Community Forums

a44v589 · 06-17-2017, 05:05 PM

I'm picking up my first new travel trailer on Tuesday morning. I don't have a weight distributing hitch yet. I have a Nissan Titan XD, and the trailer has a dry weight of 5500 lbs.

Can I pick the trailer up without a weight distributing hitch? Going to drive it across town, but no extra weight (i.e. tanks empty, no camping gear, etc) so it should be pretty close to its dry weight.

Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it.

1bigmess · 06-17-2017, 05:35 PM

Yes. You'll have no sway control, however. Maybe it will be super easy, maybe it will be like work, and maybe it will be a nerve wracking ride where the wind will push you all over the road, I cannot tell you for sure, but yes, you can drive it, but who can predict exactly what the experience would be like?

Do you, or will you, have a brake controller?

a44v589 · 06-17-2017, 05:59 PM

Almost all the Titan XD's have built in trailer brake controls. Every one I looked at anyway. They're Predator DX2's that are repackaged for OEM if I recall correctly.

1bigmess · 06-17-2017, 06:04 PM

So does *yours* have one? I'm not gonna buy a Nissan pickup truck, so I wasn't asking about most of them.

lcboy · 06-17-2017, 08:49 PM

You will need a hitch. You will bottom out on bumps and wind will push you all over the road.

Rednax · 06-18-2017, 08:05 AM

Tongue Weight is the problem. If it's heavy, that will affect steering control.

"Across town" you'll have to define. In some towns it'll be fine. In some cities (or on any highway), it won't if TW is high.

keymastr · 06-18-2017, 08:12 AM

The dealer will make you sign a couple forms stating that you were informed of the safety implications and you still wish to take delivery without a weight distributing hitch. You will be way over the weight carrying capacity of the receiver but for a trip of just a few miles it may be doable. Steering and braking will be compromised as well as ground clearance and probably the angle of the trailer as well.

Why do you not want a WD hitch?

a44v589 · 06-18-2017, 08:31 AM

Thanks for the advice everyone, great community here, I really appreciate it.

I intend to get a weight distributing hitch, I just haven't yet. I may pick one up pre-pickup tomorrow, but I'm making contingency plans in case I don't have one prior to pickup. Will definitely have one before we load it out with gear.