Anyone tow with a Nissan NV 3500 van?

jus2shy wrote:
That looks like a 9.25" AAM rear end. It looks a heck of a lot like my 9.25" front axle. Bolt pattern is very similar. It is a heftier unit than the Dana 44 used on the Titan's rear axle.

edit: Sorry, 9.25"

I think its some type of AAM 9.25 also, the Nissan rep that I talked to stated that it was a full float (the GM Corp was semi-float IIRC) with a GAWR of 5875lbs. No other information that Nissan has published about the axle is available because it's proprietary to Nissan.

Also the aftermarket AAM lady I talked to had no record of the part number in their system, so it's a unique to Nissan part.

That looks like a 9.25" AAM rear end. It looks a heck of a lot like my 9.25" front axle. Bolt pattern is very similar. It is a heftier unit than the Dana 44 used on the Titan's rear axle.

edit: Sorry, 9.25"

Tatunka wrote:
I know this is a year old, but I have some new info. I also have been towing an Outback 301BQ with a NV3500 with great results. Related to your axle questions, I took some pictures of the AAM axle with part numbers? and was hoping that some people familiar with AAM axles could chime in.

I hope someone out there knows AAM and can comment. It looks bigger than the Titan axle from what I remember.

TriumphGuy wrote:
Hi folks...
Looking at TVs that can carry a number of people and tow relatively big. The NV with the V8 supposedly will do ~9k towing. Anyone here own one? Like to hear your experiences...

Cummins does.:B

I know this is a year old, but I have some new info. I also have been towing an Outback 301BQ with a NV3500 with great results. Related to your axle questions, I took some pictures of the AAM axle with part numbers? and was hoping that some people familiar with AAM axles could chime in.

From the Back (14 Bolts)


Close up of the Part#? for the rear cover?


Axle Part#?


Other Identifiers

TriumphGuy wrote:

YAY! Thank you for responding ... I knew there was someone out there. If you ever get a chance to weigh your combo, I'd be really interested to know how the weights work out. Also what TT do you have?

I did not get a chance to look at the NV last weekend - it actually sold before I got there. Wow. I think it was on the lot for about a day.

One number that I couldn't find online was the rear GAWR. I finally got someone at the dealer to call me back about that one - the NV3500 has an axle rating at the back of just over 5800 lbs. Way higher than a Titan - and close to my Ford. Looks like Nissan is in the 1 ton market, but did it with a van before a truck :)

Thanks again and if you have any impressions on towing grades I'm all ears...

Just back from our first longer trip of 700 miles of towing and I can say I am now full satisfied with the NV! It all just solidified my short trip impression of solid and stable and plenty strong enough for the task. The only issue I have is the very lacking traction of the tires - it slips and gets stuck on wet grass.

I will also say, on the availability issue: We stole our from someone else.
We showed up at the dealer "just looking". I had already reminded DW "We don't window shop very well. If they have one we like, you know we will take it home." Admittedly, we are very biased toward Nissan due to many, many trouble free years of service from all the old used Nissan cars and trucks.
We had seen plenty available around the area in the 2500 passenger version, but no 3500's.
The sales guy showed us this one and said it was a fully loaded package he had specifically ordered in for someone. I asked if he could sell it to me and he basically said that they where him-hawing around on the deal for a couple of weeks, so I could have it if I wanted it. I knew i'd be kicking myself if I passed it up, so I took it home. Sorry for the other guy, but "you snooze,you loose."

Edit: I checked on the tire rating issue, as well. As near as I can tell without going home to physically inspect the tires / info in them, they appear to be LT245/75R17/E's. Load rated at "121" or just about 3200lbs each. 2 of those Should be fine on a 5800lb rated axle, in my opinion.

TriumphGuy wrote:

texasclarks wrote:
I had never considered the Nissan NV 3500 until now. A quick search in my area has about 20 available...May have to go luck just because I can.

I hope you get to look at one and let us know what you think. I have yet to see one. They're off the lot faster than me in one of their 370z's :)

carringb wrote:
I do wish Nissan would publish all the detail chassis data so we could find out just what the weak points are... i.e. is the RAWR tire limited? Or are they using something smaller than a D60? And what's included in the "tow package" besides the receiver, since there's a big change in numbers w/out the package, and I suspect most dealers aren't stocking wagons with the tow package (just like the other 3 vans).

Ditto. I'd like to know more about what's underneath. But from all the NV3500 vans in SL trim I've seen, they all have the tow package too. I guess since it's the "loaded" trim, they add the tow as well.

rjstractor wrote:

skyhammer wrote:
You obviously did not read the OP's post. Twice he mentioned that he was surprised that the Titan had a lower axle rating than the NV.

My apologies. I did see that a few pages in. I don't know why anyone would be surprised at the Titan having a lower rating than the NV3500, the F150 has a lower rating than an E350.

I should have clarified my "surprise" ... I was just expecting a badge game - not exactly taking a Titan and putting a van body on it, but something like that. It was nice to see a "real" axle rating but like others have said it would be best to know what axle really is under there. I hope someone can get a look at one in person and find out. I can't even get to that step, they keep selling before I get to the lot! :)

Most likely a Nissan made axle and not likely to be recognized as something we know the ratings for.

texasclarks wrote:
I had never considered the Nissan NV 3500 until now. A quick search in my area has about 20 available...May have to go luck just because I can.

I hope you get to look at one and let us know what you think. I have yet to see one. They're off the lot faster than me in one of their 370z's :)

carringb wrote:
I do wish Nissan would publish all the detail chassis data so we could find out just what the weak points are... i.e. is the RAWR tire limited? Or are they using something smaller than a D60? And what's included in the "tow package" besides the receiver, since there's a big change in numbers w/out the package, and I suspect most dealers aren't stocking wagons with the tow package (just like the other 3 vans).

Ditto. I'd like to know more about what's underneath. But from all the NV3500 vans in SL trim I've seen, they all have the tow package too. I guess since it's the "loaded" trim, they add the tow as well.

rjstractor wrote:

skyhammer wrote:
You obviously did not read the OP's post. Twice he mentioned that he was surprised that the Titan had a lower axle rating than the NV.

My apologies. I did see that a few pages in. I don't know why anyone would be surprised at the Titan having a lower rating than the NV3500, the F150 has a lower rating than an E350.

I should have clarified my "surprise" ... I was just expecting a badge game - not exactly taking a Titan and putting a van body on it, but something like that. It was nice to see a "real" axle rating but like others have said it would be best to know what axle really is under there. I hope someone can get a look at one in person and find out. I can't even get to that step, they keep selling before I get to the lot! :)

skyhammer wrote:
You obviously did not read the OP's post. Twice he mentioned that he was surprised that the Titan had a lower axle rating than the NV.

My apologies. I did see that a few pages in. I don't know why anyone would be surprised at the Titan having a lower rating than the NV3500, the F150 has a lower rating than an E350.

rjstractor wrote:

skyhammer wrote:
You should not be surprised that the Titan has a lower axle rating, as they use the use same axle in Frontier, which is a modified Dana 44. One of the Titans major weak spots is the weak rear axle, front axle to for that matter.

The OP is talking about the NV3500 van, not the Titan. Not sure which axle the NV3500 has, but with 8 lug hubs and a 5800 lb rating, it's not a Dana 44. Maybe a Dana 60 or 70?

You obviously did not read the OP's post. Twice he mentioned that he was surprised that the Titan had a lower axle rating than the NV.