towing with family

Check your numbers. No way, no how, not ever does an Armada have an 11,000-lb tow rating.

oakbowery wrote:
Here's my TT with wife's Armada...


As previously mentioned, after towing TT home from the lot with the Armada I bought the Dodge 2500 in the below image...


I pulled our TT with only me in the Armada and the TT was completely empty (not even sewer hoses, bed linens, etc.) I felt that the unloaded tongue weight was too much even with the Armada's air bags. The Armada looked perfectly level due to the air bags, but driving it told another story. It had "P" rated tires so I'm sure I could have helped it with "E" tires, but I felt the dodge was the safer bet. Now I just leave the dodge hooked to the camper 100% of the time. It's always loaded and ready to roll.

HOLY Carp!!!!! I would've never considered the armada for that trailer! No doubt you switch out after the tow home. I'm towing a 7100lb empty (9100lb) loaded trailer with my Excursion. It's a handful for the X.

Some quick checking indicates that the 2005 Armada towing capacity is more like 9000 (depending on specific equipment; requires optional tow package; check your vehicle). More problematic: It looks like it has a payload capacity of 1693 pounds (according to Edmunds; check your vehicle's details). By the time for you account for the trailer's tongue weight (could be 900+ pounds for a properly-balanced 6600 pound trailer), you'll rapidly run out of cargo capacity as you add passengers and cargo to the Armada.

While I couldn't verify this, it looks like the 2005 Nissan Armada has a rear axle rating of 4200 pounds; the Armada has a curb weight of about 5500 pounds. It's surprising how quickly you reach the axle limit figure when towing with family on board.

For reference, I recently faced a similar problem with a family of 5 and looking to upgrade our camping equipment. We opted for a 2005 Suburban 2500 (5500 pound rear axle; 2527 pound payload; 7600 pound towing capacity, a realistically usable figure even with family on board).

It takes me a couple hours to set up my WDH. You are considering doing this twice. That alone doesn't seem worth the time vs. just taking two vehicles. Do they have a brake controller already? If your TT is 6600 pounds dry, that's likely right at the Aamada's 900-ish pound receiver limit. The tow rating if they have the big tow package is right around 9000 pounds. Payload will likely be the problem.

Omg. You're going to die if you try this! Stop what you're doing right now and go buy a 5500 Dooley!
Don't see much diff between your half ton and the Armadilla.
No you're not crazy but actually I'd rather tow with my own vehicle unless I knew the other vehicle well.
Btw, talking 20, 200 or 2000 mi trip?