What do you TOW with your Tundra?

I think this is the bike event you are talking about. The vintage Airstream club still uses that drawing as the club logo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJvQ8K6hr3U

Aluminum can get smoking hot in direct sunshine. I have awnings all the way around so that probably helps a lot. What year was that AS? The new trailers have a white raised roof with ducting. I suspect for this is why.

The polishing is definitely a chore. I think I can keep mine in really good shape for the cost of about 1 Saturday a year. This is all completely superficial. I get a kick out of little old ladies smiling and waving at me when they pass me on the highway. Bare aluminum gets a really nice patina too. I would be happy to pull something like this around.

https://youtu.be/OnN-N9aky5U?t=122

 

I bet crashing a campground is a pretty fun time. Do they do any of those events around here?

 

It is usually a Blast!

We have a Fish Fry in Indiana at a different park every year in the Spring and another Indiana gathering at Brown County State Park in the Fall.
There is another in Central Il right after the Fish Fry and of course as Spring arrives the pace picks up a lot.

There are others around,some pretty close by and a really active community that hangs out at fiberglassrv.com where we also have Maps of the rallies locations and dates for making plans.

This last year of course has been odd and mostly just dead as many campgrounds are closed or severely restricted and many facilities are not open even if the CG is.

 

My mother-in-law and her husband are Airstream nuts. When they got married, they had four combined Airstreams, two of which were really old vintage trailers. Now they have two and the new one is huge (like apartment huge) and has been back to Jackson Center a couple times for warranty work. The other one I think is in a museum.

We went to an Airstream rally with them. It wasn't for us, but I enjoy the photos of all the trailers.

 

The current 25ft model is something I would like to experience for at least a few full time travel years. A current model (read 15 year old) may be in the budget in 15 years.Those windows are not like any other camper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIcUAI2rjog

 

Tow this Toy Hauler, weighs about 6k dry.

I use the snap on tow mirrors, they aren't great but get the job done

 

I use the same snap on mirrors. Not terrible.

 

Yeah! For the couple of times a year I need them they work just fine

 

I use the same mirrors when we yank our pontoon around twice a year, once to the lake at the beginning of the season, and once to our shop for storage late in the fall.

What's the size of the garage on the Tail-gator?

 

Garage is about 10x6

 

First time towing with the rig. Borrowed a 14’ trailer to get some practice in before heading on a multi-state road trip with a 23’ travel trailer next month.

 

23 is a good size. Will you be using a wdh?

 

Yes, got an EAZ-Lift

 

32ft transcend xplor 265bh. Weighs 6300lbs dry
My wife will only camp full hook up so tanks will never be filled so only extra weight will be our personal belongings.

 

Nice trailer. Am looking an one just like it in either 14' or 16' length, and maybe a little less tall (for dirtbikes). Used market is tough right now.

 

How are you liking the trailer? I’m looking at something with this layout

 

As a person that is about to buy a travel trailer for the first time and schooling myself on tow capacity, payload and how to calculate those numbers, y’all are crazy. Many of y’all are towing past the safe numbers, I’m getting a TT 6k and below GVWR and length at 26” or less, 7k might be pushing it for me but that’s my preference. Put all my cargo which isn’t much in the trailer and just passengers in the truck.

 

My TT is a KZ Sportsman 24BHS dry 4470# / Gross is 6K / Dry hitch is 570# / Gross hitch is 660# total TT length is 27'. This is the right combination for our Tundra's. I agree with you, many tow way out of the vehicles towing capacities, and is just unsafe. You are doing right, codo's to you for doing the smart thing and keeping you and your family safe. Good luck in finding your right trailer for your truck.

 

Glad to see this as I’m about to tow a travel trailer for the first time that is in line with both of you. If you have any other tips aside from using a WDH and loading most aside from passengers in the trailer, I’m all ears!

 

I am a firm believer of having a good WDH. I have used many and I believe in only 2 WDH that are on the market to date.
www.propridehitch.com or www.hensleymfg.com

Both of these web sites have video information on these hitches. If you are a first timer towing a TT then I highly recommend one of these hitches. I can confidently say you will not be disappointed. They are quite costly, but well worth every penny. I would consider them for sure. I am using the hensley cub on my TT. The propride 3 is also a great WDH/Sway control that was designed by an engineer that did at one time work for Hensley MFG. I would never use anything else.

 

Cant remember if I ever posted my trailer so here it is, maybe again.

 

I tow way under any limits for my trucks as a rule and I also use a WDH if the trailer is setup to do so. I camp regularly with others with the exact same trailer as I have and we argue at every meeting about WDH or no WDH and I can say that if you have never towed the same rig both ways you would be astounded at the improvement in the experience when using a WDH and further ANY WDH whether the pricey exotic brands or the cheapest you can find! Getting the load redistributed just makes sense to me and I have tried both ways with several rigs and have never wished to leave the WDH out of the trip,not once.

 

Also consider the Andersen hitch. It is a wdh and anti-sway and is one of the lightest, if not the lightest and quietest hitches you can get (I use this). Also, make sure you have between 10% - 15% of the total trailer weight on the hitch. I tow a 30' 6k lb (loaded) trailer and I would not want to pull anything too much heavier or larger. Good info here:

https://campaddict.com/reviews/towing/weight-distribution-hitch/

 

I CAN FINALLY POST HERE FOR REAL!!!

 

A friend of mine just gave up on his Anderson WDH, ordered a ProPride. He spent six months doing everything he could to dial in. Had 13% hitch weight, proper PSI on all tires, E-rated truck tires, rear sway bar, proper weight distribution measurements, etc. It wasn’t stable above 55 on the freeway around a semi or any light wind.
My Fast-a-way E2 seems to work a lot better for sway control than his Anderson and is very affordable, obviously it is no Hensley or ProPride though.

 

The two main towing items I focused on when I had my Tundra was the payload and the transmission temperature. Would recommend a hitch scale to really dial in your hitch weight to the 10-15% range. Also recommend a Scan Gauge or something else that monitors transmission temperature. Even when using Tow/Haul mode the trans temperature can rise quick. I had a 2016 with the trans cooler, helped a lot to stay in S4 most of the time.

 

Great first trailer. Looking to go bigger.

 

I'm loving the trailer I don't really have any complaints it's exactly what we wanted