Why does edmunds rate the Armada with a payload capacity of 1693lbs when the F.M.V.S.S sticker specifies 1421lbs?

I really need the 1693. I bought the Armada (less than a week ago actually) to tow a 3500lb boat/trailer. I also have a very large family of 7. Tongue weight and passenger weight combined is 1350lbs. If the payload capacity is truly 1421lbs, I only have 71 lbs of payload left!! If that's true, I'm sick. I'm a newbie to the land of tow and didn't even think to check the payload capacity. I thought with a towing capacity of 9100lbs, how can I go wrong?

I'm really hoping someone can shed some light on the edmunds figure and convince me that I can go by that number. With that, I have 343lbs payload capacity. That I can work with, although I'd rather have more.

BTW, based on the ratings and the numbers, in order to tow a 9100lb trailer, you'd have to be the only passenger with no cargo and weigh 172lbs.

The GCVW is 14600lbs. Subtract the curb weight (5328lbs) and you're left with 9272lbs. Subtract 9100lbs and you're left with 172lbs.

I feel cheated. Someone please give me some good news!!

Probably base vs. LE. LE has much more "stuff" that accounts for the weight difference. 4X4 also adds weight. The curb weight of an SE 4x2 is 5,240 and 4x4 LE is 5,612. 4x4 adds about 280 lbs. +/-. ;)

From the Nissan web site:

Ah scr38, you bring me much joy.

Can you give me the url to that page?

So, where do you think the F.M.V.S.S. number came from?

Well, I can't find that chart anywhere. Would appreciate it if you could give me the URL to it.

Thanks!!

Well, I can't find that chart anywhere. Would appreciate it if you could give me the URL to it.

Thanks!!

http://www.nissanhelp.com/Models/2005/Armada/Specifications.htm

Bummer. This isn't a Nissan corporate website. It's a 3rd party website. They're all using that higher payload number. Anyone know how it was derived?

I'd feel much better about the Armada knowing that it can handle more than 1421lbs of payload.

I've checked the F.M.V.S.S. website and can't find anything specific on how they derive their numbers. It sounds like it is provided to them by Nissan.

Well, I'm back to feeling sick. Thanks for trying scr38.

I may try to chase this down with Nissan USA. It seems deceptive to advertise that a vehicle has an 8 passenger and 9100lb towing capacity. Based on the info I have, that's not true at all. It's really either or. It's really a one passenger and no cargo vehicle with 9100lb towing capacity, or an 8 passenger and a little - a very little - bit of cargo capacity with a 7800lb towing capacity. Still a respectable tow rating, but a dismal payload capacity.

Should I have gone for a 3/4 ton Ford or Chevy?? I hope not. I like the Armada in other respects but this is really disappointing, not to mention crippling in my case!

Here's another link for you. It's not Nissan, but still:

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/spec_engines.aspx?modelid=11065&trimid=-1&src=vip

Shows the same data as scr posted pretty much - 1693 payload.

I don't really understand your frustration. If you're pulling a 3500 lb boat, you should have no trouble piling 7 people in your ride as well as gear and still will be fine.

Yeah, that's what I figured. Seems reasonable that w/a 3500lb boat I should have loads of passenger & payload capacity.

But the numbers as posted on the F.M.V.S.S. sticker on the pillar behind the driver's door say different. Again...

Total Passenger & Payload capacity stated on sticker: 1421lbs
Total Passenger & Payload (tongue weight) with family and 3500lb boat: 1350lbs
1421lbs - 1350lbs = 71lbs

By the numbers/ratings on the vehicle, I will only have 71lbs of payload capacity with my family and boat. Seems ridiculous, but there they are. I'd really like to make sense of this.

My frustration with the ratings is that it seems like Nissan is selling the vehicle as more capable than it is.

...whatever the numbers...I can tell you for a fact that I have pulled a 6000 lb boat with 4 adults, and about
300 lbs of cargo up the side of a mountain and the transmission didn't even heat up.

I've towed my 6x12 cargo trailer completely loaded with p.a. and 5 other band members and was passing people on (admittedly flat) road. My tranny needle stays under 1/2 all the time. The trailer topped out at around 6200#, along with 6 grown men and their luggage. No problems whatsoever!

My Tahoe (with hyptertech tuning, Corsa exhaust, Air Raid CAI, Granatelli MAS) would choke with such a load.

Everything on the net is saying the payload is 1693 lbs.

I posted this in the towing section but I thought it relevent here as well to ease your mind:

Just got back from my first major road-trip (5500 miles total!). I towed a Fleetwood Prowler 300FQS the entire time. Started in Chicago and went to Grand Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite. The towing was great! There were only a couple of times I needed to cycle the A/C to cool the engine (once was going through the desert at 116 degrees with a KILLER headwind, and the other was climing the 6% grade into the Sequoia's during 106 degree heat). I will post a more accurate travel log later, and a pic of my setup. On the way home I decided to stop at a weigh-station and found out I was at a total weight (car/cargo and trailer) of 15,620lbs!

btw, I had 3 adults and 3 kids in the car and was loaded for the 14-day trip.

The Armada is one tough beast!!!! :cool:

I didn't think the tongue weight of the hitch was something you deducted from your payload. I thought you had 1420 and 9K towing with 10-15% on the tongue as capacity. Now I'm really :confused: .

Regardless, I've had 9 adults (1800 lbs), luggage on the roof(200lbs in a pod), and a jet ski on the tongue (1200 lbs with trailer, 100 on the tongue) without any problems. Felt like the Mada barely felt it. :D