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Old 06-23-2017, 02:01 PM   #1
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Towing with a 4 cyl 2WD automatic Nissan Frontier

I am hoping to buy a Jayco Flight SLX 145RB and tow with a 2016 Nissan Frontier 4 cyl 2 WD automatic. The weight limit is 3500#. We plan to get a transmission cooler and a temperature gauge. Any other suggestions? The TT GVWR is 2995.
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Old 06-23-2017, 02:37 PM   #2
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I don't recommend it. We towed a 1500# pop-up camper with a Chevy Venture that had a V6 engine and a tow rating of 3500#. We also had a transmission cooler. We toasted the transmission. We bought a second pop-up that weighed 2900# after we bought a Ford Explorer (also V6) that could tow 5400# -- much better fit! You also have to consider the people and stuff in the truck.
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Old 06-23-2017, 02:41 PM   #3
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What you will have to keep an eye on is the vehicle payload, max is listed at 953#. This will include everybody and everything you put in the truck and bed, also the trailer tongue weight has to be added to that total which could be around 450# so that only leaves you about 500# to be maxed out.
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Old 06-23-2017, 04:02 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lakama View Post
I am hoping to buy a Jayco Flight SLX 145RB and tow with a 2016 Nissan Frontier 4 cyl 2 WD automatic. The weight limit is 3500#. We plan to get a transmission cooler and a temperature gauge. Any other suggestions? The TT GVWR is 2995.


With WDH and packing lite, it's possible. My family weighs 300+330+30+70=730. Your truck payload of 950-730=220.

The camper at full load 2995*15%= 450
220-450 = (230)

You'd only be 230 pounds overweight on the truck. That's a rounding error for most guys.

The real question is: what truck are you looking for after you Kill this Nissan?


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Old 06-24-2017, 12:16 PM   #5
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We owned a 2000 Xterra - brother to the Frontier. Ours had a 3.3l V6 with 170 HP and 210 Ft/lbs torque, 4WD with auto tranny. It had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. We towed a Rockwood Roo 233 Hybrid TT that had a sticker weight of 4,600 lbs. Never had it weighed, but those weights are usually lighter than actual.

The Xterra towed great. It wouldn't win any races and although I could get to 70 mph, I usually towed at 60 mph (to get 10 mpg). I installed a B&M Tranny Cooler that I installed inline with the factory cooler. Going up any hill, I'd have to stick with the tractor trailers. I couldn't imagine any real mountains, but staying mostly along the east coast (up and down I-95) with a couple trips into the Mountains of Central PA I had no trouble. We did tow it out to Houston, TX on I-10 with no issues either.

I think with the 4 cylinder, you will probably find the Frontier will struggle to tow the weight. Go rent a 6x12 U-haul trailer and throw 1,500 lbs of gear into it. That'll be about equivalent to the trailer you are considering. With our Xterra, we couldn't run the A/C and tow at the same time, the engine would run hot.

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Old 06-26-2017, 04:53 PM   #6
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I'd say it depends on how far you're planning on going. I pulled my Jayco 185RB with my 2002 Ford Explorer Sport 5 Speed and it was rough. I spent more time in 3rd and 4th gear and almost none in 5th. It was fine around town going to the local campsites but for a long trek, get a full sized Explorer if possible as a minimum.
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Old 06-27-2017, 08:32 AM   #7
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I wouldn't recommend it either. You'll burn that little truck out quickly if you do.

Also Darren ^ it says in your sig that you have a Expedition 5.7L, you most likely have the 5.4L as Ford didn't offer a 5.7 in that truck.
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Old 06-27-2017, 12:22 PM   #8
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You're correct! I was trying to go from memory as I updated my sig but got that detail wrong! Good catch!
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Old 07-02-2017, 06:08 PM   #9
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I tow our 145RB with a combination of a Mercedes-Benz GLC300, GLA250, and even a CLA250. The GLA and the GLC are both 4Matic (AWD) and the CLA is front wheel drive. We have had zero issues even after towing from Denver to Los Angeles over the Rockies. YMMV of course but you do not need a large vehicle to tow this trailer. Using the GLC300 I hardly even notice it is back there (other than my gas mileage dropping from mid-thirties to mid-tens).

Granted the Merc's all have 200+HP and 250+ torque out of the turbo 4.
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