Has anyone pulled an Airstream?

Hey all,


My housing situation is about to change, possibly for the better. I am considering purchasing a 2020 Airstream Flying Cloud 23’ trailer.

It’s specs are:

Hitch Weight

467 lbs

Gross Weight

6000 lbs

Dry Weight

4806 lb


I believe my 2020 DCLB TRD-OR is rated for 6400 lbs.


Has anyone here with a Taco pulled a 23 or 25’ Airstream?

What was your personal experience?

Thanks

 

Pull it once and leave it somewhere, or pull it all over the country?

 

So that Gross Weight.... that's before you load the closets, and toilet, and bedding and fridge and ... right?

I'm pretty sure the summary is going to be "you're going to hate life" combined with "have fun getting 6 MPG".

I feel that you'd be better served by a diesel truck to tow a trailer that big, which means not a Tacoma.

 

Mostly pull it once and leave it, but move it 1-2x/year, mostly west and southwest US. so both?

 

That’s the reply I was expecting, and you’re probably not wrong, but not what I was asking for specifically.

Has anyone done this, and what was your experience?

 

If you are gonna pull it once or twice a year to move somewhere and park, you can manage. If you are gonna become full time RV'er and drag it all over the place, then get a bigger truck.

 

That's an easy trailer to pull with any 1/2 ton truck. Diesel not needed.

Your Tacoma is going to suck pulling it.

4000 RPMs and 6 mpg is going to get old fast.

If only 25 miles to the local campgrounds, then no worries.

 

While you may not get specific answer to an Airstream, the weight and bulk are what matter.

As others are kind of suggesting, it's marginal. Totally dependent on where you tow, how often and how far. 'Where' includes terrain and weather too.

Obviously you need every saftey advantage you can get, equalizer, brakes etc etc.

But in the end you still probably won't enjoy it.

Consider how a good cross-wind gust will likely permanently soil your upholstery.

 

Just tack $6k into the price tag and get the soon to be released OVTune turbos. Base kit will get you ~380hp compared to stock 278.

But to your actual question... Airstreams should pull pretty well pound for pound when compared against other travel trailers. I’m personally planning for a ~4300lb Airstream in about 2 years.

As others have said, it’ll want to rev high, and mpg may suck. I pulled a 3700lb and averaged about 9mpg. But it was through the hill country and I didn’t baby it.
<edit> this was not an airstream however. Big square box camper.

If you’re moving it 1-2 times a year, are willing to deal with stopping every 150-175 miles for gas, and are okay listening to 3500-4000 rpm, then it will get the job done.

There’s not much margin left for cargo however. Taco runs out of payload quickly.

 

A good rule to follow with 2nd/3rd gen Tacoma's with Tow Package is to keep it under 4000 lbs dry.

4800 lbs dry and 6000 lbs loaded is white knuckling it in the Tacoma. I've done it, hated every momented, and swore never again. Road manners, mpgs, high rpms, and borderline dangerous when merging or overtaking.

4800 lbs dry, a 1/2 truck or full size would make easy work of it.

 

Best answer I can give is that my wife's Highlander tows our boat better than the Tacoma. Look elsewhere for a tow vehicle of any substantial capacity.

 

Naaaaaaaa....

 

The question stinks of "how much can I get away with?"
In my opinion that trailer size and weight narrows the safety margin too thin. You'd probably get away with it, or you might kill yourself. Pray you don't take anyone with you if the latter. My 2¢...

 

I have pulled up to 6500 lb with my Tacoma. Truthfully, my truck didn't like much over about 4500 lb. I've pulled trailers all my life so I have a bit of experience. The last thing I pulled with my Tacoma before fixing it was a 6K trailer with two scissor lifts. It really did not like it. So, I fixed it by trading for a Tundra. Now 6K is no problem.

 

/thread

 

Somebody on TW has a 23' they tow. I think they live in Colorado.

 

Correct!


You're looking at pulling a nearly $100k trailer with the wrong truck. It's clear the funds are there, do it right, safety is not just yours.