[Ski dog]

A question for owners of the 2nd generation trucks with 4-bangers...What is the most you have towed and how was it?

 

[5speed_Frontier]

the most ive towed is a little aluminum boat and i could barely tell it was there. but i also have headers, intake, and exhaust on my 4 banger. Also the deaver AAL and bilsteins in the back I believe help with the weight as well. Ive seen a 4 banger pulling a tent trailer before though. What do you plan on pulling?

Haha. we pull our 30ft travel trailer with the 6.0L chevy.

 

[Mathster]

I have a gen 1 V6 so take this comment for what its worth.
I think these trucks will pull most anything. controlling and stopping it is another story. be safe with your towing choice.

 

[something else]

most i've towed was a u-haul 6x12 enclosed trailer about 300 miles round trip, estimating about 2800 lbs gross cause the thing is 1900 lbs empty plus all the crap i put in there for my sister's move.

i turned off O/D and went about 60-65 mph the whole time. it handled well, acceleration was slower than normal but it took it like a champ. stopping was fine, of course the big u-haul trailers like this have surge brakes. when accelerating on an on ramp i spent a lot of time in the 4-4500 rpm zone. when passing i took the rpms up pretty high, but never once did the coolant temp move above where it sits all the time normally. gas mileage sucked but i didnt encounter any issues on anything. the transmission (auto) shifted just like i would expect it to under load, and performed admirably.

towing lighter than that was easy. i wouldn't tow anything more than 3000lbs gross, as this little iddy biddy engine has to work pretty hard for it. no truck should tow at its max anyways, which for the 2nd gen XEs is 3500lbs.

it's fine for occasional sub-3000lb towing.

 

[kannibul]

I have a gen 1 V6 so take this comment for what its worth.
I think these trucks will pull most anything. controlling and stopping it is another story. be safe with your towing choice.

I agree 100% (also V6 owner), and I've not towed anything yet.

 

[Ski dog]

Thanks for the replies. I normally pull about 1000 lbs. No problem. I will eventually need to use the truck to move back to California. Total load with the trailer will be near 2800 pounds. I pulled that with my 1999 4 cylinder Tacoma but that truck was around 1000 lighter with only 10 less horsepower.

 

[Mathster]

I agree 100% (also V6 owner), and I've not towed anything yet.

I have hauled a couple fords and I have exceeded my gvwr. I dont think trailer brakes are a must as long as you dont have to get anywhere near traffic. also, if someone pulls in front of you and stops and you dont have trailer brakes, its your fault for hitting them.