towing question

[bosco01xj]

Well i was just seeing if it was possible for me to tow with the frontier. My dad just bought a brand new one with a towing package. If/when I decide to buy a tow rig it will be a toyota probably.

 

[thechief86]

i think it would be worth it to rent/borrow a trailer for a day, and load up the xj and make your own decisions. i towed an xj on a trailer with my old xj(both were stock) from nashville to memphis, and it wasn't so bad. it helped that it was a five speed, though.

 

[srimes]

manuals tow better than autos? what?

I towed my wife's escort on a tow dolly with the xj and it was no trouble at all. Not a heavy car, but both were fully loaded with boxes of crap.

 

[thechief86]

yep, it didn't shift into bogdown mode unless i told it to.
there is a reason that 90% of 18wheelers are manual.

 

[FlameRedTJ]

Yea theres no way a XJ will be 3k lbs. When I took my TJ and Dans old XJ over the scales we figured his was about 4500 or so since my TJ was really stripped down to somewhere around 3k. If you can get a good featherlite or equivalent aluminum trailer then you might be ok for weight. I've used an equipment trailer that weighed 2700lbs by itself.

If your going to do it occasionally then you'd be ok with a WD hitch I'd think, just take it slow and easy. If you want to do it more comfortable then a 1/2 ton will get it done. Me I wanted to not have any problems and got a 3/4T Diesel and love it. It even does OK with 6k lbs and no trailer brakes. Not fun, but ok. A Prodigy or P3 controller will make life alot easier as well as far as brake controllers.

The manual is a big help with hwy towing. On my trip out west I really wish I had one for the mtn grades, trying to manipulate the auto on grades wasn't fun, especially with no EGT gauge wither.

 

[uncc civilengineer]

If that poor Frontier is an auto I just feel sorry for it.. I'm guessing the "towing package" on the truck consists of a hitch? OR does it also have a tranny cooler, Class IV hitch, power steering cooler, etc?

I'd venture to say any kind of grade and you're going to be better off driving the XJ. Also PLEASE do not tow with a U-haul trailer with surge brakes, man that's just scary...

If you must tow with such a small truck get yourself a nice trailer w/ brakes on both axles and a good controler.

Having towed w/ my old 01 WJ Limited and my cousin's 06' Quad cab Chevrolet and now my 05' 2500 cummins.. it's just amazing the difference a 6spd diesel makes. I set the cruise on 65-70mph and just let it go in 6th...

For comparison I've ridden with my cousin from Winston Salem -> Mountain City and that's a pretty large uphill battle and his 1/2ton Chevrolet pulled it but wasn't too happy.... pulled the same thing w/ my truck and well it's night/day difference..

So basically could the Nissan "theoretically" pull the XJ around, yes... should it, no...

 

[Jed]

If you are planning to rent a U-Haul trailer I would call them first. They will ask you what vehicle you are pulling with and what vehicle will be on the trailer. They may not rent you a trailer..?