Question on the Big Tow - I didn't see anywhere where it adds a Trans cooler. All I saw that would matter is a bigger battery (doesn't really help towing), the trans temp guage (again, no help - just indicates if you have a problem with temp) and the lower rear end (I live in TX where hills are not really a problem). I wanted the mirrors but when you have to add the other packages (Trac & SE popiular) that you have to to get the BT it was not worth it (would have added $2050 to my list price!). Seems to me all you are really doing is buying the towing capacity rating - not equipment. (I back this up with the XE having a rating of 6500 and the SE having 7500 with no equipment change). What do you think or am I missing something?

The 2004 BIG TOW included:

Class IV hitch with wiring harness,
extendable tow mirrors,
heavy duty battery,
lower final axle ratio,
transmission temperature gauge and
Vehicle Dynamic Control.

I tow a travel trailer...and like it all. (especially the mirrors and axle ratio)

To answer one question of yours, how come the big tow adds more towing capacity..Its the lower gear ratio in the rear differential that lets the vehicle tow more.

I realize all that the BT comes with and it seems like a good deal for $400, but when you add the other packages that you also have to get is it worth $2000? Yes, the lower rear-end makes it easier to pull (higher rating), but Nissan is sepc'ing for worst case - the Rockies! If you don't pull up a 6% grade for 20 miles the lower rear-end only takes away mileage when you are not pulling. If you are happy with your investment great, but I thought others might want to think about it before the put down $2K - especially if they live on the flats. I got the hitch (Valley - custom for Titan for $150), relays (Nissan - $45), harnesses ($20) and mirrors (used but like new $200 - he wanted smaller ones) for less than $450 (except I can't see if I am buring up my trans) and I have the same setup (but have to go up Baker Grade at 65 ipo 70). Again, if it was anything other than buying the increase, why does the XE have 6500 and the SE have 7500? Just a thought.

The lower gear ratio will pull more..Thats why the rating is different. Its the gear ratio. If you are happy with how your truck pulls on flat lands, then great..But the lower gears give greater pulling power, yes they can use more fuel ect..but thats where the higher rating is from.

But the standard SE (without BT) doesn't have the lower rear-end - so why do you think it is rated higher?

TEchnically its to cover Nissan arses, you would wanna be careful with anything over 7500, but with a class IV hitch 7500 should be no prob., You could pull 10000 if you wanted, I just wouldn't kill the truck over it, i mean if you're pulling in Texas or somewher flat for short durations of I'd say 100 miles or less it'd be fine, but don't over do it...If you plan on towing Big loads than yeah you'd wanna spend the mone or even go with a Super Duty truck, but this should do fine for most of us....but It would be a good idea to monitor Tranny temp if you're pulling hard

The lower gear ratio will pull more..Thats why the rating is different. Its the gear ratio. If you are happy with how your truck pulls on flat lands, then great..But the lower gears give greater pulling power, yes they can use more fuel ect..but thats where the higher rating is from. I have a question on this I have off road with no big tow, which has the same final drive ratio as big tow 3.36 if I'm correct, but mine is also rated at 7500lbs I realize that the rest of the equipment is missing but the gear ratio is there so tech. speaking it should be able to tow the same weight, but why the same rating?

I have the Big Tow & Off Road package. When I tow my boat 8400 lbs or my camper 8000 lbs, I like to be able to push the tow button on the dash and let the trans hold the gears (longer shift points) longer so I can pass and climb the hills in New England. My trans temp falls when using the tow mode. I also have the electric brake controler for the camper that pluged into the factoey harness and is wired to work with the factory ABS and trac-control (ABLS) with no problems. I do not have the VDC system.
I think the extra $$$$ i spent was more than worth it.

I might be missing something here, but I thought the big tow raised the rating to 9500lbs becuase of the lower gear ratio. That was one of the reason I got the Titan because for a half ton truck it has the highest tow rating.

okay so I checked on this one and here is what nissan says:

Maximum towing capacity (lbs.)
Standard XE:6,500 SE:7,400 LE:7,200
With Big Tow Package XE:N/A SE:9,500 LE:9,200

Question on the Big Tow - I didn't see anywhere where it adds a Trans cooler. All I saw that would matter is a bigger battery (doesn't really help towing), the trans temp guage (again, no help - just indicates if you have a problem with temp) and the lower rear end (I live in TX where hills are not really a problem). I wanted the mirrors but when you have to add the other packages (Trac & SE popiular) that you have to to get the BT it was not worth it (would have added $2050 to my list price!). Seems to me all you are really doing is buying the towing capacity rating - not equipment. (I back this up with the XE having a rating of 6500 and the SE having 7500 with no equipment change). What do you think or am I missing something?

If all you wanted are the mirrors, you can custom order it that way. I think it is Rossi has the BT mirrors but not the BT package. Someone confirm that one.

I might be missing something here, but I thought the big tow raised the rating to 9500lbs becuase of the lower gear ratio. That was one of the reason I got the Titan because for a half ton truck it has the highest tow rating.

okay so I checked on this one and here is what nissan says:

Maximum towing capacity (lbs.)
Standard XE:6,500 SE:7,400 LE:7,200
With Big Tow Package XE:N/A SE:9,500 LE:9,200

The 9500 lbs is just a number they use to help sell the truck, and the big tow package. It's all advertising, Nissan just wanted to come to the plate swinging and say "More Towing capacity than the big three"

We all get the "tow" button so we get its advantages without the BT. LinkNuc has it right - it is just to cover Nissan's added warranty expense. Yes, essentially you are paying for the lower rear-end to raise the capacity to 9500, but my original point was that there is nothing "structurally" different between the BT and w/o so if you don't need the other options required to get the BT on the SE (adds up to 2K) you shouldn't have any problem towing the 9500 w/o BT (assuming you get a hitch that can handle it) and stay out of a lot of mountain towing. I am cheap, but I am also a 20 year engineer ( 8O )at Peterbilt (really big trucks - 650 hp w/ 2000+ lb-ft) so I am not going to do anything that will hurt my investment.

It's all good :wink:

Since I was getting the CC LE, the big tow wasn't that much more.
I'm glad I got it.
My gas milage runs worst 14.7 to best 15.5 in town and 16.5 to 17.5 on the road, so gas milage is not an issue with mine. It seems to be right in there with everyone without the higher gear ratio.
I do like the transmission temp gauge. Never have enough hp, torque or gauges.

Big tow is definitely worth it for multiple reasons:

1) The mirrors ... seriously, these things make driving the Titan so much easier. Parking is easier. Passing is easier. Visibility is just so good with the BT mirrors its hard to imagine NOT having them. Personally, I just like the look of the BT mirrors, too.

2) The hitch. Dale mentioned this once and I think he's probably right. That bigass hitch just ties the frame together so well in the back. It makes for a much more structurally sound frame. Also, as I can attest from personally bumping the van behind me yeseterday afternoon trying to reverse out of the way of this gate (it's a long story involving one of those automatic gates at an apt complex and it being notoriously bad about knowing your vehicle is in its path and then my paranoia and then my failure to look behind me before backing up into the HUGE yellow van behind me), the hitch gives added rear-end protection. Luckily for me, the guy in the van didn't care about his front bumper, but the hitch pretty much singlehandedly protected my bumper. After my third post-bump inspection, I finally noticed that a small piece of paint was about ready to be chipped off and there was a small little blemish in the plastic on the bumper that only I will ever notice. Anyhow, the hitch is sweet.

3) The gauges - nice to have, but not a need to have for me.

4) Gear ratio - not a factor since I already had OR

5) VDC - I hope I don't have to find out, but I bet this could save my life one day.

Okay - all that for 400 bucks. This is a good deal - probably the best deal on the Titan (compare it to the expense of the Rockford Crapgate system). I had to replace one of my BT mirrors b/c of the above mentioned gate clipping it (it closed on my truck while I Was just sitting there in its path and I reversed in time to save the body of hte truck, but not in time to save the passenger side BT mirrorw from nailing the gate upon reverse). The mirror was 154 bucks shipped - that includes everything except the bolts, which I didn't need. Multiply that by 2 and you're talking 300 bucks - YES, 400 bucks is worth it for the BT.

Sorry for the treatise.

OH and I don't tow ANYTHING. That said, I say the BT is a MUST HAVE.

Here's my take on the Big Tow. I would have gotten the truck with Big Tow except for one thing. When I looked at the Titan sales brochure it said the Big Tow package included rear end gearing equivalent to 4:10. Way back in the dark ages when I was gowing up the drag racers all went with 4:10 gearing and got really good acceleration and really bad gas mileage. I liked the mirrors, hitch receiver, and most of the other stuff that comes in the package, but wasn't big on the idea of the rear end gearing. I decided to go without the Big Tow and I plan on installing the Nissan hitch myself. Another factor in the decision is that I have no intention of towing anything heavy with this truck. I'll never hook up more than the 7,000 or so pounds the Titan is rated for without the Big Tow, so I just didn't need the increased capacity. If you are planning on towing something with your Titan that weighs more than 7,000 pounds and less than the Big Tow rating, then I would think the Big Tow is a must have option. Personally, if I'm going to tow something really big, I'd rather have a heavy duty 3/4 ton truck.

That's just my opinion and your results may vary.
Bob

To be perfectly honest, I don't see the point of making a truck 1/2 ton or larger without a tow package. I think it should be standard. My buddy just purchased a 2500HD with a Duramax/Allison combo with the tow package but there was another one parked right next to it with NO TOW PACKAGE! I was shocked. Why would you buy a 3/4 ton truck with a diesel if you didn't plan on towing anything??? A 6.0L gas motor in the same truck will haul anything you could put in the bed with two cylinders tied behind it's tailgate. It just made me scratch my head . . . $400 is worth every penny for the BIG Tow. IMHO.

For myself the BT was much more because of the other options I wanted. I could have saved a little but having had the truck for a year now, I'd say the mirrors were worth the extra itself. VDC is an added bonus. Because my wife occasionally drives the truck when we take long trips I really wanted everything I could get to help her if things started to get out of hand.

What I like the most about the "Big Tow" is that when the "Tow" is activated it keeps the engine from overshifting up or down at various speeds and on inclines/declines. I also have come to appreciate the mirrors as their wide angle view makes lane changing safer/easier.

What I like the most about the "Big Tow" is that when the "Tow" is activated it keeps the engine from overshifting up or down at various speeds and on inclines/declines. I also have come to appreciate the mirrors as their wide angle view makes lane changing safer/easier.


This option is with or without the big tow. I didn't not get the big tow for some of the same reasons mentioned above....the 4.10 equiv gearing.

I also notice that I get 15.5-16.5 mpg compared to most on this board. All trucks should come with a tow package there is no doubt as I seen stated. BUT unless you are towing 9500 pounds you do not need that low gearing. I can name tons of reasons but it's all about what you need it for. In my opinion a 3.77 equiv gearing would be perfect in what I have done. If I still worked on the farm...then I would want 4.10 to 4.55 because of pulling the tractors. But on a truck that's going to spend 99.8% of it's like without a trailer...I'll take what it's got without the big tow. And the trailer I do pull is only about 3500 pounds. So my 7500 towing capacity....works just fine with me.

Also I think....if you tow someting at 9500 pounds...you'll find that your 1/2 ton truck....really isn't made for it. It will do it...but it won't like it. If you do it consistent..I wouldn't expect a lot of life out of your tranny or motor.

If you pull things that big there are trucks better equiped for this use. But everything is a matter of opinion.

Question on the Big Tow - I didn't see anywhere where it adds a Trans cooler. All I saw that would matter is a bigger battery (doesn't really help towing), the trans temp guage (again, no help - just indicates if you have a problem with temp) and the lower rear end (I live in TX where hills are not really a problem). I wanted the mirrors but when you have to add the other packages (Trac & SE popiular) that you have to to get the BT it was not worth it (would have added $2050 to my list price!). Seems to me all you are really doing is buying the towing capacity rating - not equipment. (I back this up with the XE having a rating of 6500 and the SE having 7500 with no equipment change). What do you think or am I missing something?

If all you wanted are the mirrors, you can custom order it that way. I think it is Rossi has the BT mirrors but not the BT package. Someone confirm that one.

Nope not me...I do like the BT mirrors and would prefer them because I like the visability. I have a Nissan hitch that fits IDENTICAL as the BT hitch on the frame. It's just a class lower. I wouldn't mind the tranny temp gauge or the VDC which I don't have. But I don't want that final gear equiv. Like I said before...in a truck....I think 3.77 final gear equiv is perfect..but that's my opinion.

I appreciate your expertise. I can see you have a lot more technical/experiential knowledge of this stuff than I do. I do tow a tractor but it is more in the 5600# range so I figured I'd shoot high on potential capacity. I did not know that the "Tow" switch came on non-"Big Tow" packages. All that said I am pleased with the way my Titan tows but concerned about the apparently wimpy rear diff and the brake problems. I'm even more concerned with Nissan's inability to fix these problems. One dealer repair tech told me the problem was that most parts (the ones without defects) are being used for the new '05s being built. If true that sucks big time !!! :beating:

I appreciate your expertise. I can see you have a lot more technical/experiential knowledge of this stuff than I do. I do tow a tractor but it is more in the 5600# range so I figured I'd shoot high on potential capacity. I did not know that the "Tow" switch came on non-"Big Tow" packages. All that said I am pleased with the way my Titan tows but concerned about the apparently wimpy rear diff and the brake problems. I'm even more concerned with Nissan's inability to fix these problems. One dealer repair tech told me the problem was that most parts (the ones without defects) are being used for the new '05s being built. If true that sucks big time !!! :beating:

I wish I knew if my 05 had the new brakes or not...I'm at about 4100 miles right now I haven't felt anything. Seems like someone posted a pic of the new ones so assuming they look different I can see if mine are identical or different. If they are different I'll make sure my dealer knows and hell...I'll make up judder if I have to! LoL...nah if it keeps working fine...I won't say anything..but only because of the unlimited mile thing Nissan put out.

I'm at almost 13K miles(since Dec'04) and my brake problems reared their head within the last 1500 miles so stay tuned.

I'm at almost 13K miles(since Dec'04) and my brake problems reared their head within the last 1500 miles so stay tuned.


Man your doing some driving!!! 13K alredy!!! On my Dodge Dakota they didn't start until right after the darn rotor waranty expired at 12k. Then it was every other time I hit the brakes. It was pretty annoying.

I appreciate your expertise. I can see you have a lot more technical/experiential knowledge of this stuff than I do. I do tow a tractor but it is more in the 5600# range so I figured I'd shoot high on potential capacity. I did not know that the "Tow" switch came on non-"Big Tow" packages. All that said I am pleased with the way my Titan tows but concerned about the apparently wimpy rear diff and the brake problems. I'm even more concerned with Nissan's inability to fix these problems. One dealer repair tech told me the problem was that most parts (the ones without defects) are being used for the new '05s being built. If true that sucks big time !!! :beating:

I wish I knew if my 05 had the new brakes or not...I'm at about 4100 miles right now I haven't felt anything. Seems like someone posted a pic of the new ones so assuming they look different I can see if mine are identical or different. If they are different I'll make sure my dealer knows and hell...I'll make up judder if I have to! LoL...nah if it keeps working fine...I won't say anything..but only because of the unlimited mile thing Nissan put out.
My 05 LE CC was built in January of this year and it has the old style. Just had mine resurfaced and new pads put on and the service tech said the next time we will put in the upgrade.