2013 Nissian frontier 4X4 V-6

don't do it. been there tried that. don't do it. get a half ton 8 of any make.

I think the trailer in question is heavier than the OP may think. Accord to the following from their site, it's 4827.

Call it 5000 pounds yellow sticker as it leaves the factory. Call that 5800 to 6000 ready to camp. That's quite a bit for the good 'ol Frontier

Starting off camping I had a 19' 3200 (empty) hybrid. Pulled it with an 06 Frontier V6 4x4. It pulled that nicely. Then upgraded to a 4700 lb (empty) travel trailer. After a couple of trips I replaced the truck. The trailer moved the Frontier around too much. It sounds like the trailer you are interested in is right in between (weight wise) of the two trailers I towed with mine.

yes, I have driven two different Frontiers like mine with automatic. A friend had a Funfinder identical to mine. She pulled it all over the country and down to baja and back. She now has traded it for a Lance. This red truck is an automatic.

The overall gear ratio to the rear wheels in the automatic truck in third gear is nearly identical to overall in fourth in my manual.

EDIT: although to be honest, she tows in fourth ( of five in the AT ) because she runs faster than I do. She likes to run in the 65 to 70mph range. She thinks I drive like an old man at 60 ( she is right ).

gmw photos wrote:
These threads are always interesting to me. This truck has 150K miles. Over 50K miles of that has been as in these two pictures. It will climb a 6% grade, on cruise control, maintaining 58 to 60 mph at 3000 to 3300 rpm. Water temp as reported by the scangage never exceeds 204 degrees ( normal is 196 to 198 ). In fourth gear of six, manual trans. An automatic would need to be in third to get those rpm's.

The horse trailer loaded for a show with the quarter horse in it and all the show gear in the front weighs 5300 to 5500. The camper weighs 4100.

I guess I'm not sure what people expect from their tow vehicle. Yes, my F350 diesel dually pulls these trailers more easily, but it's pretty much reserved for the four horse GN or the equipment trailer.

I say it again though, looking at the specs for the trailer in the OP's first post, it's too much trailer for the Frontier.

You have a 6sp speed manual. different animal than a 5 sp AT.

gmw photos wrote:
Here is an interesting observation I have noticed here on the forum. Folks often say "I had to have that engine wound out on hills".

Here's a comparison between two of the vehicles in my stable used for towing. My Frontier sometimes needs to be "wound out" to 4000 rpm to climb steep hills, 4000 rpm is 64% of the 6250 rpm redline.

Another tow vehicle at home is a powerstroke Ford diesel. It often has to spin 3500 rpm ( and be blowing 28 pounds of boost ) of it's 4000 rpm redline when towing my 14K pound horse trailer.. 3500 is 87% of 4000.

Which one is more "wound out" ? Which one is experiencing more stress (28 pounds of boost is quite a bit ) ?

Which one is being subject to greater stresses as related to piston speed ( normally quoted in FPM ).

By the way, both these engines have a lot of miles, both with a lot of "towing miles", and both are still running well, get the same fuel mileage as when new ( both trucks bought new by me ), and neither use any oil. So at least in my tiny sampling of two vehicles here, "winding them out on hills" has apparently not harmed them.
Just some things to chew on.

EDIT: looking at the manufacturer website for the trailer in the OP's post, I agree it's too much for a Frontier.

Comparing the sound inside the truck is the key. It's not so much the wound out on the engine as it is what you hear inside.
My 06 Nissan was louder inside at 4000 than my 2010 F150 5.4 at 4000.
In fact turning 3500 rpns in the F150 is quieter than turning 2000 rpms in my CTD.
We have a 2015 Camry 4 cyl that when running at 2500 rpms I can't hear any engine noise. Turning 2500 rpms in my CTD will get your attention.
With that big barn frontal area on the OP's TT, the Nissan will be working even harder and will be even noisier.

These threads are always interesting to me. This truck has 150K miles. Over 50K miles of that has been as in these two pictures. It will climb a 6% grade, on cruise control, maintaining 58 to 60 mph at 3000 to 3300 rpm. Water temp as reported by the scangage never exceeds 204 degrees ( normal is 196 to 198 ). In fourth gear of six, manual trans. An automatic would need to be in third to get those rpm's.

The horse trailer loaded for a show with the quarter horse in it and all the show gear in the front weighs 5300 to 5500. The camper weighs 4100.

I guess I'm not sure what people expect from their tow vehicle. Yes, my F350 diesel dually pulls these trailers more easily, but it's pretty much reserved for the four horse GN or the equipment trailer.

I say it again though, looking at the specs for the trailer in the OP's first post, it's too much trailer for the Frontier.

Oooooh, I can help. We started out our whole RV party with a Frontier, before moving to something bigger.

The Nissan was great for our pop-up, and then for our little single axle RV that was about 16 feet. That's it. Do not go any further with a Frontier.

I know lots of people have done it and lived to tell the story, and are online right now telling about how awesome their Frontier was with a 26' trailer with slides. But my experience was very different.

Frontier = little single axle RV = happy


Helpful?

Here is an interesting observation I have noticed here on the forum. Folks often say "I had to have that engine wound out on hills".

Here's a comparison between two of the vehicles in my stable used for towing. My Frontier sometimes needs to be "wound out" to 4000 rpm to climb steep hills, 4000 rpm is 64% of the 6250 rpm redline.

Another tow vehicle at home is a powerstroke Ford diesel. It often has to spin 3500 rpm ( and be blowing 28 pounds of boost ) of it's 4000 rpm redline when towing my 14K pound horse trailer.. 3500 is 87% of 4000.

Which one is more "wound out" ? Which one is experiencing more stress (28 pounds of boost is quite a bit ) ?

Which one is being subject to greater stresses as related to piston speed ( normally quoted in FPM ).

By the way, both these engines have a lot of miles, both with a lot of "towing miles", and both are still running well, get the same fuel mileage as when new ( both trucks bought new by me ), and neither use any oil. So at least in my tiny sampling of two vehicles here, "winding them out on hills" has apparently not harmed them.
Just some things to chew on.

EDIT: looking at the manufacturer website for the trailer in the OP's post, I agree it's too much for a Frontier.

When it comes to frontal area, do some reading and research and come to an understanding of how J2807 compliance effected that.