Towing a Caravel 20FB - newbie

[jedpetty]

Hi. We are new owners of a 2021 Caravel 20FB. GVWR = 5000, Dry Wt = 4300, hitch weight = 565

We would like to tow with a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum - 4WD, V6, 3.5L

Max towing = 6000
GAWR = 2943 FR and 3373 RR
GCWR = 11,100

Does anyone tow with this vehicle. Are we cutting it too close? Thanks!

[AlbertF]

The numbers work, and you can readily buy a suitable hitch receiver.

It’s a very good engine, now mated to a proper automatic transmission. A guess - you will probably tow in 5th or 6th gear notwithstanding the fact it’s a 9 speed transmission. Power is more than adequate, and these Nissan engines like to rev. (My personal car has the 3.7 version of this engine.)

I wouldn’t hesitate to go with this combination. As always, proper weight distribution setup is key.

[jedpetty]

Thanks. That give us some comfort. We will likely try it on some short trips and just evaluate it as we go.

[SYC2Vette]

Key will be watching your payload so as not to exceed max or your rawr (especially).

[PB_NB]

Check your tongue allowance on the hitch. Your trailer will be heavier on the tongue weight by about 100 lbs. and you need to add the weight of your hitch too.

Our Ridgeline had a limit on the hitch of 600 lbs. We were just at that with out 22FB that has a published weight of 422 lbs. The reality is usually greater.

Some of the unibody SUV’s have a rather low limit which you should be able to find in your owners manual. The trick is to be able to measure it. A Sherline scale is a good choice to determine what the trailer tongue actual weighs.

[SYC2Vette]

The battery options (single lithium vs dual agm) and propane tank size are a relatively easy way to get your tongue weight down to a reasonable level. Of course watch what you put under the bed too.

[field & stream]

As pointed out above, you need to verify the vehicle’s maximum weight spec’s for the hitch, and probably go to a scale to determine your trailers actual tongue weight. Not safe to exceed that limit.

Then, subtract the actual tongue weight from your vehicle’s payload which is on a sticker on the door jamb. The difference is what you can load into the vehicle, including the weight of passengers. For example, the payload is probably about 1,400 pounds and with a tongue weight of 600 plus 300 pounds of people you will have 500 pounds remaining for all of your stuff. That is not a lot.

Not mentioned previously is the subject of performance, by which I mean the ability to accelerate when needed and to maintain speed on hills and at elevation. This is a personal judgment, but you should be aware the the industry established performance standards are very low — equivalent to a 1962 VW bug.

Depending on your camping style and personal performance standards, this could work or you may prefer something more robust.

[waninae39]

we tow our FC 25FB QCH with an Audi Q5 sport
CANAM RV in London, ON made a reinforcement hitch for our Q5
we use WD and Sway

no issues with towing