07 Pathfinder up to the task? (1 Viewer)

[mike@dw]

I have an 07 Nissan Pathfinder and I am wondering if you guys think it would able to tow my 72 40. It is rated to tow 6K lbs.

I gave it a shot last spring using a friends flat bed trailer so I could take the 40 to the cabin. I got it loaded up and went for a test drive and I just don't think an 07 Pathfinder is up to the challenge (ended up not towing it). But I think it could have been due to me not having it secured properly. The 40 does not have an emergency brake and it is an automatic so it was difficult to get it strapped down enough that it would not roll.

Do you think a 07 pathfinder should be up to the task if I have the 40 secured right? Maybe just flat towing it so I don't have to pull the extra weight of the trailer?

 

[KY854RUN]

Mike,

That would be pushing the Pathfinder close to the limit. I don't know how your 40 is built. But, a friend's stock `75, with the hard top on, weighed in at 4200 pounds. When you ad the weight of a trailer to that you are real close to maxing out the Pathfinder. Also, be careful flat towing. I know that many here do it. But, I have seen a 40 put a full size Blazer into a ditch when the 40 blew a tire while being flat towed.

 

[Deneway]

I really think that you are pushing it way too much for the pathfinder. If you like your Nissan's the Armada would be a more capable choice.

 

[mike@dw]

Thanks guys. That is kinda what I thought. On my test drive with the 40 on the flat bed it was pretty scary.

Can't/don't really want to get rid of the Pathfinder since towing the 40 would be a very occasional thing.

What about disconnecting the drive shaft and towing it with one of those two wheel dolly things for just the front tires? What does a decent size trailer weigh? 1k lbs?

 

[Deneway]

Horrible idea as you are now relying on the tow vehicle to brake all the 40's weight as well.

 

[Aggie]

Horrible idea as you are now relying on the tow vehicle to brake all the 40's weight as well.

Speaking from Experience, this guy is not entirely accurate with the horrible idea statement.

If you are only going to be towing the 40 3 or 4 times a year a tow dolly shouldn't be a problem. Example, I towed this 40 from Boston to Texas just like this with an FJ Cruiser.

 

[KY854RUN]

Mike,

Most car trailers that I have seen weigh in around 1,200 pounds. Some of the aluminum ones are around 800 pounds. And the one that I rented from U-Haul had to weigh over 2,000 pounds, what a beast that was to haul.

Your Pathfinder's tow rating is based on towing a trailer with a total weight (trailer + load) of 6,000 pounds and no trailer brakes. That means that the brakes of the Pathfinder a capable of stopping the weight of the Pathfinder and the trailer. Try to see if you owner's manual lists a total combined weight rating for the vehicle and trailer. This will tell you how much you can load in the Pathfinder and still tow 6,000 pounds.

Total combined weight (minus)- 6,000 pound trailer (minus)- vehicle empty weight = what you can load in the Pathfinder.

Aggie is correct, you should be fine using a tow dolly. This will keep the total trailer weight under the Pathfinder's tow rating. The main problems with tow dollies are, backing up and finding tied down harnesses that fit the larger tires we run on our 4x4s.

 

[Mark W]

Speaking from a LOT of experience and some scary incidents and many lessons learned and continual upgrades to proper equipment for towing... the comment that it is a horrible idea to use a dolly under a '40 behind an pathfinder is dead on.

Just because someone got away with it does not change that.

Flat towing would be even worst.


Your pathfinder is at best a marginal rig to tow a '40.... not much way to change that.


Mark...