[TitanNui]

After viewing 5th wheels and TTs in Vegas, I decided the best traveling option for me was to install a camper shell and carpet kit in my bed, ship the truck from Hawaii, then buy a Travel Trailer in vegas...maybe a 28-30 footer with a weight near 8-9000lb when loaded. After reading some of this forum, I feel the shell may be a mistake since it may put me in a separate weight limitation. This never occurred to me prior to ordering the shell, which I have paid for and expect delivery in HI at the end of January.

As a young lad, I toured with my Grandmother who drove an Electra 225 with an Airstream trailer. I find it hard to believe my 05 Titan could not handle as large a load as the old Buick.

Any advice on the shell, max trailer size, etc, would be appreciated since I plan to live in this trailer for at least a year and travel Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, and Canada...Mahalo!

 

[Carbeaux]

So if I understand you correctly, you're going to have a shell on the truck AND want to pull an almost 9k lb trailer? That would be asking too much from any 1/2 ton truck IMHO.

 

[DeadRiver]

take a look at piggybacks. they hook to the trailer hitch and can pull a fifth wheel.

 

[TitanLou]

I have a LEER shell on mine and pull a TT. My LEER shell only weighs 200-300lbs so it really doesn't hurt towing. My TT weighs about 7000lbs loaded, and IMO I don't think I would want to tow anything much heavier than that. Sure the Titan can tow 9500lbs, but trust me a 27' 7000lb TT is one hell of a load.

 

[Triple S]

If weight is a concern consider a Softopper.
http://www.softopper.com/gallery.html

I do not drive with it up but have had outstanding luck camping with it. I really like the ability to open up the sides. The last time I was at Indy it was over 85 degrees at 8:30 a.m. When I came back to teh truck for lunch it was over 135 degrees inside the topper. I just flipped up the sides and with a little breeze in no time at all it was done to the normal 95 degrees. I had several fiberglass caps in my time, and I never got that kind of ventalation out of opening windows. Everything is a trade off, the Softopper can't be locked up like a fiberglass one, but then again, it is lighter and it a total breeze to put on and off the truck with just one preson when it is needed.

Camping at Watkins Glen
Sides down

One side up

Looking out

Camping at US F1
Sides down

One side up

Home away from home

 

[CoachBoone]

I agree with Titanlou. I hitch up a 7k lb. 33 footer and have loaded 3 dirt bikes and a 150 lb generator in the back, and while I'm impressed the beast can handle it, I wouldn't ask her to do anymore. Especially with our rear ends.

 

[TitanNui]

Thanks for all the "pearls of wisdom". I love the idea of the soft shell, but security would be an issue while on the road. TitanLou and CoachBoone have the reply I think I would like to emulate, since the top os paid for and coming whether I like it olr not. I don't have the weight of the toppert yet, but will ask. The TT must change to be lighter and in the 7k range. Seems the lightest brand is the Jay Feather made out of fiberglass rather than aluminum? That's what a dealer told me, but not sure how much trust I can put in a dealer of trailers. Aren't they a bit like used car salesmen?

My question in that case, is how much am I sacrificing by going to a light trailer. High winds could affect the stability while camped and probably on the road. Also, would a lighter TT make it necessary to tie down? Aew there stability packages I can install to help?

I had what I was told was a class III hitch installed at the Titan dealer here in Hawaii (although it says 10000lbs max on the hitch near the receiver so I think it is class IV). It worked well for a homemade dirt bike trailer, but have tried nothing larger. Should I add stronger shocks, leafs, or even better hitch? Are there any packages I can have installed that would allow me to increase the load or even make the 7000lb load more stable? The trailer dealer showed me "swaybars" he could install for 250 dollars each.

Once again, Mahalo for the brilliant insight...
TitanNui

 

[TitanBlue]

Regular Titan is rated for 7400-7500 Towing, unless it has the OffRoad Package (OR) or Big Tow (BT) Package which gives a different rear axle ratio, then it is 9400-9500. BT comes with a Trans Temp Gage and a Hitch preinstalled.

What do you have?

Sounds like non BT/OR, so your limit is 7400-7500, depending if KC or CC.

 

[loufish]

This is so much myth about towing capibilities....

That 9500 lbs is with a 150 lb driver and 1/2 a tank of fuel...As you load stuff in the truck(passengers, dirt bikes, generators, dogs, wood, etc, etc ) your towing rate goes down.
The big one is tongue weight....most Titans have around 1500 lbs of load rating, subtract everything you put in the truck( see above examples) and what you have left is how much tongue weight you can handle.

1500 lbs load

average driver - add 50 lbs
Add full fuel 100 lbs
3 dirt bikes 700 lbs
Genny 150 lbs
Passenger 150 lbs
Wood 100 lbs
WD hitch 100 lbs

Total 1350 lbs

That leaves you about 150 lbs for tongue weight...

Lets go the other direction...

7000 lb trailer with only 700 lbs of tongue weight(light by the way)
Now you only have 850 lbs of load rating left over...

Are you getting the idea....

 

[TitanNui]

For TitanBlue,

I see what you mean. I have a CrewCab XE which for some reason puts me in the 6500 TT category according to my manual. I had the factory installed hitch when I purchased, but I guess that doesn't qualify me for the OR or BT classification. This really puts a crimp in my style, living in a smaller trailer. I saw a 27ft Jayfeather EXP rated at 6000, tongue at 650, but of course it does not have the high end accesories I had hoped for...like a walk around Queen sized bed.

Of course the salesmen didn't point out the towing issue when I purchased, but I'm glad you pointed it out to me before I shipped the truck.

I wonder if I can purchase an after market BT or OR package? If someone has a solution, I would appreciate the help.

Thanks,
TitanNui

 

[TitanBlue]

Excellent details by loufish, as always.

No aftermarket BT, you would have to get gears (not readily available, Nissan only sells the entire axle) and have your ECU reflashed by UpRev to compensate for the gearing changes. This has been done, but is not a recommended or everyday thing. You will have a difficult time getting the gears, Titan gears are unique, not same as in a normal Dana 44.

Your CC XE is lower rated (6500) apparently because of lighter duty tires, some have thought the springs are lighter. It's been thought that BT and 4x4 (non OR and OR) had a heavier rear spring. But I've never seen confirmation with part numbers.

Hate to suggest this, but might you be happier in the long run to sell the Titan in HI, buy a good used (or new), Duramax Diesel 2500HD here in the Mainland. Doesn't sound like you are on a real tight budget, and you do have a clear view of what you want to do already. No Titan is going to fill that need unfortunetly.

If I had the funds to do what you want to do, I'd be far happier with a DuraMax that can do the job right, and have torque to spare. Saves the shipping cost too.

 

[gksmith]

Why TT? How about a large popup - especially if weight is a concern.

I have a Fleetwood Hemlock (now called Niagara) hiside. It's a tent trailer that when open is as big (or bigger) than several TT's we camp with.

The weight is 4500 or less (I rounded) - I always use 5K for a good fudge factor. The thing comes with potty, microwave, stove, shower (inside/outside), 2 king beds and plenty of storage. Setup isn't much longer than a TT.

Anyway, it's a thought. The only time I don't like my popup is when I have to tear down in the rain. Otherwise I wouldn't think of upgrading to a TT anytime soon.

 

[Redmille]

I pull a 20 ft toy hauler and with it loaded with quads, 600lbs of water and all the other gear is probably around 7500lbs. I feel thats the Titan's limit in higher elevations which also means lots of hills! If I were at sea level I'd say around 9000lbs no problem!:smoke: