Considering a new Nissan 4L V6, as TV & TT combo

[Don Rob]

They are running some good deals on Nissan trucks, so I wondering if people are happy with
their Nissan TVs. It's rated to tow 6500#. I would buy a TT, that may weigh as much as 5000#
loaded. So, I had better get a weight distribution hitch and a trans cooler. Any other suggestions?

[Don Rob]

They are running some good deals on Nissan trucks, so I wondering if people are happy with
their Nissan TVs. It's rated to tow 6500#. I would buy a TT, that may weigh as much as 5000#
loaded. So, I had better get a weight distribution hitch and a trans cooler. Any other suggestions?

[jodann]

While the only experience I've had towing with a Nissan was an Xterra 3.3 V-6 towing a 19 foot lite weight TT. It was a total disaster in that the slightest of inclines yielded abrupt downshifts. Towing mileage was also dismal.

Next was a trail cruiser 26QBH with a dry weight of 3350 lbs. being towed by a GMC Yukon w/5.3 V-8, 3:73 gears, factory tow pkg.This was what I'd consider barely adequate. Just traded for a used low mile Yukon XL w/6.0 V-8, 3:73 gears, also with fact. tow pkg.

I now have a tow vehicle that is more than a match for my TT. Towing mileage is better & the towing experience is just so much more relaxed.

I'll conclude by saying that I believe you'll be sorely disappointed with the combination you have proposed. As expressed MANY TIMES elsewhere on this website is that "You can never have enough truck." Had I only known about this & other sites instead of believing the salesperson I'd have saved myself a bunch of $$$ as well as some 'white-knuckle' experiences.

[RedGuy]

I tow a 21ft TT weighing I'm guessing around 4,500lbs loaded (3,700lbs empty) with my 86 Grand Wagoneer. This is a smaller tow vehical with only 108in wheel base, and basically 1/2 ton suspension. I have upgraded the brakes to 3/4 to GM brakes though. The engine a 5.9L V-8 probably produces no more power than that 4.0L V6, it's rated at a dismal 129hp, and 245 ft/lbs of torque. The way I have it set up with a good weight distributing hitch, and anti-sway devices it tows and stops good. However it's really lacking in power! It accelerates ok up to around 45mph, on flat ground, but above 45 the wind resistance really starts catching up with it. I can really only get up to about 65mph on flat ground, after that the engine is taped out! And for get any inclines, even small grades cause a loss in speed. I usually tow at 55mph which feels pretty good, and yeilds half way decent milage for this old beast, I get about 8-9mpg at 55mph, 7 at 60mph, and that's really as fast as I've towed for any significant distance.

SO basically what I'm getting at is while this is a decent tow vehical for my size TT, it really needs more power! I think you had probably look closely at how much vehicale your getting. I'm probably going to be transplanting a GM 5.3L this winter, which should give me alittle more power and better milage.

[TXiceman]

I have been the path of towing a 21' TT with a 4.0L Explorer (3.73) axle and it was not a lot of fun. The exploder would pull it, but I needed a bit more power and a lot more truck. The rig was sensitive to load balance and hitch setting and was tiring to drive on longer pulls, say over about 4 hours.

Nissan is a fine vehicle, but a bit small fro any real towing in my opinion.

ken

[CD]

Don
I see you are pretty new to this group so Welcome. I don't know how you would do it, but if you could tow the TT you want w/Nissan then tow it with a 3/4 T or better yet a Dully, you wouldn't be asking the question. You would be looking at bigger TVs. I can get about 13mpg @20K GCVW as long as I keep it under 60. The stability is so much better than a smaller TV. Over the years I went from a car to a 1/2T to 3/4T and now the Dully. I won't go back.

[Ray,IN]

This towing calculator will safely and accurately match a tow vehicle and trailer.
Notice it only uses the trailer GVW in calculations. Never depend on the unloaded or "dry weight"mfgr. figures(notoriously inaccurate) unless you plan to only travel unloaded-which will be,er-NEVER.
Any vehicle rated by the manufacturer to tow, has operating limits imposed by said manufacturer. They perform satisfactorily within those limits, exceed them and, I refer you to TXiceman's reply.

[Randy the sly old fox]

With the Nissan and any tow vehicle you must read the fine print very closly and insure that the vehicle you are looking at has everything required for towing the weight. I know that Nissan and Toyota have very strong engines that out do most of what the US can do. That said, the trucks are usually smaller in overall size and weight - which can allow a tt to easily wag the dog. Narrow trucks also require larger mirrors in order to see around the typical 8'wide TT. The Tundra is about the only truck I have seen that is as big as the GM and Ford trucks. The Ford Ranger at one time had a large tow rating - as long as the frontal area was under a certain sq footage - less than a typical TT. I would also not guess about your TT weight - take it to a scale and get some real wts - or use the GVWR from the build tag.