Towing

[ToeJam]

I posted this on the XOC, but I know many of you don't frequent that board too often anymore, so I'm going to try here also.

I might be buying a boat, but I'm a little concerned about the weight. The boat and trailer weigh about 3300 pounds. Obviously I won't be racing anyone with it on the back, but I'm a little worried about even getting around town. For those of you in the Pacific Northwest, you probably know some of the best lakes in Washington are over the pass. I want to make sure I can get to eastern Washington w/o blowing up.

Has anyone towed with this much weight? How did your rig do?

Thanks for your help.
Stu

[gothamist]

I don't tow anything, so I can't help you there...but all I have to say is be sure to keep your stock tires around if you're not running them anymore. I just switched back to my 31.3" AT's after running for three months w/ 32.5" Swampers...my Xterra feels like a sports car now (which should tell you how slow it is w/ the big Swampers.)

Ignoring that comment, I think you'd be alright towing that boat (you'd probably have to slow to about 50mph on the uphills though), but again, I haven't towed/pulled anything onroad w/ my X, so hopefully some others will chime in w/ their experience (which is worth more than my speculation.)

[Schludwiller]

ToeJam, do you have an Automatic?

[ToeJam]

I have an automatic, so I get the big 5000 max towing capacity. I'm more concerned about the 200 ft-lbs of torque versus hills and such.

[Schludwiller]

Well you should have more than enough torque to get that boat over to Lake Sammamish with a case of beer for your buddy Schludwiller.

I'll bring the bottle opener and sunblock!!!

[ChuckH]

Yeah, you'll be alright. It will probably be slow going over the pass, but you shouldn't have any "problems." Try and keep your other loaded stuff light though and definately get trailer brakes. You need to have trailer brakes with that much weight according to Nissan and although I wouldn't worry about it around town, the mountain passes would give me worry. The last thing you want to do is overheat your brakes on your way down a long, steep grade. Oh, and you may want to have someone follow you with a tanker truck!

Gothamist is right about the tires. You want the least rolling resistance you can get when towing. As much as I hate them, the Long Trails or the Grabbers are actually a good choice. Even an A/T will rob your power a noticeable amount.

[ToeJam]

I hear ya about the tires. I replaced my Generals with Michelins, but they are the stock size and have much better grip so I should be okay there.

Schuld - Get me another PNWX sticker and I'll make my boat the official PNWX water ride.

Cool, now I just need to find out if it will fit in my garage!

[Philosopher]

I have been towing my 2K lb. camper for a while now ... most times I'm going up mountains, I end up having to downshift into 3rd gear (4K + RPM) to maintain 45 - 50 MPH. My engine heats up a bit too in the summer but cranking the heat on brings it right back to normal (just burns my feet up ). My advice is simply to take it easy, stay to the right, and let all those cars pass you even thought you don't want to ...

[ScottG]

I pull a jeep that probably weighs about 3,300 pounds with a tow bar. My automatic Xterra can pull it 65 or 70 mph without any problem, but gas mileage drops to about 10 miles per gallon. I was actually surprised at how well my Xterra pulls the Jeep. With the boat, you will have more weight on your hitch than I do with the Jeep. But, I don't think you will have any problem.

[jnapier]

And I definitely feel it back there. However, I feel the X pulls it quite well. Your gas mileage will suck since you'll have to stick the pedal to the floor when going up steep hills.

BTW, Schlud, thanks for getting this board up and running. I've been lurking for a while, but this board has the best Content/Chaff ratio that I've read (borrowing the great 'chaff' remark).

Sorry to raise a dead thread, but thought this might help.

[Synchro]

Originally posted by Schludwiller
Well you should have more than enough torque to get that boat over to Lake Sammamish with a case of beer for your buddy Schludwiller.

I'll bring the bottle opener and sunblock!!!

he'll even rub it on your back. the sunblock that is.

[wqbang]

I tow a 2200 lb camper. Around town, it will be absouletly no problem. On flatland you won't have any problem either. Liuke everone else has said, you won't be breaking any land speed records on snoqualmie, but you will do just fine. Hang out with the semi's on the way over. I could keep 55mph on a 6% grade while driving to Tellico without much of a problem. Since you have an auto, consider getting a tranny cooler.

[jnapier]

Well, this weekend I towed my boat and trailer (~4000 lbs) up into the north Georgia mountains. I averaged 12 mpg whereas I normally average 18mpg, but I was expecting worse. The ~90 mile trip felt pretty slow because the X slowed down considerably on every major uphill and I was forced to get the rpms up to ~5-6k to maintain 60mph. Overall though, the X did the job as expected.

If I was going to pull a trailer like this for long distances consistently, I would definitely get electric brakes. I did yearn for an extra bit of horsepower and I don't think the X's stock springs will last very long with the amount of tongue weight my trailer puts on it.

BTW, the wakeboarding was awesome this past weekend. :sun: But I did pass by the Beasley Knob OHV trail and wished I could go offroading this weekend as well. Didn't you take that trail with Hugh, wqbang?

[ToeJam]

Well, I did buy the boat. I haven't done any high way towing yet, but the X does just fine around the city. It hasn't even broke a sweat pulling the boat out of the rather steep boat launches around here.

Thanks to everyone for their advice!

Stu

[wqbang]

Originally posted by jnapier
But I did pass by the Beasley Knob OHV trail and wished I could go offroading this weekend as well. Didn't you take that trail with Hugh, wqbang?

Nope. I have done Rich Mountain near Ellijay. For the Most part Beasley is pretty rough. There are only a couple short trails a stockish Xterra could take from what I understand.