Pathfinder Towing

Try this site. www.campertrailers.org

There are any number of units out there that will tow very comfortably behind your vehicle. It all depends on what you want.

hopscotch

There's a great community of pathfinder owners, old and new, at pcoa.org.au/forum/index.php

Towing capacity was recently covered in the R50 section of the forum.

Hi Ecivon,

We have Pathfinder 1993 3 litre V6 TI ( top of the range model in its day). We got further into the problem you are having but oinly after our new Coromal was due to be delivered and we were asked by an Insurance provider for the tow ball weight.

Coromal do not advertise this on any of their brochures and the dealer didn't tell us despite us ( the unknowing) beginning our relationship with the our knownlimitations. The 1993 Pathy is nothing like the 10% (rule of thunb) of tow weight equalling the ball weight. i.e. towing cap. $1500kg ball weight 100kg

We have decided to risk it.... be it for the short to medium term. If we hate the imminent 3 months away etc it is simply another caravan on the 2nd hand market and we don't need a 4 track anymore. If we like it it is a costly replacement of an "insurance legal" tow vehicle but where to after a 3lite petrol.... new... Prado are $60K, Land C $75+ and Patrol 60k

On our few shakedown thrips the Pathy is handling everything well except for the mileage to petrol thinngy. With the caravan on tow it is around 20 l to 100km which is as bad as some of the "insurance legal" biggies. But the Pthy is getting towards the top of its grunt uphills.. I would not try it in sand etc.... maybe our Pathy is where we are ....aged and restricted to the tar.

Regards
SKI'er

PS Ecivon,

Forgot to say that in my early days of anxiety over legal tow ball weight, I posted a help post of "how to make my vehicle comply."

A response suggested poac Pathfinder user group... I contacted...... got 2 replies 1. talk to Nissan. 2. from one of their office bearers (test me out I can forward the reponse) which read " whilst this information may be available it is not available from this site."

I think that world has become litigation sensitive.... 50 years ago I used to fall over, skin a knee or tear a pants and get a rousing from mum for being clumsy. Todays mum is probably already be calling the solicitor to seek compensation.

Regards
SKI'er

Mate
If you are going off road ? don't get a " Jayco " ,, the only thing off road about them is the writing,,
They will drive you mad fixiing stuff on them all the time. ,, they will litterally fall to bits

The Mrs & I, almost got one, bot got tallked into a Trak Shak, instead, oure has done the Kimberley's,, Cape Yorke,, the Simpson, and I was in awe of its ability, then we brought it, and have done Walkers Crossing,, the Plenty Highway,, Arltunga Ranges,,Chambers Pillar,, and a heap of other local stuff,,

They are brilliant, have very little maintenance, and you can put them up in under 10 minutes,
750 kg's empty, and have a shyte load room inside, possible the largest tent of all..
Cheers Mate
Bucky

Sorry Mate !

I'll answer your question
Pathfinders are good ,they will go anywhere, ( everything is a bit thirsty towing )

If you put on " poly air bags " and a heavy duty tow package, then you can tow a lot easier, and safer

All you need is to remember that in the sand ,,, 18-20 psi and be prepared to to go down as far as 10 to get out of trouble ,,

24-26 psi on gravel roads

As for the camper, you are on the right track ,,, Independant coil suspensoin is the go
Cheers Mate
Bucky

Dont't know about the towball weight / trailer arguements (there are othes who can advise you better), but I know of two people who had your model Pathfinders (both petrol models) who took absolutely no notice of trailer weights or towball limitations and frequently towed a horsefloat & full complement of field day gear with them (only on bitmen). I estimated the overall weight to be at least 2500kg and who knows what the towball weight was. And yes, towing they were heavyish on fuel towing that lot. This lasted 4 years (vehicle lease) with absolutely no structural failures at all. These people also hired CTs and went all over the bush with the CTs, Broken Hill, Innaminca, Maree, Flinders Ranges, Gawler Ranges, etc., and also did some pretty severe day trips without the CTs with the Pathfinders. Never had a failure of any kind, or a performance issue. I was amazed. So I guess what I am saying is that IMHO you can approach the vehicle side of things with a great deal of confidence once you have addesses the CT issues.
Incidentally both the two above characters changed to Nissan Patrols, one to a 4.8 petrol and one to a 3.0 TD with their new leases which are much better suited to towing the still existing multi purpose horsefloat - thank goodness. Hope you didn't buy one of THEIR Pathfinders secondhand (S.A. registered vehicles).
Enjoy!

Hi Evicon. I own a 2002 Ti Pathy - basically same motor as yours. My towing capacity is 2000kg and 200 kg ball weight.

I tow a 1200kg CT with a ball weight around 120kg to 150 kg depending on how I pack it. I've towed this CT with the Pathy since it was new in 2002. It stuffed the rear coils, even though I had polyair bags fitted. I now run a complete Tough Dog suspension, still with the polyairs.

Although when towing the Pathy is thirsty, as noted above, and it struggles up some of the hills, I've never had a problem towing the CT. I have taken the rig out beyond Broken Hill and back, mostly on the back (dirt) roads and tracks, onto Fraser Island and into Bendethera.

Having said all that, I wouldn't ask any more of a Pathy on a regular or long-term basis. I reckon our CT is about as much as the Pathy can do do comfortably.

Cheers