Owning an Airstream travel trailer allows you to explore the world on your terms. Towing is a central part of that experience. Selecting the right tow vehicle for your particular Airstream model and lifestyle helps ensure that every adventure is enjoyable.
While your tow vehicle choices might seem overwhelming, the information in this guide will help you narrow your options to those that can tow your Airstream and meet all your lifestyle needs. We will start with some questions to help you frame your decision-making process, share the numbers you need to understand to choose wisely and wrap it all up with a detailed chart that puts all the data you need at your fingertips as you evaluate possible tow vehicles. And when it comes to ensuring that your tow vehicle is matched to your Airstream trailer, your local Airstream dealer is your best resource to help ensure maximum safety.
So, how do you choose wisely when it comes to selecting a vehicle to tow your Airstream? While numbers like Gross Vehicle Weight Rating and Hitch Weight play a vital role in determining a tow vehicle’s suitability, those stats simply narrow your choices. To make your best selection from those options, you need to ask yourself some important questions.
Here are some considerations when selecting the best tow car/van/truck for your Airstream travel trailer.
Step One: Understand How You Roll
Your tow vehicle does much more than haul your Airstream from Point A to Point Fun. And adventure looks different for everyone. So, starting your tow vehicle search with a clear sense of everything you need is important. These questions can help sharpen your vision.
How Big Is Your Crew?
Think about how many people typically join your Airstream adventures. This will determine how many seats and how much storage space you require. Just two of you towing a lighter-weight Airstream? A small pick-up or tow-capable gas/electric hybrid might work for you. But a family of five with a dog will be much happier in a passenger van or large SUV.
Are You Gear-Heavy?
How much stuff do you need to facilitate your version of outdoor fun? Do you haul outdoor sports equipment (skis, bikes, climbing gear, SUPs)? Kid stuff (the pack-and-play, toys and trikes)? What about things like a generator, gas grill or firewood? Consider the weight and volume of all these items when evaluating tow vehicles.
Where Do You Plan to Adventure?
Your preferred destinations should be a key consideration when making your tow vehicle decision. You need a vehicle that can get you where you want to go. If the mountains are your thing, a tow package, including a heavy-duty hitch and upgraded braking and suspension systems, is essential. Diesel vehicles and heavier duty EVs often do well pulling heavy loads up steep climbs. Boondockers might benefit from four-wheel drive, while a standard SUV or hybrid could be the answer for Airstreamers with lighter models who like to explore cities, towns and tourist attractions.
Do You Want a Tow Vehicle and a Daily Driver?
Think carefully about additional roles you might need your tow vehicle to play. You can’t ask too much of one vehicle. For example, will your tow vehicle double as your everyday drive? If so, you need to consider the demands of both tasks and look for something that comes closest to fulfilling both purposes. If you have a long commute, you may not be satisfied with the gas mileage you get from a truck capable of comfortably towing your Airstream. Do you want to carry kids or business associates in a van or SUV that’s habitually full of wood chips or smells like gasoline because you haul a generator in the way-back a couple of weekends a month?
What About Motorized Airstreams?
You need to ask similar questions when considering one of Airstream's best-in-class vans. Developing a clear vision of your outdoor uses helps ensure that your Airstream Atlas or Interstate touring coach will facilitate those adventures.
For more insight on all these questions and issues, talk to your nearest Airstream dealer. Their expertise and advice will help immensely as you work toward making your decision.
Back to the Numbers (and the Acronyms)
Once you’ve settled on the best type of vehicle – hybrid, van, truck, EV– for your needs, it is essential to understand and heed the following weight considerations and limits. As you assess your choices, remember that excess towing capacity is better than barely enough. Running your car, van or truck near its towing redline will take a toll on the vehicle and may create stressful white-knuckle moments on mountain roads and desolate desert highways. Your Airstream dealer and vehicle dealership can address all the nuances of these numbers for the Airstream units and tow vehicles you are considering. The car guys can fill-you-in on how various configurations – tow package, diesel engine, four wheel drive , EVs – will impact both your towing capacity and overall driving experience.
Important Terms to Understand
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): This is the maximum allowable loaded weight of your tow vehicle or Airstream, as set by the manufacturer. GVWR includes the weight of passengers, cargo, and the vehicle itself. Exceeding the GVWR poses significant risks as it makes the vehicle difficult to control, slow, or stop.
Tow Rating: The vehicle manufacturer’s rating of the maximum weight that can safely be towed by a vehicle. Your RV’s GVWR should not exceed your Tow Vehicle’s Tow Rating.
Net Carrying Capacity (NCC): The total weight that your Airstream can carry, including cargo and passengers. NCC does not include the weight of the unit itself. Never overload your Airstream. That excess weight can create a dangerous amount of inertia, making it difficult to stop. And, over time, those added pounds will take a toll on your tow vehicle’s brakes, suspension, frame, and engine.
Unit Base Weight (UBW): Sometimes called “dry weight,” this is how much your Airstream weighed when it rolled off the assembly line – before you started putting stuff in it.
Hitch Weight (HW): Also known as Tongue Weight, this is the amount of weight a trailer's tongue places on the tow vehicle’s hitch. Because the hitch is attached to the tow vehicle’s frame, exceeding your tow vehicle’s tongue weight rating will push down the rear of the tow vehicle, causing not enough weight to be on the front axle. The result is difficulty steering, possible loss of traction, and trouble stopping. Hitch Weight can be influenced by the distribution of weight inside your Airstream. If you are bumping against your tow vehicle’s Hitch Weight limit, consider a distribution hitch, which can help level out your Airstream and tow vehicle. The Airstream hitch weight includes the batteries and propane tank weight.
Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity (OCCC): This standard is applied to motorized RVs. The Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity is the maximum allowable weight for everything onboard the unit – people, pets, food, tools, full water, and LP tanks plus personal belongings.
Picking the right tow vehicle can be daunting, but arming yourself with all the necessary knowledge helps make the decision easier. Download the Complete Airstream Towing Guide and explore the various specs for each of our iconic travel trailers.
Note: This guide was updated March 18, 2025. Always consult the most up to date specs for both trailer and tow vehicle and check with your local dealer to ensure compatibility.
