[A/S] Your First Trailer Towing Experience

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Leslie,

Congratulations on the purchase of your new vintage A/S.

You didn't mention two essential items for towing, the weight distributing
hitch system, and the tow vehicle wiring and female trailer connector.  You
may be completely familiar with these two requirements and have simply
thought it unnecessary to even mention them.  ???  If so, please ignore the
following comments.

Your tow vehicle must have a platform hitch receiver bolted (preferably) or
welded at four or six points to the frame of your Land Rover.  The hitch
receiver should be at least a Class III but a Class IV would be preferred.
The hitch receiver accepts a standard weight distributing hitch head which
includes a 2" trailer ball and provisions for attachment of the trunnion
(weight distribution) bars.  A 2" drawbar on the hitch head is inserted into
the hitch receiver and pinned.  The top of the trailer ball must be
approximately 20" above the pavement when the hitch head is secured in the
tow vehicle hitch receiver.

Your hitch equipment must also include the trunnion bars (weight equalizing
bars) which attach at their rear to the trailer's "A" frame with flip-over
brackets and at their front, to the hitch head.  These bars are used to
spread the tongue weight from the tow vehicle hitch to the tow vehicle's
front wheels and to the trailer's wheels to avoid tow vehicle rear end sag
and to improve towing stability.

An anti-sway device of some type is also highly recommended, especially for
an SUV like your Land Rover with a relatively short wheelbase.  Your
anti-sway device could be a REESE dual-cam hitch assembly, a friction sleeve
device manufactured by a number or companies, or the more expensive and more
complex Hensley hitch.

Your Land Rover must also be wired so that it provides running lights,
stop/turn lights, back up lights (if the trailer is so-equipped), trailer
brakes, trailer 12 volt charge line, and a ground return line, all to the
female trailer connector mounted under the rear bumper adjacent to the hitch
receiver.

You will want to ensure that your new trailer has had it's wheel bearings
serviced fairly recently, it's brakes adjusted, and it's new tires properly
inflated to the maximum pressure prescribed for the tires and molded into
the tires' sidewalls.

When you hook up, test the lighting and trailer brakes before you embark on
your adventure.  Vintage Airsteams originally had their male electrical
connector wired according to a different plan than the remainder of the RV
industry.  At some later time, early '70s I think, the RV industry and A/S
began wiring all trailer-tow vehicle connectors according to an industry
standard.  If your A/S has been in use by it's prior owner, it has probably
already had it's male plug rewired to match the standard tow vehicle wiring
code.

If you are already experienced at owning and towing other brands of
trailers, please forgive my advice based on the assumption that you are a
novice.  If you are not, please feel free to clarify the information offered
and ask additional questions if desired.

Good luck with your "new" Airstream and welcome to the cult.

Harvey Barlow
Lubbock, TX
WBCCI 1171, WDCU, VAC
and a couple A/Ss