manual vs. auto

This question probably gets asked a lot. Why is the manual Xterra rated with lower torque and towing capacities than the automatic? It seems flipped from what I'm used to seeing.

Some people think that its so Manual owners won't ruin their clutches as fast.
I know what you mean though, since the clutch allows a better transfer of power than the torque converter you think it would allow for a higher torque rating.

:confused:

For towing, it is simply that there are few people that can properly feather a clutch well enough to get more than 3500 lbs. moving without burning it up. Nissan doesn't want a bunch of folks pestering them for new clutches because they tried to tow 5000 lbs. and cooked them. And the shock that a load like that can put on the driveline can make its way back to the engine. An automatic's (fluid) torque converter absorbs most of the shock.
For the torque numbers, that's the torque converter itself, it actually multiplies the torque a bit: Link (http://www.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter3.htm)

Brent