[STOCKMADA92101]

LADIES AND GENTS:

Good day to all. I am new to this towing stuff. I had enough forsight to get the big tow package with my 05 SE 4X4. I will be moving approximate 500 miles and I want to use the Beast towing capability and rent a big enclosed or open trailer. Whats the Deal on this? Do I just go to the Nissan Dealer and get a Class 3? I think the UHaul website said the vehicle had to have the towing capacity of 5000 pounds--which is much lower than the listed maximun towing limits of the BEAST. Do you guys know of any lower cost trailer rental firms? Uhaul wants $700 for a one way deal on a 12 x10 trailer. Thanks for any input!

 

[Cillyone]

LADIES AND GENTS:

Good day to all. I am new to this towing stuff. I had enough forsight to get the big tow package with my 05 SE 4X4. I will be moving approximate 500 miles and I want to use the Beast towing capability and rent a big enclosed or open trailer. Whats the Deal on this? Do I just go to the Nissan Dealer and get a Class 3? I think the UHaul website said the vehicle had to have the towing capacity of 5000 pounds--which is much lower than the listed maximun towing limits of the BEAST. Do you guys know of any lower cost trailer rental firms? Uhaul wants $700 for a one way deal on a 12 x10 trailer. Thanks for any input!

The hitch on your Armada w/bigtow is a class III/IV and can handle up to 500lb tongue wt and 5000lb trailer wt (class III) without a weight distributing hitch set-up, after that you need to have weight distributing bar-type ball hitch (class IV) that will plug right in to your receiver AND most likely an electric brake controller unless the trailer has a self contained surge-type brake system. The class IV ball hitch/bars essentially lever (transfer) tongue wt onto your front wheels for (much) better handling. In my opinion you should not exceed the 5k gross wt (trailer & cargo) unless you rent a weight distributing ball hitch and surge/electric brakes on the trailer(they probably won't let you off the lot without it). If you were just going slowly across town on surface streets you could cut corners but for 500 miles you need to do it right. As far as rental info I am no help, someone else is going have to jump in here, but 7 bills for a trailer rental seems a bit steep. You could buy a nice clean used enclosed trailer (craigslist?) for $2-3K (or an big open utility trailer for $1.5k)and sell it later and move for the cost of DMV tax, plus you could use it for as long as you want and it could double as an auxiliary storage space for a period. And who knows, if you find a good deal you might be able to turn a profit on the trailer when you sell it. Good luck.

 

[STOCKMADA92101]

Cillyone,

Thank you for the information! I really appreciate it. So all I need is a weight distributing ball class IV ? Does the manufacturer or brand of this tongue matter? What is the going rate for a high quality one? Thanks!




"YEA, IT WILL BEAT A HEMI!"

 

[92TripleBlack]

Cillyone,

Thank you for the information! I really appreciate it. So all I need is a weight distributing ball class IV ? Does the manufacturer or brand of this tongue matter? What is the going rate for a high quality one? Thanks!




"YEA, IT WILL BEAT A HEMI!"

Brand, no. Manufacturer, no. They are industry standards. You can order one from the dealer or get one from a reputable hitch place. Uhaul for example I'm sure has them. Couple hundred bucks for the hitch. I think Prodigy is the brake module most people have been using. :teeth:

 

[Cillyone]

I have an EZ Lift WD hitch with a EZ friction sway control device and it works fine, but I wish I would have bought a Equal-i-zer® Sway Control Hitch http://www.equalizerhitch.com/

If you are only going to use it for a relatively short time, just get a generic EZ Lift type like mine, they work good and don't cost a bundle. But if you think pulling a heavy trailer on a regular basis is (RV? etc) in your future, spend the money on a equalizer hitch, I may spring for one myself some day. Also you may want to see what a rental of a WD hitch would cost. Do you know someone who tows a RV trailer, you might be able to borrow one since it is kinda the off season.

 

[pstorti]

I pull a 10,000lb load (boat and trailer) no problem with the stock hitch and a receiver. The truck pulls it beautifully and has no problems braking or with trans temp. A weight distrubuting hitch certainly won't hurt but for a 12 x 10 uhaul you will be just fine with the truck as it sits.

 

[Cillyone]

I pull a 10,000lb load (boat and trailer) no problem with the stock hitch and a receiver. The truck pulls it beautifully and has no problems braking or with trans temp. A weight distrubuting hitch certainly won't hurt but for a 12 x 10 uhaul you will be just fine with the truck as it sits.

If my calculations are correct and you have at least the 10% tongue weight you should have for minimum trailer stability. this means you have at least 1000 lbs tongue weight on your hitch. I have towed my toybox around the block without the weight distributing bars on just to relocate it beside my house and I only have a little over 800 lbs of tongue weight and it was not safe even at 25 mph, I can't imagine even more weight being any less dangerous. Yes I agree, he does not need a WD hitch for a u-haul trailer under #5k, but you sir, are a hazard to everyone on the road knowingly towing an illegal and unsafe load. I think we have covered this subject before and you might as well cancel your insurance because insurance companies don't and won't pay if you get into a wreck. Not to mention the liability law suits that you are leaving yourself open to.

 

[CDNArMaDa]

towing

]""If my calculations are correct and you have at least the 10% tongue weight you should have for minimum trailer stability. this means you have at least 1000 lbs tongue weight on your hitch. ""


Boat trailers are set up different than utility/ travel trailers. 75% of the weight of a boat is loaded at the rear( engines, drives etc.) More than 90% of a loaded boat trailer is on the trailer suspension ( It doesn't take alot of weight to move the centre of ballance on a load this size, say if there are coolers or other equipment on the boat ) I've pulled many utility and baots traliers in the past and a boat is always more ballanced and easier to tow than any utility trailer.

I do agree thaough that he would be exceeding the towing capacity and possibly the GVWR of the mada. and if a hi way cop stopped him hhe could be ticketed for overloading his vehicle. I know that rec vehicle users/towers here in Ontario are getting tickets for just this scenario, ( they usually go after the guy in the mini van pulling the 24' travel trailer with the boat and kids bikes strapped to the top, plus the kids and gear in the van.) and I know a couple farmers got nailed pulling hay bales on a farm trailer with the half ton

tg

 

[Cillyone]

A ticket from a cop is the least of things I'd be worried about. Towing an trailer over your rated capacity makes you automatically at fault in any kind of accident, if he hits a car load of drunk lawyers and kills one, his fault or not, he will most likely lose everything he owns or ever will own.

 

[pstorti]

If my calculations are correct and you have at least the 10% tongue weight you should have for minimum trailer stability. this means you have at least 1000 lbs tongue weight on your hitch. I have towed my toybox around the block without the weight distributing bars on just to relocate it beside my house and I only have a little over 800 lbs of tongue weight and it was not safe even at 25 mph, I can't imagine even more weight being any less dangerous. Yes I agree, he does not need a WD hitch for a u-haul trailer under #5k, but you sir, are a hazard to everyone on the road knowingly towing an illegal and unsafe load. I think we have covered this subject before and you might as well cancel your insurance because insurance companies don't and won't pay if you get into a wreck. Not to mention the liability law suits that you are leaving yourself open to.

You're calculations are not correct so stop making assumptions about things you know nothing about.

Secondly my towing a load that may be above my vehicles rated capacity is niether illegal or unsafe. When you're done playing safety nazi use a little common sense and think about it. The truck is rated to tow over 9000lbs, I don't need a weight distributing hitch because I don't have massive tongue weight. The 9000+ rating is the same for someone towing in Colorado up and down mountains or for me towing in Florida where it is flat. My Denali before the Armada also towed the same boat with out any trouble braking or otherwise.

I don't appreciate being called a hazard to everyone on the road, and as far as a lawsuit its a$$holes like you that make this country the lawsuit capital of the world.

 

[92TripleBlack]

You're calculations are not correct so stop making assumptions about things you know nothing about.

Secondly my towing a load that may be above my vehicles rated capacity is niether illegal or unsafe. When you're done playing safety nazi use a little common sense and think about it. The truck is rated to tow over 9000lbs, I don't need a weight distributing hitch because I don't have massive tongue weight. The 9000+ rating is the same for someone towing in Colorado up and down mountains or for me towing in Florida where it is flat. My Denali before the Armada also towed the same boat with out any trouble braking or otherwise.

I don't appreciate being called a hazard to everyone on the road, and as far as a lawsuit its a$$holes like you that make this country the lawsuit capital of the world.

Cillyone is just being responsible. Towing manuals all state your tongue weight should be 10% of the tailer weight. This is to keep the downforce on the hitch at a safe limit so it doesn't push down too hard or lift off on bumps, etc. I'm in Florida, and it is flat, but there are still instances where the hitch is tested, such as train tracks. The manual says you should use a weight distribution hitch if you go over 6500 lbs. I agree with you it can probably do it. But also realize if you have a problem such as a hitch failure or the trailer breaking loose, you would be liable, not the maker, which is the case if you follow the guidelines. For a 10K+ trailer, you should be using a superduty like an F250 or Excursion.

 

[Mike Up]

The Armada is rated to tow only 9100 lbs and 910 lbs of tongue weight. The hitch is only rated to tow 10,000 lbs and 1,000 lbs of tongue weight. If the Armada's 9100/910 lbs limit is exceeded, it's very possible that the hitch receiver mounting area could be stressed towards failure since this hitch setup is NOT RECOMMENDED to be used with any weights over 9100/910 lbs.

Going over is illegal and UNSAFE. If you are endangering myself and family, YOU SHOULD BE PUNISHED period. Accidental is no excuse but outright knowledge of the fact and bragging about is criminal.

It's people like this that cause multivehicle accidents and I have seen them.

This was just discussed recently.

 

[pstorti]

The Armada is rated to tow only 9100 lbs and 910 lbs of tongue weight. The hitch is only rated to tow 10,000 lbs and 1,000 lbs of tongue weight. If the Armada's 9100/910 lbs limit is exceeded, it's very possible that the hitch receiver mounting area could be stressed towards failure since this hitch setup is NOT RECOMMENDED to be used with any weights over 9100/910 lbs.

Going over is illegal and UNSAFE. If you are endangering myself and family, YOU SHOULD BE PUNISHED period. Accidental is no excuse but outright knowledge of the fact and bragging about is criminal.

It's people like this that cause multivehicle accidents and I have seen them.

This was just discussed recently.

If you think the hitch will fail with a 10000 lb load then I don't know why you bought the Armada if you think it is built that poorly.

I am not bragging other people on this board are trying to get someone who is going to tow a small Uhaul to go out and buy a bunch of equipment they don't need. My point was to show that it will tow just fine with a receiver.

10000 lbs is an estimate, the boat is 6500 dry (manufacturer), steel trailer est 2000lbs, full load of fuel and water 1250 lbs, and 250 lbs of gear. It could be more it could be less. I have years of towing experience and believe me if the truck didn't handle correctly or was swaying at speed I would agree, but it tows the boat perfectly no drama whatsoever. So if any of you are ever in Miami PM me and I'll take you for a ride so you can see for yourself.

As far as your other comments are concerned I assume you never exceeed the speed limit and follow all laws at all times. There are lots of dangerous vehicles on the road maybe you should stay home.

 

[92TripleBlack]

If you think the hitch will fail with a 10000 lb load then I don't know why you bought the Armada if you think it is built that poorly.

As far as your other comments are concerned I assume you never exceeed the speed limit and follow all laws at all times. There are lots of dangerous vehicles on the road maybe you should stay home.

Just tell me where you are towing and I'll go to the other coast.
Seriously, it probably won't fail, but it could. You are exceeding the limits its designed for. Why take a chance? Most tires on the Explorer didn't blow, but some unfortunate people were victums. They thought the Challenger was fine even exceeding the limits the engineers told them, etc. Bottomline, you've made a choice to ignore the maker's limits. They probably have a buffer, but you are still putting yourself and others at risk. But to keep it in context, this is fairly minimal to some of the freaks I've seen in FL. Towing portable cement mixers behind pickups at 80+mph, towing 10k boats with minivans, etc. As long as you realize there is a risk, but you are accepting it, and going on anyway, its your choice. But don't slight others for pointing out the risk to you. This is for your benefit, not to beat on you. :whip:

 

[Cillyone]

I don't appreciate being called a hazard to everyone on the road, and as far as a lawsuit its a$$holes like you that make this country the lawsuit capital of the world.

You can rant and rave and call me all the names you want, it still won't change the fact that what you are doing is illegal, you can kid yourself all you want but it won't help you in court. Over-weight is over-weight, it does not matter if you are going downhill or otherwise. If you don't like being told what you are doing is irresponsible, don't advertise the idea that towing over-weight is a OK thing. The good news, at least for me, is I live on the other side of the country and I won't have to share the road with you. BTW, I am over 50 and I've never sued anyone or have been sued in my entire life and I plan on keeping it that way.