After we settled on the Airstream 30-ft Flying Cloud bunk trailer, we had to find a truck to tow it. Oh, this decision was stressful. Although I grew up driving my parent’s big trucks in Alaska, I’d never actually owned a truck. And neither had my husband.
We spent hours researching trucks and brands online – Dodge, Chevy, Ford – we had it narrowed down to the big three brands. You’re probably thinking, “Well, duh!” but seriously – we had to start somewhere!
And we knew we wanted a diesel truck – hands down they dominate in the towing world. Check. At least that choice was easy.
And we knew we wanted a BIGGER truck than we needed. Because we’d heard too many stories of people trying to tow a trailer with a truck that can’t handle the load – resulting in a less controlled tow, transmission failures and even accidents. Shudder.
Some of the smaller Airstream models can be towed with small trucks and even SUVs – but we were getting one of the largest Airstream trailers – so we knew we needed at least a 3/4 ton truck – for safety and comfort.
I surveyed everyone I knew, asked in various online forums, read reviews, watched YouTube towing demonstrations and visited local truck lots – test driving a few. I wanted someone to tell me one truck was the absolute best bet – but that changed depending on who you talked to!
I likened it to asking runners at a marathon who makes the best shoe – Nike, Adidas, New Balance or Saucony? The reality is – they ALL make great shoes and depending on personal preferences and past experiences – each runner will have their own opinion.
We finally settled on the 2015 Ford F-250 diesel. It’s a beast. It’s blue, making me think of my beloved Seahawks. And it has a comfortable interior. But most importantly – it is designed to haul. It’s what it’s made for. It’s more than enough to tow our trailer – so we have some wiggle room in terms of weight. From what we’ve seen so far – it tows the Airstream trailer like a breeze without even showing much effort.
I hope we made the right choice. I hope she gets us all over the country and keeps our shiny, tiny home safely behind us. 🙂 We shall see!
She’s beautiful! Nice choice with the diesel too. We’re planning on going that route too! Only, I’m not looking forward to those expensive oil changes! ::shudders:: lol
Hey Kyle – Yes, we prepaid our maintenance which will help us on the road. You can always negotiate those pre-pay plans – which can make the per service price really great. So far we are loving the truck!
Will you be giving us a tour of your new home and showing us how you were able to put what you need in there for the trip. I can’ t imagine living in that small space, but it is a dream of ours. Sadly, we haven’t saved well and my husband has a lot of health issues.
Hey Denise! You better believe it. We are still packing and organizing the inside of the trailer, but I’ll be sharing it all in the near future. I’m so sorry to hear about your husband’s health issues – I hope you get a chance to chase after your dream, too!
I just found your site. We are thinking of getting an Airstream and a Ford F250 too. Great site and photos. Very well written and designed.
Hey Scott! Welcome! Sorry I didn’t respond earlier, we’ve been a little distracted lately with work and a quick trip home to Washington. I’m excited for you – we love both the Airstream and Ford F-250. Have you decided for certain? Keep us posted!
Hi! We are a family of 5 and are also looking at an Airstream 30′ Bunkhouse. Our tow vehicle would be our ONLY vehicle, so I would prefer something more family friendly than a truck. In other words, I will be usig it to go to Target. In your research did you consider a 3/4 ton Suburban a sufficient vehicle for this Airstream?
I am looking at a similar rig very soon. What type of fuel mileage do you get while towing? Do you think that a Dually would be a better option?