There are camping situations where you may not want to unhitch your Airstream from your tow vehicle to camp. But is it safe to leave it hitched?
The simplest answer is that you do not have to unhitch your travel trailer from your tow vehicle. Many Airstreamers stay hitched for quick overnight stops, boondocking, or simply for convenience. You can also hitch your travel trailer and tow vehicle the night before you leave, taking advantage of the daylight to complete the task and allowing you to leave first thing in the morning the next day.
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you keep your tow vehicle and travel trailer hitched while camping:
- Ensure you complete your walkaround before departing your campsite, especially if you hooked up to campsite power, water, or sewer during your stay. It’s never fun accidentally pulling away with a sewer hose still attached.
- If you have set stabilizers or levelers, veteran Airstreamers suggest hanging streamers or colorful tape to help you to remember to remove them before departure. You can also put a tool or other item on the driver’s seat of your tow vehicle to remind you to reset them before you leave.
- While opinions differ – and individual tow vehicles all come with their own set of precautions – it is generally not necessary to disconnect your 7-way cable from the tow vehicle, especially when stopping for one night. While there is a small power draw from your vehicle’s battery when you’re hooked up to the 7-way connector, it’s generally not enough to drain a vehicle’s battery over the course of a night or two. If you’re worried about sapping your tow vehicle’s battery, there’s nothing wrong with disconnecting the 7-way cable – just ensure that you plug it back in before hitting the road in the morning!