I have a crew cab and we want to tow our xterra cross country behind the titan. I didn't buy it with a tow package but it has a tow mode button?? Kinda confused about the whole thing actually. Nissan says they will do a class 4 hitch for 300.00 but I am not sure what that includes. They were very vague. Probably cuz I am a girl. :? but whatever...any suggestions...we thought about towing flat and also about buying a trailor.

Hi,
Can you be more specific about which model of the Titan you bought and what options it has please?

If Nissan installs the Class IV hitch, you should get the upgraded receiver hitch, the pig tail that connects to your brake controller (aftermarket purchase needed to control trailer brakes) I doubt it would include the temperature gauge for the Transmission included in the "Big Tow" package or the larger battery either. I expect they would also install the two relays needed to supply lighting power and brake power to the trailer. Ask if these items are included.

They think you are clueless and you need to ram it down their throat that you are connected and have info on tap.

About towing the Exterra Flat. I don't recommend it unless you install a remote braking unit as it is too heavy to tow without brakes. First you need to check and see if Nissan recommends flat towing of the Exterra. If they do, you will still need to follow special instructions. If you were to check with any RV dealer they can help you select the remote brake unit and controller. Many folks on this forum are using the "Prodigy" by Tekonsha. You might want to see about renting a dolly instead of buying a trailer.

Good luck and don't hesitate to ask other questions.

Hey girl,

First off, welcome to The Club!

Second, there's a few fellas on here that have had the hitch and stuff added after, maybe they can chime in and tell you more about it.

If what they install includes the wiring and all that, I'd say it's a good price.

Looks like rdfeatherstone beat me to it! Great site we have here, huh? :lol:

Well, I got the XE I believe. LOL. It doesn't have the chrome door handles but it has all the power stuff, the 6 disc CD changer, tow mode button. I thought the XE didn't have those options...all I know is I saw it...wanted it...bought it!

...all I know is I saw it...wanted it...bought it!

Sounds like the rest of us :P

Well, I got the XE I believe. LOL. It doesn't have the chrome door handles but it has all the power stuff, the 6 disc CD changer, tow mode button. I thought the XE didn't have those options...all I know is I saw it...wanted it...bought it!
Hey there! OK, What they are selling you is an OEM class IV hitch. That includes the hitch, 7-pin plug, and two tow relays to give the wiring power. Your XE is prewired for lights, and may or may not be prewired for the brake controller. I think the only model not prewired is the kingcab XE so you should be OK. $300 is a little steep but if that is installed it's not terrible. If you are handy, or know someone that is than don't pay them to install the hitch. It's cake! :D As for the towing, I would defenitly get a trailer. You can get a trailer with surge brakes and you won't have to worry about hooking up a brake controller too. However, a brake controller with electric trailer brakes would be a better system. Hope that helps alittle. Good luck! 8)

We have been looking for reasonable priced trailors. They are so expensive. My husband is in the Marine Corps and lets just say the pay could be better. Not that I am complaining. Anyway, that is why we are moving from NC to CA. We will make about 900.00 for moving his X ourselves but the trailors we have found are closer to 2,000. SUX!

I have to agree with 'whip. You can probably rent a trailer with a surge brake from U-haul or something. Whatever you do, don't flat tow your xterra. Nissan says it will cause damage. Check this out. http://www.infinitihelp.com/Ownership/Bulletins/Nissan/1999/NTB99-020.htm
unless you plan on towing regularly, it's probably not worth getting an electric brake controller.

Well, as I said before my husband is in the Marine Corps so we could get orders on a regular basis. The good thing is every time we get orders we get paid to move 2 vehicles. We asked UHaul and they said the X weighed too much. That they didn't have a trailor for that weight. :roll: The tow dolly is about 800.00 one way from NC to CA. Good God! How do they get away with those prices?? It's insane.

Well, as I said before my husband is in the Marine Corps so we could get orders on a regular basis. The good thing is every time we get orders we get paid to move 2 vehicles. We asked UHaul and they said the X weighed too much. That they didn't have a trailor for that weight. :roll: The tow dolly is about 800.00 one way from NC to CA. Good God! How do they get away with those prices?? It's insane.
WOW! For those prices your better off driving both cars. :) You can look at it like this too, if your gonna be possibly doing this every few years you might just want to buy the trailer and get it over with. You figure 2 or 3 moves at renting for $800 and that trailer is paid for. Plus a trailer is always nice to have around anyway. Also, if you shop around a good used car trailer can be had for much less than 2 grand. :D

We've been shopping like crazy. Just can't find any around here. What we find here for 2 grand we can get online for about half that but we would have to go to Ohio or some other insane place to get it. By the way: all the people I have ever met from Ohio are insane. Like truly NUTS! Just a warning for you guys. :wink:

i have a question an didn't want to start a new tread on it. it's regarding the same matter. when it's said that flat-towing isn't recommended becasue of damage to the tranny, rear end, damage to the vehcile being towed or the vehicle towing. all my buddies flat tow their offroad rigs. they've been doing for years and have never mentioned anything messing up. i have a pathfinder and am well was planning on flat towing it. but looks i'll be getting a dolly.

i just noticed this, it's monday 5/9, 2:00pm pacific time and it says that this post was posted 5/10 6:55am

i just noticed this, it's monday 5/9, 2:00pm pacific time and it says that this post was posted 5/10 6:55am

You have to go into your Profile and fix the time according to where you live.
M4ck

You can flat tow a vehicle with a manual transmission ok, but not one with a automatic. The auto transmission gets it lubrication supply from the pump, which works only when the engine is running. You can flat tow an auto transmission if the drive shaft(s) are disconnected so no transmission parts are rotating.

You can flat tow a vehicle with a manual transmission ok, but not one with a automatic. The auto transmission gets it lubrication supply from the pump, which works only when the engine is running. You can flat tow an auto transmission if the drive shaft(s) are disconnected so no transmission parts are rotating.

You beat me to it! In my experience, if you have a 4X4 automatic there is usually an "N" nuetral position on the transfer case which will allow you to flat tow with no problemo (I believe it disconnects both drive shafts internally) even with the tranny in PARK I'm pretty sure! If it's 2-wheel drive and automatic you will need to get the 2 drive wheels on a dolly as far as I am aware.

i was told yesterday that i can flat tow an automatic as long as i disconnect the driveshaft.

Beca

Welcome from one of the few females around here.

From one towing girl to another. I just towed my old ford to the junkyard this morning. The trailer is the best thing you could purchase if you have a need for it. The only downside is the start-up cost. You could always keep looking for one, and if you find it somewere further from home, you could drive to it, and tow the rest of the way. Have you tried the "Truck Paper" I get it at the truck stop were I stop for breakfast, but I sure it can be found other places. It has car trailers, and pick-ups in it from time to time.

You can see from the picture, I have a aluminum trailer rated for 12,000lbs. but we use it all the time with the track cars. If it was not for that it would not be worth it. Plus once you have it you need somewhere to store it, ours takes up alot of driveway space.

As for brakes, you can get by without trailer brakes, as long as you plan ahead to stop, since your truck brakes will be stopping both the truck and trailer. That might be a judgement call for you, and what you are comfortable with. I have not installed the brake controller in the titan, as it is not the main tow vehicle, but I did survive today with the ford pushing me down the road.

In the end you could make money on the moves if you buy a trailer, but then you could never get transfered, and have it rust away in your driveway. That is why I went with the aluminum, for durability.
Hey if you ever want to make some money back, go to the local race track and offer to tow the broke cars home for a resonable fee. I do it all the time, instead of trailering our car, I will tow somebody home, and make some bucks off their misfortune. I am always cheaper than a tow truck.

Where are they sending you in CA. I am in Sacramento, and there are 2 people that I know of that are within a hour of me. We need more members this way to have GTG's.

We are going to Twentynine Palms. At this point we are pretty sure we are going to buy. It will make my husband shut up for a month or two. Haha. He likes to get new toys. He also likes to drive my damn truck!! I didn't get the 4X4 on purpose. His X is 4X4. He still drives mine. Since he gets up at 5 am he just takes mine. Butthead. We are leaving here on June 1st, making a few stops along the way and should be in CA 'round June 20th or so. Let me know when there are things going on. I like to "Get together" and my husband likes to well....he liked to go muddin' around here but in the desert?? I just he can just go 4 wheelin. :P

We are going to Twentynine Palms. At this point we are pretty sure we are going to buy. It will make my husband shut up for a month or two. Haha. He likes to get new toys. He also likes to drive my damn truck!! I didn't get the 4X4 on purpose. His X is 4X4. He still drives mine. Since he gets up at 5 am he just takes mine. Butthead. We are leaving here on June 1st, making a few stops along the way and should be in CA 'round June 20th or so. Let me know when there are things going on. I like to "Get together" and my husband likes to well....he liked to go muddin' around here but in the desert?? I just he can just go 4 wheelin. :P

Twenty Nine Palms.....boy I've been out there....hope you don't mind being bored!!! Make sure your A/C works well!!! Swimming pool...forget about it!! The water in the pools run in the 90's...feels like a spa when you hit it......yuck! Drink lots of beer...er....water!

Hey rossi, where did you get your grill on your truck?? I have been looking around but I haven't found one I like enough to pay $400.00 for. LOL

Hey rossi, where did you get your grill on your truck?? I have been looking around but I haven't found one I like enough to pay $400.00 for. LOL

I got mine from Truck Add-ons.

http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/subpages/street_scene_grilles.asp

It's under $400!!! Mine is brushed aluminum. I think some of our site sponsors may also now carry the Street Scene Speed Grille. If you think you want one hit them up. Devin from Truck Outfitters is a site sponsor...he may have them. Also yournissanparts.com may have them.

Finally got a trailer and a prodigy brake controller, so where the hell is the harness under the dash to hook it up. Book says the titan is already pre-wired and it is marked but I can't find it?

Finally got a trailer and a prodigy brake controller, so where the hell is the harness under the dash to hook it up. Book says the titan is already pre-wired and it is marked but I can't find it?

Here's a pic of it beka, you may or may not have it because I've read where some Titans aren't pre-wired. Please let us know what you find.

almost the same pic :)

looks like I either don't have it, or it's hidden in all that crap?

Look closely in the area you see where my plug is because typically the empty plugs are taped onto a main wiring harness sort of hidden.

the only connector I can find anywhere near that is WAY up in the middle of the dash. A little flat grey one with two big yellow wires and one small wire. Really har to tell in these pics.

Well I hate to say it beka but your Titan doesn't appear to be pre-wired. Do you have the big tow package?? I've heard of the XE's not being pre-wired, is that what you have?

no big tow and yeah I believe it's an xe. no shiny stuff all over, yet it has the 6 disk cd changer and the tow mode button? going to say xe. Well this sux, guess I have to connect the prodigy up like the instructions say to. So should I assume that since there isn't a connector under the dash, that the 7 pin plug I had installed with the hitch doesn't have anything connected to the pin labeled electronic brake? Guess I'll have to run a wire all the way back there... fun :?


Well, there is a wire going into the 7 pin connector? happen to know where THAT comes out? That would be one less PITA!

no big tow and yeah I believe it's an xe. no shiny stuff all over, yet it has the 6 disk cd changer and the tow mode button? going to say xe. Well this sux, guess I have to connect the prodigy up like the instructions say to. So should I assume that since there isn't a connector under the dash, that the 7 pin plug I had installed with the hitch doesn't have anything connected to the pin labeled electronic brake? Guess I'll have to run a wire all the way back there... fun :?


Well, there is a wire going into the 7 pin connector? happen to know where THAT comes out? That would be one less PITA!

Someone else is going to have to chime in on the 7 pin connector beka, I haven't had to deal with that on either Titan I've owned so I have no experience with it. If no one helps out try a search on this topic because I know it's been talked about before. Sorry I can't help more.

no big tow and yeah I believe it's an xe. no shiny stuff all over, yet it has the 6 disk cd changer and the tow mode button? going to say xe. Well this sux, guess I have to connect the prodigy up like the instructions say to. So should I assume that since there isn't a connector under the dash, that the 7 pin plug I had installed with the hitch doesn't have anything connected to the pin labeled electronic brake? Guess I'll have to run a wire all the way back there... fun :?


Well, there is a wire going into the 7 pin connector? happen to know where THAT comes out? That would be one less PITA!
I think before you give up on the harness you should look inside some of those wire looms first. From what I have seen, the Crew Cab XE's are prewired for the brakes but the plug is not exposed like on the SE and LE. Some people have found them taped up inside the wire harness under the dash. And if it defenetly doesn't have one than I would just cut the wire coming from the 7-pin connector and tie into it at the plug. It would be much easier than trying to figure out were the wire runs in the truck. Good luck. :)