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First Time Travel Trailer Towing

18721 Views 19 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  240gordy
Well, I have hauled small utility trailers before with my Titan. They were small enough that they did not require a brake controller. This month, I rented a travel trailer for the first time and hauled it behind my Titan. I first installed my Tekonsha Prodigy according to some of the suggestions here. I ended up installing it near my right knee. Drilled holes to the metal frame behind the dash and added a strip of thick rubber piece before installing the mounting bracket so that I can gain a slight angle and space to get to the switch and knob on the controller. I had to make a quick run to Lowe's because the mounting screws were a tad too short. I spent $12 on ready-to-connect wiring harness for Prodigy/Titan. It seemed well worth the money.

I rented the trailer for 2 nights and 3 days just to get acquainted with travel-trailering. Overall, I am happy to say that things went very smoothly for the first time. The rental travel trailer was Homestead 292BHS by Starcraft, which was practically new. It is supposed to be 6,444 lbs unloaded with GVWR of 8,500 lbs. The hitch weight is supposedly 849 lbs. I opted to rent a weight-distribution hitch (Reese) for $35. I was a little disappointed by the fact that I had to remove my White Knight backup lights in order to use the hitch. We had 3 adults, 2 little girls, an 80lb-dog and some gears plus the fresh water tank full of water (it was already filled up when I picked up the trailer). Except for the people everything was loaded in the trailer. We drove 400 miles and stayed at 2 RV parks. The most frustrating thing during this mini-vacation was to keep the speed under 50 mph per the owner’s manual’s break-in procedure. It was so easy to forget about pushing the tow mode button and disengaging the OD every time I restated the engine… I wished that the tow mode remains engaged even when you shut off and restart the engine. I recall that there is something you can buy to accomplish this, but I don’t tow often enough to make this mod. Better yet, wouldn’t it be nice if the tow mode not only memorizes the setting until manually turned off, but it offered 2 different modes. Tow mode 1 being OD automatically disengaged. Tow mode 2 being OD enabled.

It was a good learning experience and fun. Oh, kids liked the bunk beds. I think it will be more fun on a longer vacation and after the towing break-in is finished.

Now, I am wondering if I should replace the differential fluid even though I probably have about 6,000 miles since the last change. Anyway, we plan on renting it again this spring or summer.

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Glad you had a good time and a good expeirence.
Just to let you know, that's a lot of trailer for the Titan when it's going to be loaded up.
You didn't mention if there where any major grades to be clinbed during your trip, or if there where any issues with hi trans temps.
You should be towing if 4th gear...
loufish said:
You didn't mention if there where any major grades to be clinbed during your trip, or if there where any issues with hi trans temps.
You should be towing if 4th gear...
No major grades and the transmission temp stayed in the middle. Luckily every time I forgot about tow mode & getting gear out of OD, it was only a minute or so wafter e started driving when I rememberd or my wife reminded me about it!
BuckyBadger said:
Whats it run to rent something like that?
Standard rate for renting this trailer was $100/day with minimum 3-night, 4-day rental. Because we only rented for 2 nights, they tacked on $25 charge per day. So, it was $125 per day for us plus what we paid to stay at the RV park.

It seems to me that if you are going to use a travel trailer for occaisional vacationing, you are far better off financially if your rent instead of buying one. I see tons of travel trailers around here parked at storage facilities most of the time, incurring storage fee, insurance premium, payment for the trailer when they mostly sit around... Not to mention time and money you spend on maintenance.
That's a good question, whether or not to change the diff. I only did mine after our first big tow because we burned up the oem dino oil and had to take it to the dealer to inspect. After changing to synthetic and putting the alum finned cover on, I've had no worries. But with a first tow, you may have some initial wearing that might call for a fluid change. See if any experts chime in.
Glad you had a good time. Towing with the Titan is a treat because it pulls so easily and it handles so well. Hope this turns into a regular family outing for you. We've been doing it since summer of 04, right after I got the beast, and it's by far my favorite way to vacation.
Enjoy!:cheers:
Masa said:
No major grades and the transmission temp stayed in the middle. Luckily every time I forgot about tow mode & getting gear out of OD, it was only a minute or so wafter e started driving when I rememberd or my wife reminded me about it!
Yeah that tow made button is really in a :werd: place.
The tow mode doesn't keep the trany from shifting in to OD. It only holds the lower gears longer so you can get up to speed.

OD is nothing more than the TQ converter locking up in 5th gear. The TQ converter locks in 4th also. Pulling a TT that size you need to stay in 4th gear or you should anyways.

If you ever decide to buy a TT buy used you can get a great deal on slightly used TT's. If you have kids look at the Keystone Hornets. The 24RB ( I think) has rear slide out in the back and 4 bunks up front. great floor plan for a family.

Sorry they changed the floor plan of the Hornet 24RB and gave it to the Pass Port. I have the Hornet 24RB but is has the exact floor plan as this one i linked to. BTW it opens to 30ft and is a breeze to pull with the Titan

http://keystone-passport.com/?page=detail&year=2008&model=240QS
OD is nothing more than the TQ converter locking up in 5th gear.
Sure you don't want to try that again...?

Drive(5th gear) IS the overdrive gear in the Titan's trans mission, has nothing to do with the converter locking up...
loufish your right, according to the gear ratio of the trany it would be a OD gear. It's very close to fourth and that would explain only a 250 RPM difference between 4th and 5th and huge difference when the TQ conv locks up. But these transmissions don't use the traditional OD with the planetary gears locking up do they? It seems like the TQ conv is doing the OD work.

2004 - 2007 Nissan Titan

Automatic Transmission
Type
Trans Model
RE5R05A
First 3.827
Second 2.386
Third 1.519
Fourth 1.00
Fifth 0.834

At any rate heavy towing in 5th is no good. The heaviest I tow in 5th and have no issues with ''hunting gears'' is about 3500 pounds.
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But these transmissions don't use the traditional OD with the planetary gears locking up do they? It seems like the TQ conv is doing the OD work.
Oh it's still a set of planetary gears, but yes the converter is "working". By working I mean it's not either locked up or unlocked, the PCM can very the lock-up (in percent) from say 60% to 100% and anywhere in between, so the converter has the last say...
I just bought the 2008 Hornet Hideout 27B my first TT, an upgrade from a Coleman Destiny II Popup Tent Camper. I'm having a sway bar and Prodigy Brake Controller installed tomorrow and due a walk through inspection with the RV dealer the next day. We like this TT and my family is looking forward to our camping adventures, the next being Yellowstone this summer this time in style. My son (13) has seen the trailer and loves it and my daughter (15) has only looked at the brochure but is very excited. I case you can say anything is better when upgrading from a popup but mine is still great for a 1995 model. This TT seemed well built and fully configured and quite suitable pulling with my Titan. I can't say how that will be for another couple of days but looking forward to it. Have you had any problems with your model?
I tow a couple of jet skis around Florida.
Should I be towing in 4th gear? or tow mode?
skimp0211 said:
I tow a couple of jet skis around Florida.
Should I be towing in 4th gear? or tow mode?
jet skis are extremely light compared to a travel trailer. Just put her in drive and go. If you have a tranny temp gauge than i would monitor it but you shouldnt have any problems.
Now, I am wondering if I should replace the differential fluid even though I probably have about 6,000 miles since the last change. Anyway, we plan on renting it again this spring or summer.[/QUOTE]
If you have had the synthetic 75w-140 then there should be no worries. If you have the factory dino (assuming you have an 04) then yes change to a good quality synthetic. I use the Amsoil Severe Gear and like it very much. As far as others are saying to tow in 4th I totally agree with them. If you do find your self "hunting" gears the put it in thrid. It will keep the temps down as well. These trucks can run at high RPM's w/o worries. As far as the tow mode. I believe it will just hold 1st thru 3rd only a little longer and Nissan states this is to make the transmision feel as if you are not towing ( as far as shift points). I'm glad to hear you had a good experience. Rving is an addicting habit.:rollingey
so just put it to 4 instead of D when im towing 5k lbs trailer? thats considered turning off OD?

sorry im new to this, hi guys.... good forum here
so just put it to 4 instead of D when im towing 5k lbs trailer? thats considered turning off OD?
Yup...That's it. There is no "OD" switch, just the shift lever posistion...
Nissanloyalist said:
If you have had the synthetic 75w-140 then there should be no worries. If you have the factory dino (assuming you have an 04) then yes change to a good quality synthetic.
Mine is an '06. I went ahead and changed the final gear oil. Despite the low mileage since the last change, the oil had more fine particles of metal and did not look as clear. I guess that is expected due to additional break-in of gears. I think it was a cheap insurance to change it. Used Mobil 1 as I always have.
loufish said:
Yup...That's it. There is no "OD" switch, just the shift lever posistion...
loufish,

You are correct. Our trucks don't have an "OD" switch. I mistakenly used that word because conceptually, I think of "D" as "top gear enabled". And top gear (5th) equals "OD" to me. Sorry about the confusion.
Masa said:
No major grades and the transmission temp stayed in the middle. Luckily every time I forgot about tow mode & getting gear out of OD, it was only a minute or so wafter e started driving when I rememberd or my wife reminded me about it!

You`re lucky! I pulled a 25 ft. travel trailer through the Rocky Mountains and watched my tranny temp go right to the top.......but as soon as it hits that mark the tranny cooler kicks in and you can watch the gauge go down. It cools it off that fast!
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