Help find the weight of a 1981 31foot Excella

[Sharon Lee]

Hello!
We need info on how to hook up our truck (1996 GMC Suburban K1500 with tow pkg.) to pick up a 31 foot Airstream. What size 7 plug hole for the electrical hook up do we need for a 1981 Excella 2 Limited, What style brake controller do we need? AND- If anyone has the approximate weight of an 1981 Excella.
Any tips on just beginning HELP!!!
Thanks Alot-Sharon and Sean Lee

[apple 1]

Sharon,
What type of plug is on your truck? or does it just have 7 wires? What type of plug is on the trailer? It orginally had a 7 or 9 round pin connector I believe, but may have been changed to a flat 7 way connector.

For a brake controler I perfer the Teknosha, as it is the smoothest and is easy to adjust.

I had a 31' '81 Excella II for several years. If I remember correctly the trailer gross weight rating was 7100 lbs and it dry weight was about 5600 lbs.

[jkleven]

Sharon,
Bear with me. I have my manual in the AS, which is parked in storage. I'll get it within the next couple days, and if you have not had a response, I'll advise you. I do know, however, that the GROSS wight for the '81 Excella Limited is around 8500 pounds. I'll add more later.
Jack Kleven
1981 31' Excella Limited

[Sharon Lee]

Thanks for the replys. We figured it out The suburban goes in on Thursday to get checked over and to get it all set up to buy and pick up our new(old) Airstream.
Hey does anyone know if a K1500 GMC Suburban 350 engine with tow pkg. be o.k. for pulling a 31 ft. Airstream or are we in for it?
Thanks, Sharon Lee

[83Excella]

There should be a tag on the left front lower panel with the empty & gross weight on it.

John

[LeeC]

Sharon, your Suburban should pull the 31 footer just fine. If you got your wiring and brake controller thing figured out, I guess you have a weight distributing hitch too. Hopefully you have access to somebody that knows about these hitches to help you properly set it up. With a trailer that long, the air off passing trucks and buses may cause the trailer to sway. If that should be the case, you will want to look into some kind of sway control device before you start your tour around North America.

We towed a '98 31 footer with a 99 Tahoe for a couple of years. That trailer weighed 7,000 empty with an 8,300 max. I don't know if your trailer weighs the same or not.

Good luck, be careful, and have fun!

Regards,

Lee

[83Excella]

You will definitely need sway control for a trailer that long.

John

[Sharon Lee]

Thanks again for the info. The trailer comes with everthing to tow it with, so we should be set! We can't wait to see it. We pick it up June 28th so Im sure we will have more questions in the future.
Until Then- Sharon and Sean Lee

[davidz71]

The new www.airstream.com site lists the 1981 Excella Limited 31'rear bath at 5500 lbs. dry wt. and 720 hitch wt. The center bath is 5500 and 725 respectively. Craig