Jayco jay feather X23B

I'm replying to a month-old thread, but....For the past 5 years, I towed a X23b with a 2005 Pathfinder, which is basically the same vehicle as the Frontier in question here. Family of 6, 3 of the children are still small. :) Recently sold the Pathfinder after 165K miles; it was a solid vehicle, still in excellent mechanical shape when I sold it. It's longest haul was to the Black Hills. All that said, I am much happier towing with our new '17 Expedition. The Pathfinder let you know that the trailer was back there; high RPM's, loud engine, speed drop on hills...Best towing was in 3rd gear with the engine screaming at 3500-4000 rpms. And also had to watch the trans temp, though honestly it was never an issue--just more that it was high enough to get me paranoid. LOL if your camping trips are mostly local, flat lands, the Frontier will be fine. Hit some hills though, and you'll wish for something bigger. :) By comparison, the Expedition hums along silently with the X23b in tow, and the trans temp barely budges from the unloaded norm.

The problem isn't if it'll pull it, the real issue would be the Nissan and the engine itself. My brother in-law worked for Nissan for 23yrs before opening his own shop and he will not even work on a Nissan now since he's the boss... He's totally disgusted with those vehicles now lol. If you're going to want to tow anything of any significance in this category with 4 litres that's not a diesel you're going to want to be looking at inline engines like an inline six, it'll survive much longer and you will have more money for toys and outtings when you're not sinking it all into repairs on basically a vehicle that falls into the commuter class category.

Consumer affairs give that particular engine a rating of 1.5 stars out of 5 stars, I myself wouldn't trust anything with that low a rating on a cross country trip with an empty bed. Those engines have notorious timing chain stretch and chain guide problems, piston skirt issues and oil control ring tension problems, the cams have a tendency to walk and the water pumps are dinky.

Sure it'll pull it from spot A to B but the real question is for how long? One things for sure, you'll think you have a diesel after pulling anything of any significance for any amount of time with all that piston slap you'll be hearing.

Drop a 2.8 Cummins in it and you'll be good to go...

Good Luck

mr_davis wrote:
GVWR 5815 Lbs
GAWR FR. 3296 Lbs
GAWR RR. 3331Lbs
Curb weight 4557 Lbs
4 occupants 560 Lbs (unless I get any bigger)

5815 less 4557 = 1258 payload.
Subtract driver from the 560, call it 360.
1258 less 360 = 898 for hitch weight and anything else you put in the Nissan, which any 20' +/- hybrid is going to eat up fast with hitch weight. I've owned 3 of 3 different brands and hitch weight on any of the 3 was hundreds of pounds more than published by the mfgr. An X23B is going to be in excess of 800lbs.

By those numbers you may squeeze in below the caps and I have never been one to follow that **** to the pound, but as I have said before the 6 banger is the limitation. When you hit the 1st uphill grade or headwind you're going to know it in short order. Weight of the trailer is one thing, wind resistence + trailer weight is another thing entirely.

Now factor in how you're going to camp, or more importantly where and how often. If you're camping 50 miles from home in Kansas 5 times a season, that's different than camping 50 miles from home in PA and crossing the Allegheny ridges to get there 25 times a season. Also ignore the posts that will come telling you how you're going to be a danger to yourself and family, along with everyone else and their family on the highway. Those will come at some point as a lot of people on RV boards are scared of their own shadow.

You could always run out and buy a 1 ton diesel dually.:)

GVWR 5815 Lbs
GAWR FR. 3296 Lbs
GAWR RR. 3331Lbs
Curb weight 4557 Lbs
4 occupants 560 Lbs (unless I get any bigger)

mr davis, first thing about towing a trailer is to determine what the payload capacity is first, second is towing capacity.
Short of going to the scales, the driver's door payload sticker is a place to start.
It'll say something like "Occupants and cargo should not exceed xxxxlbs". Post that number to start with.
The 6500lbs towing capacity is ONLY if the truck is properly equipped, like having the factory tow package.
Answer those questions first.

Find the door jamb sticker on your truck, and either post a picture or tell us the numbers on it.

GVWR 1500 under the tow rating is a good start. But without knowing the payload capacity on your truck no one can give you a full answer.

Why do you continue to ignore your vehicle's payload number? PULL, PULL, PULL isn't the only number to check. Carrying your family, their stuff for travel, the WDH, I'm betting you are over on payload. Tongue weight will be 600 to 700 pounds too.

Exactly right, Tyler!

I am new to the forum, new to towing, and new to travel trailers. I found the quick reply button (that’s a start). I don’t want to buy a trailer that I will be missrible pulling. The specs for tow capacity is 6500Lbs. The trailers max weight (not dry) is 4989Lbs. I am being told from the salesperson that I will be fine pulling it (yes I am aware he is trying to sell me a trailer), with the weight distribution hitch, and break controller and being 1000lbs. under capacity. I want to be able to pull it safely and comfortable. Everything says it will do the job, but it’s not like I can hook up and take it for a test drive. I am trying to ensure I don’t make a $15000 mistake.

OP is wanting someone to tell him he's OK with this combo. Not gonna happen!

Read pages 9-24 through 9-29 of your owners manual. It explains what you need to know about weights and capacity limits for towing a trailer. The X23B has a GVWR of 4950#. Do not use the listed "dry weight" to factor your numbers. You will never tow a trailer loaded ready for camping at it's dry weight.

I have an X20E, the baby brother to the X23B. It's 200# lighter and 2 feet shorter. I would not tow it with anything less than a 1500/150 series truck.