Big tow package includes tranny cooler, tanny temp guage, tow mirrors, heavy duty battery, and 3:36 rear end. Non - big tow has 2:93 rear end. Difference between the two, like comparing 3:73 to 4:10.
OP - Yes, you should consider adding the trans cooler. You are pushing it on TT weight vs tow capacity. Your tranny is going to get HOT.
I agree. Towing an RV is a lot harder on the TV than a boat. Get a transmission cooler and you will be happy with how well it tows while not worrying about damaging your truck.
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
I don't pull a big rig so I rarely comment on pulling one other than reminding someone they will probably be unhappy with the performance if they're pulling near their max. If you confine yourself to the flats of FL that may not be a big issue to you, though. But I agree with Bradin Ohio, it looks like you're going to be many hundreds of pounds over you tow capacity because you haven't included the TT hitch weight in your calculation.
Does it have the updated aluminum finned rear end diff cover? I recall reading about the early Titans burning up rear ends when towing, but I don't recall what year that was?? The fix was adding the new diff cover..
I'd be more concerned on what your Titans rear GAWR is. That should be listed on the door jamb sticker where the trucks GVWR is. I suspect it'll be in the #3500 range.
You'll be at the upper most maxed out range for the truck, if not a bit over on the trucks GVWR for sure.. Is that a bad thing?? Depends on who you ask and what your individual feelings are.
Will the Titan move that trailer down the road? Sure it will... 2 hours is a long drive if you don't like the way it tows.. 2 hours is nothing if it tows within your expectations.. The difference is again, going to depend on your feelings for it..
By your statement of being scared to death about towing is not what I would want to hear out of someone contemplating what you propose..
I tow a #5000 GVWR TT and it does put me over my trucks GVWR by a good deal, yet I've been very happy with this combo for the last 10 years and with over 235,000 miles on the truck, I don't think it's killing it either..
Anyway, it's like anything in life... It's on the border line of the specs, so it's not like it's going to implode the moment you get out on the road..
The only way you are going to learn it is to do it, so you have to start somewhere!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
Mitch
*Anything I post is for entertainment purposes only and what usually works for me.. Your Mileage May Vary..
rfryer wrote: I don't pull a big rig so I rarely comment on pulling one other than reminding someone they will probably be unhappy with the performance if they're pulling near their max. If you confine yourself to the flats of FL that may not be a big issue to you, though. But I agree with Bradin Ohio, it looks like you're going to be many hundreds of pounds over you tow capacity because you haven't included the TT hitch weight in your calculation.
Not really. IF you count the hitch weight on the TV, then you can't count it on the trailer. You can't count it twice. So the overall Gross Combined vehicle Weight (GCVWR) stayes the same. It could put the over GVWR of the TV, But not GCVWR.
OR look at it like this. If the trailer weighes 5000lbs, and has a 600lb tounger weight. that means that 600lbs of the trailer (the hitch weight) will be carried by the TV, Leaving the weight of the trailer at 4400lbs.
rfryer wrote: I don't pull a big rig so I rarely comment on pulling one other than reminding someone they will probably be unhappy with the performance if they're pulling near their max. If you confine yourself to the flats of FL that may not be a big issue to you, though. But I agree with Bradin Ohio, it looks like you're going to be many hundreds of pounds over you tow capacity because you haven't included the TT hitch weight in your calculation.
Not really. IF you count the hitch weight on the TV, then you can't count it on the trailer. You can't count it twice. So the overall Gross Combined vehicle Weight (GCVWR) stayes the same. It could put the over GVWR of the TV, But not GCVWR.
OR look at it like this. If the trailer weighes 5000lbs, and has a 600lb tounger weight. that means that 600lbs of the trailer (the hitch weight) will be carried by the TV, Leaving the weight of the trailer at 4400lbs.
You're right, I got careless. Thanks for pointing that out, don't want to confuse the poster.
Good catch, Eric. Move as much non-heartbeat things to the RV.
In this case, the OP has plenty of powertrain, as the same engine/trans with 10% shorter gearing can tow something like 10k pounds. He just needs the trans cooler.
Payload: check the driver's door for a yellow Tire and Loading sticker for as equipped payload. This is always lower than GVWR-base curb weight because no one buys the barebones truck.THose trim levels and options can add up to 500 pounds sometimes. It does include all fluids but not occupants of cargo, so no need to subtract for fuel.
Thank you to everyone! According to husband, the tongue weight is 520. So, does this look more like the setup we would have? There isn't much wiggle room to move to the TT as we have gigantic fatty bulldogs that have to ride in the truck with us and don't get boarded or left anywhere. We are going to weigh the truck tonight and see what the exact weight is with people & the bulldogs inside, the dry weight I was using was just an estimate via the Nissan website. The Titan does have 2 trans coolers, but I think another one is definitely in our future if we can sort this out.
Again, I truly appreciate your input. Going into this I just thought "as long as our TT doesn't weigh 6500 lbs, we're good to go!" LOL, oh the innocence.
Titan GCVWR: 13,000
Titan GVWR: 6522 (According to the sticker on the door)
Titan Weight:5100
Fuel: 180
People/Cargo/Dogs:800
Tongue Weight:520
Total: 6600
(Over by 78 lbs, which bulldog will be left at home?)
In my opinion, and I think most other posters, you are looking at being at or above your trucks specs. While it is true you "won't implode leaving the driveway", you will cause a great deal of stress on the Titan's components that will cause them to wear prematurely and have a greater potential to fail. You could very well suffer with a poorly-handling rig, and in extreme conditions, wind, slippery roads, panic braking, you stand a higher chance of something very bad happening.
If I were in your shoes, I would look at a trailer 1500 pounds lighter, or a truck designed to tow another 1500-2000 pounds.
Good Luck!
Todd
Todd
1993 Ford E-350 pushed by a 1988 Wilderness 24' TT
AJ.. Remember, the TW of the trailer will increase as the trailer weight increases..
Take my 22' #5000 TT for example.. It had a 'dry' TW of #520 or there abouts.. It's now just north of #700...
Get the truck weighed for sure and at least you'll be working with some REAL numbers on the truck and your estimates on the trailer will probably make the TW on that trailer around #800
Good luck and I hope you can make it work for your comfort level!
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