Newbie Towing Question

Any topics related to 2005-2012 R51

Moderator: volvite

btaylorsacto
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:41 pm
Location: Sacramento, CA USA

Newbie Towing Question

Postby btaylorsacto » Mon Nov 06, 2017 3:34 pm

I just bought a used 2102 Pathfinder with the 6 cyl. engine. We want to upgrade our hardside popup travel trailer to something a LITTLE larger (and that has a bathroom). I' looking at a trailer with an unloaded weight of 2425lbs but with a GVWR 0f 3850lbs. The hitch weight is 430 pounds, which seems heavy to me for the weight of the trailer. Can the Pathfinder handle that, or will I need airbags in the springs to deal with it. What about a swaybar? Would a hitch weight of around 340 pounds or so be better? (Our current trailer's hitch weight is around 225 and the Pathfinder doesn't really seem to notice it.) Oh, the Pathfinder has the factory tow package, including a tranny cooler. Thanks!


Kestral
Moderator
Posts: 689
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2014 3:22 pm
Location: MA

Postby Kestral » Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:37 pm

I own a 2012 Pathfinder and my Jayco trailer weight is around 5,000 pounds loaded and 4,200 empty with a hitch weight empty of 550 pounds and at leased 650 to 700 loaded. My truck does an excellent job of towing this load however you are going to want to add the air bags it is a must the stock springs are just too soft. You can upgrade the springs but the most cost effective thing to do is just add the airbags. Also get yourself a weight distribution hitch set up it will take weight off the back of the truck and transfer it to more of the center of the camper.

Run your truck tires at leased 5 pounds over the stock door setting or read the side of the tire don't go over max but more air then normal driving.

User avatar
underworld1001
Posts: 328
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2016 9:05 pm
Location: Austin, TX

Postby underworld1001 » Sat Dec 09, 2017 8:30 pm

Late response, but in case the OP hasn't found the towing thread or needs some visuals -- http://www.thenissanpath.com/viewtopic.php?t=3357 -- might also help others in case this pops up in a search engine


Return to “R51 General Chat”