Turning the Pathfinder into a towing machine

The Gas and Diesel Engines - VQ40De, VK56DE, YD25DDTi, V9X, Transmission, Transfer Case, Oil, Differentials, Axles, Exhaust...

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jdmacpherson41
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Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:02 am
Location: Canada

Postby jdmacpherson41 » Fri Feb 10, 2017 7:00 pm

Thanks for all the help guys, just recived the last of my Towing purchases. (P3 Brake controller)

I have a question about the WDH and airbags on the R51. How do you put your WDH on? Air bags first then adjust WDH, or tighten down the WDH and then top up the Air bags?


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disallow
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Location: Winnipeg, Canada

Postby disallow » Fri Feb 10, 2017 10:17 pm

I do airbags first to 25psi the drop the hitch on and apply the wdh.

jdmacpherson41
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:02 am
Location: Canada

Postby jdmacpherson41 » Mon May 01, 2017 3:28 pm

Finally picked up the trailer last week, took the wife and 2 kids to Regina SK, towed it to FT.Mac AB. No issues at all, lots of power, trans temp stayed cool. Kept the OD off, towed great.

Would like to thank everyone on this forum for offering up awesome advice.

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Kestral
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Location: MA

Postby Kestral » Mon May 01, 2017 5:14 pm

That's great that it worked out. What did you wind up setting the PSI at for your airbags? It is surprising how well the R51 tows a camper when properly set up and also how much power that 4.0 V6 has once it gets wound up. The first time I towed my camper with my Pathy I was on the MA pike on the flats looked down and I was going 85 mph! I backed off right away! I never had to worry about that with my 06 Toyota 4Runner V6 it just did not have the power.

jdmacpherson41
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:02 am
Location: Canada

Postby jdmacpherson41 » Wed May 03, 2017 5:31 am

I was a bit concerned about sag so I pressured them up to 35psi. It may have been a bit too much, going to drop it down to 25 for next trip, see how it sits. Trailer did not have any sag whatsoever at 35psi.

We towed on mostly Flat land, some hills in northern Saskatachewan, kept steady at 60MPH in 4th. Averaged 10MPG. according to the Bully dog tuner my Transmission Temp stayed between 140-150. That seems awful cool to me, but I'm not sure where the Temp sensor is.

Overal its a big load off knowing that I can pull and stop, at least on flat land. The next test will be the Rockies.

Kestral
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Postby Kestral » Wed May 03, 2017 8:24 am

If you have to drop into third gear on long hills do so and let the motor spin up it will not hurt the motor and it's better for the trans. On the MA turnpike going into the Berkshires I drop to 3 and keep the tack around 3,500-4,000 rpm and about 55 mph and I was really not down on the gas much at all much less then in 4th gear.

Keep in mind that it would be a good idea to do an early oil change when towing. The long timing chain in the V6 has a tendency to shear the oil down a grade esp when towing it will change a 30 weight oil to a 20 weight within 4,000 miles!


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