Tow vehicle for Cherokee Wolf Pup Midwest 18TO

[Campin-Nana]

My daughter is thinking about purchasing a Cherokee Wolf Pup Midwest 18TO and has a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum with a tow package to pull it with. She currently has a pop up tent camper and camps pretty light, so even though there is 1200 lbs. of CCC on the Wolf Pup, she would probably only use about 600, 700 max. Only a little fresh water in the tank for highway pit stops. So would that work okay or does she need to look at a lighter trailer? Opinions appreciated. Thanks!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Campin-Nana

My daughter is thinking about purchasing a Cherokee Wolf Pup Midwest 18TO and has a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum with a tow package to pull it with. She currently has a pop up tent camper and camps pretty light, so even though there is 1200 lbs. of CCC on the Wolf Pup, she would probably only use about 600, 700 max. Only a little fresh water in the tank for highway pit stops. So would that work okay or does she need to look at a lighter trailer? Opinions appreciated. Thanks!

Well, just like most of these larger single axle trailers, it will be more tongue heavy, once you add the cargo, batteries, factory options and water. It could easily be 600lbs.
She needs determine what the Nissan's payload capacity is.
The payload number will be on the driver's door sticker. It should say something like "Occupants and cargo should not exceed xxxxlbs".

Unfortunately I just looked up the car and its max hitch capacity is only 500lbs, which isn't enough to handle this trailer when loaded.

[Campin-Nana]

Thanks, Bikendan. I wasn’t thinking so much about this having a heavy hitch weight. I guess we will have to rethink and look for something lighter. Thanks! Better to find out now!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Campin-Nana

Thanks, Bikendan. I wasn’t thinking so much about this having a heavy hitch weight. I guess we will have to rethink and look for something lighter. Thanks! Better to find out now!

That's the trouble with these types of travel trailers. They're marketed to consumers like your daughter, that own midsized SUVs. Unfortunately they have purposely left out how high the loaded tongue weights will be.

[Campin-Nana]

Too true. They leave out a lot at the dealerships and on their websites. And the salesmen will tell you anything to get a sale. But I located a Palomino Solaris hybrid that is much lighter, 315 tongue weight and 3815 GVWR. I think that should be fine. Not pushing it at all. Thanks for your help.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Campin-Nana

Too true. They leave out a lot at the dealerships and on their websites. And the salesmen will tell you anything to get a sale. But I located a Palomino Solaris hybrid that is much lighter, 315 tongue weight and 3815 GVWR. I think that should be fine. Not pushing it at all. Thanks for your help.

As a former hybrid owner, I was going to suggest one. They offer more sleeping space, in a lighter package.
The 147X should be a great match for their Pathfinder. Have her check out our Hybrid section here.

[PhilFromMaine]

I agree with everything said so far. You can never (well almost) have enough pulling power. As per tongue weight, a good weight distribution hitch increases your tongue weight capacity number.

I don't remember the manual spec tongue weight on my Silveraldo 1500, 5.3L engine, but the number 500lbs keeps popping up in my head, but that spec reads "unless you have a weight distribution hitch." I pull a 5500lb (empty) trailer and I think the TW is around 800LBS.

But again, never trust salesmen who get paid by commissions. Error on the side of more vehicle, less trailer.

[Cosmos]

Originally Posted by Campin-Nana

My daughter is thinking about purchasing a Cherokee Wolf Pup Midwest 18TO and has a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum with a tow package to pull it with. She currently has a pop up tent camper and camps pretty light, so even though there is 1200 lbs. of CCC on the Wolf Pup, she would probably only use about 600, 700 max. Only a little fresh water in the tank for highway pit stops. So would that work okay or does she need to look at a lighter trailer? Opinions appreciated. Thanks!

We are currently towing our Wolf Pup with a 2012 Grand Cherokee Jeep V6 with a factory tow package. No problems. Make sure she has a good stabilize hitch with sway control. I won't go cross country with it, but 200 mile weekly trips are no problem.