kvangil
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Re: 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.806Views0likes0CommentsRe: Towing with a V-6 SUV?
Have towed (and still towing) a 5000lb trailer with 2005 pathfinder. 6000lb tow rating. It's now at 150K miles and counting.... That said, most of our trips are within 2-3 hours drive on flat land, and it's adequate. I can keep up with traffic and run 65 mph fine. Towing to the badlands/Rushmore, it was barely adequate--Needed to keep it in 3rd gear and run at 3500-4000 RPMs for a good portion of the trip in order to maintain 60-65mph with heavy headwind, and saw gas mileage of 6-7 mpg on that trip (though most trips here are about 10mpg). Basically, with some margin, it'll do the job. It won't be fun. I'm looking to upgrade to a 1/2 ton platform soon.1.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: First Tow Vehicle Suggestions
OP, it seems you are pretty much set on an Armada, so IMO, you should just go ahead and pull the trigger on that if you find the right deal. It'll pull the trailer that you want just fine. It's understandable that a pick-up isn't for everyone....357Views0likes0CommentsRe: Towing Newbie
Meechy wrote: Also someone mentioned air bags for the rear? Any thoughts on this folks? Thanks, Wouldn't hurt to have them if you're so inclined. Just for comparison, on our '05 we do not have airbags and tow with more tongue weight than you'll be carrying, and do not have any noticeable sag. A lot depends on how well dialed-in your WD hitch is.574Views0likes0CommentsRe: Towing Newbie
eluwak wrote: The problem isn't cooling, it's radiator failures that cross contaminate the trans fluid with coolant and it destroys the trans pretty quickly. Nissan extended the warranty on the radiator, but if it destroyed the trans they were denying folks the trans repair. The best way to fix it is to bypass the radiator, install a gauge, and then see if you need an aux cooler. It should do fine, but install some airbags in the rear to keep it off the ground. And like said, don't be afraid to tow in 3rd for extended periods of time. Ours had no problems holding 60 mph towing a TT too big for the truck. You are correct about the radiator failures, and some Pathfinder owners did go that route that you suggested as a preventative measure. We did have a radiator crack at one point but luckily it did not result in fluids mixing.... Currently, we've continued to use the stock trans cooler, and have added a temp gauge. So far, so good. **knock on wood**573Views0likes0CommentsRe: Towing Newbie
I tow with a 2005 Pathfinder, 147K miles and counting.... Our current trailer is 5000lbs gross. We use an Equal-I-Zer hitch with built-in sway control and don't have any issues with sway or being pushed around, etc. You should be ok with the trailer you're considering. Keep OD off and on most roads, you'll be fine. In strong headwinds or through hills/mountains, you may need to drop to 3rd gear and let the engine rev at 3500rpms. You DON'T need to add an aftermarket trans cooler. The stock cooler is plenty sufficient. The fuel tank is relatively small, so expect to stop for gas every 120-150 miles depending on the mpg's you're getting (anywhere from 7-11mpg towing). Acceleration will be "ok" but take it easy and don't punch it too hard.574Views0likes0CommentsRe: Towing report: 06 Explorer with 22' TT
Being a mid-size SUV tower myself, I doubt the Exp would be able to handle a 26-28 footer; the weight seems to grow exponentially with length!! :) However, 9mpg and frequent fill-ups sound about right for your tow vehicle. That performance isn't too bad considering the age and mileage on the Exp.552Views0likes0CommentsRe: Reservations or not
We drive until about an hour or 2 before we estimate that we'll stop for the night. Then we map the upcoming campgrounds to see what's available, pick one and call them to book us for the evening. Has worked well for us so far. If it's a holiday weekend, you may want to book ahead, but otherwise you should have some options.185Views0likes0Comments
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