Towing a Casita

When you get into a borderline situation, like this one, if it feels good and you're comfortable driving it, go for it.

If it seems like it's struggling and you feel stressed at how it's performing, then think about an upgrade.

Drivers are drivers, and often feel differently about how a truck tows, and how fast and what bothers the driver.

No, we can't tow 15,000 lb fivers with an S-10, or a Ranger, but we can find and tow a trailer with a smaller truck and engine as long as we feel comfortable as a driver... Do your homework, drive it, see how YOU feel, not Harry, of Joe, or Martha - how YOU feel about control and braking - then decide.

lee4019 wrote:
Hi Folks

Will a 4WD 2004 Nissan Pathfinder SE, V6, Automatic. tow a 3500lb Casita? or should I just look for V8 engines.

Thanks
Lee

My answer comes down to staying within the ratings of your tow vehicle. For that, the math is pretty simple:
What Can I Tow?

Lots of people think that when they hear a gas engine spinning 4000 rpm, it must be "struggling".
The truth is, an engine that has a 6000 rpm redline is not really struggling at all at 4K rpm. Most of the noise you hear is the fan trying to pull air. You could probably argue that the fan is struggling.
A properly rigged Pathfinder, and a driver with realistic expectations, could pull that camper all over the country.

Or, you can take the other approach: one ton dually.

While camping at Bryce National Park, I talked to a couple from Connecticut that were towing a 17" Casita with their Lexus RX SUV with a 3.0 or 3.3 liter engine. I asked the man if he had any problems towing the Casita or if he had modified the SUV and the answer was no. Keep in mind Bryce is at 8,000 feet elevation and he had no problems getting there.

then what is struggling depends upon ones view! 50 mph at 5000 r's is struggling for some, when that is what and how the engine was designed to tow said load up a hill. My dmax to me is struggling at 2800 rpms when moving 25K gcwr up a 4% grade in 3rd at 40-45 or so! If the chassis is able to handle the trailer, a lower HP rig will go slower than the same chassis higher hp or bigger motor. Hence why some manufactures, MB is this way with there SUV's, you can have a 3.2L V6 gas, it is rated to 5000 or 7500 depending upon the year ML series suv, as the turbo diesel or the literally supercharged 5.5L V8 with double the HP and torque numbers. The owners manual states, for better performance, get the larger engine. Otherwise, you are safe towing with ANY of the motors!

Marty

lee4019 wrote:

bmanning wrote:


What are the hp/tq #s for your 04? 5-speed trans or 4?

4 speed auto

240hp@6000rpm

265 ft-lbs@3200rpm

There ya go. Our Nissan van was towing our 23'TT and these are our V6 numbers... 150HP, 180TQ.

When the set up is right the V6 works fine.

But if you have a 7,000lb tow vehicle with a V6 gasser, it will struggle.

bmanning wrote:


What are the hp/tq #s for your 04? 5-speed trans or 4?

4 speed auto

240hp@6000rpm

265 ft-lbs@3200rpm

I towed a 6000 pound trailer for years with my 1976 Ford 500 sedan and less than 200 hp 351 and three speed auto without TC lock. I never felt underpowered, but never felt the competitive juices to beat the sportscars up the grades either.

Nowadays, I tote the same load with a 215 hp 1996 diesel. I don't go faster than my old 76 because I don't care to.

It's all a mind game.

So lets see, if a V6 knows a trailer is back there,........even my 300/600 turbo diesel V8 knows I have 2500 extra lbs in the bed or behind it! Heck, it even knows it has my 12K equipment trailer behind it.....so I need what, a V16 to tow said equipment trailer?!?!?!?!?!?

Some of you need to go back into the days when you had barely 200 hp in a BB v8 gas with 2bbl carb! talke about gutless SOB's of a motor!

Marty

I've met several people who have towed with both V-6 and V-8 TVs and they insist they get better MPG with the V-8. More efficient, they say. OTOH, I towed a lightweight TT (see profile photos) with a V-6 Blazer just fine, mountains galore.