remgregory
nb
New Member
Joined: 06/04/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
i recently purchased a 29 ft trail sport tt with a 4700 lb dry weight and 362 lb tongue weight. my tv is a nissan pathfinder, with max tow rating 6000lb and 600 lb tongue. i have a reese dual cam wd hitch right now andwith my first trip out i had significant fish tail from side wind gusts. is there a better hitch set up out there? i was considering buying some kind of friction anti sway device
|
109rfan
ny
New Member
Joined: 12/21/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I don't have any anti sway information but you need a bigger tow vehicle for sure .
|
downtheroad
Pacific Northwest
Senior Member
Joined: 02/18/2003
View Profile
|
Maximum payload of a Pathfinder is 1400 lbs. That number has to include all gear and passengers in the vehicle plus the LOADED tongue weight of your trailer (not the dry weight). Also add in stuff like the weight of your hitch.
I'm thinking you are asking a lot from your short wheel base Pathfinder and and a 29 foot trailer.
By the way, Welcome to the Form. Hopefully others will give you a more favorable answer.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane."
GMC Duramax LBZ
Komfort
Reese Dual Cam HP
Our Rig Picture...CLICK HERE
|
goducks10
Keizer OR
Senior Member
Joined: 02/22/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Sell one or the other and either get a bigger rig or smaller trailer. Go to the local lumber yard and grab hold of a 2x6x20, go outside in the wind and try and manuver around with it on your shoulder. Thats what your nissan is trying to do. Plus your more than likly over on most all your capacities for the nissan.
|
fla-gypsy
North Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 04/19/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
You are way over your head on tow vehicle and nothing we can tell you will fix that
09 SuperDuty Crew Cab 6.8L/4.10(The Black Pearl)
06 Keystone Hornet 29 RLS/(The Cracker Cabana)
|
|
|
remgregory
nb
New Member
Joined: 06/04/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
i am maxed out on the nissan capacities for sure, i have been reading about hensley and propride, i'm thinking this would solve my issue but they are pricey
|
Gman22
Burlington, Ontario
Senior Member
Joined: 07/03/2008
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Past owner of a Hensley here, excellent hitch. But NO hitch should be used to fix too much trailer. Hiding the problem with an expensive hitch is just that, hiding it. Save the $2500 you'd spend on an Arrow or PP and add it to the trade value of your Pathfinder and get enough truck.
And dry weights count for nothing. My guess is you're closer to 6000 lbs. of trailer and over 700 lbs. of tongue weight.
* This post was
edited 06/04/12 03:33pm by Gman22 *
2000 Coleman Bayside
2006 Ford Expedition Ltd. 5.4 L/3.73
|
camp-n-family
Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 07/26/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Like others have said, you're in over your head. No hitch can make up for an undersized vehicle. I was in your position before so I speak from experience. Your trailer is similar in size and weight to my Flagstaff 26BHSS. I used to tow it with a Toyota 4Runner. The 4Runner had a V8 and higher tow ratings than the Pathfinder but is similar in size. Set up towed great with an Equil-i-zer hitch until the winds picked up or trucks passed. I upgraded to a Hensley Arrow (best of the best) which helped eliminate sway but then the whole truck and trailer got pushed around together. Not a fun way to travel long distances. After two trips I had a new truck. Problem solved.
Things to consider;
1) dry weights mean nothing. Add at least 300lbs for propane, batteries, options on top of that. By the time you add your gear, food, clothes etc you will easily exceed 6000lbs.
2) Once your trailer is loaded you will easily exceed your hitch rating. 6000*12% avg=720+lbs
3) With 2 average adults, 2 small kids, hitch weight and tongue weight you will likely exceed payload and possibly RAWR as well.
4) stock "p" rated tires are under rated for towing, can't be aired up above 35psi(most) and the sidewalls are too soft. This will all lead to control and sway issues on top of the above.
5) there is no limit for towing length vs wheelbase in any owners manuals but your short wheelbase vs long trailer does not return favourable results.
I'm not saying your towing experience can't be improved with some mods or upgrades, but nothing you do will increase your tow rating or payload capacities. I predict a new tow vehicle in your future.
'07 Toyota Tundra Crewmax Limited
'06 Forest River Flagstaff 26BH(sold)
'13 Keystone Bullet Premier 31BHPR
Hitched by Hensley, Viewed by McKesh
|
Wills250psd
walnutcove NC
Senior Member
Joined: 08/13/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I vote for another TV and get a HENSLEY then you will have the best of both worlds.
|
Chrisatthebeach
The beautiful low country of South Carolina
Senior Member
Joined: 02/05/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
goducks10 wrote:Sell one or the other and either get a bigger rig or smaller trailer. Go to the local lumber yard and grab hold of a 2x6x20, go outside in the wind and try and manuver around with it on your shoulder. Thats what your nissan is trying to do. Plus your more than likly over on most all your capacities for the nissan.
Very true, weights mean nothing when you are doing battle with wind.
I myself would use what I tow with, an F250, but I believe in slight overkill. A properly equipped 1/2 ton FULL size truck chassis based vehicle is what you need here, and think extended/crew cab for some much needed wheelbase.
The dual cam is a very good hitch when set up properly, however it cannot overcome not enough wheelbase/weight in a tow vehicle. I towed with a dual cam many miles before getting a 5th wheel, and I can say after adding the dual cam my towing experience was fine, if I ever go back to a travel trailer I will look at going with another dual cam
Chris & Dianne plus two boys, both of them are Eagle Scouts.
Jayco Designer 3110
F250 PSD 4x4 Crew Cab
|
|
|
