Real world towing examples

I have a 2009 TRD and I pull a 17' Casita travel trailer with ease (2000ish pounds), but I was thinking of getting an Airstream. The one I am looking at is 3200ish pounds.

Same round shape, but dual axle instead of single axle.
I usually only pull twice a year. From Texas to SC or WY. Will the extra weight be an issue?

Am I worrying about nothing?

 

I monitor my transmission temperature. A Scangauge is inexpensive instrumentation for the worrying types.

 

I don't know what the towing capacity of your vehicle is, and I'm too lazy to go look it up. But I will point out, I see people here and other places towing things that are obviously over the weight limit for their vehicle and bragging about it. The thing you need to keep in mind is that weight restrictions are as much about being able to control/stop, especially in evasive maneuver situations, like someone slamming the brakes on in front of you. Cause significant injury or death pulling something over your vehicles limits will make some lawyers job a lot easier.

 

I'd suggest a weight distribution hitch, but other than that you should be fine. I've always found double axle trailers much easier to tow, as well. They sway around less, it seems. If both axles are braked, that's even better.

Do you have the model number for that Airstream? 3200 dry, what's the GVWR?

 

Lightest dual axle airstream currently is 5000 pounds with a GVWR of 6000 pounds. Really curious now which model you are looking at that weights only 3200. Must be an old one?

 

It is an older one. I am still trying to get more info on it.

This is a safari 15 which I think has been replaced with the Bambi.

 

This is the one I am looking at.

 

That's not a 15 foot trailer. The one below in this picture is a 19 foot bambi. The one in that picture is in the 20+ foot range. I do see the logo you're talking about with what looks like 15 under it... but there's no way. I'm still doing some digging to see if I can find the one above, but that's gonna be much heavier than 3200 dry.

 

I believe it's a Safari 22' LS, that's LS not 15 under the Safari plaquard.




Per a PDF I found from Airstream, it weighs 4190, with 510 hitch weight (when empty), and 5600 GVWR.




I'd definitely say it's towable... but WDH and taking it easy. But it's at the upper limit of what I'd want to tow with a Taco... and I tow a lot with a Taco.

 

That's quite a load.

 

Thats what she said!

 

I have a

$32 Veepeak OBDCheck BLE Bluetooth OBD II Scanner Car Check Engine Light Code Reader, Auto Dual Mode Bluetooth Diagnostic Scan Tool for iOS & Android

VeePeak ELM Bluetooth scanner and combined with a $3.99 app it also reads out trans temp. A bit cheaper of an alternative.

 

I hate to think I was going to to pull a 3,200+ lbs travel trailer 14 hours with a Tacoma.
I pulled a hybrid pop-up camper that weighed close to that from Tennessee to Virginia.
I was less than enjoyable. You learn a lot.
Like it's expensive to tow with these trucks. They like to eat RPM, and drink gas.

 

The Casita (at 2,400ish pounds loaded) pulls like a dream. The round egg shape really.dpeant eat too much gas.

With the bigger tires and the topper I only get 15 to 16 in town and 17 to 18 on highway.
Pulling the Casita I got 13.4 this week driving to St Louis.

I talked to 1 guys this week who had Airstreams and they both said they pull great. They both had full size trucks.

 

When I tow with my Taco, anything near the limit, 5k and up, is just a big ask.
I stay in 4th gear - for a m/t 5 and 6 are Overdrive - and just keep it steady. It wouldn't hurt to do a driveline service before a big haul like that, or after if you haven't worked the truck hard.
Again, not impossible, and items that are lighter, like a 3.5k combined between trailer and shit on it is pretty fine, but close to max turns them into a bit of a dog. Now, get a supercharger, some airbags, yadda yadda...

 

I found out it is a 2005 22' and weights 4200 empry. I usually stand on the side of caution. Even though this purchase of an Airstream was a great deal, it's just too big for me to pull with the Tacoma.

So I am going to tell the lady I am passing.

If any of you guys are looking for a great deal on an Airstream, message me and I will pass the info along.

 

I have probably 4500 lbs of firewood between the truck and trailer. The power was there but the suspension was maxed and the brakes over worked.