Community Forums

Dan_n_Missy · 08-12-2015, 02:44 PM

Hi all,
Our 2006 Pace Arrow has a 5000 lb tow hitch capacity and we want to use it to pull a U-Haul car hauler with our Nissan Xterra on it . U-haul has worked their on-line formula and says it will work no problem. The curb weight of the xterra is 3777 and the trailer is 2210 empty weight. This totals 5987 lbs but is well within the capacity of the auto hauler trailer, says U Haul.

We can't dingy tow or dolly tow the xterra and there is no budget for buying another car and a toad hitch this trip.

Any advice or concerns, experiences etc would be appreciated. We will be traveling from Tampa to Fairfax Virginia so no big mountain passes to cross.

Regards, Dan

Tha_Rooster · 08-12-2015, 03:03 PM

Trailer brakes?

**NLOVNIT** · 08-12-2015, 03:10 PM

Hello & welcome to iRV2. We're glad to have you here.

"Uhaul says"??? You're way over your hitch rating. If you get in an accident, you'll be lawyer fodder. Don't do it. If you can't dolly it or get another toad within your hitch rating, then have someone drive it.

Lori-

PCarillon · 08-12-2015, 07:04 PM

I would assume Uhaul trailer has a surge brake on it so that should take car of that part. I pull my race car and open trailer with our 05 pace Arrow and Trailer weight and car are over 6000lbs with no issues.I did re-enforce the hitch though on our 37c to be safe

Mich F · 08-17-2015, 11:26 AM

Two of your three post on this site are about towing the Xterra on a trailer. You know you will be about 1,000# over what your vehicle (as it is set up) is rated to tow. You may very well also be over the rated tongue weight, towing that vehicle on a trailer. Are you just looking for people to tell you it's OK ?

Dan_n_Missy · 08-18-2015, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

Hello & welcome to iRV2. We're glad to have you here.

"Uhaul says"??? You're way over your hitch rating. If you get in an accident, you'll be lawyer fodder. Don't do it. If you can't dolly it or get another toad within your hitch rating, then have someone drive it.

Lori-

Thanks Lori. I'll take your advice .

Dan_n_Missy · 08-18-2015, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mich F

Two of your three post on this site are about towing the Xterra on a trailer. You know you will be about 1,000# over what your vehicle (as it is set up) is rated to tow. You may very well also be over the rated tongue weight, towing that vehicle on a trailer. Are you just looking for people to tell you it's OK ?

Mitch, yes , The consensus is that Towing the Xterra on the U-Haul trailer would be a very bad idea due to the weight issue. Maybe I was hoping someone would say the weight ratings are plus or -1000 pounds but that was not the case. I'm now looking for Plan B. Thanks for the input. Dan

Dan_n_Missy · 08-18-2015, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCarillon

I would assume Uhaul trailer has a surge brake on it so that should take car of that part. I pull my race car and open trailer with our 05 pace Arrow and Trailer weight and car are over 6000lbs with no issues.I did re-enforce the hitch though on our 37c to be safe

PC, yes, The U-Haul trailer has brakes but only activate if the trailer comes off the hitch is that a surge brake?

Dan_n_Missy · 08-18-2015, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster

Trailer brakes?

It has a hydraulic system that activates trailer brakes should the trailer become disconnected from the hitch

jdoc · 08-18-2015, 07:51 AM

Paul Carillon, is the tow rating on your RV more than 5000 lbs? If not, I hope I don't meet you on the road some where. Re-enforcing your hitch did not change it's tow rating. Only the manufacturer can do that.

Jerry

Mich F · 08-18-2015, 08:42 AM

Some (myself included

) have been fairly hard on you. Your MH as it is now, is not rated to do what you want.
I would however look into what you would like to do a little more, before giving up.
First, regarding that trailer, those surge brakes do activate while driving, and will lock up the brakes in the event of a breakaway.
I would check out what the GVWR and GCWR figures are on your Workhorse? chassis. There might be enough to meet your needs. If there isn't, if you are somehow enough below your GVWR the difference between your loaded weight and your GCWR, might be adequate.
Of course if you have a 5,000# hitch, that should be changed. If the numbers work, you would still have to find a qualified hitch/metal shop to do whatever reinforcing would be needed, to upgrade from the tow rating that Pace Arrow gave that motor home.

PCarillon · 08-18-2015, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdoc

Paul Carillon, is the tow rating on your RV more than 5000 lbs? If not, I hope I don't meet you on the road some where. Re-enforcing your hitch did not change it's tow rating. Only the manufacturer can do that.

Jerry

Jerry I feel very comfortable that my Coach can haul what I am hauling with no issues. For that last 35 yrs I have comfortably pulled Car trailers, Open and Closed with all my Vehicles with the 5000lb rated hitches. My Coach doesnt have any issues pulling it. Now if I didnt reinforce the hitch I wouldnt pull this trailer setup all the time. A few times here and there probably. I have electric brakes on the trailer and have a controller for them and they work just fine. If you dont feel comfortable doing then dont. I do and will continue to do so but thanks for your Concern.