Hi everyone. I have a 2004 KC 4X4 NOT with big tow package or anything. I also have a Procomp 6" lift (the exact same one as the "No Fear" Titans have). I'm not very educated on towing but I'd like to get into it and buy a travel trailer. Anyone know if the lift is going to present any problems or is it a simple matter of getting a 6 inch drop hitch?(do they even make those for the distributing hitches?) I was hoping to be able to buy and tow something around 27'-28'. I've never towed on my own vehicle but have done it about a dozen times since I've been in the service. Of course a deuce and a half isn't the same as our Titans, haha. Also, it's looking like I may end up spending a considerable amount of time in the trailer (perhaps up to 2 years straight) while in Colorado. The number of TT brands is mind blowing. Anyone have any reccomendations on perhaps a brand that builds a TT made to be used in the winter as well as the summer? Thanks in advance for your expertise and experience.

Hi everyone. I have a 2004 KC 4X4 NOT with big tow package or anything. I also have a Procomp 6" lift (the exact same one as the "No Fear" Titans have). I'm not very educated on towing but I'd like to get into it and buy a travel trailer. Anyone know if the lift is going to present any problems or is it a simple matter of getting a 6 inch drop hitch?(do they even make those for the distributing hitches?) I was hoping to be able to buy and tow something around 27'-28'. I've never towed on my own vehicle but have done it about a dozen times since I've been in the service. Of course a deuce and a half isn't the same as our Titans, haha. Also, it's looking like I may end up spending a considerable amount of time in the trailer (perhaps up to 2 years straight) while in Colorado. The number of TT brands is mind blowing. Anyone have any reccomendations on perhaps a brand that builds a TT made to be used in the winter as well as the summer? Thanks in advance for your expertise and experience.

If you don't have the tow package you probably won't tow anything in the 28' range unless you look for one of those ultra-lites. I tow a JayFlight (Jayco) and know that they do make ultra-lite models. Mine has the heated underbelly and tanks for winter use. The lift does lower your tow rating but do a little homework to find out by just how much. They do make drop hitches that'll adjust low enough though.

Quite a few smaller/lighter trailers out there! As for a drop shank, I really like my Equal-i-zer hitch, and lots of shanks available!

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/newstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3&zenid=3b3e87a5d2c3a99b62d1d6de9775d5b4

-Lab

Quite a few smaller/lighter trailers out there! As for a drop shank, I really like my Equal-i-zer hitch, and lots of shanks available!

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/newstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3&zenid=3b3e87a5d2c3a99b62d1d6de9775d5b4

-Lab

Thanks for the link and info. I have a standard hitch reciever on it now and would naturally upgrade it when I get back to the States. You all should see what these Brits tow with. I've seen family cars pulling the most obnoxious loaded down travel trailers and seriously draggin *** down the motorway! And they're doing it with a simple ball hitch!!! It's some funny stuff. They think the Titan is a monster. I'm curious though, why would my non big-tow 4X4 not be able to tow a normal 27 footer trailer? I have the Nissan towing guide and the website of "Arctic Fox" trailers open and trying to check numbers....I am looking at one of thier 27'3" trailers. The Gross Dry Weight of the trailer is 6485lbs. And the Dry Hitch Weight is 650. In the Nissan towing guide it says a 4X4 without big tow pakage can tow a trailer of 7,300lbs and can support a hitch weight of 730lbs. Am I looking at the right numbers? This trailer is NOT one of those ultralite versions. I'm cheking out Arctic Fox specifically because I was told it is SUPPOSSEDLY made to be more rugged and would have no issues getting me through a Colorado winter. Poster above says his Jayco can do that too though......finding the right information/trailer is confusing!

It's great to see you actually considering numbers before you buy! The "dry" or "shipped" weight listed in brochures is unrealistic. Once you add battery(s), propane, water, and all the stuff we camp with, the dry weight will increase by over 1000 pounds easily. A better number to go looking at is the trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight. This is the max weight the trailer can handle loaded up.
Tow capacity is not a real problem with our trucks, but cargo capacity is. Start adding stuff in the bad of the truck, then passangers, dogs, etc. and our payload numbers get eaten up quickly. With me, my tongue weight (10-15% of the trailer weight) eats up almost all of my cargo capacity, so I have to watch what I load.
I heard Artic Fox is a great brand! Happy hunting!

-Lab

Thanks for the link and info. I have a standard hitch reciever on it now and would naturally upgrade it when I get back to the States. You all should see what these Brits tow with. I've seen family cars pulling the most obnoxious loaded down travel trailers and seriously draggin *** down the motorway! And they're doing it with a simple ball hitch!!! It's some funny stuff. They think the Titan is a monster. I'm curious though, why would my non big-tow 4X4 not be able to tow a normal 27 footer trailer? I have the Nissan towing guide and the website of "Arctic Fox" trailers open and trying to check numbers....I am looking at one of thier 27'3" trailers. The Gross Dry Weight of the trailer is 6485lbs. And the Dry Hitch Weight is 650. In the Nissan towing guide it says a 4X4 without big tow pakage can tow a trailer of 7,300lbs and can support a hitch weight of 730lbs. Am I looking at the right numbers? This trailer is NOT one of those ultralite versions. I'm cheking out Arctic Fox specifically because I was told it is SUPPOSSEDLY made to be more rugged and would have no issues getting me through a Colorado winter. Poster above says his Jayco can do that too though......finding the right information/trailer is confusing!

Sorry, didn't mean to confuse you..lol. Your truck will tow about 7400 LBS without the tow package. The listed numbers are DRY weights and not what you'll actually be hauling down the road when all loaded up. Now truth be told...I don't believe in all this GVW and GCVW crap..lol. I tow our trailer and have the kids, 4 bikes, firewood, grill...you name it...in the bed of the truck. The truck, tires, motor , brakes (on the newer ones) handle it with ease. Just use your head a bit and don't go TOO crazy.

Quick question about hitch weights. How important is this? Do we have any wiggle room? I ask because it seems a hitch weight of 730 that the non big-tow Titan has seems underpowered to all but the lightest of trailers (big tow is 930lbs). Also, I don't see how the hitch weight would be affected so much by the big tow package because the suspension is the same from what I understand. It has a different set of gearing but that seems like it's not a very big deal since you can just put yourself in a low gear and you might have to rev a little higher but that's it. I am pretty confident in the Titan's gearing and towing power because this winter when it snowed over here in the UK I used it to pull a munincipal bus (18 seater) up a hill when it was stuck at the bottom of two hills, about one city block's length uphill. After I had pulled the guy out it turned out he didn't even have the bus in neutral so I was actually pulling dead weight. That's why I don't understand why our Nissan ratings are so low......is it possible I could pull a trailer with a hitch weight ("tongue load" as the towing guide calls it) greater than 730 on my truck, has anyone else done this? I can't find a trailer good enough for full timing in the sub 730 weight class (I'm actually looking at trailers around 650 because when I add water and my personal things I know it will increase the weight).

Side note: XE's only have a hitch weight maximum of 650, what gives? What is the big difference between an XE with no tow package and an SE with no tow package?

Quick question about hitch weights. How important is this? Do we have any wiggle room? I ask because it seems a hitch weight of 730 that the non big-tow Titan has seems underpowered to all but the lightest of trailers (big tow is 930lbs). Also, I don't see how the hitch weight would be affected so much by the big tow package because the suspension is the same from what I understand. It has a different set of gearing but that seems like it's not a very big deal since you can just put yourself in a low gear and you might have to rev a little higher but that's it. I am pretty confident in the Titan's gearing and towing power because this winter when it snowed over here in the UK I used it to pull a munincipal bus (18 seater) up a hill when it was stuck at the bottom of two hills, about one city block's length uphill. After I had pulled the guy out it turned out he didn't even have the bus in neutral so I was actually pulling dead weight. That's why I don't understand why our Nissan ratings are so low......is it possible I could pull a trailer with a hitch weight ("tongue load" as the towing guide calls it) greater than 730 on my truck, has anyone else done this? I can't find a trailer good enough for full timing in the sub 730 weight class (I'm actually looking at trailers around 650 because when I add water and my personal things I know it will increase the weight).

Side note: XE's only have a hitch weight maximum of 650, what gives? What is the big difference between an XE with no tow package and an SE with no tow package?

The tow package equipped trucks rear suspensions are slightly different which explains the differences in tongue weights. But you have to remember that if you're using a WD hitch (be sure to get a strong enough WD hitch), the tongue weight isn't THAT important...because it takes a lot of the load off the tongue...distributing it to the trucks front wheels. I believe the strongest WD hitch you can get is 1200 LBS.

You might also consider what size tires you are using when contimplating towing. Really tall tires are going to effect how well your rig tows. I am pulling a 27' @ 7900lbs. fully loaded. I have the tow package with the factory 18" wheels....RVH

You might also consider what size tires you are using when contimplating towing. Really tall tires are going to effect how well your rig tows. I am pulling a 27' @ 7900lbs. fully loaded. I have the tow package with the factory 18" wheels....RVH

I air up a bit for towing. It helps with sway. I'm assuming that's what you mean...the taller tire will sway more.

Also, be sure to air back down after towing (if you air up as I do0 otherwise you'll wear the tires prematurely. I found that out the hard way.

If you run taller than stock tires, it changes your effective gear ratio. It's not a problem unless the tire size is extreme but, it will reduce torque to the ground because the tire radius is longer. ...RVH

I have an 06 LE w/ 6' lift running 35' Toyos. I haven't changed the gearing. Should I? I also tow a 20' Chaparral boat. I'm asking because this is my 2nd titan and the 1st one was the same year and model without the lift and seemed to run more powerful. Any suggestions?