Towing with a Nissan Xterra
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Topic: Towing with a Nissan Xterra
Posted By: Ozark paddler
Subject: Towing with a Nissan Xterra
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2021 at 10:27pm
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I have an r-pod 178. Would be interested to hear comments from anybody who tows are pods with a Nissan Xterra. ------------- Marty Koch 2017 R pod 178 St. Louis, MO |
Replies:
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2021 at 7:28am
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Looks like the xterra is rated for 5000 lbs. That's the minimum I would suggest for a 178. I have a 5000 lb rated Highlander and a 179 and it's fine as long as I watch my loading and use a weight distribution hitch. I mostly boondock so my trailer is pretty heavy.
Load the Exterra and 178 as you plan to travel, including water, supplies, passengers, fuel, etc and run through a public scale affing an axle at a time to get all 3 axle weights. Go through again without the trailer, getting both axle weights. Trailer weight is the difference between the totals of the first and second weighings. Tongue weight is the difference between the combined weight on the two tow vehicle axles in the first and second weighings. If you have a wdh leave it on but don't tension it. You can put the numbers and your specs in this calculator and it will tell you how close you are to your limitations. https://www.ajdesigner.com/apptrailertow/weightdistributionhitch.php - calculator ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: poston
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2021 at 9:35pm
We have a 180 we tow with a 2015 Xterra Pro-4X with auto transmission, stock suspension. We've gone around the country with it and are quite comfortable. We love the compactness of the Xterra for off-roading and urban maneuvering and parking without the Rpod. I find the Xterra to be twitchy on its own, and it's twitchy when towing. I need to make a conscious effort to make smooth lane changes and not overcorrect. The X's wheelbase is pretty short. I think it's as short a vehicle you can tow an Rpod with, comfortably and safely. We were just out with a friend in her Tesla X, and I thought it was a pretty small vehicle, but it's a foot-and-a-half longer than our X! Gas mileage is terrible on the Xterra, and it's terribler when towing the pod. But the X has enough power to get up most grades at 65 mph. Right now, we tow with just a friction sway bar. I'm moving to the Andersen weight distribution hitch though, to get more weight on the front tires. The Xterra is prone to sag in the rear. I added Firestone Sport Rite Air Helper Spring Bags, which have made a world of difference even without towing. Our Rpod weighs 3500 lbs fully loaded for the road, with 480 on the hitch. I wanted to stay below 80% of rated capacity. Glad to answer any questions. Here's a stop last month at Star Wars Canyon above Death Valley.  ------------- -- Jim Virginia City, Nevada 2016 R-pod 180 2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X |
Posted By: Ozark paddler
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2021 at 12:00am
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Thanks for the info. I have been Towing a much lighter camper with my Xterra for the past 8 years and I agree it has absolutely horrible gas mileage. I'm about to spend the summer in a volunteer position Yellowstone National Park and I am torn between towing with my Xterra or with my much newer Ford Transit 150. I actually get better mileage with the Ford Transit and I could use it for camping trips on my days off. However I really like the four-wheel drive capabilities of the Nissan Xterra. ------------- Marty Koch 2017 R pod 178 St. Louis, MO |
Posted By: poston
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2021 at 12:44am
If it was me, I'd outfit the back of the Xterra for sleeping, and use it for multi-day trips in the National Forests around the park. You'll be in Rpod luxury while volunteering, so four-wheeling on your days off might be a nice change of place. BTW, I was born in Ft Leonard Wood, right in the Ozarks! ------------- -- Jim Virginia City, Nevada 2016 R-pod 180 2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X |