Nissan Frontier - Towing
 

I know the simple answer is "YES". Just curious if anyone drives and/or tows a 20 SF with one.

Looking at a 2001 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab (4 door) 4x4. Truck has a 3.3 litre V-6, 4 speed auto transmission. 210 HP and 265 ft/lb torque rated to tow 5000lbs

My 20 should be fairly light, i cut the fuel tank back to 55 gallons and the boat has a 115 2 stroke, and no T-Top. Sitting on a glavanized tandem axle trailer with no brakes on it. Fact of it is, i dont really tow all that much. In the summer the boat is in a slip. I do pull it out a few times a year, and i will pull it and launch at other places closer to where im fishing.

What do you think? I know it will tow it, will it be a total dog?

Towing now with a 97 Tahoe 5.7 like its not even back there, but the old girl is finally giving me some worries so i'm going to part ways with her.

-Mike

You have brakes on the trailer? It's not just the towing.........

I tow mine with a 2005 Tacoma 2WD 4 cyl. 5 speed no issues at all.
Just check your tongue weight I believe mine is set at 180 or 200 lbs.

And be sure your carful at the ramp, seen alot of guys who cant figure out the clutch thing before their in trouble in the water. always fun for the spectator though!

No Problem with the Nissan Frontier towing a 20sf. They are light boats. I towed one cross country 3300 miles with a Isuzu Rodeo and seafari back 3300 miles with a 1992 Jeep Comanche.

I remember that pic. This is not the brainless truth. Boats were towed by station wagons.
Stopping is important. A co worker picked up a nice black plate Cali `65 stang. He`s getting married. We are getting him a new CJ power boosted master, block and proportioning valve in a new smaller bolt on solution. No cutting of the export brace or shock towers. Sweet. The Fishin` club once again told me how much more I can learn last night.

Cheers,
Us

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/...361_Medium.jpg

It got a little hot crossing on some of the mountain passes leaving CA with over 1500lbs of tools and crap in the boat and in the bed of the truck . . . not the smartest thing I have ever done, but I made it in 3.5 days :) Comanche had 220k miles (on that trip).

I"ve been towing with a 2wd f-150 with the small v8, the only issue I have is at the ramp when the tide low, the ramps in maine are steep, I have weight in the bed and have to time the tide,i rather go with a4x4

I think the Frontier will be fine on the pulling end, but suspect on the stopping end w/o trailer brakes.

I pull my Seafari on a currently brake-less galvanized tandem w/a 5 speed V-6, 2WD Toyota T-100. It pulls very comfortably. But it sucks on the ramp at low tide because it doesn't have posi, and is sketchy in emergency braking situations. My distance to ramps is 15 miles on I-8, all downhill, going; all uphill returning.

It's one thing to get by, and another to do it comfortably. Even though the public is indifferent to our burden of towing ~ 4000 lbs, we still have a responsibility to others on the road. I'd feel more much comfortable with a functioning surge brake and a bigger truck. Loan has been approved by the bank now just waiting on the Admiral. ;)

I used a Kia Sorento 4wd :rolleyes: and a Kia Sedona mini van for my Seafari ....was no problem..both small v-6. Now have an Excursion still no problem. I wouild stick with 4wd though!!
-Fred

I have a 2006 Nissan Exterra, 2wd and i am able to tow my 20MA with no problem... taking the boat off the ramp is cake!

Oh and the trailer has no brakes!

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/...fttrucking.jpg

You should be fine with a 4x4 but as Gillie says, stopping is the real issue. You'll need surge brakes if you do any towing at high speed on the interstate; many states require them if towed load is over 3000 lbs. (Be sure to use silicone fluid in the brake system, because conventional fluid sucks up moisture like a sponge! That will eliminate any problems with the hydraulic system.)

I've towed my Seafari all over the state with a 4100 lb 2WD Dodge Dakota 5.2L V-8 that I ordered with a 3.55 Sure Grip rear axle, HD cooling and towing packages. It tows great, and with trailer brakes it stops like there's no trailer back there! With 8" wide rims, 60 series tires and the positraction rear, I've never had a problem on steep ramps, but I have a heavy single axle EZ-Loader trailer with a PowerWinch, 31 rollers and zero friction, so I never dunk the trailer, just get the tires wet. However I might need 4WD if I used a float-on trailer where I had to get way down the ramp to dunk the trailer.

A good roller trailer and winch (mine's 28 years old, with original springs!) will allow you to avoid the extra weight and maintenance of a 4WD system in addition to being a nearly maintenance free trailer!

You are doing it wrong. The truck needs to be longer than the boat. And at least twice as heavy! :D

For small to medium sized trailerable boats, I've always subscribed to the thought that the boat and trailer should never weigh more than the tow vehicle.

i.e. my 23' Scepter weighs: 4400# (with OB power & fuel, etc.)
Aluminum tandem axle trailer weighs 850#
Total towed weight = 5250#

My Chevy 1500 Silverado Crew Cab 2WD Pickup weighs: 5340# (Per truckstop Scale)

So, i'm good.

P.S. Also, trailer brakes that are in good working order are a MUST for towing over 3,500#. I've towed with and w/o trailer brakes and there is a huge difference in the safety, confidence, and comfort w/ the trailer brakes. Brakes on Both axles are preferable, but only on one axle will work, if they are in good operating condition.

P.S.S. Also, when it comes to tow vehicles, "Long and Low" are prefered. Long wheel based pickups (or SUVs) that have a standard and unmodified suspension as on most 2WD setup are the best and most stable towing platforms. DRW (Dually) 2wd 1 ton longbed pickups (Ford. Chevy, Dodge) w/ a Diesel engine are the best tow vehicles I have found. Although lighter than the "Tow Load" they can safely handle up to 12K# with standard trailer or 15K# with 5th wheel trailer (with Trailer brakes)

I have to say that with a older tow vehicle- a mid 90's F250 diesel, the long wheelbase makes for GREAT highway towing. It can be a problem backing into tight spots with a 21 foot truck and a boat and trailer that is ~25 feet. But the performance under tow is great. It just goes straight down the road. One down-side to a long wheelbase 2WD is that you need to have some weight over the rear axle for good boat ramp performance. But 500-1000lb of concrete works nicely. I found that people will "donate" bags of quickcrete that got damp and turned into a 50 or 80lb pig weight. Then they are easy to unload and work great for getting traction.

Amen to that, and to the benefits of trailer brakes! The 130" wheelbase on my Dakota club cab combined with it's relatively low CG makes it extremely stable; with the "handling package" that includes front and rear sway bars and wide low profile tires, it feels like it's glued to the road when towing! Basic physics says that tall SUV's with a short wheelbase, high CG, tall 75 series tires, and soft "car-like" suspensions are much less stable than pickups with stiffer springs and most of the weight down low in the frame. I've seen guys tow a 23 with a Jeep Wrangler that I'm sure could pull it up any ramp, but it wouldn't be my first choice for a tow vehicle!