Towing an Escape 21 with a Nissan Pathfinder

[Steve Clark]

Excellent report, Steve, and congratulations!

[cpaharley2008]

I just went to the Nissan website, although 4x4 it is a fwd vehicle no? Seems like a nice SUV but their website is lacking in some details about towing and weights.

[NCBill]

For a serious test, try Mount Eagle grade in TN or Saluda grade in NC. It’s the long uphill and downhill grades that test power and braking.

Plenty of grades in other states too of course. Our first RV tough grade was Vantage on I90 in eastern WA state. Long tough grade in the desert. We had a marginal tow vehicle, crested the grade at 29 MPH. Even the big trucks were passing us. Bought a bigger tow vehicle shortly after.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I just went to the Nissan website, although 4x4 it is a fwd vehicle no? Seems like a nice SUV but their website is lacking in some details about towing and weights.

through 2012, the Pathfinder was built on a RWD chassis. in 2013, it was completely revised and is now based on a crossover FWD platform, shared with the Altima, Maxima, Murano, and Quest.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

through 2012, the Pathfinder was built on a RWD chassis. in 2013, it was completely revised and is now based on a crossover FWD platform, shared with the Altima, Maxima, Murano, and Quest.

Yes, and with the V8 and the tow package, it had a 7000 lb towing capacity. Easy to see why towing a 21 was not a problem.

[John in Santa Cruz]

its even more fun... on again, off again.

the first gen pathfinder (1987-1995) was built on a "Hardbody" truck platform
the 2nd gen (1996-2004) was unibody but still RWD and shared its platform with the Infinity qx4
the 3rd gen (2005-2012) reverted to a full frame, based on the Frontier truck, and a larger Pathfinder Armada was built on the Titan truck frame.

the FWD fourth gen uses a CVT so I'd be very heistant to tow anything heavy more than very occasionally.

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, the CVT is a limiting factor, otherwise I maybe tempted.

[cpaharley2008]

Also, the spare is a compact tire... another limiting factor.

[stratos175]

Hello All,

Our 2012 Pathfinder at 225,000 miles is now starting to need some mechanical work. Just had one bank of catalytic converters replaced, also a small plastic part that is part of the cooling system hoses just broke where a hose connects to it and frustrating thing is does not seem like that one part can be purchased by itself but will be trying a junkyard nearby today.
Even before all this its been in my mind do I feel comfortable towing our Escape 300,400 plus miles now that we have this many miles on the car. My answer was no so........
I started looking for another 2012 Pathfinder with low miles (under 75,000) the few I find are either very base model or do not have good Carfax reports so I thought about the Armada. Like the Pathfinder it changed a good bit in 2017 (2016 they did not even produce a version). I drove a 2018 yesterday and was happy with it but think I;m going to go with a 2015 I found that has 53,000 miles on it. I've not seen the 2015 because its coming from Carvana but believe it should have NO problem pulling our Escape. Yes the gas mileage is less then some others in its class but got what seems like a good deal and Armada is about 10% less then anything else it compares to. Plus will let Patty drive it most days, she only has a 6 mile round trip commute to work.
Will update how it does towing but should be good.

Enjoy the journey.

Steve