let's talk airstreams (2 Viewers)

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landcruiser3DP

landcruiser3DP

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anyone especially knowledgeable about airstreams? any good places to go to research them? is there a sweet spot for price to value or longevity and durability?
i've got an 80 series land cruiser and i am not entirely sure it would tow a short one but i have half a mind to look at a second gen (i think it is) V8 tundra.
any idea what is involved in putting in a tow package?
anyway i swear a newer model short one came up here recently advertised by a couple about to have a kid for like 20 grand and i had half a mind to give them a lowball offer on it so next time i want to be prepared.
THANKS
 
Since you're not getting any takers I'll reply. I am not up on them currently, but I have spent quite a lot of time in first a 19' and then later 23' during my childhood.
They are not light, I'm sure that an 80 can tow one, but it would not be even my third choice for an Airstream TR.

Like any other niche, I'm sure that there are at least a couple forums devoted to them.

BTW, I consider this trend of polishing the old ones to be an abomination. They were NOT built like that and should not be treated like that because it removes the protective film that was originally on the aluminum skin. My opinion, it's worth what you paid me for it!
 
I too share your interest in Airstreams. But I’m ahead of you I just bought a new to me
2010 5.7 Tundra. There are different generations so mine is 2nd Gen, 2007-2013, then
2014-2022. Toyota wired them all with complete wiring harnesses essentially. My base model
has tow package, it also has Tow/Haul mode which is a way for the truck to figure out how you
drive and controls your shift points. I haven’t figured it out yet. There are factory brake controllers,
I put in Redarc Liberty. It’s plug and play. Even though my Tundra didn’t come with a controller,
sure enough there was a harness to just plug the controller in and go. My 2010 RCSB 5.7 has
a tow limit of 8500 lbs. not sure what a Airstream weighs. The new V6 twin turbo has much
more power than the 5.7 so if going for new, it will tow probably more.
I looked for older airstreams, they are like Land Cruisers now - $30K is a starting point.
Good luck and post what you get.
 
Airstreams are not 4 season trailers. The metal skin conducts heat and cold. I live in Arizona, in the summer sun they are almost impossible to cool.
They are cool looking and the aluminum skin is better than some trailer with a flexible roof that needs replaced every 10-20 years.
 
If you want an "Airstream" w/o the naked AL look, find an Argosy. They're built the same, but not necessarily outfitted inside the same. And then they're painted, usually a cream color on the outside.

Usually what determines a TR's tow rating is it's brakes and suspension, not it's HP.
 
I have a Basecamp 16x that I tow with my 200 series. I've had it a little over a year and I've been really happy with it. It's small, so it's easy to heat and keep warm in the winter. But for really hot weather you need a hookup to run the AC. So far hot and cold weather haven't really been an issue. I just plan ahead for it. Basecamp 16Xs weigh about 2500 lbs so I would think you could tow it with an 80. But since 80s are underpowered to begin with, you won't be setting in speed records if you tow with one.
 
I’m pretty knowledgeable about airstreams and vintage aluminum travel trailers in general.

Currently have a 77 sovereign in a million pieces and a wonderfully complete 78 Avion.

Just sold a 64 SilverStreak.

airforums.com is the best place for info though it can be fairly toxic.

When looking for airstreams there are several gotchas to look for. Feel free to PM me and maybe we could talk.

Avions are built way better than airstreams and are closer to being a 4 season trailer.
 
cruiserpilot said:
I too share your interest in Airstreams. But I’m ahead of you I just bought a new to me
2010 5.7 Tundra. There are different generations so mine is 2nd Gen, 2007-2013, then
2014-2022. Toyota wired them all with complete wiring harnesses essentially. My base model
has tow package, it also has Tow/Haul mode which is a way for the truck to figure out how you
drive and controls your shift points. I haven’t figured it out yet. There are factory brake controllers,
I put in Redarc Liberty. It’s plug and play. Even though my Tundra didn’t come with a controller,
sure enough there was a harness to just plug the controller in and go. My 2010 RCSB 5.7 has
a tow limit of 8500 lbs. not sure what a Airstream weighs. The new V6 twin turbo has much
more power than the 5.7 so if going for new, it will tow probably more.
I looked for older airstreams, they are like Land Cruisers now - $30K is a starting point.
Good luck and post what you get.
Click to expand...
if i get an airstream i will have to steal it so i am trying to be prepared.
the other issue is i am kind of caught between a 2.7L 4WD tacoma that needs a lot of maintenance and a 1997 land cruiser that needs some engine work.
i love them both (aside from maintaining them but i learn a lot doing this).
anyway rhe plan sort of was to sell the tacoma for a first gen tundra (V6 or V8). that sort of kills my gas mileage options but it leaves me with the 80 series that makes me feel like a pimp. which i like.
 
RevISK said:
I’m pretty knowledgeable about airstreams and vintage aluminum travel trailers in general.

Currently have a 77 sovereign in a million pieces and a wonderfully complete 78 Avion.

Just sold a 64 SilverStreak.

airforums.com is the best place for info though it can be fairly toxic.

When looking for airstreams there are several gotchas to look for. Feel free to PM me and maybe we could talk.

Avions are built way better than airstreams and are closer to being a 4 season trailer.
Click to expand...
messaged you. THANKS. i'm in austin.
 
RevISK said:
Avions are built way better than airstreams and are closer to being a 4 season trailer.
Click to expand...
That's good info! Up north Lance win the durability test for the loggers going back into camps, 4 season a lot of them.
 
I've got an Airstream Basecamp 20 and I've enjoyed it a lot. I've been towing it with a 2003 Suburban and it's been fine. Getting ready to tow it for the first time next week with an LC100. Towing capacity is listed a bit lower than the Suburban, but the weight is still well within the rated capacity. We'll see how it goes!

As far as performance on the basecamp goes, I've used it in all 4 seasons and a little bit off road.

I've actually had really great experiences using it in the summer. I've found that the aluminum reflects a ton of radiant heat in hot weather, especially in the desert. I have a lot of solar panels on it so that makes it much easier to park in the sun and keep the batteries charged.

Winter performance hasn't been quite as good. You get some of the heat reflecting benefits from all the aluminum on the interior, so it does reflect some heat back at you. But you lose most of that from all the windows. It has a good propane heater but you run through fuel pretty quickly if you're in cold weather continuously for a long time. Also, the last time I did some serious winter camping all my sewer lines froze and I had to thaw them out with a heat gun. All-in-all I wouldn't be scared of using it in the winter but I wouldn't consider it a rig for really really cold weather or a lot of snow. It's definitely not designed for long periods in serious winter weather. You could definitely make some simple mods to improve it if you wanted to do a lot of winter trips though.

The only think I definitely wouldn't recommend it for is off-roading or overlanding. They market the Basecamp X series as something you can take off-road ... but I wouldn't. At least not for long drives. It's great for driving over some rough ground to find a spot on BLM land or down a decently maintained gravel road, but I wouldn't knowingly do more than that. Last time I took it on a long rough road I ripped a stabilizer jack off on a cattle guard. They have decent clearance and a couple of little bumper things to keep your tail from scraping, but that's really it. If you hit anything it will damage the undercarriage, but I think that's probably true of all travel trailers. If you want to use it off road a lot I'd look at other stuff.
 
About 17 years ago I wanted a camper. The only camper my wife would agree to was an airstream (23FB). It was the worst camper I’ve owned. Only had it for 2 years. They are cramped inside, have extremely limited storage, suck in the cold (I’m in Alaska),…. Since then I’ve had a lance, outdoor RV, and Black Series. In terms of functionality all are/were head and shoulders over what the AS was.

Disclaimer we use our campers as a backcountry basecamp. So carry a ton of gear. Almost always at least have backpacking gear + fishing gear + mountain bikes and can have up to 2 weeks worth of food and supplies.
 
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