By Kamil Kaluski
These days we are bombarded with advertisements. Many of those advertisements are specifically targeted at us and in many cases we may not even know it. The ads are clever, sometimes hitting us right in the feels/wants. But recently I noticed a pattern of advertising of certain types of vehicles – specifically large SUVs and pickup trucks.
In order to show off their towing might, manufactures have been attaching Airstream trailers to them. And frankly, who can blame them? Those trailers are timeless classics, they look great, and deep down inside at some point we all wanted one. Heck, Range Rover even had a press release on how one of their fancy rigs towed one to a snowy place many of us did not know existed. What else would you attach, a porta-potty trailer?
The crazy part is that I think it works. I wouldn’t mind a new RAM Power Wagon with an Airstream Flying Cloud attached to its bumper as I make my way towards Fairbanks. It’s a great dream… and that’s what advertisements like those sell – dreams. Great looking dreams.
Jeff Glucker
You don’t see many Airstreams out on the highway at all, and after pricing them out, I see why.
The next time I see a Lexus SUV towing anything will be the first.
Tow with my GX all the time, and all over Idaho. Just not an Airstream.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/65c311926c641abaea0818f62c2361cdf07383127cdfa98ccae3917c56cf930b.jpg
Don’t doubt that it’s capable, just not usual around here. Mostly carpool duty, up to and including the LX570.
I get that, and you’ll see different between the Rockies and the Cascades.
Edit: if I was back on the Gulf Coast, we wouldn’t have a 4WD SUV. Probably wouldn’t have a camper either, not much opportunity.
Different needs.
Doesn’t that apply to most SUVs?
Yes, though most particularly the luxury badged ones.
Two summers ago, traveling well into Maine and Vermont and saw quite a few. In January, at the Dayton paddock there were a handful.
Agreed on all but the Basecamp. There is nothing classic or iconic about the Basecamp.
I fail to see why anyone would use a pickup or SUV for this when there are other options.
https://live.staticflickr.com/1812/43136450735_83ef038e91.jpg
I’ve often thought it would be quite badass to get a 70’s big-block wagon from (insert manufacturer) and equip it for towing a camper.
I would love an aluminum Airstream and aluminum F-250. That way I know my empty Cuurs can have truly been recycled.
I love seeing the 7-passenger crossovers towing the humorously-small little suppositories that maybe sleep two. The only thing that can sleep a family of 5 comfortably that can be towed by most family-sized crossovers is a pop-up, but they’re quite unsexy, looking like a USPS flat rate box on shopping cart wheels.
Back in 1973, my dad had a 1971 Dodge Monaco Crestwood (vinyl woodgrain siding) wagon with a 383 4 BBL which could not stay cool enough with the proper set up towing a 25 foot trailer for all six of us. We moved onto a 1973 IH Travelall with 392, rear wheel drive and that thing could tow any travel trailer available at the time. We moved onto a 28 foot Prowler bunkhouse model.
One of my dad’s buddies had a 31′ Airstream which they called the 747 because all the system mgmt. was upfront to operate the leveling system, switch to city water and all the peculiarities possible. It was gorgeous inside and out. He towed that with a beaten down GMC Jimmy panel truck which was used to tow our first large trailer when the Monaco overheated after 10 miles. Priorities intact and updated, the Travelall was ordered and received within 2 weeks. I maintain that it set a standard of truck capacity that made other manufacturers improve. Too bad IH disappeared from the public market.
I would have an Airstream but the co-signer wants a Class C. I’m patient, though.
Sometimes a classic is needed to tow a classic. Brother Bus_Plunge’s rig several tow vehicles and at least one Airstream ago. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/40c0c3060cd7d444213a4f6d5843ce6565668950f2ff4fb0f19c1b58c57688ff.jpg
When did b-road raid / touge run / canyon carving ruining Caravans become cool?
Airstreams are very light for their size, aerodynamic, and easy to tow. They make the vehicles appear to be able to tow BIG trailers in the ad without completely overloading the vehicles. Even still, I’d bet money that Airstreams shown in many ads would indeed exceed vehicle payload ratings with more than 2 passengers and any kind of actual camping gear. Tongue weight has to be at least 10% of total trailer weight and that is all borne on the tow vehicle’s axles.
The ridiculous trailer towing numbers published for 1/2-ton pickups these days are roughly calculated by: How much payload is left with just a driver in an empty truck? Multiply by 10 to get your trailer weight!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1933ae5cbc91d5acaad70b7e8ff0913e62df377934fbf3af834202262c4eeec9.jpg
Discus won’t let me post pictures again. It says I’m not signed in…even though it displays my icon
Discus won’t let me post pictures again. It says I’m not signed in…even though it displays my icon
I agree with MD Harrell – there was a time when Americans thought nothing of hooking up a trailer to their daily driver and heading West. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c583175b472b2d7a9b24a73cbe6c2e93224b3ddf8a06dfb9180c9661a704f7f1.jpg
Weren’t they headed east in that movie?
Anyway, I took the photo of the Continental with the Airstream last August, so as of about a year ago at least one person was still on board with the idea.
Weren’t they headed east in that movie?
Anyway, I took the photo of the Continental with the Airstream last August, so as of about a year ago at least one person was still on board with the idea.