Forum Discussion

BigEyeDuck's avatar
BigEyeDuck
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016

2005 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab NISMO 4WD and...

upgrading from a 2005 Fleetwood Utah CP.
Truck is rated at 6100# towing and 600 on the tongue.

The Utah is a big Popup. Never had any issues towing it with full water and gear.
Initial search started with an Rpod 179 made here locally in Oregon.
Wife wanted to see what else is out there that would have more storage.

Love the Lance 1685 but is pricey and very polarizing reviews. A bit higher in price point and would go here if the Lance is not a problem product.
Jay Feather, Solaire, Palomini. Meh on the "looks" of the quality online. Forest River has some options. Overwhelming.

So this is where I need your expertise. 6100# towing capacity minus 2 adults, 1 9 y.o. kid, and cargo. When dry camping we fill up close to our destination and do not tow the weight over the Cascades. A lot of full hookup camping.
Thinking somewhere in the 4500# area for a hard wall.

Did look at some of the hybrids and I am not interested due to wet fabric and storing issues trying to dry the wetness.

So ultra light weight. permanent queen bed. Wish list is a slide and bunk house config but would be fine with a large dinette conversion.

Ideas ??? Thanks

7 Replies

  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Feb 06, 2016
    Towing capacity is pulling weight. Cargo capacity is load weight.

    Kids, dogs, toys in the TV and tongue weight are cargo. The camper and it's load are towing weight.

    Often cargo capacity and axle load rating are used up before towing capacity.
  • gmw_photos's avatar
    gmw_photos
    Explorer
    Feb 06, 2016
    GaryWT wrote:
    I would expect that towing the pop up was great. At about 3,000 pounds it is a great fit. You did not say what the payload of the truck is and is the 4,500 trailer wait loaded or unloaded? The issue you could see towing with a lighter truck is wind on the trailer, you could get pushed around some.

    So what ever the payload is, subtract the tongue weight of a loaded trailer, the weight of the hitch, weight of people and weight of anything else in the truck to see if it is a positive number and then go from there.

    A little followup here from me, based on part of what Gary said. My trailer in the post above is 4000 pounds ready to go. So the OP should be aware that trailer manufacturers routinely state dry weights that really have little bearing on reality.
    My trailer ( funfinder 189FDS ) had a factory stated dry weight of 3040 pounds.
  • GaryWT's avatar
    GaryWT
    Explorer
    Feb 06, 2016
    I would expect that towing the pop up was great. At about 3,000 pounds it is a great fit. You did not say what the payload of the truck is and is the 4,500 trailer wait loaded or unloaded? The issue you could see towing with a lighter truck is wind on the trailer, you could get pushed around some.

    So what ever the payload is, subtract the tongue weight of a loaded trailer, the weight of the hitch, weight of people and weight of anything else in the truck to see if it is a positive number and then go from there.
  • GrandpaKip's avatar
    GrandpaKip
    Explorer II
    Feb 05, 2016
    Take a gander at Skyline, now owned by Evergreen. Their Nomad is a tad heavier than our Dart, but might fit you.
    Good luck.
  • BigEyeDuck's avatar
    BigEyeDuck
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2016
    Thanks. I have the Bilstein Shocks as part of the NISMO package but are about ready for replacement.

    Will take a closer look at the Fun Finder. I just did some cursory browsing on their product line.
  • gmw_photos's avatar
    gmw_photos
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2016
    I tow with a 2006 Frontier, 4.0L V6, 4WD crew cab, six speed manual. Towing a Funfinder 189FDS, about 4000 lbs ready to go traveling ( empty water tanks though ). I also use this truck to tow a 2 horse slant load trailer. Have towed close to 30K miles, from sea level to colorado passes. Braking has never been a problem even in the mountains. Keep the trailer brakes maintained and adjusted correctly, and use gears properly in the hills.

    Good matchup with a BlueOx swaypro hitch.

    Good additions were to replace rear shocks with Bilstein 5100's and added a hellwig anti-roll ( sometimes called antisway ) bar under the rear.
    9 to 12 mpg towing, 18 to 21 non towing.
  • moebedick's avatar
    moebedick
    Explorer
    Feb 01, 2016
    I drove a Frontier (2009,cc,4wd)for years and really enjoyed it. I towed a small teardrop,a T@b,Boston Whaler,and a Seaward 24 sailboat. It handled all comfortably,but required slow going with the sailboat (5000+ with trailer) and with the T@b on steep grades. No problem towing,but the brakes just aren't up for that weight. You gotta eat and you gotta stop.

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