Frontal area for travel trailers

[Lakama]

I have a 2016 Nissan Frontier 4 cyl 2WD and want to tow a Jayco that weighs 2300 # with a frontal area of 63 square ft. Any ideas about the feasibility of this? The owner's manual states a limit of 30 square ft frontal area. Only a pop up would meet this criteria. Any advice?

[Lakama]

A small Scamp or Casita doesn't have room for my husband who is 6 feet tall. We want to spend a few months in this trailer, so a pop up is less desirable. I appreciate the suggestions.

[colliehauler]

I would think a teardrop or small Casita or Scamp would work behind the truck. They are a lot more aerodynamic then a box trailer.

[BenK]

Lakama wrote:
Snip......

It is interesting to note the frontal area limit on the Nissan Frontier decreased from 60 in 2013 to 30 in 2014. The truck didn't change, I assume the standards changed.

The limit is 30 sq ft regardless of 4 or 6 cylinder, 4WD or 2WD.
Anyone have experience towing a TT with a 60+ frontal area with a small truck? Any sad stories? Happy endings?

IMHO...to many warranty issues on this area...so they fixed it by reducing the frontal area spec/rating...and kept the truck unchanged...

[SoundGuy]

Lakama wrote:
Anyone have experience towing a TT with a 60+ frontal area with a small truck? Any sad stories? Happy endings?

Happy ending? Well I got a new Silverado out it :B when it became obvious after 2 short weekend trips that our '98 V6 4.0L SOHC Explorer just wasn't going to be able to handle the task of towing our C21RBH TrailCruiser hybrid which averaged ~ 3800 lbs loaded and ready to camp. That same Exploder had towed our previous 10' popup all over the western US on a 4 week, 8,000 km trip with no issues at all but towing that 8' wide, full height hybrid it couldn't get out of it's own way. 😞 The Silvy saved the day and later that summer we towed the hybrid down to Myrtle Beach and over to Tennessee, no issues at all. 🙂

[Lakama]

Thank you all, for your heartfelt advice. I do understand the issue of drag and frontal area. I also know of someone who towed this TT with a similar vehicle without problems. I realize the issue is the risk of overheating the transmission and/or engine. Also, the warranty would be voided. I realize this setup may require going less than the speed limit and crawling up hills. I am willing to do this if I have reassurance there is a good chance I won't ruin my truck. It is automatic transmission. It is interesting to note the frontal area limit on the Nissan Frontier decreased from 60 in 2013 to 30 in 2014. The truck didn't change, I assume the standards changed. The limit is 30 sq ft regardless of 4 or 6 cylinder, 4WD or 2WD.
Anyone have experience towing a TT with a 60+ frontal area with a small truck? Any sad stories? Happy endings?

[blt2ski]

How much HP? Trans? And gear ratio do you have. My son has pulled upwards of 5k with his Toyota 4 banger. It has 175HP. 5 so manual. Not sue if gears, std, taller than would like. It gets job done. Not fastest.on road. Does have to let.motor rev to get proper HP.

Marty

[hellfirehydra]

Find a nice popup for the 4 cylinder truck or change trucks! There are tons of very nice pop up trailers that are super affordable!

[hone_eagle]

I can't believe someone read their owners manual ... good for you O.P. !

[Jebby14]

no dice popup or tent

[troubledwaters]

sgip2000 wrote:
The area blocked by your truck doesn't count.

The book says "Maximum Trailer Frontal Area" - It seems pretty clear to me it means the whole trailer frontal area.

[wowens79]

With the 4 cyl, you are going to be looking at a popup. That's not a bad thing. We had one that we loved for 9 years, and took it all over the place and had a great time in it.

The main reason we changed to a TT were my teenagers did not like sharing a bed anymore, and my mother in law is now a widow, and we take her with us regularly. We just needed to go to a bunkhouse floorplan. If it wasn't for that, we would have probably stayed in the popup.

Also if you can find a used popup in good condition, they hold their value extremely well. We bought ours when it was 3 years old for $6k, and used it for 9 years, and sold it for $5k. It was garaged kept for all but about a year of that time, and was in great shape.

Good luck in your search, and don't write off a popup, they are great little campers.

[ShinerBock]

1320Fastback wrote:
Since you're double the rated specification for the truck I would definitely take it easy on the highway. The sail area of the trailer is like a giant parachute and can easily overheat your transmission.

One drive through the farm lands will show you how much the truck blocks and how much it doesnt by the dead bug pattern.

Another area of drag is the square back of the trailer. Big rigs nowadays run air doors on the back to help alleviate the vacuum and they wouldn't spend the money on it unless it helped.

Totally off topic, but that is a nice lookin' truck you got there in your sig.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Lakama wrote:
Only a pop up would meet this criteria. Any advice?

Yep, buy a pop-up or buy a different truck.

[blt2ski]

SOmething to think about...
At 60 mph, adding 3 sq ft of frontal area, needs the same HP increase as adding 1000 lbs of weight driving on a level ground. Adding 30 sq ft, is the same additional HP as around 10000 lbs of weight!
Weight is not the ONLY enemy you have for HP needs.

I've gotten better MPG's pulling an equipment trailer at 18K gcw than I did pulling my TT at 15K lbs. TT had 90sqft total frontal area, ET was less than 60 sq ft. The TT needed the same HP at 60 mph as a 25K rig with 60 sq ft. Hills the additional HP per 1 percent grade was more for the heavier rig, as that is HP that is needed. Wieght in this case is more important number to know for final HP needed to go up said grade.

Marty

[Bobbo]

BenK wrote:
Maybe this will help understand this laws of physics...

Take a 4'x3'x3/8" thick plywood (32 sq/ft) and hold it 90* to the wind of, say 10 MPH

Betcha you won't be able to hold it without being pushed around...heck even knocked down

Then do that in a 25 MPH wind and if we tied a rope to the plywood center...we could fly you like t kite...of course given that you do not weigh in at 400 lbs...

Now transfer that thought to your TV pulling a trailer with double that frontal area at 60 MPH...

I think you meant 4'x8'x3/8".