2018 Airstream Colarado dilema
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When at Morn Hill last week a Swiss couple came on with a twin axle Airstream do not know model, they were towing it with a Range Rover Vogue, they had a difficult time getting on a quite big pitch, it was fitted with motor movers,which by the sounds coming from them were under quite a bit of "stress?"after they had "tried"to use the car
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I was hoping to keep both batteries (already supplied) hooked up to an MPPT 165 controller to help maximise charging rates while on the move. That said, I see what you mean about diverting weight but of a van costing £91,000 I would much prefer to reduce the inconvenience factor if possible.
The water tank is 45kg but the MIRO only includes 35kg and one gas bottle. The other 10kg of water and the gas bottle is all deductible from the payload.
As you say though the van is fat and at 2.5m it is 15cm wider than my own MoHo. Not good eh.
I have rapidly come to the conclusion that the Airstream Colarado is unfit for the purpose it was intended.
The idea of this thread was to ensure that I was not missing something important in my analysis but you fine chaps have helped me realise that I was probably right to begin with.
Very best,
Andrew
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Yep, you know it makes sense, Ayf. 👍🏻
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Just what I wanted - I.e. some real time info and you seeing one in the flesh certainly gives me that. I saw a new Vogue at the New England Bay CMC site the other week and it was severely struggling with its very large modern looking van on the back. The towing capacity of newly developed MY18 vehicles has been hit hard recently and I think it is going to cause more problems for us guys and our hobby in the future.
Many thanks for posting up - you're a star
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I will be sir, for now.
We've had the Airstream on our radar for some time now but it was only last week where we made the brave push to go and see it.
My wife and I are quite disappointed by the whole experience but I would rather make a correct decision now than do something we regret later on.
May I say a big thank you for your help. It is very much appreciated along with the rest of the top chaps on this forum.
All the best,
Andrew
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The thing to remember is that an Airstream is a US product. Conditions there are more congenial for big things. Wide roads, plenty of space, cheap fuel etc. The UK is a small country with roads to match. As for a tow vehicle, you would need to think US style and accept that the ride/handling will be rubbish. As was posted earlier, something along the lines of a Dodge Ram is about the only thing that might be viable as a tow vehicle. As i think you are beginning to realise, it's a non-starter for the UK.
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Personally I wouldn't give up on the airstream dream. I would however consider a different model. That particular model is more suited to a seasonal pitch based on size. It's a similar length to the big tabberts and hobbys that are popular on seasonal pitches and I'd consider it too much of a challenge for touring.
We looked at a couple of smaller vans when the previous dealer was showing them and they were lovely. Still pretty big but far easier to tour with.
This chapess has airstream permanently on her eBay watchlist. Ideally I'd like a 1960s globetrotter which I'd gut and refit to my own requirements.
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Andrew D does however have a much smaller single axle van, so does not have the same towcar problems.
A smaller model would be much easier in many respects, but of course does not provide the same amount of space.
The Colorado does appear to be a non-starter on all fronts in UK.
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A big hefty Chevy, or as already mentioned, a Dodge Ram. Live the complete dream if you want to, you only get one life!
We saw our first ever Airstream being towed a couple of weeks ago. They are lovely, smaller than the Colorado though.
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Yes there are always ways round something if you're keen to do it, Andrew Ds videos and the information he puts out are always interesting. His trips to the Hebrides are an example of enjoying life with a different sort of outfit and just doing it.
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I couldn't agree more. His van is about 850kg lighter, 1.5m shorter and 21cm slimmer at 2.29m.
I've watched all of Andrew's vids (quite an inspirational guy TBH) and if he had owned an Airstream Colarado, instead of his 532, then his entire blog time would probably need to be replaced by constant trips to the body repair shop. I could not see a Colarado in the Highlands & Islands!
I'm sitting here with the new UK Airstream brochure on my lap, viewing the amazing shots of Airstreams in isolated locations next to American lakes and romantic-looking mountain ranges. It looks truly amazing.
This is a far cry from the pot-holed landscape of the NC500 or the traffic jams of the UK roads.
This is definitely not a van for UK usage.
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I think the best thing for us to do is grab a visa; jump on a plane to the US and then hire an Airstream for a few months and see those actual sights as depicted in the UK Airstream brochure.
I've looked at the Dodge Ram range and they are gigantic. I've also read a few US Airstream forums and have found it interesting on how much thought goes into a pulling vehicle - lots!
The Airstream Colarado (UK edition) is still a 6,000lb van and the Americans do seem to reject quite a number of Dodge, Ford and GMC vehicles as being unsuitable for the task.
The smaller Airstream is fine for UK roads but it's just the bigger ones that seem to have a few challenges.
Also, one of the points to us having a caravan-car combo is to see the local sights and a Ford F350 or Dodge Ram would be a right PITA to park.
Lots of compromises I think.
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If I was a single fellow then I would probably copy Andrew, buy a small Airstream and stick a bike on the back of my Nissan Nivaro.
........but the missus insists on coming with me so I need that extra space.
Not to be rude but she takes a heck of a lot more space than Dougal and his dog ball thrower
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Are you actually interested in this or do you feel that none of them are going to sell because you feel there is nothing that will tow them and you just want to point this out? If the latter there will be suitable tow vehicles and these type of vans will also appeal to people wanting to site a van for long term use, either as a holiday let or their own use.
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Jay, the Caravan Club has done juat that and has cashed-in by purchasing a few large Airstreams and then placed them on 3 or 4 UK sites. They'll make a fortune I'm sure but the vans will never move in their lifetime. They are nothing but party pieces to make money.
I do like the 1960's Globetrotter - a very nice van indeed
All the best,
Andrew
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I was honestly hoping for a bit of inspiration in terms of how to select a new MY18 vehicle but it seems much harder than first thought. I've checked out a secondhand RR Sport today (34,000 miles and circa £40K) but I'm not sure I want to buy something like that just to get my Airstream.
A shiney new Airstream deserved a shiney new car but.........?
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Thanks DD, I'll check out the MODs disposal center for ideas. That would make a very special tow car eh.
We spent an hour at the dealer yesterday and the only thing that is logged on their system for a van with an MTPLM of 2.4T is a MY17 Range Rover Sport. There are no MY18 vehicles from any current manufacturer on the Swift master list.
The problem that we've got is that we would be registering at 2,680kg to stay legal so that makes things even more difficult.
I even checked out a Mercedes GLS today but the trailer weight ratio to car is still 112%.
Thanks for the post-up
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As I have said before these types of vans are often permanently sited in the UK. I expect they are delivered on trucks much the same way as other "static" types are seen being delivered. You could ask the club if you are interested in how they arrive on sites? I expect you will have seen the various very large circus and fairground vans being towed by trucks and similar vehicles so they are moveable but not by conventional means.
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A rather inelegant solution would be to get a commercial flat bed tow truck. You could transport a runaround on the flat bed and tow the van.
It may look like the fair is coming to town.
I can't find anything in the sub 3.5t bracket that would suit I'm afraid. I think many vehicles would struggle - our pick up tows magnificently at 1500kg but I don't think it would handle nearly twice that weight especially well even though it's plated to do so
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One option might be a big American pick up truck, perhaps something like a big Ford obviously it would be left hand side but it might have the towing capacity? Don't where you would find one,perhaps near an American air base?
David
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Guys, thanks for the info above. I've just phoned a very helpful lady in the Caravan Club car-van matching service but they couldn't help either. There was a bit of a stutter when I mentioned 2.7T.
I even asked about the CMC Airstreams (the ones for static rent) and how they were delivered but it looks as if they were placed on the back of a flat bed truck.
Does anyone know if I can mount a caravan on a flatbed truck and still use CLs and Club site pitches, lol.
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David, many thanks, I've been looking at the stock of a big US Import dealer today but some of their gear must be equivalent in size to bolting two Range Rovers together. There was one Supercharged Ram showing MPG stats that would make BP and Shell think twice; it was incredibly ugly too.
I'll be very honest with you David - My wife and I love the unique lines of the Airstream but we don't want to look like American wannabe's with a truck that's wearing horns on the 'hood'. (See that, I'm already there).
I don't want to be starting every sentence with "Howdy Partner" when I turn up at a club site
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