Travel Trailer towing + ?

[NDJollyMon]

Tow mode changes the shifting to allow for the added weight. I used it on my Chevy all the time when towing. On the Titan, I use it (4th gear) and tow a 6000 lb travel trailer. I got a range of 9.5-14 MPG during my breakin phase. (towing for 500 miles at 50 MPH, then kicking it up to 65 MPH) I used 87 Oct fuel, and cruise control in the flats. I also have an Equal-I-Zer brand weight distributing hitch, and was fighting a nice wind.

In comparison with my 2001 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (5.3 L) while towing, I got better MPG.
The RPM's are much lower while towing with the Titan as well. (both trucks have Tow/Haul mode) The rest of the specs are listed below.

[Kong]

It was fine coming down, BUT if the grade was longer in distance I may have had to drop it into 1st and run much slower, which would have made traffic not too happy. I have been places where I could see that I would have wanted to use 1st gear and maybe 25mph. I tried it for a bit to see how it worked and it held on those grades. But like I say there are a few I've done that in thei truck I may have had to use the brakes a bit more than I wanted to. I had a GMC K3500 duelly since 94, and I felt really good with this rig. I was pretty amazed. I woudln't pull this much often on this much grade, but several times a year, no problem. On the easier hill and roads it was cake.

[Kong]

gotoakandfreeze:
I don't know how much towing experience you have so I hope not to insult but, you should use the TOW switch. On some grades, just the right pitch and tow weight, you will have to slow down a bit, watching the tach and tow in 3rd or even 2d. That's just the way its done. That will stop the upshift, downshift and lock ups.

Sometimes you just have to kick back and turn up the sounds and just enjoy.

Hope it helps

[Steamguy]

Originally Posted by Tom-ADC

<snip>
I'm looking forward to many easy miles.
Question for those that tow when you are straight & level do you use the cruise control?

Tom,

We've got almost 14,000 miles on our Titan, many were towing our 6800# Arctic Fox 26J trailer.

Couple of things for you:
Tow in Manual 4.
You can tow in the hills, using the cruise control; however it will drop out automatically if the rig slows too much. You can prevent that by toggling down or 'tiptronic' down a gear. Then when you hit the top of the hill, toggle up to 4. We do this all the time. (It won't go into D unless you push the button, so even if you were in 4 and then try to toggle up a gear, you won't get any change.)

The manual warns not to use cruise control while towing because it's a liability for Nissan. The rig takes a lot longer to stop (and you already know that) and they want you thinking about the stopping distance.

Congrats on one of the best tow vehicles out there!

[gotoakandfreeze]

Originally Posted by Kong

gotoakandfreeze:
I don't know how much towing experience you have so I hope not to insult but, you should use the TOW switch. On some grades, just the right pitch and tow weight, you will have to slow down a bit, watching the tach and tow in 3rd or even 2d. That's just the way its done. That will stop the upshift, downshift and lock ups.

Sometimes you just have to kick back and turn up the sounds and just enjoy.

Hope it helps

Hiya!

No insult taken! It is normally with a headwind that it does it at about 60 MPH. It is really annoying. I kick it down to 3rd on hills. I always use tow mode and manual shift when towing. I just don't notice the difference either way... other than the fact that I can shift to 3rd and so on in manual mode. Why can't I lock out overdrive is my question... ?

Thanks!

[Tolleyy]

Originally Posted by Steamguy

Congrats on one of the best tow vehicles out there!

I second that!!!

I've got an 04 Tahoe lite 22cb with max weight at 5600 lbs and I take it up I-80 in the sierra's all the time. Round trip towing up and down the hill I'm averaging 10.6 mpg and that's not being light on the throttle goin up. I love passing all the big 3 trucks up the grades with my Titan!

[Campfamily]

Just got back from our first towing trip with the Armada, from So Cal up US 395 to Lake Tahoe, lots of mountain grades over 8000ft, really impressed! More than adequate power, no control problems, brakes worked fine. I towed with the tow mode on, and in 4th gear most of the time. My trailer is a 26' Prowler, about 5500#s loaded. Using a Equal-i-zer brand hitch, and a Prodigy brake controller.