Towing 5200lbs with a 06 Nissan Pathfinder

[AJ143camping]

Hello all, I am currently considering purchasing a travel trailer and will be towing with my 06 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4x4. The Pathfinder has a max towing capacity of 6000lbs and a max tongue of 600lbs. Obviously I want to stay as far below that as possible but with what I want on my next TT I might be getting close to the max . I am considering either the Passport 238ml or the Sonic 220BH with the Sonic being my first choice. The car has Airlift bags, and trailer brake controller. I might have to purchase a WDH but only if needed depending on how much it squats with the airlift bags. My concern is that 5400lbs is max on the Sonic. Dry on the Sonic is 4200. Is it realistic to think I will be maxing out the payload capacity of the TT to 5400lbs? It's my wife, my small dog and myself, only bringing what we need nothing extra.

The car is 270hp and 291 ftlbs of torque at 4000 rpms

I'm plan to travel across the country with it.

[Coolerman]

Cool! I just bought the same Venture Sonic 170VBH and will be towing it with a 2012 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X with 6 speed manual. Factory Bilstein shocks, and have the Firestone Airbags installed. This combo allowed level towing of my 3200 lb Starcraft Gemini, three adults, and all our gear with ease across the Rockies on the way to Utah two years ago.

Due to the higher weight of the Sonic, I will be ordering a WDH with sway control tomorrow from etrailer.com. I pick up the new camper next Saturday from the dealer who will help me set the WDH up correctly. I will then be ready for the October trip to Colorado!

[kvangil]

jerem0621 wrote:
Looks good...I had to copy the link to see it though.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

X2. 🙂

[jerem0621]

Looks good...I had to copy the link to see it though.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[AJ143camping]

[kvangil]

Sounds good! Interesting that you were able to tow in 5th. Nissan recommends to shut OD off (so you'd be in 4th gear) when towing, as I don't believe 5th really locks out the torque converter?

[AJ143camping]

I want to say thank you to all for the great tips ideas and information that was given.

I purchased a brand new Venture Sonic 170. We just got back from a six week trip from south Florida to New York and back.

My Pathfinder averaged 12.5 mpg when flat and 11.6 whith elevation changes. My speeds where consintently between 55 and 65mph. At 60mph im turnings 1800rpms with a locked tq converter in 5th gear on flat road. When not in locked 55mph is about 2500 rpms. According to the bullydog programmer my transmission temperature at 60mph was about 175. When climbing the temperature would climb to the 220s but once you level out it quickly cools back down. The ware no hints of sway and felt secure at the speeds speeds I kept. With the rear air bags at 25psi it rode level and never bottomed out.

Im reporting this to help anyone else that has a car similar to mine and is considering buys a travel trailer. Ill try to post a photo soon

[otrfun]

gmw photos wrote:
. . . Be careful trying to compare one to any of the others.

gmw photos wrote:
. . . the Frontier has stiffer springs than either of the others, since it is designed to carry a greater load in the bed.

Points taken.

However, Nissan specs out almost the same hitch/tow numbers for the Pathfinder and Frontier (600/6000 lbs.). Stiffer springs aside, that more or less says Nissan feels they have the same overall tow capability (and performance). They share the same engine, so power delivery should be similar, if not the same, too.

My deduction: towing the same TT, if one vehicle tows well, odds are very high the other will also tow well, too. Or, badly, as the case may be.

Just another piece of anecdotal evidence for the OP to use--nothing more, nothing less.

[gmw_photos]

AJ143camping wrote:
Agreed, they all share platforms but have their differences

Just the clarify for other readers.

Pathfinder: 4 wheel independent suspension and longer wheel base than the Xterra

Xterra: Solid rear axle,

Frontier: Solid rear axle longer wheel base (depending on cab and bed configurations)

All share the same 4.0L V6 . Xtera and Frontier can be had with a 6 speed manual but the Auto is the only transmission on the Pathfinder

and I suspect ( although I have not compared part numbers ) the Frontier has stiffer springs than either of the others, since it is designed to carry a greater load in the bed.

[AJ143camping]

Agreed, they all share platforms but have their differences

Just the clarify for other readers.

Pathfinder: 4 wheel independent suspension and longer wheel base than the Xterra

Xterra: Solid rear axle,

Frontier: Solid rear axle longer wheel base (depending on cab and bed configurations)

All share the same 4.0L V6 . Xtera and Frontier can be had with a 6 speed manual but the Auto is the only transmission on the Pathfinder

[gmw_photos]

I think things are getting a little bit confusing here in this thread. We are now talking about three different vehicles. The Pathfinder, Frontier and Xterra all are slightly different in regards to wheelbase and rear suspension configuration and spring rates. Be careful trying to compare one to any of the others.

[AJ143camping]

Wow that's impressive, Yes, the pathfinder and frontier are almost the same vehicles.

[otrfun]

I believe the 2006 Pathfinder shares the same drivetrain as the 2005-2015 V6 Nissan Frontier. Back-in-the-day, I towed a 5300 lb. (CAT scaled fully loaded) toy hauler (tongue weight 650 lbs.) coast-to-coast with a 2007 V6 (4.0L) Nissan Frontier several times. Same 600/6000 hitch/tow ratings as your Pathfinder. Used a WDH. Towed reasonably well--not great. IMO, it was right-on-the-edge. It would pull 55 MPH up 6% freeway grades, but had to rev high (4-5k) to do so.

[AJ143camping]

I will def be packing light.

I replaced the struts with bilstiens hd and added airlift bags inside the coils. Never bottomed out with 10 psi in the bags with my current TT. The bags are rated up to 35psi.

[TOOBOLD]

I don't know how big your gas tank is, but you will more than likely not be happy with how often you will have to stop for fuel. I hope the rear suspension in your Pathfinder is better than my '06 Xterra. Before we sold it I was really considering Timbren's because we would bottom out over speed bumps and one time I had a large individual in my back seat and experienced terrible handling with the truck. Just food for thought!