[Mcgruff465]

Hey Guys, I new to this Forum and would like to ask a little advise and suggestions about towing with my 2004 SE. To start off, I have a 2004 Titan SE w/ big tow. I just recently bought a 2001 26' Terry tag along camper and the dry weight is 6200 #'s. After loading, 3-4 bicycles, camping gear, wife, 3 year old, and infant, I figure I'm loaded to 7000 #'s - 7500 max and live and camp in the mountains of East Tennessee and western North Cafolina. I asked several people I know if my truck could handle that kind of weight and everyone said yes. Pulling the camper to a local camp ground was fine and not a real test for the truck. I pulled the camper on my last camping trip for the winter about two hours away (this was the first long trip for the truck, like I said just bought the camper) and the turck towed awesome with no problems what so ever I used overdrive on the interstate and had no problems. I my way back, I started up a steep grade for about 2 miles. I was in fourth gear/tow mode and never lost any power, the truck did not over heat, but the tramission heated to just before the "H" on the trane gauge. This worried me some because I knew I would be towing some in the big mountains of North Carolina and didn't want to have a break down. I haven't pulled the camper since then but have made a few modifications since then to get ready for spring. I did add another transmission cooler to run inline with the factory cooler and also had a few re-call's done and while at the dealership, the service guy put an upgrade rear diff. cover w/ the cooling fins for free. I also had the transmission serviced (46,000 miles). Is the camper + gear and family to much for my Titan? If not, give me a few hints to help with towing. Any advise is greatly appreciated.


Mcgruff 465

 

[pogi69x]

First off welcome to TitanTalk, from what I read on here that weight shouldn't be a problem. I believe that is not an issue for needle to go that high. I'm sure you will get plenty of support from everyone here. Happy New!

 

[loufish]

Your problem was you kept it in forth gear, you should be manually downshifting to third when needed.
If you're in "4th" and climbing, the first thing the trans does is to un-lock the torque converter, and for a trans the converter is where most of the heat comes from while towing.

When towing heavy(and you are) and climbing hills and grades don't wait for the trans to downshift on it's own, grab 3rd gear, it will tow better and flow more trans fluid thru the trans cooler and in third you can still mantain 50-55 mph. The stock trans cooler works fine when towing as above. All titans have a cooler in the radiator AND an external one also.

The Titan's engine can run 3500-3800 rpm pretty much all day, so don't fret if you have to grab 3rd on a few hills, even it's a 15 mile long grade, you'll be over the top in about 18 minutes, nothing for almost all the new late model 1/2 ton truck engines!

 

[mtofell]

Your problem was you kept it in forth gear, you should be manually downshifting to third when needed.
If you're in "4th" and climbing, the first thing the trans does is to un-lock the torque converter, and for a trans the converter is where most of the heat comes from while towing.

When towing heavy(and you are) and climbing hills and grades don't wait for the trans to downshift on it's own, grab 3rd gear, it will tow better and flow more trans fluid thru the trans cooler and in third you can still mantain 50-55 mph. The stock trans cooler works fine when towing as above. All titans have a cooler in the radiator AND an external one also.

The Titan's engine can run 3500-3800 rpm pretty much all day, so don't fret if you have to grab 3rd on a few hills, even it's a 15 mile long grade, you'll be over the top in about 18 minutes, nothing for almost all the new late model 1/2 ton truck engines!

Agreed..... I towed basically the same load over similar hills or steeper without a problem... I pretty much used my truck like a manual tranny and never saw the needle move close the 'high' mark. Don't be afraid the rev the engine. The 32V gas engine is meant to rev high all day long.

 

[DrPlay]

Happy New year all:

Apologies -- not sure how to start my own question without piggy-backing on someone else's. But ... I am a 3 day owner of a beautiful 2008.5 Titan 4x4 Crew Cab Standard bed SE with tow package. Titan ated to toe 9300lbs., my 2006 Airstream 25' International fully loaded is 7300 lbs -- tongue weight 750 lbs. With cargo/passengers/tongue I figure 1550lbs (Titan rated at 1650). I have a Reese weight distributing hitch with anti sway. Can the Titan handle the job? Did I buy the wrong truck? I love it and would hate to see it go.

 

[Bluewater]

Your Titan will have no trouble pulling your load. I tow 7500 lbs plus for long distances and have never had any trouble. Some of it is mountainous terrain. My engine temp and transmission gauges have never moved a nanometer even in 100 plus heat. My tongue weight is 750LBS which makes my tail end sag and bottom out. I put Air Lift load levelers on and it works great. It keeps the truck level and help keeps the trailer under control since it keeps it at the right level every time. That is the only thing you may want to consider. Good luck. You will love your truck.

 

[Bluewater]

come to think of it.....you may not have the sagging problem I did with your weight distribution hitch. If you don't have that problem you are good to go!

 

[RobKar]

I tow about 8000lbs and have not had any problems. When towing be sure that you use 4th and if the tyranny gauge starts getting showing hot put it in 3rd as mentioned above.

Enjoy

 

[DrPlay]

Thanks Ble Rob:

Why do other truck kamers list a larger radiator and transmisson cooler as part of their TP but not Nissan. Does Nissan make it standard??

 

[loufish]

Why do other truck kamers list a larger radiator and transmisson cooler as part of their TP but not Nissan. Does Nissan make it standard??

As a matter of fact...YES!
You get the same cooling package (including external trans cooler) on the least expensive entry Titan, all the way up to a fully loaded LE w/Tow Package...

Very few people have reported cooling issues, and those that do have been towing in the wrong gear causing higher trans temps...Manually downshift before the truck thinks it should on hills and grades and don't worry about rev'ing the engine up hills...

 

[RobKar]

^^^ what he said^^^

The titan can tow better than it hauls.

 

[Mcgruff465]

Thanks for all the advise fellas, I will put it to good use this spring when I get the camper back out.

Happy New Year!

Mcgruff