New 2018 Nissan Armada tow vehicle

[FCStreamer]

Pulled the trigger on a 2018 Nissan Armada. 1540 lbs payload, can tow 8500 lbs. Has auto leveling suspension. It was prewired for a brake controller and I installed a P3 today. Truly plug and play. I need to do a slight adjustment to my Equalizer hitch as the Armada receiver is 2.5” lower than my previous TV. Planning on taking it to the scales as my first “test trip” in a week or two.

Any other 2017/2018 Armada owners out there? Where did you install your brake controller?

[Belbein]

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

Pulled the trigger on a 2018 Nissan Armada.

Maybe you can answer my question ... I've been looking for a new tow vehicle, and the 5 year/100,000 mile warranty my be the decision-maker for me. But the none of the Nissans I've looked at list a towing package, even though the towing capacities are all 8500+. Any idea why?

[0557]

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

Pulled the trigger on a 2018 Nissan Armada. 1540 lbs payload, can tow 8500 lbs. Has auto leveling suspension. It was prewired for a brake controller and I installed a P3 today. Truly plug and play. I need to do a slight adjustment to my Equalizer hitch as the Armada receiver is 2.5” lower than my previous TV. Planning on taking it to the scales as my first “test trip” in a week or two.



Any other 2017/2018 Armada owners out there? Where did you install your brake controller?

I just bought a 2018 Armada SL to tow my 34ft Limited at 7700lbs.
Got the EZlift WD Hitch ready to install with anti sway.
And the P3 to install tomorrow .
Looking forward to getting the nerve up to towing a beast.
But as long as my weight distribution is set up right, I should be ok.
Did your air shocks raise the height at all?

[RandyNH]

Hopefully that is just a matter of camera angle, in an emergency situation how far down do you actually have to reach to apply the trailer brakes manually? It appears it is pretty far down near your foot, if you have to reach to far down for it you'll end up with your head up against the airbag when it explodes.
While I understand not wanting to mar a new vehicle, but I would mount it as far up that side location, as close to the ignition key area as possible.

[slowmover]

The TUSON DirecLink controller is the one to have. A P3 is merely adequate.

The DL also has a remote head unit.

[RLS]

This is something for all Armada, Infiniti and any other vehicle that has air suspension to think about. Our tongue weight is very high at about 1,000 to 1,200 lbs. and the air suspension is not up to holding that much weight even with using the weight distribution system for long periods of time.
A set of air bags installed inside the rear coils is the best thing you can do to keeping the air suspension working when hauling the trailer. JMHO from having it go out.

[pteck]

Congratulations!

What we really need to know is whether the canine approves?

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

Pulled the trigger on a 2018 Nissan Armada. 1540 lbs payload, can tow 8500 lbs. Has auto leveling suspension. It was prewired for a brake controller and I installed a P3 today. Truly plug and play. I need to do a slight adjustment to my Equalizer hitch as the Armada receiver is 2.5” lower than my previous TV. Planning on taking it to the scales as my first “test trip” in a week or two.

Any other 2017/2018 Armada owners out there? Where did you install your brake controller?

The 8,500 max tow capacity won't give you much extra margin for safety. Your 30' FC will be close to 7,400 lbs trip ready.

[sbowman]

Having owned and currently own vehicle w/auto and/or manual height adjustment systems for 20 years, same MFG. Have never used these vehicles for RV towing, however have used for 16' utility trailer. I do know they worked ok. I do know extended use for towing does reduce life of the air shocks and/or other parts of the system. Our current ones system can be manually locked into height, however when using MFG's approved trailer electrical socket disables auto adjustment.

I freely admit I have never driven or owned an Asian vehicle, have ridden in a few. What I do not know and would like to know is how the height adjustment systems work on these Asian vehicles. What if any issues encountered from long term and extend towing. Are these vehicles all time all wheel drive? Do they have low range high range abilities? Do they have hill decent? Do they transfer power to needed wheel and or wheels? What are their tongue weight max? How does the height system work when towing? Up, down, and or lock/disabled?

Best regards and safe travels

[wulfraat]

I’ve put about 30k miles towing in this platform (its cousin the 2011+ Infiniti QX). For 25k miles I pulled a 25’ @7600lbs with 800lb tongue weight. Equalizer hitch.

It worked well for that trailer but I did have to manage payload in the truck as I only had 1,450 lbs payload. Adds up fast.

When I bought my 2017 30’ international which tops out at 8,800lbs and generates 990lbs tongue weight with WD applied I continued towing with the (current generation) Infiniti QX/ armada platform for another 3 or 4K miles.

I live at the foot of the Colorado Rockies and often tow at altitude and on steep / long grades. In the end with our family I just couldn’t manage to 450lbs of available payload after you subtract tongue weight and with 8,000 lbs of trailer loaded for camping we felt a little bit of tail wagging the dog with our equalizer hitch.

If you pull a 30’ with this platform I would absolutely recommend a propride - which I believe will help stabilize the rig at highway speeds.

But the propride adds another 200lbs of payload so you’ll be down to just 200-250lbs available for driver, passenger and other stuff in the tow vehicle, if you adhere to the numbers.

In the end we moved up to a larger 3/4 ton but the deciding factor was the amount of towing we do in the mountains combined with higher payload needs.

Just some things to think about - overall it’s probably the best SUV on the market for towing an airstream in my opinion.

[ProTech]

Why would you want to use a vehicle that has a limit so close to your trailer? I towed a trailer with a JK Jeep for 5 years and got tired of doing 30 mph up hills. Get a tow vehicle that can safely tow your trailer. The mistake will cost you down the road.

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by ProTech

Why would you want to use a vehicle that has a limit so close to your trailer? I towed a trailer with a JK Jeep for 5 years and got tired of doing 30 mph up hills. Get a tow vehicle that can safely tow your trailer. The mistake will cost you down the road.

400hp and 413lb-ft of torque on the 5.6 v8 pulls well - I’d do 55-60mph up the 10mile 7% grade to the Eisenhower tunnel at 10,000 feet on i70 in Colorado. So the truck is appropriately powered.

My issue was payload - I wanted to take more stuff with me and wanted something with a diesel exhaust brake for the long downhill runs as I tow frequently through the Rockies. Longer wheelbase of my 3/4 ton added stability at highway speed but I do believe a propride would care for that on the 121” wheelbase of the armada.

If I lived at sea level I probably would have kept towing with it. It’s a very good tow vehicle - very robust/solid substructure / frame and receiver, lower center of gravity, independent suspension, low profile tires with minimal flex if you run 20’s, and not all that much rear overhang which helps with WD.

[Acheron2010]

I loved, loved, loved my Nissan Armada when I had it. Best vehicle ever. Tons of power, luxurious inside, sweet ride. I towed a boat all over California.
There is a fantastic Nissan Armada bulletin board that has a wealth of information for all things Armada. Get it here.

[Lensman]

Al-tho the Armada is a great vehicle you may want to consider exchanging it for a Nissan Titan XD which gives you a bigger margin in weight ratio. We have a 23 foot Safari and just bought an XD last year. Perfect combo for us and would be for you too. The XD already comes with build in break controller, tow mirrors, payload 2960, tow 12300, remote light check and etc. Besides a truck comes in handy for other things when not towing.These Nissan's are All American, designed in California, engineered in Michigan, tested in Arizona and built in Tennessee with this purpose in mind. We love out XD it is as luxurious inside as the Armada and is our all around perfect truck. Might be worth a trip back to the store to have another look at the truck.

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by Lensman

Al-tho the Armada is a great vehicle you may want to consider exchanging it for a Nissan Titan XD [SNIP]

But, but... I just got it.

When they make a Titan less than 211 inches long I’ll consider it. In the meantime, 211 inches is what I have to work with. That’s the length of my condo parking spot.

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by Belbein

Maybe you can answer my question ... I've been looking for a new tow vehicle, and the 5 year/100,000 mile warranty my be the decision-maker for me. But the none of the Nissans I've looked at list a towing package, even though the towing capacities are all 8500+. Any idea why?

Not sure why the Nissans don’t advertise a towing package. They all have the hitch and the 7 pin connector. None have a brake controller. They all have self leveling suspensions. Not sure about oil cooler and such.

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by 0557

Did your air shocks raise the height at all?

Will try it in a week or so and will let you know.

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by RandyNH

Hopefully that is just a matter of camera angle, in an emergency situation how far down do you actually have to reach to apply the trailer brakes manually? It appears it is pretty far down near your foot, if you have to reach to far down for it you'll end up with your head up against the airbag when it explodes.
While I understand not wanting to mar a new vehicle, but I would mount it as far up that side location, as close to the ignition key area as possible.

Yes, it’s too low. But any higher and it will be vertical. I need to find a better spot. I’m not opposed to making new holes.

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by pteck

Congratulations!

What we really need to know is whether the canine approves?

He approves!

[BeachHouse]

Originally Posted by RLS

This is something for all Armada, Infiniti and any other vehicle that has air suspension to think about. Our tongue weight is very high at about 1,000 to 1,200 lbs. and the air suspension is not up to holding that much weight even with using the weight distribution system for long periods of time.

A set of air bags installed inside the rear coils is the best thing you can do to keeping the air suspension working when hauling the trailer. JMHO from having it go out.

Where did you get air bags? I believe we need them as well.