Towing U,Haul trailer with only the ball hitch

[dave11]

Nissan requires trailer brakes on any trailer over 1000#.

[Clint]

It's not if you can, it's how expensive will the damages and or deductibles be if you don't and something goes wrong. There is no downside to owning a receiver hitch. Your state laws regulate at what weight limit you MUST use brakes on a trailer.

Clint

[knapp]

Instead of making another thread I thought I'd piggy-back off of this one, since it's related.

First of all, my truck is a Crew Cab 5' bed. My girlfriends car is a 4 door Acura sedan.
I'm moving across country in June and am looking for ways to get our stuff there. I think between the 5' bed of my truck, my back seat, passenger seat, and her car we can manage, but I'm also looking into possibly picking up a cargo trailer.

What were taking aside from the obvious:
-Camping gear (2 large packs and a camping chair are biggest)
-Standing air compressor
-Jack + jackstands
-No furniture, mattress, etc.
-Beer pong table
-300 pairs of shoes

That about sums it up. I don't know how much use I'll get out of a cargo trailer. I don't have any bikes or other toys.

[HeavyG]

Originally Posted by dave11

Nissan requires trailer brakes on any trailer over 1000#.

The last few Frontier owners manuals clearly state, in section 9-25, that brakes are only required when towing a trailer load of MORE than 3500lbs and not just 1000lbs.

State laws vary as to the weight limits on which they may require a trailer to have brakes:

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/trailer-brakes/

[Suzokie]

Originally Posted by x_mods

I don't think U Haul will rent you a trailer unless you have a drop hitch?

This is 100% correct. Marketing hard at work -- uHaul owns the trailers and calls the shots. No coincidence they also install receiver hitches.

Per uHauls website: Towing vehicle requirements-- In order to tow, your vehicle must be equipped with an adequate hitch system and lighting connections. Your hitch system includes the receiver hitch, ball mount and ball.


@ Knapp - Should save gas by loading her car up and towing it with a rented dolly.

[dave11]

Originally Posted by HeavyG

The last few Frontier owners manuals clearly state, in section 9-25, that brakes are only required when towing a trailer load of MORE than 3500lbs and not just 1000lbs.

Trailer Brakes | AAA/CAA Digest of Motor Laws

That is what I thought, too. That is why I bought the truck. In section 9-28 please note the second circle.

"All towing above 1,000lb (454kg) requires the use of trailer brakes."

Please note that Nisan manual states REQUIRES, not should use. I haven't been able to get clarification of this issue from either the dealer or Nisan USA. I would love some legal clarification on this matter.

[x_mods]

Originally Posted by dave11

That is what I thought, too. That is why I bought the truck. In section 9-28 please note the second circle.

"All towing above 1,000lb (454kg) requires the use of trailer brakes."

Please note that Nisan manual states REQUIRES, not should use. I haven't been able to get clarification of this issue from either the dealer or Nisan USA. I would love some legal clarification on this matter.

Interesting.. The last trailer I towed was a shade over 2,000 and it felt fine without trailer brakes?

[invasion08]

I just installed a hidden hitch and wiring on my grandfathers Jeep Liberty. Took a total of about 20 minutes. The wiring harness form Curt is plug and play. The Hidden Hitch only used 6 bolts and washers.

I towed my friends Audi on a uhaul car trailer and the brakes were fine.

[HeavyG]

Originally Posted by dave11

That is what I thought, too. That is why I bought the truck. In section 9-28 please note the second circle.

"All towing above 1,000lb (454kg) requires the use of trailer brakes."

Please note that Nisan manual states REQUIRES, not should use. I haven't been able to get clarification of this issue from either the dealer or Nisan USA. I would love some legal clarification on this matter.

That's what I get for not reading the whole section on towing

The manual has a couple contradictory statements. I also saw one other thing that I'm not sure what they are trying to say:

"Special hitches which include frame reinforcements are required for towing above 2,000 lb (907 kg). Suitable genuine NISSAN hitches, ball mounts and hitch balls for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles are available at a NISSAN dealer."

That statement is on 9-31.

Are they trying to say that one should really only install a hitch like the Nissan OEM hitch which in addition to the 6 bolts that just screw up into the bottom of the frame rails also has 4 screws that use 2 on each side to bolt into a plate on the side of the frame rail?

All the aftermarket hitches I have seen just use the 6 bolts into the bottom of the frame. Curious.

Their statement about using brakes for trailers of 1000lbs or more might be a response to state laws since some states require trailer brakes at much lower weights than others. North Carolina requires house trailers of 1000lbs or more to have brakes.

Let us know if you are able to get any clarification on this.

[dave11]

Mine did come with the factory towing package.