Towing a 25' (or larger) Airstream? (1 Viewer)

[ethernectar]

Is anyone towing a 25’ (or larger) Airstream trailer? Looking for someone with first hand experience who can answer a few questions.

What year 200 and any significant mods?
What towing hitch set up?
What brake controller?
Trailer weight loaded?
How long/far have you towed?
Any notable pulling or braking issues on big climbs/descents?

If you've towed a trailer with a loaded weight just under 8K, would like to hear from you as well.

We have a '14 with bumpers/OME lift/etc...

Thanks,

Matt

 

[mrburlingame]

Wonderful questions. Curious myself too.

 

[GordJ]

Me too. Surprised that there’s not 8 or 10 threads about this already.

 

[RoaringFork]

Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser

I posted this on my personal blog at Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser but wanted to share it here directly so it would be indexed. I've read a number of different thoughts and opinions about towing with the 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser. One popular opinion which seems to come...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[GordJ]

Try typing “airstream“ into the search window

 

[FerzLC]

Is anyone towing a 25’ (or larger) Airstream trailer? Looking for someone with first hand experience who can answer a few questions.

What year 200 and any significant mods?
What towing hitch set up?
What brake controller?
Trailer weight loaded?
How long/far have you towed?
Any notable pulling or braking issues on big climbs/descents?

If you've towed a trailer with a loaded weight just under 8K, would like to hear from you as well.

We have a '14 with bumpers/OME lift/etc...

Thanks,

Matt

Try typing “airstream“ into the search window

Is anyone towing a 25’ (or larger) Airstream trailer? Looking for someone with first hand experience who can answer a few questions.

What year 200 and any significant mods?
What towing hitch set up?
What brake controller?
Trailer weight loaded?
How long/far have you towed?
Any notable pulling or braking issues on big climbs/descents?

If you've towed a trailer with a loaded weight just under 8K, would like to hear from you as well.

We have a '14 with bumpers/OME lift/etc...

Thanks,

Matt

LX570 Tow Report

Got some miles under my belt now towing my current setup: '09 LX570 with '07 Airstream 27FB International Ocean Breeze. Wanted to give a report for others attempting to tow things in the same weight/length range. LX570 mods: 33" AT Load Range E tires (Falken Wildpeak AT3W 305/55/20), 1"...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Rando Kuruza]

Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser

I posted this on my personal blog at Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser but wanted to share it here directly so it would be indexed. I've read a number of different thoughts and opinions about towing with the 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser. One popular opinion which seems to come...

forum.ih8mud.com

I tow a 25fb and have extensively written about my experience, trans temps while towing, cat scale weights, towing up mountain passes etc etc. Check our that post it’s pretty extensive

 

[JohnJerk]

I tow a 23 ft trailer that weighs just under 5k. brake controller and weight distributing hitch are required. We camp in Wyoming quite a bit and deal with wind. Its not fun trailering. I would not recommend towing 7-8k with this truck. 5 miles, sure. 100+ miles, not for me. The truck is too short is the problem.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

I tow a 23 ft trailer that weighs just under 5k. brake controller and weight distributing hitch are required. We camp in Wyoming quite a bit and deal with wind. Its not fun trailering. I would not recommend towing 7-8k with this truck. 5 miles, sure. 100+ miles, not for me. The truck is too short is the problem.

It sounds like the issue is sway?

 

[TeCKis300]

I tow a 23 ft trailer that weighs just under 5k. brake controller and weight distributing hitch are required. We camp in Wyoming quite a bit and deal with wind. Its not fun trailering. I would not recommend towing 7-8k with this truck. 5 miles, sure. 100+ miles, not for me. The truck is too short is the problem.

I was cautious about the wheelbase originally when I approached my setup.

Having thousands of miles now under mile belt, and experiencing extreme grades up and down, sometimes in extreme winds and weather, I no longer have any reservations about it. I've found my setup imminently stable and the shorter wheelbase (which to your point can indeed be a liability), has been such a boon for maneuverability when hauling a larger trailer.

What I've learned is that any truck, even 3/4 and 1-ton trucks can have sway issues. Configuring weight balance in the trailer, WD hitch setup, and tires/tire pressures matter. With every detail either contributing or taking away from stability. Setup right, it's a sweet rig. You can find some setup tips and details in the LX570 tow report above. I personally would not choose to tow my 28', 7,600 lb gvwr, trailer with anything else as I love the balance of capability, luxury, and comfort afforded by the 200-series.

 

[coleAK]

Have a ‘13 LX and tow out camper 8-15k miles a summer all over Alaska, Yukon, BC. I’ve posted a bunch on the above mentioned threads. I’ll mention this as well. Airstreams are either a love or hate. We had a 27FB for 3 years. The last 2 we pulled it with the LX. It was just under 8k loaded and towed well. If you don’t already have an airstream when compacted to other TT’s they are much smaller inside (low ceiling, no slide out), have less storage, and are cold in cold weather (even been in an AL canoe on cold water?). in 2016 we sold it and got a ORV Black Rock 22BHS. It is 3’ shorter tongue to bumper, and ~6800 lbs loaded but much larger on the inside (slide out) with much more storage and great insulation (we been comfortable in it down to single digits F). I know a few people that have traded their AS for a Lance or ORV, almost everyone up here in AK has a camper and I only know 1 person with an AS, our AS dealer don't even stock the trailers.

I guess what I’m getting at is if you are in an area where you can rent a few campers before you buy. Airstream and other brands. While airstreams are stylish they aren’t for everyone.

I use a husky round bar WD hitch with 10k bars and a curt triplex controller.

I’ll also mention the first year I had the AS pulled it with a f250 diesel. highway towing the truck was much better then the LX. Cruising along at 65-70 mph almost didn’t even notice the trailer, Up passes was a breeze. On the other end when, parking the trailer, navigating campgrounds, and around town the LX is much better.

 

[JohnJerk]

It sounds like the issue is sway?

18 wheelers and wind make the trailer move the LX. It doesn’t go into a sway pattern, but moves the truck around in sketchy ways. No wind no problem, but we visit very windy SW Wyoming often. I imagine a long wheel base 2500 duramax would solve all problems.

 

[ethernectar]

Thanks for the comments, will read through them this week. We had a 25’ rented for a trip all the way up the CA coastline but cancelled all of our plans due to the ‘rona situation. In principle we like the 25’ twin models for overall length and amenities.

 

[3LCfan]

I have a 2016 Landcruiser and have been towing a 28’ Airstream Serenity for over four years and way over 2000 miles. The trailer has a base of close to 6000 lbs. and a gvwr of 7,600lbs. I had my hitch set up so the trailer is perfectly flat using Airlift air bags in the rear. I feel the rig is stable and of course I drive cautiously and defensively. I do wonder if the next generation Tundra would have a big advantage in towing the trailer, but I love the Landcruiser as the vehicle we use once we get to our destination. I am sad to see we might not get the series300 in the states.

 

[NKP Garage]

I've towed boats with all our Land Cruisers and LX's. From 20ft to 30ft, loaded with fuel and gear. Tandem axle to triple axle. Some with brakes some with no brakes. My suggestionts:

* Load your trailer properly so that you have Tongue weight fo aroudn 10% of your total trailer weight. If you can't figure it out by eyeballing it then get a tongue weight scale and make sure you're close. Make sure you have proper functioning brakes on at least one axle, better yet on two axles. Get a good brake controller, tons out there that work well, pick one that works for you and is in your budget and get it installed, tested, and working. Never overload your vehicle (onboard weight + tongue weight). And always keep at least 2 spare tires for the trailer with you at all times along with jacks/tools/etc...

 

[linuxgod]

18 wheelers and wind make the trailer move the LX. It doesn’t go into a sway pattern, but moves the truck around in sketchy ways. No wind no problem, but we visit very windy SW Wyoming often. I imagine a long wheel base 2500 duramax would solve all problems.

I don't have an Airstream but I have a 25' Lance trailer. The weight, frame height, and overall dimensions are similar to a ~25' AS.

If you're getting sway I'd recommend a different WD hitch. Or start with double-checking your setup and the tongue weight you're running with whatever setup you do have.

I had a ProSeries hitch on my old trailer when I first got the LC, which had a friction anti-sway device. It was OK but when you passed a semi it would definitely move you. If you were on a 2 lane road and the semi came the other way it'd shake you as it whipped past. We did 2 years with that - the first year with the stock suspension and the second year with a 2" lift.

My current setup on the newer trailer is a BlueOx hitch. I get no sway from it. Literally I'll drive between two semis on the highway at 75MPH with one hand and feel no sway at all. On 2 lane roads at 60mph I can pass an incoming semi and... NOTHING. I've put close to 15k miles driving from Illinois out west the CO, UT, CA, AZ, etc over the last 3 summers and the LC handles it marvelously. I wish I'd bought the BlueOx hitch out the gate.

A good hitch properly setup will let you run a 25' trailer on an LC or LX just fine. You don't need a 1 ton dual cab pickup with an 8' bed. I can set my cruise at 75 and nearly forget the trailer is behind me (except when merging.. no way to hide that weight). I'd drive faster but the trailer tires are only rated at 81MPH and so I try to give a margin of safety.

Note: The only time I do get any sway is if some jackass in a van comes up on me going 20-30mph over my speed and gets kinda close I'll feel the ass-end of the trailer wiggle me, That's pretty rare on cross-country trips but here in Illinois I might be doing 70 with the trailer in a 60 zone in one of the right lanes and people will pass doing 90-100. No kidding here... Illinois doesn't apply points to your license unless you've had 3 violations in 12 months so you can get caught driving 120MPH twice a year and all you pay is the ticket. (FWIW I think the wiggle is in part because I run on the high end of recommended tongue weight so there's less "stabilizing" the rear... when I'm carrying a full grey or blank tank which is behind the rear axle I don't recall ever experiencing this).

 

[WCKD RBL]

I currently tow a 22 foot airstream / 5000 lb gross. I am looking to possibly move up to a 25 foot airstream. I use a Hensely hitch - there is no sway or wind effect under any circumstance. Driven over 5K miles including Colorado mountains. My bigger issue is rear sag - I'm adding coil-rite airbags to get the rear up and level both the cruiser and airstream. I almost fried the stock brakes on the cruiser coming down a moutain pass but it was my fault as a novice. Crank up a proportional trailer brake and use gears to control speed on the way down and everything was fine after that. That said I am adding larger Z36 brakes to the cruiser just for safety. No issues with power at all. If I move to a 25 footer and 7200 lb gross then I would likely swap out rear coils for some super robust ones which will unfortunately make the ride harsh when not towing. I only tow at 65mph and follow the guidelines provided by Toyota - 65mph, use sport mode and the power transmission setting.

 

[adrenalinejunk8]

Any updates on towing 25ft Airstream?

 

[a200]

Any updates on towing 25ft Airstream?

If a dodge intrepid can do it

 

[Heritage 2020]

Any chance you can rent a 2500 series pickup if not cost-prohibitive for the trip?

I wouldn’t use the Land Cruiser simply due to wanting to have a wide margin excess power and capability vs. feeling squirrelly. I’m also a once in a blue moon tower—and perhaps not as experienced as some who tow frequently.

We use our F250 Super Duty 6.7 for towing as I feel more confident with the extra weight/power/wheelbase when towing especially uphill/downhill and dealing with curvy roads and crosswinds.

NOTE: Every time we RV tow we end up pulling more weight than we expected due to “stuff” that tends to come along for the trip.