Towing a with an Nissan Xterra

[AWCHIEF]

Looking for input from actual users of the Nissan Xterra for towing 16 to 20 footer Airstreams. I am looking at seveal 2008 4lt V-6 models for towing older 60's model Bambi or Globtrotter.

[valmog]

We have a 16 ft AS and tow it with our V6 Nissan Frontier quite often. It's plenty powerful for what we use it for. Ours is a 2009, but we were told it has the same engine as the Xterra. It gets us up an over the mountains here in the Pacific NW pretty nicely

[RangerJay]

A Nissan Pathfinder has been the only tow vehicle for our 19' Bambi for 9 towing seasons and 81,000 KM - 2003 Pathfinder for 7 seasons and 2009 Pathfinder for 2 seasons.

Several upgrades in hitches, brakecontrollers and tires have dramatically improved towing comfort and, I believe, safety. Today's equipment includes:

- LT tires (E load rating)
- Tekonsha P3 brake controller
- Hensley Arrow
- McKesh Mirrors
- ScanGuage II

Although I'm comfortable with the 09 Pathfinder in pretty much any towing situation I'm not quite as cocky to sing their praises as I might have been a few years ago - today I recognize that any short wheel based vehicle with a high centre of gravity is not the best of tow-vehicles (regardless of horsepower). In addition to the equipment above I make sure that both the running gear of the Pathfinder and the trailer are meticulously maintained (before and during the trip), my maximum driving speed is very much dependent upon road conditions (not on the guy behind me) and never exceeds 100 KM/Hour at any time, serious hills (up and particularly down) are taken at lower gears and speeds.

Not sure what the Xterra's hitch height is but if you are using a Hensley the 09 Pathfinders height was quite a bit higher. Hensley only manufacturers a stinger with up to an 8" drop - I had to have one fabricated with a 10" drop - works fine but it was a pricey little fabrication.

Attached are a couple of pictures of both Pathfinders with Bambi in tow - also a map of our travels since its purchase in 2003.

Good luck,



Jay

[AWCHIEF]

A couple of very nice trailer/TV combinations and photos, thank you both.

[AWCHIEF]

What kind of mileage do you guys get when towing?

[valmog]

With our Frontier, we get about 13 mpg (but we're always going up and over mountains)....We get about the same when we pull our 16 ft. with our BMW X5 which is a V8.

[handn]

We have a 2007 Xterra. Tow rating is 3500 pounds. We towed a car trailer weighing close to this amount cross country. Plenty of power and an uneventful tow. With the small fuel tank and thirsty engine we had to stop every 225 miles for fuel.
Tow rating for the Pathfinder is 5000 pounds with the same drive train. The difference is a longer wheel base for the Pathfinder.
As long as the gvw of the trailer is 3500 pounds or less, your Xterra will do fine.

[RangerJay]

Average mileage is 13 MPG - but the variance will take it to 15 MPG on a good day (strong tail wind) or 11 MPG on a bad day (strong head wind). Hilly terrain can also have an impact - but nowhere near that of wind.


Jay