Help with which size trailer to get!

[dhood]

I hope this is the right forum so I am very new to towing having only towed a 1500lb tent trailer with my 2009 Nissan Pathfinder v6 (towing capacity 6000lbs). The tent trailer was too small for my family of 4 and now want to get a travel trailer but I have no idea on what size or how heavy I can go to be safe. I have looked at many trailers but I am thinking I have to stay under 23 or 22ft in length and keep it light maybe 3000 or 4000lbs max (dry weight). Any recommendations from anyone would be great. I just dont want to buy a trailer that my Nissan cant tow safely and comfortably.
Thank you,
Derek

[Rrickim63]

Have you looked at any hybrids? They are a possible step up from a pop up for many people.

[greti]

Originally Posted by dhood

I hope this is the right forum so I am very new to towing having only towed a 1500lb tent trailer with my 2009 Nissan Pathfinder v6 (towing capacity 6000lbs). The tent trailer was too small for my family of 4 and now want to get a travel trailer but I have no idea on what size or how heavy I can go to be safe. I have looked at many trailers but I am thinking I have to stay under 23 or 22ft in length and keep it light maybe 3000 or 4000lbs max (dry weight). Any recommendations from anyone would be great. I just dont want to buy a trailer that my Nissan cant tow safely and comfortably.
Thank you,
Derek

I think 22 ft or so and the max weight mentioned would be doable for the nissan. I also towed with a pathfinder- trailer was 19 ft and 3000 lbs. it towed that very well with equalizer hitch. I could have gone a bit longer and heavier without problems. However when we upgraded to a 25 ft camper at 4800 lbs it was no longer a good match up and we had to upgrade the car for towing.

[bikendan]

I wouldn't go over 3000 lbs dry weight.
You'll end up around 4000 lbs loaded for camping, which will be at the limits of your Nissan, when you factor in the air resistance of the trailer's frontal area.

[mbCik]

Originally Posted by greti

I think 22 ft or so and the max weight mentioned would be doable for the nissan. I also towed with a pathfinder- trailer was 19 ft and 3000 lbs. it towed that very well with equalizer hitch. I could have gone a bit longer and heavier without problems. However when we upgraded to a 25 ft camper at 4800 lbs it was no longer a good match up and we had to upgrade the car for towing.

X2

[rana]

Originally Posted by bikendan

I wouldn't go over 3000 lbs dry weight.
You'll end up around 4000 lbs loaded for camping, which will be at the limits of your Nissan, when you factor in the air resistance of the trailer's frontal area.

IMO, that's a pretty conservative figure. Your max payload is only 1100, so with 3 passengers, a full tank of gas, hitch, pin weight of 400 pounds (estimated on 4000 fully loaded trailer), and no other cargo whatsoever, you're at max. Add in any additional cargo and your available pin weight will have to drop.

I would say you're looking more at around 2500 lbs dry... allowing 1500 pounds of necessities (battery, propane tanks, water, hoses, etc etc) and personal gear (food, dishes, clothing, bedding/linens, tools, toys, etc etc)

I don't think a travel trailer is in the cards, but you might get away with upgrading your popup. There are some flagstaff's that might fit the bill.

[thebrakeman]

6000 lbs tow ratings is a good number for a small/moderate TT or hybrid. Looking at hybrids will get you more floorspace for the same trailer length, since the main bed is outside of the floorspace. But you have to determine if that's for you, as you have to deal with tenting, additional light in the morning (if you want to sleep in), additional noise in the morning (if you want to sleep in), etc.

But for a family of 4, there are plenty of options with an inside bed, and 2 bunks, in the 21 or 23 ft range.

I like the idea of keeping the loaded weight to around 4000, 2000 lbs under your max tow rating. Which means a dry weight of up to 3200. You don't need capacity in the truck for anything more than the family and tongue weight. That's why you are getting away from the popup. Put all the stuff in the trailer.

That's sort of the same math we have: 7000lbs tow rating, and we wanted to keep the loaded weight limited to 5000lbs.

[whitmw]

Look at the Canyon Cat 17 QBC. That would be a good option.

[Rockwoodjoe]

The pathfinder has a fairly short wheel base. I wouldn't go over 21 feet or 4000 lbs loaded. This is why you see more crew cab trucks pulling travel trailers. Like my father always said. "ABC" always be careful.

[dhood]

Wow, so awesome. I didn't expect so much help so fast, thank you so much. I did not even think of the short wheel base. I like the set up of the Canyon Cat but no where even close to my areas has it but would this Econ E16bb work good. Its dry weight is 2490 and is a little under 21ft.
Thank you again this forum is amazing!

[Golfnbike13]

I've got a Salem Cruise Lite 19bh which is about 21' weighing around 3100 lbs dry. I pulled it with a ford ranger V6 king cab for a little while. It had a tow capacity of 5200 lbs but was too slow for my taste in the hills so I upgraded to a Nissan Titan and its soooo much better. But I've heard of several people pulling this trailer with a Pathfinder without issues.

[Happy Vibe]

That would work. It is only 7 feet wide so less frontal area. The pictures next to the layout on the manufactures page don't lineup with the layout. It looks like it would be very tight in there with 4 people on a rainy day.

[rsdata]

check out the Roo or Shamrock 183... 3 fold out queen beds, a 4th bed on the dining table, and 19 foot long

[Golfnbike13]

Originally Posted by Golfnbike13

I've got a Salem Cruise Lite 19bh which is about 21' weighing around 3100 lbs dry. I pulled it with a ford ranger V6 king cab for a little while. It had a tow capacity of 5200 lbs but was too slow for my taste in the hills so I upgraded to a Nissan Titan and its soooo much better. But I've heard of several people pulling this trailer with a Pathfinder without issues.

Also, there are 4 of us using it. The two bunk beds are perfect for the kids. We camp to be outside so don't really need much more space inside.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by dhood

but would this Econ E16bb work good. Its dry weight is 2490 and is a little under 21ft.

Since that one isn't a FR product, please post specs or a link to its specs.

[NYDP77]

I towed my current trailer 24 ft box (26ft w/a-frame hitch) its a Tracer 240AIR that had a dry weight of 4,100# with 2011 Pathfinder w/6,000# max towing. I was using a chain WDH hitch and sway bar. I didn't make any modifications to the Pathfinder (airbags etc.) The pathfinder did feel like it was getting pushed around a lot. Going up step hills was difficult. The back of the pathfinder did sag. In a straight line at 55 mph it did alright. I wouldn't go any larger than that. However, it did feel unsafe. I was probably around 90-95% with loaded gear. I would say stay around 3,500# with loaded gear.

[ValMelton]

I recommend a hard sided hybrid camper that has canvas beds that fold out. we had one a few years ago, and loved it, but we didn't need all the beds after the kids got out on their own. Forest River had several floorplans. ours had a couch and dinette that also folded down into beds as well as fold out beds on each end and one on the roadside that folded out. you can get them with our without slideouts for more floor space

[Happy Vibe]

ECON Travel Trailer - Pacific Coachworks

[vinmaker]

I vote you get another pop up. Maybe a HW popup.

ok. Maybe I am a bit bias. Hehehehe

Vin.

[dhood]

I never thought of a hybrid or even knew they made them, would my Nissan pull this just fine:

Palomino Stampeded

20ft long and 3359 dry weight

Again thank you everyone for the help, just don't want to get the wrong one.