So much for plans, lol... Bought a different kind of trailer.

[Redbearded]

Hi All, 

I hope I'm still allowed to stay part of the club, I was going to buy a cargo trailer and fix it up, then I stumbled upon what I just bought. Now I just gotta find a tow vehicle, lol!

 

[user 423]

....a BIG tow vehicle.

 

[tx2sturgis]

A string of lights with an attached trailer!

 

[Redbearded]

yeah, now I need to figure what kind of beast can tow this thing, lol.
I'm kinda leaning towards one of those diesel expeditions or something

 

[Redbearded]

Any thoughts on a tow vehicle?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Kenworth? Peterbilt?

 

[RVTravel]

Your gonna have to buy a tractor trailer rig.

 

[John61CT]

Makes me think you'll need a multi-stage launch vehicle, SpaceX on the brain I guess

 

[johnny b]

Wow, didn't see that coming. Congrats.
First, what does it weigh?
Triple axle so check those tires closely.
I'd guess you'll need at least a 1 ton or bigger truck...I've heard the Chevy/GMC ride more comfortably.
Get a heavy duty receiver/hitch with proper weight distribution bars.

Then sit back, relax and watch Lucy & Desi in "The Long, Long Trailer"!

 

[Redbearded]

Yeah it caught me by surprise too, lol. It is a 1990 34' Limited which from what I can tell is the top of the line one. I'm paying 23,500 for it, but I figure I can get at least that out if I decide I want to change to something else later. The trailer weighs about 7100 lbs dry so I know I'll need something with some grunt to pull it. I'm figuring if I can pull 10k I should be safe.

I'm currently looking at some tow vehicles such as a later model Expedition diesel. Or I found something called a quigley 4x4 conversion which is on sale near me for 14k.

If anyone has any thoughts on what to avoid for a tow vehicle now would be the time, lol.

 

[rm.w/aview]

This is where your budget parameters come in. Now that you qualify, head over to youtube and search Big Truck Big RV. He puts together informative and easy to listen to videos.

 

[rm.w/aview]

Also, in the Truck sub forum see a thread titled Advise please on Ford F250 regarding that 6.0 liter diesel in the van that you linked to.

 

[tripper]

I can't believe that trailer is only 7100 lbs dry. Good it is. Personally I would want to use a longer wheelbase dually to tow that, it will be a hand full in the wind with anything smaller.

 

[Redbearded]

I was shocked at the weight too, but that's what airstream says. I'm figuring if I get something that can tow 10k it should be plenty safe.
From what I'm reading on the ford diesels I should be looking at a 7.3 or if the price is right a 6.0 that has been bulletproofed.

 

[rm.w/aview]

A truck rated to tow 10K would be near its max with your loaded trailer. I'd shoot for 12500 rating but would be happier with 15K at least. I'm not only considering going up mountain grades, but going down as well with this trailer pushing you, and the higher rated trucks are better equipped for this all around. Weigh the trailer at your first opportunity.

 

[wagoneer]

I think a well balanced load would ease the tongue burden I would choose a one ton duel ex cab diesel stay away from altered vans like the four wheel drive sportmobiles double check the trailer brakes and get a heavy duty sway control system.

 

[bullfrog]

We bought a large RV and traveled a few years but the limitations caused by size, maintenance, cost and us getting old tend not to move often, maybe using it as a base and exploring in something small and easy while paying a couple dollars a mile to have someone move it a few times a year would be worth considering rather than dealing with a heavy duty tow vehicle.

 

[Zoomyn]

Remember getting away from 1/2-ton trucks most often involves them getting more harshly sprung while lightly loaded; what that means for a lightweight aero design in your Airstream (lots of flexing) is increased chances of frame//rivet damage as the unloaded truck frame whips up and down transmitting every road vibration straight into the trailers A-frame. Talking up & down motion, not sway damping, not telescoping damping.

Yeah, this is more of a hazard to the truly nomadic road warriors who rack up many miles in a year//season OR if one is doing much gravel//offroad with washboard surfaces etc. but it is something to consider, especially if the load distributing hitch is stiffening up the TV-Trailer connection. These are popular with horse trailering to lower stress on high-dollar livestock too.

Shocker Hitch, AIRSAFE Receiver, there are more than a couple of coupler receiver flavors out there that build in shock absorbers or air bags...

 

[user 13531]

Serious Land Yacht right there.. Airstream makes such an awesome product, hard not to love that bad boy!

Congrats and good luck on the TV search...

 

[Redbearded]

Thanks for the support everyone! It's not what I was planning, but I'll figure it out, lol. Plus I figure if I don't like it I can always sell it for close to what I paid, maybe more. I'll get some pics up when I get it brought home