the frontier should tow that just fine, as far as reliability for long trips, 3 summers ago i drove my first gen 12 hours straight in 90+* weather and it did just fine, temp gauge stayed normal. i see no harm or worries to use your truck to travel with and pull a small camper.
What could/should be done with the Frontier
Kind of a general question, to be a little more specific my wife and I were talking the other night about getting a travel trailer and were looking at the Burro, Scamp, Casita's and Single axle Hi-lo's.
RV Trailers - Scamp Lightweight RV Campers for Easy Towing
HI-LO Trailer Company Inc.
It looks like the Scamps weigh around 2k lbs while the hi-lo weighs about 3k lbs. I know the Frontier will pull 6500, but I dont want to tax it. I would probably have an upgraded aftermarket tranny cooler installed as well as beefier shocks for the rear.
I guess part two of the question is I am struggling on whether the Frontier can really handle such a setup and should I invest time and money into it. I like the truck but question the reliability of it sometimes to take on extended roadtrips. I know its pretty much brand new, but that wont stop something from happening out in the middle of nowhere. I would also like to start doing some more mods like bumpers, upgrade suspension, etc. I know these things dont increase value, however I dont want to throw my money down a rat hole if the truck is going to become unsatisfactory as the miles start to rack up.
Just kicking some stuff around. Any thoughts or comments?
RV Trailers - Scamp Lightweight RV Campers for Easy Towing
HI-LO Trailer Company Inc.
It looks like the Scamps weigh around 2k lbs while the hi-lo weighs about 3k lbs. I know the Frontier will pull 6500, but I dont want to tax it. I would probably have an upgraded aftermarket tranny cooler installed as well as beefier shocks for the rear.
I guess part two of the question is I am struggling on whether the Frontier can really handle such a setup and should I invest time and money into it. I like the truck but question the reliability of it sometimes to take on extended roadtrips. I know its pretty much brand new, but that wont stop something from happening out in the middle of nowhere. I would also like to start doing some more mods like bumpers, upgrade suspension, etc. I know these things dont increase value, however I dont want to throw my money down a rat hole if the truck is going to become unsatisfactory as the miles start to rack up.
Just kicking some stuff around. Any thoughts or comments?
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x2the frontier should tow that just fine, as far as reliability for long trips, 3 summers ago i drove my first gen 12 hours straight in 90+* weather and it did just fine, temp gauge stayed normal. i see no harm or worries to use your truck to travel with and pull a small camper.
If you don't have one, buy a 100,000 mile warranty and drive the wheels off it. I have FULL FAITH in my Frontier.
Clint
Clint
Where to start. I manage an RV park on the East side of Seattle and have a 2007 Fronty. I have asked a lot of people about towing with a midsize. People who own full size trucks swear they will never tow with a midsize and people who tow with their midsize swear that it does just fine. The most rediculous thing I ever saw was a 2008 Frontier towing a 25' travel trailer. It looked so disproportionate that I had to ask. He said other than the large hills (taken at 55 mph) the truck did fine. Towed it great anywhere, power lacking on the hills but my goodness it was a 25' travel trailer weighing close to 5800 lbs!! he said that although it was brand new that he wasn't affraid to take it on long trips and use his truck what he bought it for. I tow two bikes in an enclosed cargo trailer (3000 lbs) and the truck does fine. Everybody has a different idea of "fine" but I am not afraid to use the truck to its full potential and no one else should be either. It is mechanical and it will break down. How you use it until you get to that point is a life choice. I would buy a Casita (great reviews) and use it. But that is just me...
It will do fine. I plan on buying a 21-22ft travel trailer for mine. Looking at the Jayco 19BH - around 5200lbs loaded. The 6500lb rating is there for a reason, though most people in the towing business suggest taking 80% of your maximum tow rating and use it for maximum trailer weight to account for wind resistance.
One individual on a towing forum uses a V6 Pathfinder to tow his camper and states that it is the best tow vehicle he's ever owned.
My only question to you is why do you question the reliability of your truck for extended trips? There is a chance of any brand new vehicle of breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
One individual on a towing forum uses a V6 Pathfinder to tow his camper and states that it is the best tow vehicle he's ever owned.
My only question to you is why do you question the reliability of your truck for extended trips? There is a chance of any brand new vehicle of breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
I had never heard of Casita but just took a look at their web site and it's a nice trailer. I wish my garage had an eight foot tall door and I could store one in the garage.Where to start. I manage an RV park on the East side of Seattle and have a 2007 Fronty. I have asked a lot of people about towing with a midsize. People who own full size trucks swear they will never tow with a midsize and people who tow with their midsize swear that it does just fine. The most rediculous thing I ever saw was a 2008 Frontier towing a 25' travel trailer. It looked so disproportionate that I had to ask. He said other than the large hills (taken at 55 mph) the truck did fine. Towed it great anywhere, power lacking on the hills but my goodness it was a 25' travel trailer weighing close to 5800 lbs!! he said that although it was brand new that he wasn't affraid to take it on long trips and use his truck what he bought it for. I tow two bikes in an enclosed cargo trailer (3000 lbs) and the truck does fine. Everybody has a different idea of "fine" but I am not afraid to use the truck to its full potential and no one else should be either. It is mechanical and it will break down. How you use it until you get to that point is a life choice. I would buy a Casita (great reviews) and use it. But that is just me...
Clint
X2. I just drove to Florida (2000 miles round trip) pulling a few sportbikes on a trailer. I know it's not much weight (3/4 ton maybe), but my concern was the trailer making it, I didn't give a second thought to my truck, which had 97k miles on it when I left.My only question to you is why do you question the reliability of your truck for extended trips? There is a chance of any brand new vehicle of breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
The most I've towed was about 5000lbs with my truck, 4200 of which was water. I sure could tell it was back there, and it struggled on a steep hill I had to climb, but really it pulled it fine. Now I wouldn't want to go very far with that much weight on a regular basis, but that's mostly cause I'd hate to know what my mileage was, and trailer brakes would have added a LOT of confidence for me too. I also wonder how much of that was the weight being liquid, since i could really feel it sloshing around when I'd speed up, or slow down, or turn, or just move haha.
I guess its not just on long trips, but for reliability in general. Do I want to spend the money on bumpers, new suspension components, etc. if the truck is going to give me issues? I think I read too much into all the postings on here and the rest of the world wide web.My only question to you is why do you question the reliability of your truck for extended trips? There is a chance of any brand new vehicle of breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
I get bored with vehicles easily and they are sort of a hobby and to avoid selling them I like to do mods to keep them fresh. Expensive hobby but keeps me out of trouble. Honestly, I I'm 29 and havent kept any vehicle longer than a year and a half or so. The shortest was a matter of days. Thats a lot of vehicles...
This one is brand new and I promised my wife I would keep it for 4 years. It will hopefully be paid off in less than a year and I will have it for a few years debt free beyond that. Save up in the mean time and pay cash for the next rig.
Oh, I did consider the extended warranty but I know I wouldnt keep the truck for that long regardless. I sat in the new 4runner Trail edition at the autoshow, shouldnt have...
You apparently wanted to spend the money on the truckI guess its not just on long trips, but for reliability in general. Do I want to spend the money on bumpers, new suspension components, etc. if the truck is going to give me issues?
Use it and stop worrying so much. You're 29, if you worry as much about every little thing in life as you do about your brand new truck, you're going to die at 35 The way I see it you have two options:
Buy the camper and (probably not have fun because you'll be too busy worrying about your truck...or your camper...or that cow you saw 5 miles back...or that you've only got so many miles left on your tank...or whether you remember to pack enough underwear)
Sell the truck for something more reliable (or something with an issue that is more interesting to worry about) like a Toyota
heh...not trying to be an *** but you seem to worry a lot about nothing.
a lot of that is due to the water sloshing around. It causes different imbalances when it shifts its weight which affect all areas of drive-ability.I also wonder how much of that was the weight being liquid, since i could really feel it sloshing around when I'd speed up, or slow down, or turn, or just move haha.
If you buy the warranty and then sell the truck Nissan will send you a pro-rated check as soon as you cancel the warranty policy.I guess its not just on long trips, but for reliability in general. Do I want to spend the money on bumpers, new suspension components, etc. if the truck is going to give me issues? I think I read too much into all the postings on here and the rest of the world wide web.
I get bored with vehicles easily and they are sort of a hobby and to avoid selling them I like to do mods to keep them fresh. Expensive hobby but keeps me out of trouble. Honestly, I I'm 29 and havent kept any vehicle longer than a year and a half or so. The shortest was a matter of days. Thats a lot of vehicles...
This one is brand new and I promised my wife I would keep it for 4 years. It will hopefully be paid off in less than a year and I will have it for a few years debt free beyond that. Save up in the mean time and pay cash for the next rig.
Oh, I did consider the extended warranty but I know I wouldnt keep the truck for that long regardless. I sat in the new 4runner Trail edition at the autoshow, shouldnt have...
Clint
I've been looking at the same type of trailer, and will probably step up in the next two years.
Right now I'm pulling a fairly loaded 05 Coachman with a 12 ft box and front trunk. Loaded with all our gear/water/stuff in the fridge ect it should wiegh in at about 3000lbs. The truck has no problem pulling it at all. With the hardside tho, I know aerodynamics will come into question.
As for your two trailer choices they seem right on the button. I would however look at the overhead storage space in the hi-lo, as this could be an issue for you.
Don't forget to start reserving your campsites now. July and August go very fast. One of the Ontario Provincial parks I tried to book yesterday had no space at all on the July 1st weekend , so I'm headed stateside to vacation in New Hampshire and Maine.
Enjoy .. d-mo
Right now I'm pulling a fairly loaded 05 Coachman with a 12 ft box and front trunk. Loaded with all our gear/water/stuff in the fridge ect it should wiegh in at about 3000lbs. The truck has no problem pulling it at all. With the hardside tho, I know aerodynamics will come into question.
As for your two trailer choices they seem right on the button. I would however look at the overhead storage space in the hi-lo, as this could be an issue for you.
Don't forget to start reserving your campsites now. July and August go very fast. One of the Ontario Provincial parks I tried to book yesterday had no space at all on the July 1st weekend , so I'm headed stateside to vacation in New Hampshire and Maine.
Enjoy .. d-mo
Unless one falls from the sky and into my driveway there will be nothing this year. We are going to Kauai in the fall so that will be our big vacation for the year. Its unfortunate as we have been married going on 5 years and have done only a few vacations together, shouldnt be like that. Especially since we dont have any kids right now, nothing holding us down.Don't forget to start reserving your campsites now.
I keep my eye on craiglist but it seems that owners hold onto these little guys. There is a few on RV trader, but they are still pretty spendy used. Definately appear to hold value more than a vehicle.
Here are a few more:
17' Burro
Casita Travel Trailers - Our Showroom | The Patriot, Spirit Deluxe, Freedom Deluxe, Liberty Deluxe | Call 800-442-9986
I am considering tent trailers too, but my wife likes the idea of something hard sided for security.
I had a Casita 17' trailer for several years and towed it all over with my Fronty. It had no problems whatsoever. Definitely get your oil and (ouch) transmission fluid changed more often if you do alot of towing, but don't be afraid to tow to your heart's content. I've even pulled some 5,000+ pound trailers for friends without too much fear, but I would stay below 4,000 if at all possible, or get an Arrow Hensley hitch setup if towing something bigger than that.
BTW- if you can cope with losing the use of your bed for large-item storage while towing it, I think the Scamp fifth-wheel trailer is ideal for the Fronty.
BTW- if you can cope with losing the use of your bed for large-item storage while towing it, I think the Scamp fifth-wheel trailer is ideal for the Fronty.
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