Towing Limits w/o the Big Tow Package

[rcflier_97]

I'm considering buying a Titan (especially when the dealers are trying to get rid of 04' models) in the next few months. I know Nissan claims 9600 lbs with the big tow package, but what is it without this? I tow a 21' Party Barge with my 99 Tahoe (5.7L 350cid 67K miles) without a problem - I think it aright around 2000 lbs. I know some of you have the Big Tow (is it worth the money?), but I also know some of you don't have it. I'd hate to sell a really great tow vehicle just to get something that can't do the job as well. Any thoughts?

[Mydog]

Dude the Titan will yank that trailer out from under that boat!

I pulled by buddies Air Natiques (wakeboarding) boat to the lake and I could barely feel it back there! Towed very, very well. My friends were impressed. I hit the big tow button and shift in 4 when we hit the hills.

Advantages of the BT:

- Receiver hitch
- Lower final gear ratio (3.36:1); similar to a four-speed automatic 4.10:1
- Additional seven-pin wiring harness plug
- Trailer brake controller pre-wiring on IP
- Transmission temperature gauge
- Extendable tow mirrors
- Heavy-duty battery (710 CCA). Great for stereo mods!
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).

Very worth it IMO. The Titan will your Tahoe.

[azxr]

Originally Posted by Mydog

Dude the Titan will yank that trailer out from under that boat!

I pulled by buddies Air Natiques (wakeboarding) boat to the lake and I could barely feel it back there! Towed very, very well. My friends were impressed. I hit the big tow button and shift in 4 when we hit the hills.

Advantages of the BT:

- Receiver hitch
- Lower final gear ratio (3.36:1); similar to a four-speed automatic 4.10:1
- Additional seven-pin wiring harness plug
- Trailer brake controller pre-wiring on IP
- Transmission temperature gauge
- Extendable tow mirrors
- Heavy-duty battery (710 CCA). Great for stereo mods!
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC).

Very worth it IMO. The Titan will your Tahoe.

What he said however I think it also adds the tranny cooler and on 4X4 models with the elocker, you don't get the VDC.

[FLA-Titan]

I tow a 3000 Pound boat with my XE KC. No problems. MFG tow specs is 7,500 Lbs for XE. Otherwise it's the same engine, transmission and frame as the other models, so in reality you could tow up to maximum rating of 9500 pounds. If I wanted to tow that much, I would of went with a Heavy Duty Truck, such as a F250/350 or GMC 2500/3500.

P.S. All models have the transmission coolers. Well at least mine does....

[rcflier_97]

I'm looking (and pricing )the SE CC 2WD. Here in Arkansas, 4WD is kinda worthless for me. If I planned to go 4-wheelin', it would be in a vehicle that was a lot older and less expensive. I know that some folks insist on 4WD for towing, but over the years, I only used my CJ-7 4WD twice (both times in deep snow 4"+ , you northern folks don't laugh) . It's looking like a toss up to pay that extra $800-$900 for the Big Tow Package. Now another question, how's the gas milage without the tow package and with the tow package (since there is a gearing change)? Of course, I only use the boat on the weekends - the rest of the time, the vehicle would be my daily driver.

[wareagle]

I Have The Xe Model With Out Big Tow And I Put A 5000lb Hitch On There Even Though The Bumper Was Rated For 5000lbs B/c I Wanted To Have The Ball Lower To The Ground, And I Towed A 16ft Ski Boat (2500lbs??) Which Weighs Alot More Than I Thought It Would And It Pulls Great. Took From Atlanta To Smith Lake In N. Alabama For 4 Hr Drive And Titan Drove Great Even Up Some Steep Inclines. The Boat Ramp Was Pretty Steep Too And It Pulled It Out Like A Champ, Even After My Boat "the Titanic" ,so Called B/c It Always Wants To Sink , Took On Some Water Weight. I Want To Take That Boat To The Scales To See How Much It Weighs B/c It Broke The Hitch On My Uncles Old V6 4x4 Hardbody.

[Mydog]

The gearing only changes when you hit the Tow Mode. So w/ & w/o.......I wouldn't expect any change in gas mileage. If you do a search I believe your question is answered in detail.

Go Big Tow. The mirrors alone are worth it...love the blind spot mirror.

[PHOEBISIS]

The Big Tow certainly isn't necessary to tow 2000 lbs(heck,some here have put 2800lbs in the bed,never mind towing).
The XE is rated at 6500 and the SE 7400 without BT.
You won't even know 2000 lbs is back there.The Suburban-Tahoes are decent towers,but the Titan is better-especially the brakes.The Burb and Tahoe are way underbraked(till 2000 or so with the new body style and motor).My brakes are great.Some complain that they are mushy,but the 60-0 distance is good,and I don't like"twichy" hard no pedal movement brakes on a truck.I want good braking,but I want a bit of pedal movement so I can "feel" my way.Some here complain of the mushy feel,but they can almost do a stoppie(slight ex).
The Big Tow is a very good value at just $900.The VDC alone costs more than that from Toyota.A decent receiver hitch and wiring is about $200+.
The lower gearing will cost you maybe 1 mpg hy,but no mpg city.The gearing is always lower-(3.36 rear end).I think MYDOG meant the Tow Mode is only engaged when you hit tow mode.Tow mode keeps it in a lower gear a bit longer than it would be in non tow mod(to help towing of course).Luck,Charlie PS I don't have tow mode,but it is a great resale option(lotta folks will buy a used truck to tow)

[TitanTough1]

Originally Posted by rcflier_97

I'd hate to sell a really great tow vehicle just to get something that can't do the job as well. Any thoughts?

Demand to take your stuff out for a pull before buying. Im sure some dealer will oblige.

[Titan4x4Aggie]

i think the manual states you can tow 5500 lbs off teh the rear bumper...

correct me if i'm wrong.

[Kong]

Originally Posted by Mydog

The gearing only changes when you hit the Tow Mode. So w/ & w/o.......I wouldn't expect any change in gas mileage. If you do a search I believe your question is answered in detail.

Go Big Tow. The mirrors alone are worth it...love the blind spot mirror.

Am I reading right?? Gearing changes when you hit the tow switch? No it only changes the shift points.

If you are going to tow much, really try to get the Big Tow package. Lots of good stuff including wiring et al.

[hipmatt]

Originally Posted by rcflier_97

If I planned to go 4-wheelin', it would be in a vehicle that was a lot older and less expensive.

Smart Man!!!

[avpoh8]

Big tow is worth it for the VDC alone!!

[JS02]

I have used a vortec 5.7 and a vortec 5.3 to tow a lot larger loads than what you are towing. Both vehicles had 3.73 gears. Neither one will tow with my Titan. I do have the Big Tow but you will be able to tow the load you are talking about without it with no problem. If the reduction in highway fuel economy doesn't bother you the Big Tow is a good value with all that comes with it particularly the VDC. My Titan just feels a lot more stable towing than my GM trucks did.

[Rocket67]

Originally Posted by Kong

Am I reading right?? Gearing changes when you hit the tow switch? No it only changes the shift points.

If you are going to tow much, really try to get the Big Tow package. Lots of good stuff including wiring et al.

I have a SE w/o the big tow and the wiring is still there. I read somewhere that you can get a reciever with the adapter to hook into the system and there are 2 modules that you need to plug in the box under the hood on the passengers side. Takes about 20 minutes if you are slightly slow and costs under $200. I didn't need the BT package and because I got an 04 the supply was limited to what they had left. I made sure that I got the things that count....Rockford Fosgate, bed rails.

I plan on doing some camper hauling and the non BT will be fine. 7400lbs is a pretty good load, I don't think that I will get there.