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Thread: Airstream Trailers
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09-30-2022, 10:02 AM #51
I grew up on a ranch, I have been towing things since I was 14 years old. I have towed fifth wheels, bumper pulls and both with a boat on the back (pulling doubles) in every condition you can imagine. Nothing like trying to back up a 6 horse trailer on a loggin road with the old man yelling at ya…
All towing sucks, and if you plan accordingly then it isn’t as bad as most think. Also, their is no way in hell I am spending months on the road with my wife in a van, we would kill each other. I haven’t seen a 5th wheel yet that has the build I find durable enough for what I am after (along with the interior finishes that Mrs Teleee deems worthy), hence the Airstream….
Sent from my iPhone using TGR ForumsSamuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield: Oh, I'm sorry. Did I break your concentration?
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09-30-2022, 10:30 AM #52
This is probably too small for what OP is looking for, but I like this floor plan.
https://escapetrailer.com/the-5-0-escape/
I've never towed a 5th wheel, but everyone says they do tow better than "bumper pull" trailers. Main drawback I see with a 5th wheel is taking up all that truck bed space with a 5th wheel mount.
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09-30-2022, 01:30 PM #53
With sway bars and an equalizer hitch I don't find my trailer hard to tow at all. I just keep the trans in third gear at all times so it's not constantly switching into and out of overdrive. That's what a transmission guru told me, and I've been doing it ever since with great results. I usually don't tow faster than 65 mph because what's the rush.
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09-30-2022, 02:11 PM #54
Solid advice. Auto trannys especially need the RPMs, else you'll smoke the torque converter and send clutch material into the fluid stream and from then it doesn't take too long...
Santa Anna winds working against a 22' tagalong can smoke an 18-speed class 8 tranny if you try to pull it in too high a gear [without enough RPMs to cool it]. RVs typically lack the sectional density to benefit from their inertia like loaded trucks, so it's like towing a parachute and harder on the transmission than towing a similar weight in a denser package [like say a horse trailer].
Boxy tag trailers are worse than 5th wheels in this respect, because they're too far back to benefit from the tow vehicle's aerodynamics.
And most RVers don't spring their WD hitches tightly enough. You want to create spring tension something like an open clothespin, to pin the fore and aft ends of the rig down and provide 1500lbs of "helper spring" to hold your headlights level and counteract the tendency for the lightened front end of the tow vehicle to bounce and oversteer from negative camber.
And those safety chains are worthless unless they are crossed under the hitch. They're supposed to catch the tongue and prevent it from plowing into the road and polevaulting the trailer into the air if it jumps the ball. They can't do that unless they are crossed under the ball with enough slack so they don't bind when you're trying to back uphill or jack it into a slot.
For fun, take notice of the chains on trailers you see. Likely half or more won't be hooked up correctly....
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09-30-2022, 03:10 PM #55
^^^Staying in 3rd gear is solid advice for towing with a 4-speed automatic, especially a lighter duty one like in a half ton. With a 6, 8, or 10-speed, obviously not the case.
I'm not using a weight distribution hitch or friction sway control on our travel trailer, so far. Will see how it goes after some longer drives and some crosswinds. Trailer has a GVWR of 3750#, and am towing it with a F350 crew cab long bed that weighs twice that much (and has some computer controlled anti sway system for the built in trailer brake controller). The truck is overkill for this trailer.
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09-30-2022, 08:26 PM #56
So obvious that it scarcely bears mentioning...
And in case any of them forego your unquestionably sound advice and feel like they have to tow with their 10-speeds in 3rd gear because yeahman advised it, a vehicle on the interstate system traveling ≤15mph under posted [white-sign] speed limit must activate its flashers for safety.
You often see trucks using their flashers climbing a big hill if they have to gear down and go slow to get in a RPM range that both the engine and transmission are happy with.
I'm not using a weight distribution hitch or friction sway control on our travel trailer, so far. Will see how it goes after some longer drives and some crosswinds. Trailer has a GVWR of 3750#, and am towing it with a F350 crew cab long bed that weighs twice that much (and has some computer controlled anti sway system for the built in trailer brake controller). The truck is overkill for this trailer.
Rule of thumb: If a trailer raises your headlight aim, then it's unweighting your front suspension and introducing more toe-in than it was designed to roll with, so it can benefit from WD.
I know I can't even think about jumping up/down on the leaf springs of my F350 to unhitch a tight trailer coupling like I could on a half ton. But I don't weigh 500lbs either...
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09-30-2022, 08:42 PM #57
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09-30-2022, 08:55 PM #58Registered User
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09-30-2022, 08:59 PM #59
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09-30-2022, 09:02 PM #60Registered User
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My wife travels to dog shows a lot. We had travel trailers for many years, towed behind a Tahoe. The last trailer was a Zinger, and we had a weight redistribution hitch that provided a good deal of sway control, so didn’t think we needed a separate sway bar. That was a mistake.
Going down the freeway at 55 mph, she got passed by an 18 wheeler that must have been going 85+. The breeze from the semi passing by sucked the trailer over, and caused a sway that ended up jackknifing the trailer into the back right side of the Tahoe. Trailer suffered major damage and ended up being totaled. The Tahoe also had significant damage to the rear quarter, but was able to repair it without totaling the car.
Back passenger side window was blown out, getting glass all over dogs in cages right next to it, but luckily none of them were injured. The tow truck guy was amazed that my wife didn’t die in the crash.
Ended up counting as two claims on our insurance, one for the trailer and one for the car. That, along with another minor accident she had a couple years prior when the car ahead of her slammed on the brakes suddenly at a traffic light, and she bumped into them at low speed, which also counted as two claims caused our insurance rates to quadruple, because it shows up as four claims, even though it was only two accidents.
So, now she has a Class C.
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09-30-2022, 09:05 PM #61
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09-30-2022, 09:18 PM #62
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09-30-2022, 09:45 PM #63Registered User
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10-01-2022, 11:22 AM #64
Bunch of pusssies up north
Sent from my iPhone using TGR ForumsSamuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield: Oh, I'm sorry. Did I break your concentration?
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10-01-2022, 11:56 AM #65Registered User
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Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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10-01-2022, 12:14 PM #66
This is interesting, I never knew of an additional sway bar. Seems like that would help if your weight dist. hitch is the chain style. Chains don't provide much sway control. Mine is the spring bar style (top photo), not sure I can add a separate sway bar or that it is needed. Might look into it.
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10-01-2022, 12:42 PM #67Registered User
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https://terryoreilly.ca/terstream/
some of you may find this^^ interesting, I dunno if he on anybodies radar down there Terry O Reilly a guy who does the radio show " Under the Influence " does a frame up resto on an old Airstream, lots of picsLee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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10-01-2022, 12:55 PM #68
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10-04-2022, 08:42 PM #69Registered User
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10-04-2022, 09:07 PM #70
Airstream Trailers
Here’s our shiny heinie at a site on the upper Arrow Lk.
Not too shabby after dark.
No problem with the 1/2ton with some 20% grades on the forestry roads, notice the 3” lift (compared to stock).
Our WD hitch is the chain variety and so far have not needed any sway protection, but winds and tractors passing at 100mph aren’t an issue so far with us. When I first picked it up in Edmonton, I brought it home on the Yellowhead with just a plain hitch (and unloaded other than the fresh tank), and pulled fine. But as with any heavy load, anticipate and go a few paces slower than normal. But I’ve heard horror stories of people towing across the high plains and in big winds. Not fun and I would have found a spot to set camp until the weather cleared
/armchair statementLast edited by BCMtnHound; 10-04-2022 at 09:31 PM.
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10-04-2022, 09:08 PM #71
Oh fuck this thread is turning into a hitch fuck. Take that shit to Airforums.
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f464/
A well hitched Airstream tow like a dream behind the right rig. Most trailers are hitched terribly and the drivers should be sent to jail.
"Let's be careful out there."
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10-04-2022, 09:18 PM #72
But if you spend $1000 on a hitch...I kid.
I agree with you. In fact I never even used WD/sway control on my last 22' camper. Towed great behind our F150 including lots of windy trips.
I had an equalizer for a previous trailer though and I'd go that way again. Towed great and built to last.
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10-04-2022, 09:21 PM #73
Airstream Trailers
Truth.
Came across the Galena ferry and parked next to a brand new 28’ international. 2 ladies with their hounds in the Ram Laramie. Rear totally sagging, dealer set up their WD completely wrong (they didn’t even have the bars installed). And the driver/owner was complaining her brakes were smoking. She had no idea her 2017 fully kitted Ram crewcab 1/2ton had a tow mode, and could be manually shifted when desired. It was work to not ‘mansplain’ about some of the issues with her set-up. I mean, the first thing I did with my truck was read the directions when I was going to pick up the trailer. And the dealer in Airdrie AB must have saw them coming a mile away. I will not be stopping there for service. I do hope those two ladies made it back over the divide safe and get back to Ontario OK. And stay there :P
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10-04-2022, 09:24 PM #74Registered User
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I’m sure they do. But, like you say, there are a lot of dumbfucks like me who should have been sent to jail. I’ve checked out a lot of other trailers on the road with the same hitch and a lot of them are also running without the friction bar. It’s something you don’t know you need until it’s too late. All I’m saying is don’t fuck up like we did.
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10-04-2022, 09:47 PM #75
I have had good luck with my Husky Centerline. It has sway and WD in one.
Sway control and a level trailer and TV are absolute musts for safety."Let's be careful out there."
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