Power Wagon's and Airstreams?

[Zybane]

Anyone else besides me tow an Airstream? I feel it's the best combination of vehicles in their segment. Post some pics up!

[FirerescuePW]

Looks nice. Classy.

Looks like you could use a weight distributing hitch.

[Bill2014]

Looks nice. Classy.

Looks like you could use a weight distributing hitch.

Based on the road lines - it looks level to me...

[RustyPW]

Looks nice. Classy.

Looks like you could use a weight distributing hitch.

I agree. Does look nice.

[Zybane]

The pic was taken right before I installed the ProPride 3P weight distribution hitch. Made a WORLD of difference!

I wonder how much I could "go over" the puny 1,300 lbs cargo weight rating with my Laramie PW and not have the springs touch the bump stops.

[olyelr]

The pic was taken right before I installed the ProPride 3P weight distribution hitch. Made a WORLD of difference!

I wonder how much I could "go over" the puny 1,300 lbs cargo weight rating with my Laramie PW and not have the springs touch the bump stops.

Under no circumstances should the springs hit the bumpstops... But i dont think that is what you really meant.

My payload number is quite a bit less than that if i remember correctly. Probably because i have the rambox option.

Nice looking setup! Yeah, the weight distibution hitches are a must. And they do work very well!

MikeKey runs a similar setup as you.

[usmc369]

I had 920 pounds of concrete at rear gate of bumper and it made me sit level. I imagine if i shifted load to the center of the bed over axle I could have gotten a lot more.

[Z's2016PW]

There are a couple of us with Airstreams. A Power Wagon with an Airstream is a great combination! Still thinking of putting a lift on the Airstream so that when going on forest roads it won't drag over anything. Here is my picture. The Airstream is a 27' Flying Cloud. What is yours?

Zane

[Z's2016PW]

I had 920 pounds of concrete at rear gate of bumper and it made me sit level. I imagine if i shifted load to the center of the bed over axle I could have gotten a lot more.

Interesting. I had about the same amount of weight in tiles on the bed. It didn't look like the springs moved at all. Of course the load was centered and that might have made a difference.

Zane

[Cactus Red]

That makes our MiniLite 2109S look a bit poorly... Nice setup!

Air bags are another option to level up when towing. I'm at 8k to start with, so with the trailer hitched up, the back sags another 3" or so. 25 psi cures that and is a lot easier to do than a weight distributing hitch.

[Zybane]

There are a couple of us with Airstreams. A Power Wagon with an Airstream is a great combination! Still thinking of putting a lift on the Airstream so that when going on forest roads it won't drag over anything. Here is my picture. The Airstream is a 27' Flying Cloud. What is yours?

Zane

Ya, I am definitely going to do the 3" Dexter axle lift too on my 30 Classic.

[Zybane]

That makes our MiniLite 2109S look a bit poorly... Nice setup!

Air bags are another option to level up when towing. I'm at 8k to start with, so with the trailer hitched up, the back sags another 3" or so. 25 psi cures that and is a lot easier to do than a weight distributing hitch.

Nice, can I ask how much the air bag setup cost you? With the Propride hitch, it's not just about the weight distribution. It's more about the amazing anti-sway control that you get, with it being a pivot point projection hitch.

So far, I've been going over why the PW cargo capacity is so limited. Components that should work up to 2,000 lbs cargo:

1. Engine - no issues
2. Transmission with factory cooler - no issues
3. Frame - 2500 / no issues
4. Axles - from reading the specs it looks like no issues
5. Differentials - no issues
6. Tires - no issues with weight ratings

Components I am unsure that can manage 2,000 lb cargo:

1. Springs - designed for off-road
2. Brakes - Are they the same as on the regular 2500? If so, should have no issues
3. Wheel strength - uncertain. Are the PW wheels used on anything else/known weight limits?

Yes, I know there is a staunch "never exceed by 1 pound" crowd out there, but curious how bad that bump from 1,300 pound cargo rating and carrying an extra 700 pounds would effect the truck. Especially if that weight is well distributed over all four axles.

[FirerescuePW]

The limiting factors seem to be only the lighter springs and the height of the truck.

[olyelr]

That makes our MiniLite 2109S look a bit poorly... Nice setup!

Air bags are another option to level up when towing. I'm at 8k to start with, so with the trailer hitched up, the back sags another 3" or so. 25 psi cures that and is a lot easier to do than a weight distributing hitch.

Yeah, but bags dont help distribute any of the weight back to the front axle, do they? Also they do not have any sway control to them.

[TwinStick]

Nice set up. Looks Classy.

I wrote a nice letter to Airstream. E-mail actually. It was NOT well received AT ALL. First, I asked them: If i ordered an Airstream, could they put a 5" lift on it. They said "NO, Lifting an Airstream is counter productive to their company's name & furthermore, would make the unit unstable & unsafe while towing." So, a few months later, I wrote again & asked if they could take one of their single axle units & design one for people who like to get off the beaten path, with more ground clearance. Again, they said NO, blah, blah, blah. So, when I got our Starcraft AR One Extreme, I e-mailed them again & said basically "too bad, I really wanted an Airstream, but our lifted ar-one handles like a slot car on rails & it actually tows 1000% better than our previous toyhauler. I feel you guys lost out on a HUGE part of the market by not making a smaller camper with a lift.

I have NOT received a reply from that e-mail.


I think it would have been a HUGE hit. They are already associated with the "Eddie Bauer" name. Seems like a no-brainer to me. But what do I know.

[OffroadTreks]

I don't think they are losing much of a market. That'd be more niche than Power Wagons. It's a shame you didn't just use google, because Dexter makes a 3 inch lift for the Airstream. Should of just researched it. It's about $100. A 23 with the dexter lift is perhaps the best boondocking Airstream in my opinion. PS: I get off the beaten path all the time, so whateverz. But comparing a Starcraft to an Airstream is like comparing a can of Spam to a Corvette.

I full time in mine, zero issues while boondocking and I drag mine all over.

Air bags are another option to level up when towing. I'm at 8k to start with, so with the trailer hitched up, the back sags another 3" or so. 25 psi
cures that and is a lot easier to do than a weight distributing hitch.

Dude, that is shit advice.

Yeah, but bags dont help distribute any of the weight back to the front axle, do they? Also they do not have any sway control to them.

You're right. If you're towing a travel trailer (especially 8k) and aren't towing with a dually, you NEED a WD & Anti-sway hitch. I don't care that you have a 3/4 ton and think on the ball is fine. You're wrong. End of debate.

AIrbags are good if you're hauling around heavy loads in the bed. They are not a proper solution for towing.

[OffroadTreks]

So far, I've been going over why the PW cargo capacity is so limited. Components that should work up to 2,000 lbs cargo:

1. Engine - no issues
2. Transmission with factory cooler - no issues
3. Frame - 2500 / no issues
4. Axles - from reading the specs it looks like no issues
5. Differentials - no issues
6. Tires - no issues with weight ratings

Components I am unsure that can manage 2,000 lb cargo:

1. Springs - designed for off-road
2. Brakes - Are they the same as on the regular 2500? If so, should have no issues
3. Wheel strength - uncertain. Are the PW wheels used on anything else/known weight limits?

Yes, I know there is a staunch "never exceed by 1 pound" crowd out there, but curious how bad that bump from 1,300 pound cargo rating and carrying an extra 700 pounds would effect the truck. Especially if that weight is well distributed over all four axles.

This isn't Airforums.

It's been discussed by many of us here, that it's mostly likely two factors, the springs, tires and height which when combined with Lawyers, equals a derating.

One thing also discussed on this site many times is the fact that the winch is a 15,000lb winch, but in everything, Ram rates it as a 12,000lb winch. But take it apart and you'll discover it looks identical to the M15000. Matching part numbers even. So again, theory is Lawyers and liability.

But some of the components do increase the overall weight of the vehicle. Don't know if you've taken yours over the cat scales, but mine is a heavy truck when not hitched up.

[Zybane]

Nice pics Mike. I will also be full-timing in mine.

I do plan on taking mine to the scales. I think they go a bit crazy with the de-rating for all the reasons you listed.

[Cactus Red]

Dude, it"s not shit advice. They work fine for our application.

[OffroadTreks]

You're wrong, sorry but it's true. Go drive over a cat scale and get back to me.

---

And just to clarify; I'm not saying that airbags won't eliminate sag, because they will. What I'm saying is, that recommending them over a Weight Distribution/Anti-sway hitch as a fix all, is SHIT advice. And that you should be running such a hitch setup, even with a 3/4 ton truck. And a quick visit to the cat scales, hitched and unhitched will reveal the weight removed from the front axle and the weight added to the rear. All you have done is hidden a symptom of a bad setup.

On the FB Group a kid just towed his 28ft and reported really bad sway because someone else gave him the, "you'll be fine advice."

[Bill2014]

No reason to be so harsh even in a rant... In this case, a weight distributing hitch with anti sway IS probably the best solution. Power Wagon's don't make the ideal heavy tow vehicle - they were designed with a different specialty in mind.

[TwinStick]

Glad it works well for you. Not enough ground clearance for me. Not even close. Did look into it. No one by me will even perform the axle swap. Everyone is scared to death of liability. Even the trailer sales & repair places. Your idea & my idea of off the beaten path is different. We will agree to disagree.

[Zybane]

It's not an axle swap, it's just a three inch lift bracket on either side. I can do it in my driveway in an afternoon.

[RustyPW]

My set up when I was towing my 35ft camper was with a WD Hitch with Carli air bags. Started off with the WD Hitch first. That put weight back on the front axle which helped a lot. Then added the air bags later. That helped stiffen the rear end. Only needed 20 psi in the bags.

[MOPARManiac]

Our next camper will be an Airstream. Until then we'll keep using our Starcraft RT off road camper.