Too much truck?

[TxLoser]

We’re considering a Globetrotter 30RB, but I’m wondering about the towing. I’ve got a ‘24 Chevy 3500 DRW we currently tow with and don’t have much interest in parting with it. It’s a pleasure to drive and pull with. Plus the covered 8’ bed can house our folded Lectric bikes and all the stuff we’d normally have in external storage on our FW.

Will this truck with its stiff rear destroy the smaller trailer over time? Would an Airsafe or Shocker hitch lessen the abuse a little. Looking for feedback from those who have towed an airstream with a similar truck.

Of course the dealer says it’ll be fine and that many of haulers use a DRW to bring them down from the factory.

[jeffmc306]

Hi and welcome to the Airstream Community and Forums.

Your dealer has a good point; most delivery haulers run DRW trucks. You could go with the Red Shocker and tow on the ball. I doubt you need a WD hitch even just for sway control with all that truck. There’s a guy on YouTube who switched from the Shocker WD version to the red one and he’s very satisfied with how it works.

If you’re comfortable with the truck, give it a try. Our 27’ Globetrotter was repaired for front end separation which may have be the result of too much WD dialed in. I’ve since reduced the tension by two links and it’s fine.

Good luck with your search!

[Justen]

I can't do a direct comparison, but I tow a 22' 1965 Safari (lighter weight) with an Excursion, so I think the ratios are pretty similar. I never had any complaints towing just on the ball, but when I added a Shocker hitch I really felt the trailer towed smoother- less energy transfer from the truck to the trailer and in my mind, less chance of damaging the camper.

I think adding any style of air hitch will reduce the amount of stress on your camper and is money well spent.

[Bill M.]

I think you will be just fine towing with that truck. I do not think it will hurt the trailer but the air safe hitch seems like a good one.

[TxLoser]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I'm good to go if we go this route. I just need to do some mental gymnastics to wrap my head around the premium paid while giving up some nice stuff on fairly new 35' GD Solitude.

This is mostly driven by a wife who really likes the Airstreams, and a 100# Old English Sheep Dog that struggles with the entry steps into the taller FW. I do really like the ageless look, and simplicity of the trailer. It would be more convenient in some ways, more hassle in others. The usual RV give and take between different types.

I'll follow up with my experience if we go this route. Thanks

[JJTX]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

We’re considering a Globetrotter 30RB, but I’m wondering about the towing. I’ve got a ‘24 Chevy 3500 DRW we currently tow with and don’t have much interest in parting with it. It’s a pleasure to drive and pull with. Plus the covered 8’ bed can house our folded Lectric bikes and all the stuff we’d normally have in external storage on our FW.

Will this truck with its stiff rear destroy the smaller trailer over time? Would an Airsafe or Shocker hitch lessen the abuse a little. Looking for feedback from those who have towed an airstream with a similar truck.

A 30 foot travel trailer is not a small trailer. It will be just fine for that 30.

[BGClassic]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I'm good to go if we go this route. I just need to do some mental gymnastics to wrap my head around the premium paid while giving up some nice stuff on fairly new 35' GD Solitude.

This is mostly driven by a wife who really likes the Airstreams, and a 100# Old English Sheep Dog that struggles with the entry steps into the taller FW. I do really like the ageless look, and simplicity of the trailer. It would be more convenient in some ways, more hassle in others. The usual RV give and take between different types.

I'll follow up with my experience if we go this route. Thanks

I ordered and bought a F350 diesel 8 foot bed, for our Classic 33FB. After 32,000 towing miles, I would not change a thing. We took it to Alaska and back, and were happy to have the truck We have a Propride hitch, and I have backed off the WD to protect the Airstream. We have popped some rivets, but still no FES. Good luck.

[TxLoser]

Originally Posted by JJTX

A 30 foot travel trailer is not a small trailer. It will be just fine for that 30.

True. Lighter would be the better description. Lighter than what I currently haul. It’s all relative. Total length of the setup would actually longer than my current setup I’m guessing. So, no not small.

[waninae39]

Andy at CANAMRV did a presentation at some recent RV shows in CAn and the USA

he showed with hard data that many SUV are better towing vehicles that a lot of trucks. getting to big a TV can be a bad decision

he compared the 150/1500 to the 250/2500 and showed that the larger one was was an inferior towing vehicle for many reasons. many in the rooms were shocked and some stated that they had issues with 250/2500 and larger TV's he even had videos showing how they performed

https://www.canamrv.ca/blog/

give him a call or look at his video

[Starlight Mike]

I know Andy is considered the expert but you will never convince me that a smaller TV is better for 25 and up AS's. With 30 years of towing many size AS's and TV's, I know what feels and acts best in normal and adverse conditions in the US and Canada.

[patandcole]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

We’re considering a Globetrotter 30RB, but I’m wondering about the towing. I’ve got a ‘24 Chevy 3500 DRW we currently tow with and don’t have much interest in parting with it. It’s a pleasure to drive and pull with. Plus the covered 8’ bed can house our folded Lectric bikes and all the stuff we’d normally have in external storage on our FW.

Will this truck with its stiff rear destroy the smaller trailer over time? Would an Airsafe or Shocker hitch lessen the abuse a little. Looking for feedback from those who have towed an airstream with a similar truck.

Of course the dealer says it’ll be fine and that many of haulers use a DRW to bring them down from the factory.

We tow our 28' Pottery Barn with a 2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD with no issues to the trailer in 2 years of towing. We use a Blue Ox Swaypro with 1000lb bars only because I already owned this system for a previous set up. That said, I don't think I need that, but use it anyway given I have it. Clearly no issue for the truck whatsoever and has proven quite comfortable.

[sfranklin]

Originally Posted by Starlight Mike

I know Andy is considered the expert but you will never convince me that a smaller TV is better for 25 and up AS's. With 30 years of towing many size AS's and TV's, I know what feels and acts best in normal and adverse conditions in the US and Canada.

Yea I agree fully on the CanAm comment. If you are concerned with a rough ride, then add this to the mix.

https://www.airsafehitch.com/categor...ceiver-hitches

If using weight distribution, they say to de-rate the capacity by 15%. So if say you opted to go with this product and use WD, the 1500lbs would actually be around 1275lbs, the 2k unit would be 1700lbs.

https://www.airsafehitch.com/product/6000

[Gary_B]

We have an F250 pulling a 28 foot AS using an Air Safe hitch without sway control and couldn't be happier. We have a camera mounted above the TVs rear license plate which makes the Air Safe motion clearly visible in real time. The Air Safe makes a huge difference, and I am no longer worried about frame separation on the trailer. After pulling over 8K miles with this configuration, there hasn't been a single sway issue, and we have pulled our AS in 60 mile per hour winds and in all conditioners other than ice or snow. The only drawback is that the Air Safe is a heavy hitch, but I can still handle it, and I am pushing 70 years old. I have seen other campers who have rigged up devices to help them with installing the hitch, but so far, it hasn't been a problem for me. Good luck!

[O-side Jimmy]

Keep the truck! We too went from a GD to an Airstream. We added a cabin door hook to the bathroom door and use it for a rigid divider to keep our pooches in the main saloon when we're sleeping. We prefer the Airstream over the cold, leaky & unreliable slide outs. You're going to love it!!

[sfranklin]

Originally Posted by Gary_B

We have an F250 pulling a 28 foot AS using an Air Safe hitch without sway control and couldn't be happier. We have a camera mounted above the TVs rear license plate which makes the Air Safe motion clearly visible in real time. The Air Safe makes a huge difference, and I am no longer worried about frame separation on the trailer. After pulling over 8K miles with this configuration, there hasn't been a single sway issue, and we have pulled our AS in 60 mile per hour winds and in all conditioners other than ice or snow. The only drawback is that the Air Safe is a heavy hitch, but I can still handle it, and I am pushing 70 years old. I have seen other campers who have rigged up devices to help them with installing the hitch, but so far, it hasn't been a problem for me. Good luck!

If it ever does become an issue, try this:

https://www.harborfreight.com/450-lb...262.html?gQT=1

Your back might thank you someday.

[thefroghouse]

Never too much truck! We have been pulling our 1994 31' Classic trailer for many, many years with our 3500 Duramax. The trailer loves it, we love it and the hills and dales have never been an issue.
We also have a canopy and find it very useful, especially on long trips. Have fun!

[KCurtis]

I tow our 2023 30 Foot Classic with a RAM 3500 Dually. I use a shocker hitch. We have towed 50K miles so far and zero issue towing on the ball only. No swaying at all. I had to slam on the breaks when I was exiting off a highway onto an exit ramp to get on another highway. That was when I realized having a truck that could stop so much faster than a less capable truck. That is when I realized it isn't about how much you can tow, but how fast you can stop when all hell breaks lose.

[Brockdorf]

Im confused, a stiffer side to side motion of a dually is safer and imposes less stress on a trailer. Also, we have air-ride on the driver axle and that is the only thing we use.

[Cowbell]

I own a 30’ Globetrotter and I also tow with a one ton.
Ram 3500 single axle.
I use an AirSafe at the hitch and Blue Ox.
I also load my Polaris Rzr on the back of the truck while towing. No problems!

[rheston1947]

I think you're fine with the dealer recommendation.

I have a 2019 33' Classic that I tow with a diesel RAM 3500 Dually, covered 8' bed, I moved up to this from a 2018 RAM 2500 open bed. I made that change because I found myself losing momentum when going up steeper inclines when driving through the Rockies. Although I tow with anti-sway I know that it will go just as well with a straight ball.