Proper dinghy to tow?

[Danpaine]

Hi Everybody. First-time dinghy-tower here, with a dinghy size question.

First off, I'm driving a 2016 Class C Forest River Forester 3171DS, with the E450 Ford chassis, V10. Horsepower, 305 hp @ 4,250 RPM,
Torque, 420 ft-lbs. @ 3,250 RPM.

What I would *like* to tow is my 2016 Nissan Frontier 4x4, that weighs
5815 pounds. Is this truck too big and heavy to tow with my rig? Or
if it is possible, would I be putting undue stress on the rig to tow it up hills, etc? I'm already figuring my gas mileage will take a significant hit.

As I said, this will be the first time towing a vehicle behind my unit. If it's smarter to downgrade the dinghy to a small car, so be it. It's just that I'm nearing the end of my lease with the pickup and am trying to decide whether to turn it in and buy something smaller to tow, or buy the pickup outright and make it my dinghy.

Thanks very much for any input.

[rjstractor]

I think for some reason Ford upped the GCWR of the E450 with the V10 to 22,000 lbs., up from the 20K rating in 2012. Interesting side note, it looks like the 6.2 V8 is also available in the E series, but has a 4000 lb lower GCWR. I guess we know which engine can tow more! 😉

[Heisenberg]

rjstractor ... Good to know. I thought I went to FR and got the latest. Obviously Google provided the 2012 near the top of my search. I did not read far enough.

[Heisenberg]

Danpaine ... I do not quite have it ready yet. It is a 4WD. My 2014 Jeep met a sudden death and the Colorado is my replacement. Insurance difficulties.

[rjstractor]

Heisenberg wrote:
Too heavy.

The link you posted is for a 2012 model, OP's is a 2016 and lists his model as having a 7500 lb hitch.

[Danpaine]

Heisenberg wrote:
Too heavy.

Do you tow the Colorado you have, Heisenberg? (great name by the way)
If so, is it two-wheel drive, and how does that work for you? Thanks.

[Heisenberg]

Too heavy.

[Danpaine]

Thanks very much for the useful input, Everybody. I do like the Nissan, so I guess what I'll do first is determine from the manufacturer if the truck is towable, then I'll make the decision from there.

[camp-n-family]

The highest GVWR of any model 2016 Frontier is 5690lbs so yours shouldn’t weigh more than that. The highest curb weight is 4412lbs so even with some aftermarket add ones you shouldn’t be much heavier than that unless you plan on loading up the bed and the seats.

[carringb]

Heisenberg wrote:
You are lucky if your hitch is 5000 lbs. You need to start with the tow hitch rating. I would bet it is 3500 lbs.

Modern Forest Rivers have a 7,500# hitch receiver.

[K_Charles]

FMVSS is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

[mowermech]

"Chassis Stretchers must comply with a Ford Standard (short name FMVSS) that requires extended to match original specs."
You mean FMVSS means "FORD Motor Vehicle Safety Standards"?
I thought it meant "FEDERAL Motor Vehicle Safety Standards"!
Well, live and learn, I guess

[Heisenberg]

You are lucky if your hitch is 5000 lbs. You need to start with the tow hitch rating. I would bet it is 3500 lbs.

[Johno02]

Towing an HHR (4000 lbs) with the same engine. Have never had any problems, but the higher weight you are considering might make a difference. Just don't try to be a speed demon.

[carringb]

Check your weight. I'm pretty sure a Frontier does not weigh 5,800 pounds. That's maybe the GVWR?

But even then, the E450 is rated for 22,000 pounds with a 7500# hitch receiver, so you'll be fine. A good proportional braking system is recommended (maybe required where you are?).