Jonathan, does your hybrid have a tow hitch? If so, my suggestion would be to rent a pop-up or something in the 2000-2500 lb range. You can probably get a weekly rental for around $500. Still beats the price of a hotel.

 

Hi,

I'm new to all this. In fast, I've never towed anything so my question may seem dumb. I plan to go camping with the kids. I'm the owner of a Hybrid PF 2014. A friend of mine has a camper I could use. The weight of the camper is 3500 lbs. Would it be ok since the PF has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs? Or I also have to take the weight of the luggages and the persons in the maths?

Thank you very much

Jonathan

 

Hi,

I'm new to all this. In fast, I've never towed anything so my question may seem dumb. I plan to go camping with the kids. I'm the owner of a Hybrid PF 2014. A friend of mine has a camper I could use. The weight of the camper is 3500 lbs. Would it be ok since the PF has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs? Or I also have to take the weight of the luggages and the persons in the maths?

Thank you very much

Jonathan

Sorry but not a good idea if the trailer weights 3500lbs that isn't even including lp gas tank hitch etc I would not tow anything more than 3000k

 

Thank you for the response. The trailer I intend to pull shouldn't have a gross weight of more than 2000 pounds so I should be about 1500 pounds under the max tow limit. It's mainly going to have clothes in it.

The fact that the hybrid has it max tow limit of 3500 pounds got me wondering why? I understand the earlier versions of the JX and Pathfinder had a maximum tow limit of 3500 pounds too because the CVT used belts instead of chains. Obviously the hybrid makes use of an electric motor in the drive train so the CVT is different than the one in the V-6. I wonder if it also still uses belts? Does that explain the 3500 pound tow limit versus the 5000 pound tow limit on V6?

 

The Jatco CVT 8 Hybrid (full detailed here http://www.jatco.co.jp/ENGLISH/products/hybrid/cvt8.html) uses the chain belt like it's CVT8 cousin. I think the tow rating has a lot more to do with the torque that the 4-banger can put out, since the electric motor is not going to engage at above 1,500 rpms anyway. While, theoretically, the 4 cylinder/electric motor combo puts out a few more pound-feet of torque then the V-6, I don't think that electric motor would last long under the strain of a 2.5 ton tow. And, at $9k per transmission, Nissan doesn't want to be replacing them under warranty because some cocky weekend warrior wanted to tow a 16 ft boat and ignore the stated tow weight.

 

I purchased a 4 X 6 covered utility trailer not too long ago and brought it home with the Hybrid. Obviously, it wasn't loaded down, so gas mileage wasn't too badly impacted. Keep in mind you have about 1,500 fewer lbs. to play with then the V-6 Model so plan your payload wisely. My only concern with towing, on both the V-6 and the hybrid, are all the reports on here of the rear end really sinking as the towing load gets heavier...doesn't seem like the suspension was really optimized for towing.

Also, there is a Service Bulletin out on the Hybrid for the CVT judder, though I have yet to be impacted after nearly 6,000 miles. I think there might have been a single poster on here who did report shuddering issues on the hybrid, but for whatever reason, they don't appear as common. However, they only produced around 3,000 of them (and may never produce anymore) so there really isn't a large sample size out there to draw against.

 

I purchased a 4 X 6 covered utility trailer not too long ago and brought it home with the Hybrid. Obviously, it wasn't loaded down, so gas mileage wasn't too badly impacted. Keep in mind you have about 1,500 fewer lbs. to play with then the V-6 Model so plan your payload wisely. My only concern with towing, on both the V-6 and the hybrid, are all the reports on here of the rear end really sinking as the towing load gets heavier...doesn't seem like the suspension was really optimized for towing.

I also tow with my 2013 non-hybrid and it does sink. I've searched in vain for any Rancho or Monroes but to no avail. I ended up purchasing Firestone "Coil-Rite" Air Bag Helper Springs. Not the greatest invention, but when fully inflated, will keep the rear from sagging so much.