[A/S] Towing capacity

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chuck,

My thoughts used to run along similar lines to your comment. The 
operative words are " used to."
It took one fish tail experience early in my towing career to convince 
me our '75 Mercury Wagon (460CID V8 w/tow pkg) was the cat's meow for 
towing. Skimping on the tow vehicle is not my idea of rational thinking 
for family safety.

Since those early years, I've wanted each of our tow vehicles to be 
strongly capable of flawlessly handling our Airstream with ease and 
agility under any circumstance. That's a tall order. Our 3/4 ton Van 
(460 CID V8 w/ tow pkg) does that with our 32' Airstream.

If you've been reading this list lately, you'll know I've recently been 
towing one of our smaller Airstreams ('67 22') with a less than optimal 
tow vehicle ('87 Suburban 6.2L diesel). That vehicle is pleasantly 
comfortable, dependable, handsome to look at, handles well (rock 
solid), is trouble free, the a/c works and it's economical (23 mpg 
solo).  Many owners would say this tow vehicle is good enough. My 
opinion: "Good enough Isn't."

When towing with the Suburban, I miss the confident feeling of knowing 
the truck is in full control of the Airstream. I know there is no 
reserve towing capacity. That's blatantly evident on the Interstates 
with the 18 wheelers and their inevitable - whooosh - as they fly by 
going up hills. If I were to press down on the accelerator, the ONLY 
thing to happen is the engine would make more noise.

Towing with the Suburban is no where near as much fun as with our other 
tow vehicles. I could sell the Suburban today (there's a line) but it's 
worth more to me than to any buyer - plus it's fun to drive solo. And - 
my wife likes that deep throaty growl of the diesel's dual exhausts.  
Not! <grin>

Terry