airstream ride?

Aerodynamics, torsion axles, and the low center of gravity all help the Airstream to tow well. I have towed TT's and 5'vrs with all types of tow vehicles. The Airstream I have now is a step above based on my previous experience.

amxpress wrote:
Airstreams pull nicely because of their aerodynamics AND their Torflex suspension, without needing shocks. Most of the AS can be towed with the newer half tons, which ride better than 3/4 & 1 Tons. The latest gen RAMs have coil suspension and ride really smooth as compared with their previous gen trucks. Test drive the half tons by Ford, GM, Toyota, & RAM and decide for yourself.

My opinion is, coil, springs belong on the back end of a Buick, not a truck.

I still remember the old Chevy / GM pickups from the 60's with coils in the back, going down the road and looking like a pogo stick. Work good when the shocks are new but when the shocks start wearing out, the ride gets, shall we say, bouncy.....

and shocks wear out faster with coils than leaves because coils have no inherent friction dampening like leaves do. The very act of leaves moving against each other and the friction produced by that produces suspension dampening, not so with coils at all.

I have Silastic springs on the truck and it did improve the ride but not enough by quite a ways

DanKirk wrote:
Forest River Rockwood and Windjammer trailers have the same TorFlex axles as the Airstreams. Having never pulled an Airstream, I don't know if it's as good, but our Windjammer pulls very nice.

X2, love our 3001W Windjammer

However honestly I was thinking the 5 vr would ride better than a bumper pull which was my expereince in the past.

Fifth Wheels can have chucking. It can be a very annoying motion between the fifth wheel and the truck. I am confident if your wife does not like the travel trailer issues she will definitely not like the way a fifth wheel chucks. Look into the Sulastic spring mods for your truck. It reduces the harshness of the rear springs. And the price is way cheaper than a new truck or a fifth wheel.

X 3 on the Bostrom seats nothing else as far as shocks springs axels etc. will even com close.

Airstreams pull nicely because of their aerodynamics AND their Torflex suspension, without needing shocks. Most of the AS can be towed with the newer half tons, which ride better than 3/4 & 1 Tons. The latest gen RAMs have coil suspension and ride really smooth as compared with their previous gen trucks. Test drive the half tons by Ford, GM, Toyota, & RAM and decide for yourself.

x2 on the Dexter axles. I've got a Rockwood and the Dexter axles. Always thought it towed pretty well, but since I upgraded the tires, it rides even better.

FrankShore wrote:
Any TT is going to pull smoothly, if they have Dexter Torsion Flex Axles.

Whatever you do, don't get a TT with springs or leafs.

Nonsense. I currently own and pull regularly four different trailers. Two of them have dexter torflex, and the other two are leaf sprung.

There isn't a dime worth of difference in how any of them pull or ride regarding the suspension. I pull them all with the same two trucks over the same roads.

The main advantage torflex axles have is they allow the trailer to be built approx four inches close to the ground, due to the way the axles mount. Which is why they are often the choice for cargo and stock and horse trailers. A lower floor makes for easier loading and unloading.

Thanks for all of that info. I am wondering if the hitch set up would be necessary if the suspension system on the trailer were better? Yes I think the truck is the problem. However honestly I was thinking the 5 vr would ride better than a bumper pull which was my expereince in the past.