Towing an Airstream - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kiley · 01-04-2004, 01:30 PM

I'm about to get a '78 31 foot Airstream travel trailer. I'm concerned about towing. I'll be going through mountain passes alot. I currently am set up with 33" tires and 3.73 gears, fairly stock 350 and th350. Should I be concerned about going to different gears? A 383 will be in the future so should I just get by until then?

I'm about to install ARB air lockers in the front and rear and don't want to do it twice.

Thanks for your input.

bouncytruck · 01-04-2004, 07:21 PM

You should definately get a transmission cooler if you don't have one. I would also look into rear helper springs. That's a lot of trailer to pull with a Blazer.

kiley · 01-04-2004, 08:20 PM

I've got a transmission cooler, forgot to mention that. My dad used to pull it with a 79 Blazer but it had a small block 400 in it. I don't remember what the gear ratio was but that blazer was bone stock except for the trailer brake stuff. He has pulled that same trailer with 3 other 1/2 ton suburbans just fine but again i don't remember gear ratios.

bouncytruck · 01-05-2004, 12:50 AM

My opinion is that the 3.73's should be ok. The problem with the Blazer is going to be the short wheel base. That trailer may pull the truck around a little.

LeRoy · 01-05-2004, 01:52 AM

The wheel base of the K5 is my concern to. I'd highly recommend a trailer sway control bar and some load lever bars. I pull a 25' trailer with my 1 ton extended cab truck and they make a world of difference. That trailer is one of the heaviest trailers made. They're awesome though. If that trailer ever started to wipe on ya it would try and flip that K5. I don't recommend it.

bouncytruck · 01-05-2004, 01:53 PM

What is the weight of the Airstream anyway? They are very nice trailers and becoming quite the collectors items these days. One of the girls in my office is really into them, like we are into Blazers. She watches the Airstream sites like we watch these boards.

http://www.airstream.net/
http://www.airstreamcentral.com/
http://www.airstream-bohemia.com/
and the list goes on...

kiley · 01-05-2004, 07:09 PM

Dad told me the trailer is 3 tons empty. We have the sway bar setup. The short wheelbase concerns me a little but we always did so well pulling it with dad's 78 k5 that I think I'll be ok. Of course the speed limit back in the late 70's and early 80's was 55 so in today's world of 65+ it might not do so well. I Oregon you are hard pressed to do more than 60 unless you're on I-5.

kiley · 01-05-2004, 07:10 PM

Thanks for your replies. I remember seeing you on ColoradoK5.com alot.

mister.freeze · 01-05-2004, 08:24 PM

MY '72 K5 HAD A 454 WITH A TH350 AND 373 GEARS TO PULL A 42'YACHT AROUND IDAHO. BOUGHT IT WITH A 350 AND PUT IN A 383. DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR GEARS OR TRANS. AS LONG AS YOUR 350 HAS GOOD COMPRESSION, YOU'LL BE FINE.

kiley · 01-05-2004, 08:28 PM

Did you ever have issues in towing because of the short wheebase? How did the 383 do towing the Yacht?

01-04-2004, 01:30 PM	#1
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	Towing an Airstream I'm about to get a '78 31 foot Airstream travel trailer. I'm concerned about towing. I'll be going through mountain passes alot. I currently am set up with 33" tires and 3.73 gears, fairly stock 350 and th350. Should I be concerned about going to different gears? A 383 will be in the future so should I just get by until then? I'm about to install ARB air lockers in the front and rear and don't want to do it twice. Thanks for your input.

01-04-2004, 07:21 PM	#2
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	You should definately get a transmission cooler if you don't have one. I would also look into rear helper springs. That's a lot of trailer to pull with a Blazer. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

01-05-2004, 12:50 AM	#4
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	My opinion is that the 3.73's should be ok. The problem with the Blazer is going to be the short wheel base. That trailer may pull the truck around a little. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

01-05-2004, 01:52 AM	#5
LeRoy Registered truck nut Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mt. Vernon, Washington, USA Posts: 1,584	The wheel base of the K5 is my concern to. I'd highly recommend a trailer sway control bar and some load lever bars. I pull a 25' trailer with my 1 ton extended cab truck and they make a world of difference. That trailer is one of the heaviest trailers made. They're awesome though. If that trailer ever started to wipe on ya it would try and flip that K5. I don't recommend it. __________________ MOUNT VERNON, WASH. STATE Need a part? Just PM me

01-05-2004, 01:53 PM	#6
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,038	What is the weight of the Airstream anyway? They are very nice trailers and becoming quite the collectors items these days. One of the girls in my office is really into them, like we are into Blazers. She watches the Airstream sites like we watch these boards. http://www.airstream.net/ http://www.airstreamcentral.com/ http://www.airstream-bohemia.com/ and the list goes on... __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

01-04-2004, 08:20 PM	#3
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	I've got a transmission cooler, forgot to mention that. My dad used to pull it with a 79 Blazer but it had a small block 400 in it. I don't remember what the gear ratio was but that blazer was bone stock except for the trailer brake stuff. He has pulled that same trailer with 3 other 1/2 ton suburbans just fine but again i don't remember gear ratios.

01-05-2004, 07:09 PM	#7
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	weight and sway bars Dad told me the trailer is 3 tons empty. We have the sway bar setup. The short wheelbase concerns me a little but we always did so well pulling it with dad's 78 k5 that I think I'll be ok. Of course the speed limit back in the late 70's and early 80's was 55 so in today's world of 65+ it might not do so well. I Oregon you are hard pressed to do more than 60 unless you're on I-5.

01-05-2004, 07:10 PM	#8
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	bouncytruck Thanks for your replies. I remember seeing you on ColoradoK5.com alot.

01-05-2004, 08:24 PM	#9
mister.freeze Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 733	MY '72 K5 HAD A 454 WITH A TH350 AND 373 GEARS TO PULL A 42'YACHT AROUND IDAHO. BOUGHT IT WITH A 350 AND PUT IN A 383. DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR GEARS OR TRANS. AS LONG AS YOUR 350 HAS GOOD COMPRESSION, YOU'LL BE FINE.

01-05-2004, 08:28 PM	#10
kiley Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Keizer, OR Posts: 103	wheel base Did you ever have issues in towing because of the short wheebase? How did the 383 do towing the Yacht?

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