2016, 07:37 PM   #37
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Garden Valley , Idaho
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You only WANT to own a diesel if you like to spend A Lot of extra money for the diesel engine and 10 times as much for oil changes and maintenance. A gas F 150 Ford will do you a fine job for a lot less money and can be a great daily driver to boot. Been there, done that, go for a gasser.
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Old 04-24-2016, 09:17 PM   #38
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2018 25' Flying Cloud
Cortez , Colorado
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The Ford is very good in the mountains

I also live in Colorado. On the western slope in the town of Rico.8800 feet is our elevation.The F150 with EcoBoost does a very nice job pulling our 23 foot up the passes.
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Old 04-24-2016, 10:13 PM   #39
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2016 19' International
Beautiful , Colorado
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Thanks for everything. Really appreciate it.

We will absolutely be getting the max trailer package if we go with the 150. They also offer a max payload package...I realize that'll depend in what we're loading in the truck, but did any of you debate the max payload package? If so, what did you decide and why?

3.73 or 3.55? Electronic locking differential?
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Old 04-24-2016, 11:03 PM   #40
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2013 28' Flying Cloud
Central , Canada
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Quote:
Originally Posted by muskypicker View Post
Thanks for everything. Really appreciate it.

We will absolutely be getting the max trailer package if we go with the 150. They also offer a max payload package...I realize that'll depend in what we're loading in the truck, but did any of you debate the max payload package? If so, what did you decide and why?

3.73 or 3.55? Electronic locking differential?

The Max payload package is something that just came out with the 2016 trucks. As a result, there might not be many around yet. The HD Payload is NOT available with all trim levels so that is a consideration if your wanting to go with a platinum or King Ranch as I think the highest trim level with the payload package is Lariat.
For me I would include the payload package in my next truck but my 2014 will have to go down the road a bit longer before that happens. As for your rear end question, we have the 3.73 but I'm not sure it's much different than our other truck that had the 3.55


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