[1PDQ55]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a little advice. I have tried to find someone who'll let me borrow a Chevy truck to tow my 55 up to Goodguys in Bowling Green but no luck so I am thinking about towing it with my 2005 Nissan Xterra Offroad Sport Utility (yeah I know!). It is in great shape, has an automatic and has low mileage. I'm just wondering if it will pull the trailer well. It has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 5000 lbs. I think my trailer is in the 1500lbs range. The 55 is a 150 2 door Sedan with a blown 350, and a Richmond 6 speed, but I'm figuring it can't be much more than 3275lbs. It will just be me in the truck, so there will not be any extra weight but I'm close to the GVWR, do you think I can do it safely? Has anyone ever pulled one with an Xterra? I'm concerned about the relatively short wheelbase with a big car and trailer behind it. The trailer has sway control but the electric brakes don't work anymore, so that would be my biggest concern. Also, I have a ClassIV frame hitch so I'm not worried there. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

 

[USA1]

Generalaly I have found these things to be true about towing.

A short wheelbase tow vehical like my 72 K/5 Blazer sucks.
4WD is not as good on highway as 2WD.
Its better when vehical towing is heavier than towed.
4wd is nice if tow involves any offroad.
Trailer brakes are nice.

 

[Tuned55]

I'd hold out until you have a decent tow rig. No trailer brakes! I'd hate to see your car and trailer push you trough an intersection or take you off road on a turn. It Happens.

 

[55 panel]

I have a short wheelbase landrover ( about 11feet long) I regularly tow a 17ft braked twin wheel trailer with another landrover on it, so my towed weight is much heavier than my tow car - shortwheelbase makes little difference when towing as long as you keep speed down certainly under 55mph is preferable , max gvw is just under max at 3500kg.

However the lack of trailer braking is the real issue, without adequate braking I would never attempt it.

Better safe than sorry.

my 2cents

 

[busterwivell]

I get (maybe) overly cautious about towing. I'm leaving Friday morning with 3 friends in my Tahoe with my trailer (1600 lbs) and a BB 71 Skylark, headed to Pomona (500 miles). I've made sure all the lights work, the brakes work, the wheel bearings are repacked, the tire pressures are up (including both spares). I'm guessing the Skylark at 3700 lbs. It's not my car. I've towed it other times, including to Pomona. That said, I wouldn't want to take a chance using a short wheelbase tow vehicle at or exceeding the max towing capacity, on a trailer with out brakes, and with a car I value a lot (not to mention my life and the lives of others along the way). I just would not chance it. It's kinda scary out there sometimes as it is, without creating more potential problems.
Bill

 

[TheHotrodHandyman]

Just a thought, Is there any reason you can't drive the 55 there? Its not a long trip (275 miles one way) and from the sounds of your current tow equipment it will be safer. :driver:

-Bruce

 

[JIMS 56 CHEVY]

I would get trailer brakes working before making the trip.

Jim, 56 BELAIR 2DR SEDAN

 

[tbone56]

i towed my 56 home with a 96 s10 blazer 2 door 4 wheel drive. it was about a 10 mile trip and i was really glad it wasnt any further. i did not have a brake hook up on by blazer and it felt like the trailer was steering my blazer by the trailer hitch. just my 2 cents, i would go to enterprise and rent a truck with a hitch.

 

[Rick_L]

I think tbone said what's important.

You need trailer brakes, you need a longer wheelbase vehicle, and you may need a load leveling hitch. A class IV hitch can do this with right extra pieces.

The other thing you need is a MINIMUM of 10% of the loaded trailer weight on the hitch. If you have enough tongue weight, a sway control is unnecessary. You can control some of this by how you load the car on the trailer. Don't be tempted to move the car back so that the rear of the tow vehicle doesn't sag!

I've towed some junk with some junk, and I've towed some nice stuff with some nice stuff. There is a HUGE difference! Don't try to do a "get by" deal.

 

[100%Chevy]

Also,the longer the wheelbase of the tow vehicle,the easier it is to control "Fishtailing".
You also need stiff tires to prevent left to right sway.Load range "E" are the type needed.
So,as said above,your short,light truck without trailer brakes wil probably cause trouble-especially at highway speeds.
If you do it your way,be careful and pay attention to your driving.
Mike.:bowtieb:

 

[HIGH ROLLER]

I tow everything and anything Tbone no pun inteded said it right, we recently had a person killed by a person pushing there car stoped at a stop sign in to a on comming car, the weight of that car and trailer with no trailer brakes can do the same thing on dry pavement let alone if it starts raining.

 

[1PDQ55]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I have everything in place except the brakes. I ahve towed this same setup with a V6 Explorer before. With that being said I understand all the implications everyone has thrown out there. I'm hoping a friend will come through with another tow vehicle, this would be a last resort. To answer the question about driving the 55, I just don't trust it on the open road yet. The engine is made more for drag racing than the open road and the headers are 4 inches off the ground, so I probably wouldn't have any left by the time I got there (if I got there). Anyway, really appreciate the advice and I will take it all into consideration. I was figuring if it comes down to using the Xterra I would load it up tomorrow night and drive it around town here to get the feel of it. If I was uncomfortable about any of it I would pull the plug.

 

[rwhit57]

I think you have gotten some great advice. Just one question have you ever heard the term: "The tail waggin the dog"

 

[lonewolf85]

You know better?

Dont do it! If your pulling a vehicle on a trailer tow dolly wrecker sling or a tow bar you really need a 3/4 ton or larger truck. You know what you have is iffy or you wouldnt have asked. I used a 64 3/4 for a wrecker and to tow trailers for many years. With a 3/4 truck you have lots more square inches of brake surface better stiffer heaver suspension and more weight on the tow vehicle. I reciently bought a newer 82 3/4 to use It has better front disk brakes than the 64,s drum brakes. I also have flat towed with a one ton van. Randall

 

[Redbird]

I have towed my 62 from the Mexican border to Central Illinois 3 times. Good brakes, good tires, trailer brakes, car tied down good, most of all leave plenty of distance around you and watch, watch, watch the other guys!
John F

 

[hamsman]

Have you looked at renting a larger tow vehicle that is set up for towing ??

Don, aka.....the hamsman

 

[USA1]

Dont do it! If your pulling a vehicle on a trailer tow dolly wrecker sling or a tow bar you really need a 3/4 ton or larger truck. You know what you have is iffy or you wouldnt have asked. I used a 64 3/4 for a wrecker and to tow trailers for many years. With a 3/4 truck you have lots more square inches of brake surface better stiffer heaver suspension and more weight on the tow vehicle. I reciently bought a newer 82 3/4 to use It has better front disk brakes than the 64,s drum brakes. I also have flat towed with a one ton van. Randall

Any full size 1/2 ton or larger Chevy since 71 has better brakes than a 64 3/4 ton Ford.

 

[MightyMouse57]

I think you have gotten some great advice. Just one question have you ever heard the term: "The tail waggin the dog"

That sums it up really well. I wouldn't do it with that car even with trailer brakes. Sorry but it is really scary to me seeing all these people out there towing stuff with vehicles that are not made for it, it's not the go, it's the stopping and cornering.

 

[hotwls13]

I MIGHT attempt it if I was going 10 miles to the alignment shop or something. No way would I go that far and fast with your setup. I have a Jeep Cherokee and I tow my 2000lb boat/trailer and it does fine, but that's the max I would go with a small SUV.

I have towed cars/trailers with a 1/2 ton full size truck several times. And that's without trailer brakes. Would have been better with trailer brakes but it wasn't my trailer. Worked fine and didn't push me around at all.

Move up to 5000+ I would say move up to a 3/4 ton and definitely get trailer brakes.

 

[USA1]

I guess I am in the minority using a 1/2 ton but maybe mine works well because they are properly equiped and Chevys, not brand X. One thing not mentioned so far and initially forgot by me is, "good mirrors". Small end midsize pickups & suvs typicaolly do not have adaquet mirrors for towing a car on a trailer.