mchuck
Minnesota
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Joined: 03/21/2012
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Firstly, thanks all for your posts to my question.
Regarding my backup tow vehicle to the Nissan Armada, I did mean Ford Expedition, not Explorer.
Most responses have said that I'm over tongue weight, but nobody answered my question regarding whether I can count the reduction in down force on the tow vehicle from the weight distributing hitch - some down force is transfered to the trailer.
I did find a similar post on the topic of hitch weight http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25775599/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm (title is "Hitch weight question" if that link didn't work).
But, that thread didn't have a clear answer of whether the tow vehicle manufacturer rating of tongue weight applies to the raw trailer tongue weight, or the net downforce on the tow vehicle with weight distributing hitch applied.
Nissan's rating of 900 pounds is for "Maximum Trailer Tongue Load", but it doesn't define that term. I would expect that a WD hitch would transfer about 250-300 pounds of down force from the hitch to the trailer axles, but I don't know if that puts me within the limits of the Nissan, or not.
Regards,
- Chuck
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MitchF150
Washington, the State
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Joined: 07/13/2002
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Quote:Most responses have said that I'm over tongue weight, but nobody answered my question regarding whether I can count the reduction in down force on the tow vehicle from the weight distributing hitch - some down force is transfered to the trailer.
No... You may RE-DISTRIBUTE the weight, but the tongue weight is the same.. Put a 80 lb bag of cement in a wheelbarrow. Lift up on the handles.. What have you done? You've re-distributed the weight, but there is still an 80 lb bag of cement in it.. That does not change.
Work the numbers any way you like.. Use your 'ratings' anyway you like and use or ignore the ones you want... There is a member here named 'anaro' who towed with an Armada and now has an F250 towing the same trailer he towed with the Armada... He tried to make the Armada work too.. 
Mitch
*Anything I post is for entertainment purposes only and what usually works for me.. Your Mileage May Vary..
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BenK
SF BayArea
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Joined: 04/18/2002
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Can anyone see that the diagram I posted is basically a balance
beam scale between the TV and TT vs GCWR?
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Quick trip
Cerritos, Ca.
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Joined: 12/23/2005
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Go to the Lance website and look at some of their trailers.
they are way below the weight you are looking at!
Do a lot of research!!!!!!!
Good Luck & Drive Safe!
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BUFFALODAN
Buffalo NY
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Joined: 06/10/2004
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If you have your heart set on the Armada - and there are members here who tow with one- find a lighter trailer with the same or similar floorplan- there are PLENTY to choose from
http://www.keystonerv-bullet.com/index.p........?page=floorplans&coast=east&model=281BHS
Jayco 28DSBH http://www.jayco.com/php/products/floorplans.php?id=402
http://www.cruiserrv.com/viewfinder/v_28bhss/specifications.html
http://www.starcraftrv.com/php/products/floorplans.content.php?mod_id=2107
http://www.primetimerv.com/default.asp?p........&model=tracer&name=3972&series=Executive
2006 KZ Frontier 2505
2005 Chevy Suburban 1500 Z71 4WD
2011 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Crew Cab 4WD
1 DW
3DD's
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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There are no SUVs made after 2006 model year than support 950 pounds dry TT. The 6500 pound dry total weight is manageable some some, but the half tons tend to run out of payload. The current design GM 3/4 ton runs out of hitch rating (1000 pounds using WD) well before its payload of at least 2000 pounds.
If you like the Armada for towing a TT, find one with under 6000 total/600 tongue weights dry.
WD reduced the weight on the TV axles (payload), but not tongue weight.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2012 VW Passat TDI
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DavidP
Raleigh
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PopsRacer wrote:retired-tech wrote:As a former Nissan tech i would not pull with one. the axles, trans, and cooling system have enough trouble without the extra weight. I replaced a lot of the related parts compared to the number of them we sold. Armada is not a true 1/2 ton vehicle comparatively. they use lighter drivetrains and shorter wheelbases. a real 1/2 ton truck will tow a lot better than those and probably get better fuel economy. it will also handle the weight much better. and it will live a long life.
Interesting... Over 105k miles w/ quite a bit of towing on big offroad tires, lots of "Jeep Trail" offroading and have had nothing of the sort.. Quite a few other owners can say the same.. Pinion seals do leave some to be desired for more offroad use though...
I agree. Go to the Armada boards or talk with people who own/tow with them. If properly maintained none are having trouble with anything you state. There is quite a following and the general consensus on the Armada from their owners, including myself, is that it is one of the best ½ ton vehicles in its class for towing. I know of no reports of any drive-train failures except some Titans with a solid Dana rear diff/axle. Don’t maintain it and change all fluids/lubricants regularly and yes they will fail, that is true with any vehicle. As a former Tech I’m sure you saw a few of these. My truck has 90k of trouble free towing miles and still going strong and is only used for towing a 21 foot boat and 6500 lbs. RV. You can have problems with anything but take care of it and it will last. Many of the early Armada’s have close to 200k on them and the owners I read about on the forums for the Titan/Armada are generally happy. The truck is a ½ ton. The Titan which is the same truck is also a ½ ton. Not sure what you mean by a “real” ½ ton. IMO the Trans/T-Case drive shafts and rear end assembly are pretty stout. IMO the truck when used within its ratings/capabilities is a great vehicle and most who own one will agree.
Any vehicle has limits and in regards to the OP, I too believe he is into ¾ ton territory.
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tekman741
Gardner, Ma
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Joined: 03/05/2012
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I towed a r-vision bantam b19(19') hybrid behind a Toyota Sienna (3.5l awd) after fully loaded my tongue wt was close to 400lbs. The Sienna was rated for 350/3500. the weight distribution worked by helping level load the weight which provided better handling and driving. I traveled 4+hrs up to lake george, NY (back roads of vt=very hilly steep), Franconia, NH( white mountains, mt washington) etc. The van could do it but a lot of white knuckle driving and the gas milage was aweful, plus don't expect to do 65mph. The trailer did push but that is why you have a brake controller. After 1yr we bought a use chevy 3500 4:10 gears 6.0l gasser, that is way over kill for that camper so we bought a bigger camper. Hope this helps. By the way I put most cargo in the trailer and my wife, kid, mother/father in_laws, and my self in the minivan.
* This post was
edited 03/22/12 11:17am by tekman741 *
04 chevy k3500 8'bed 6.0l gasser 4:10
2009 Keystone Springdale 296bhssr
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steeleshark
Georgia
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Joined: 02/19/2012
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Even with the weight distribution hitch, your rear axle will still see the majority of the tongue weight. All the hitch prevents is a reduction of the front axle weight when setup properly due to squat. That is why when you measure the front fender when loaded it sould be about the same height when unload. My scenario posted earlier, 800 extra pounds on the rear axle. I got that from the truck scale. So you will see the weight on the rear of your Armada.
2011 Nissan Armada SL w/Tow Package
2012 Coachmen Freedom Express (292BHDS) Liberty Edition
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PopsRacer
Okc, Ok
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Joined: 06/01/2009
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I weighed with & w/o WD.. I found that it transferred weight from the drive axle up to the steer axle but didn't really transfer anything noticeable back to the TT... I figure it must somehow be a leverage thing.
2005 6" Lifted Nissan Armada LE (Offroad Beast)
2007 Jayco Jay Flight 29BHS
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