We don't have a TT yet and are in market for a new vehicle. We will most likely get a hybrid trailer, or possibly a small, lightweight. Either way, it will be 5500 pound max. I am looking at a newer model Pathfinder for the tow vehicle. Anyone towing with one? I will only purchase Nissan or Ford and don't want a gas guzzler. If you have any other suggestions, please keep that in mind. Have considered F150V6 with ecoboost, Frontier and Pathfinder.

First off, the wife and I absolutely love hybrids and are on are 2nd without an issue but pay attention to the GVWR of proposed trailer as they're heavier than one might think.I'm a fan of the Pathfinder and what you get for the money.....like so many imports unfortunately but it is what it is.

If I recall, the newer pathfinders all use a unibody construction and cvt transmission. While the unibody doesn’t bother me, the cvt transmission does. I will never purchase a vehicle with a cvt transmission. My mom had a Nissan a few years ago with one. Replaced that transmission twice... and yes she drives like a grandma cause she is. That car was babied it’s entire life. She got rid of it, I know it had less then 100k.

We had a 2014 Pathfinder which is the new style with the unibody and CVT and it was a wonderful vehical, never had any issues. Not sure I would want it as a tow vehicle though. Would have kept it but the wife wanted something smaller so we ended up with the Nissan Rogue.Dan

I tow a cargo trailer daily for work in the 2000-3000 lb range (varies through the day). I'm kind of interested in the Pathfinder, too. I asked my mechanic (one I really trust, surprisingly honest and thorough) about it and he said they'd be fine for my type of towing usage. He did recommend 2017 and newer, though; the earlier Pathfinder CVTs had some issues but he feels Nissan has cleared them up.That said, I would not want to tow more than about 4500 lbs gross trailer weight or longer than about 22'-24' (with sway control). It's a short wheelbase vehicle and a non-turbo V6... gotta be realistic.I'm not sure what the new RWD version Explorer will be rated for towing, but you might look at it for comparision. But if you want a longer or heavier trailer, the long wheelbase of the pickup will provide safer handling.

If you go with the Nissan, make sure you keep up on the maintenance of that CVT (fluid changes) if you use it for towing. I'm suspicious that Nissan may say it's a "lifetime fluid" which is garbage. It does need to be changed. The manual will undoubtedly have some info, so be sure to read it.

Nissan Pathfinder (2017-2019) | Good Sam Community

kellem
Explorer
Aug 24, 2019
First off, the wife and I absolutely love hybrids and are on are 2nd without an issue but pay attention to the GVWR of proposed trailer as they're heavier than one might think.

I'm a fan of the Pathfinder and what you get for the money.....like so many imports unfortunately but it is what it is.
kw_00
Explorer
Aug 24, 2019
If I recall, the newer pathfinders all use a unibody construction and cvt transmission. While the unibody doesn’t bother me, the cvt transmission does. I will never purchase a vehicle with a cvt transmission. My mom had a Nissan a few years ago with one. Replaced that transmission twice... and yes she drives like a grandma cause she is. That car was babied it’s entire life. She got rid of it, I know it had less then 100k.
Hammerboy
Explorer
Aug 24, 2019
We had a 2014 Pathfinder which is the new style with the unibody and CVT and it was a wonderful vehical, never had any issues. Not sure I would want it as a tow vehicle though. Would have kept it but the wife wanted something smaller so we ended up with the Nissan Rogue.

Dan
rexlion
Explorer
Aug 24, 2019
I tow a cargo trailer daily for work in the 2000-3000 lb range (varies through the day). I'm kind of interested in the Pathfinder, too. I asked my mechanic (one I really trust, surprisingly honest and thorough) about it and he said they'd be fine for my type of towing usage. He did recommend 2017 and newer, though; the earlier Pathfinder CVTs had some issues but he feels Nissan has cleared them up.

That said, I would not want to tow more than about 4500 lbs gross trailer weight or longer than about 22'-24' (with sway control). It's a short wheelbase vehicle and a non-turbo V6... gotta be realistic.

I'm not sure what the new RWD version Explorer will be rated for towing, but you might look at it for comparision. But if you want a longer or heavier trailer, the long wheelbase of the pickup will provide safer handling.
ib516
Explorer II
Aug 24, 2019
If you go with the Nissan, make sure you keep up on the maintenance of that CVT (fluid changes) if you use it for towing. I'm suspicious that Nissan may say it's a "lifetime fluid" which is garbage. It does need to be changed.

The manual will undoubtedly have some info, so be sure to read it.
carringb
Explorer
Aug 24, 2019
The Explorer is superior to the Pathfinder in every single way. Especially the new RWD-architecture, which has more payload, tows more, and uses less fuel.
kw_00
Explorer
Aug 24, 2019
carringb wrote:
The Explorer is superior to the Pathfinder in every single way. Especially the new RWD-architecture, which has more payload, tows more, and uses less fuel.

Yes, great suggestion
bikendan
Explorer
Aug 25, 2019
kw/00 wrote:
If I recall, the newer pathfinders all use a unibody construction and cvt transmission. While the unibody doesn’t bother me, the cvt transmission does. I will never purchase a vehicle with a cvt transmission. My mom had a Nissan a few years ago with one. Replaced that transmission twice... and yes she drives like a grandma cause she is. That car was babied it’s entire life. She got rid of it, I know it had less then 100k.

That's what I thought, the newer Pathfinder is a totally different vehicle, from the previous Pathfinder.
Not as good of a tow vehicle.
kw_00
Explorer
Aug 26, 2019
bikendan wrote:
kw/00 wrote:
If I recall, the newer pathfinders all use a unibody construction and cvt transmission. While the unibody doesn’t bother me, the cvt transmission does. I will never purchase a vehicle with a cvt transmission. My mom had a Nissan a few years ago with one. Replaced that transmission twice... and yes she drives like a grandma cause she is. That car was babied it’s entire life. She got rid of it, I know it had less then 100k.

That's what I thought, the newer Pathfinder is a totally different vehicle, from the previous Pathfinder.
Not as good of a tow vehicle.

That is correct, the newer one just isn’t like the original for sure in so many ways. The CVT is just not a good transmission at all. I’ve come across so many of those units with failure in Nissans. I just can’t recommend them especially for towing. The original was based off the truck and was so solid of a vehicle. In my opinion they have made softer for the younger gen. Granted I’m in my mid 40s but I don’t see this vehicle as a good solid platform for towing. Ford and GM offer much better SUVs for towing. I wish even GM would have not brought back the so called Blazer, another soft vehicle to meet an younger gen ideal so called tuff SUV. That’s just my opinion guys....
GrammiJo
Explorer
Aug 28, 2019
Thank you all for your kind replies. I honestly thought I responded prior to this. As we dont want to be so limited in our TT choice, we have decided to remove both Nissans from our list and go with the F-150. Did a test drive over the weekend in a 2015 with Eco-Boost. Now that's some power, with better gas mileage than the Nissan Frontier.