Can Towing Capacity Be Increased?

[professorHN]

Been reading the forum for a while now. I have a 2005 Titan XE 4x4.
Love the truck. I am a little disappointed in the basically 6000 Ibs. Tow rating on that model. I hade a '90 Jeep Cherokee that was rated almost the same. In the future plane to get a OutBack toy hauler that ways 5000Ibs
and has a gvw of around 7100Ibs. I know the titan has the guts to haul the thing but I am wondering is there any way to increase the towing of my model truck. Through differant tires and shocks or through nissan have the lower gearing put in if possible. Any comments appreciated. Like a said I love my truck and have a smile on my face and see the same when I drive by the other titans.

Thanks.
The professor.

[Helinut1970]

You should have a tow capacity of 7400 lbs. I dont have BT package and I frequently tow around 8500 lbs. I have dual axle brakes so it makes it a little safer.

[professorHN]

Just checked the ratings from the manual.
6500 Ibs for the 4x4 XE model with a tongue rating of 650 Ibs. GCVW is 11,822 Ibs. The XE is not avalble with the BT package. %80 of that is around 5200 Ibs. With a class IV hitch and wd reciver would it increase the capacity at all. Here are the details of the trailer I am interested in.
Kargoroo Travel Trailers

Model
23KRS
Weight
4990
Carrying Capacity
2010
Hitch
565
Length
25' 5
Width
8'
Height
9' 11
Fresh Water
50
Waste Water
40
Gray Water
40
LPG
60
Tire Size
205/75D14C
Rim Size
14 X 5

Thanks again.

The Professor

[dawgs77]

There are no suspension differences in the models. I do beleive that the main difference between the ratings of a SE and XE are the tires.

And I'm certain I have seen XE's with the Big Tow package......It seems too me there was a misprint on 04's and some manuals showed the XE's tow capacity really low. I remember a discussion about it along time ago.

[ttugrad95]

I would go to a place that specializes in towing or trucks like a u-haul or specialty truck acccessory shop. Tell them what you are looking to do, let them look at the truck and tell you what it needs. U-haul's are pretty good about this because they usually check out your tow vehicle before hooking up the larger trailers. Just don't let them put a crappy looking receiver on it. If you don't already have one the Nissan aftermarket is a class IV and fits under the truck nicely. Most aftermarket ones I have seen have a straight bar that is visible and looks like poopoo.

[kvoman]

You'd also need to add a tranny cooler if you don't already have one. If you don't have the tow package, then your gear is also higher and that's probably why the rating is lower. But you should be able to tow it if you don't do it in 5th or OD, keep it in 4th all the time or 3rd when on hilly terrain. You should be fine with the higher gearing, your gas mileage will suffer a little but at least you will be able to tow your trailer.

[baseballfanz]

Originally Posted by kvoman

You'd also need to add a tranny cooler if you don't already have one.

All Titan already have 2 tranny coolers reguardless of it being BT or not.

[SOCALTITANKC4X4LE]

All Titans come with a tranny cooler, with or without Big Tow. The difference is, BT has 3.36 gears. Non BT has 2.94
And while we are on the subject of towing, The Tow Mode changes the speed at which the trans shifts from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, does not affect 3rd to 4th, and 4th to 5th.

[Ramon]

I have a 05 (XE). I tow a 4000lb tt with a gvwr of 5500lbs 28'6" long. I bought a set of 17" off/road factory rims from a Armada owner and installed a set of BF/AT. I also took the factory shocks off and installed a set of Monroe Reflex shocks. The truck tows great. The tires are 8ply which makes a big difference. I also use a Equalizer hitch. I donot know why there is a 6500lb tow limit verses the 7500lb tow limit on a SE. The only difference I see is the cheaper tires and steel rims on the XE.

[markislive78]

Find a 3.36 ring and pinion and you can tow more!

[Aquaholic]

Has anyone payed attention to the fact that there is a big tow XE rated at 9500 lbs and it has the same tires and rims as the non big tow XE? My dealership said it is all gimmick. They want people who don't know any better to think they need to buy the more expensive model to get what they need. All Titans come stock with the same trans, trans cooler, motor, suspension, shocks, and (if you got it) hitch.

[TitanBlue]

The differance is the gear ratio in the rear. I just got my 2006 CC XE w/Pref Pkg and "Tow Package" & the "ABLS" I really wanted with what the salesman thought would be just a hitch for $250 (BT listed $850 somewhere). It was really the BT with lower gear ratio and Transmission temp gage, giving me 9400 Tow (9500 if I'd had a KC). I was thrilled. Still got 14.6 MPG local first week. I was more interested in MPG than heavy towing, but I'm not giving it back!

I'd be most comfortabl towing in 4th, tow mode, electric brakes always if over 3000. If you can get the rear changed (check rear end shops and dealer) that would be best. Tires can make a differance, some larger low profile tires don't have sidewall strength for towing. Trust the tire MFG ratings. Hope this all helps, wish you the best...

[MDJamesD]

In response to aquaholic's post, they do have different suspensions and shocks, regular vs. off road, also, the trans temp guage is a nice early warning for towing up long grades

[Shane06fl]

Big tow difference mechanicly is the gearing. But even with the higher gear of the truck without BT your final gear ratio is like 3:96:1 or 4:00:1 and that is good for 7000 pound towing. BT is cheap enough to get through the factory and worth every penny of it.

[t_hader]

From what I have heard, you can't increase "towing capacity", but you can increase the tongue weight, hitch weight, etc.