1st Timer Here, Towing Question

[PumpNDump]

Greetings All!

I am totally a new guy when it comes to towing, camping etc.

In 09 we bought a Nissan Pathfinder SE 4x4 V6, its been a great vehicle. Took it to a local RV place in my area. They've explained that it will tow " anything " we wanted, but they couldn't quote me the figures of what I could tow in weight. We promptly left that dealership.

Anywho I'm looking to figure out what the approx weight of travel trailer I could tow with my vehicle.

From taking everything I have at the moment to a local weight scale I know that :
- Vehicle weights 4484 lbs
- People and cargo weights 824.6 lbs

* Tongue weight is 600lbs

Been to several sites looking it up but they all seem to throw out abbreviations that I get confused with. Anyone able to point me in the right direction of figuring this out?

Cheers!

[mkirsch]

I don't think he's ditching the Pathfinder, just not planning on towing anything with it. Hence the idea of the Class C.

[drsteve]

PumpNDump wrote:
Just giving an update. Not planning on towing an RV with the Nissan. So no need to worry. 🙂

We're looking at a local RV show in hopes of getting a bit of a better deal. Staying within the 3500lb or below range so there are some things we're gonna have to just get over not having in the TT. But we have also thought about used Class C as well.

If you are ditching the Pathfinder, you will have no need to stay under 3500 lb.

[2012Coleman]

Googled payload for your vehicle - results:



You state: People and cargo weights 824.6 lbs

1265 - 825 = 440 lbs left for tongue weight.

Calculate that by multiplying TT gross weight by 13%, then add on WDH weight (if you can even use one on this vehicle), and subtract from 440lbs.

Good luck with that - take your own advice and get a better tow vehicle.

[Pop-Pop_C]

Salesmen will say any thing to make the sale.
Pulling is one thing, stopping is another!
Also, are you going to the local campground 50 miles away or across the country.

[PumpNDump]

Just giving an update. Not planning on towing an RV with the Nissan. So no need to worry. 🙂

We're looking at a local RV show in hopes of getting a bit of a better deal. Staying within the 3500lb or below range so there are some things we're gonna have to just get over not having in the TT. But we have also thought about used Class C as well.

[DownTheAvenue]

996Pilot wrote:

PumpNDump wrote:
We were thinking something like this


https://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Lemke-RV-2989768/listing/2017-Keystone-Springdale-303BH-122694951

Don't even think about it with a Pathfinder V6. 9600# loaded weight (if you stay within that) I'd be looking at 3/4 ton trucks JMHO. Bottom line - you DO NOT have a good tow vehicle. You have a sport SUV that you might occasionally tow a small utility trailer with or a small motorcycle trailer with. PERIOD.

EXACTLY! I bet the OP goes ahead and tries to tow a big RV with that little Nissan. I sure hope he doesn't kill himself or someone else when that trailer goes to fishtailing and overturns taking that little Nissan with it.

[996Pilot]

PumpNDump wrote:
We were thinking something like this


https://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Lemke-RV-2989768/listing/2017-Keystone-Springdale-303BH-122694951

Don't even think about it with a Pathfinder V6. 9600# loaded weight (if you stay within that) I'd be looking at 3/4 ton trucks JMHO. Bottom line - you DO NOT have a good tow vehicle. You have a sport SUV that you might occasionally tow a small utility trailer with or a small motorcycle trailer with. PERIOD.

[Ron3rd]

Generally, V6 vehicles like yours do well with trailers about 3500 lbs fully loaded. BTW I owned the same vehicle in the infiniti brand. Go to 5000 lbs and you will be very unhappy

[Lwiddis]

"But there's potential with other family members crashing in the trailer..."

Possibly in your family, not mine but I do bring a tent for them to pitch and sleep.

[PumpNDump]

We were thinking something like this


https://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Lemke-RV-2989768/listing/2017-Keystone-Springdale-303BH-122694951

We have only 4 people plus a dog. Wife wants a kitchen and bunks for the kids as needs. But there's potential with other family members crashing in the trailer so if we can afford the weight we'd like to go with the most size. But this trailer I posted would be our dream trailer and will not be able to tow something like this with our SUV. Which means sacrifices will need to be made if we cannot do a truck and a trailer at the same time. I love the SUV and hey its paid off so thats not bad either lol.

[GeoBoy]

The Pathfinder is not a good tow vehicle. You are on the right path to find a half ton or larger pickup truck to tow with. How big a trailer were you thinking about, how many people will use the trailer?

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

PumpNDump wrote:
Yup that's definitely what the sticker says but it aint yellow its black and white.

My dad took our SUV over to camping world today to double check the previous dealer, they did look at the numbers on the vehicle, vin # and recommended :

- Add trans cooler
- Air leveling bags
- Elec Brake
- Weight distro and a sway bar

The person that helped them was a Towing and Service Specialist, not a sales person. I've never heard of this title before.. They did print out for him a range of travel trailers that we will be able to tow. It shows the max dry weight of a trailer being no more than 5k lbs. I believe it would tow it but figure the brakes, motor and trans would be under a lot of stress. The folks at CW didn't seem to think the same though.

My wife and I are looking for trucks at the moment but my Dad is now convinced that we don't need one and can tow that size of a trailer. Guess im still in research mode..

Just buy it and tow the thing.

You know you're going to anyway no matter what anybody on here says. Just buy it and go. It keeps the economy going when you buy twice! :R

"towing and service specialist" ROTFLMAO you have the word of a "towing and service specialist"! What more do you want?

[Lwiddis]

"The person that helped them was a Towing and Service Specialist, not a sales person."

Boy, did I get a laugh out of this!

"Dad is now convinced...". Oh boy. Based just on the specialist?

[Lwiddis]

"I've been thinking of actually upgrading our second car to a Truck to be able to tow more."

You are out of order Pump! Select trailer first, then buy appropriate TV.