[A/S] Loaded for a trip?

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Jim,

Yes, our Airstream is ALWAYS loaded for a trip. And yes, our water tank is
ALWAYS full. You didn't ask, but yes - one of our goals is to stay at places
other than those we've stayed at in the past. That means we're ALWAYS fully
ready to boondock and get electricity off our solar panels. Even after 40
years of towing our trailers around the continent, it's still an exciting
lifestyle for us. 

The factory tag on the front of our '77 31' Excella 500 rear bath lists GVWR
at 8500 pounds. That includes two factory frame strengtheners, thermopane
windows throughout and two 40# propane bottles. Other than that, it's a
typical side couch, front credenza Airstream.

If you've been following the postings for a while, you've read how some
Airstreams have factory tags listing the GVWR at fewer pounds than the rig
weighed (on a certified scale) when delivered to the dealer brand new.

We have friends who had that experience. We saw two separate "certified"
weight slips for their trailer and both indicated it weighed more than the
tag indicated as GVWR.  The rub was that this occurred when the trailer was
empty. These are hard facts, not fuzzy facts.

The only weight I put any stock in is that which is written on a "certified"
weight slip and only then, when the date is less than six months old.
Twelve years ago, I learned my lesson when "A Weigh We Go" did the first of
three weighings of three different Airstreams we've owned.

Since then, I've used the Tire Manufacturer's charts and certified weight
slips for determining the PSI of our tires. Since then, they've worn evenly.

Enough said,

Terry 

mailto:tylerbears@airstream.net