Nissan X-Trail

Bare Rambler · Veteran Member

Nissan X-Trail

landy · Guru

Geoff I think you will have to give the year and transmission type Auto or manual . I had an x trail in 2005 and I think it was rated as 2.5 ton towing. I also think since then Nissan have been lowering that number due to broken chassis.
Landy

blaze · Guru

We have a 2012 x trail, I wont tow more than a moderately loaded box trailer with it, certainly rated to tow more but I don't feel the vehicle is really suitable for towing. I have a p38 range rover to do the towing.
cheers
blaze

Desert Dweller · Guru

The current model SUV X-trail wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding. The superseded model was a good vehicle that could tow 2 ton from memory but best to Google it.

They suffered from bent rear ends because of using WDH's though. Not covered by warranty. We've seen quite a few towing decent sized caravans on our travels.

sandgrooper1 · Senior Member

Hi,

We have a late 2013 X-trail which is the last of the old shape, has the 4wd and 2.5 motor with auto.(It was brought second hand with 38 kms on the clock).
It is not used as a 4wd, mainly a run around for us and used as my wife's car to go to work. We find it a good car, like it but it is not overly economical...and I agree with Blaze that it in my opinion would not suit towing a caravan with the C/V gearbox.
Better options out there....with a manual transmission it may be a better tow car.

Cheers AL

macka17 · Guru

Grandson has one.
We borrow it when down to Vict.

Nice little car to drive. Pretty gutless just by itself going up any rises.
I wouldn't go past a mid range sizecamper trailer with it myself.
1.5 ton would be a little iffy for me.

Old and tired · Veteran Member

We have an XTrail auto. Pretty sure it tows 1500 kg. Look it up on carsales.com, they have the specs of all vehicles. You can certainly tow a campervan with them, but they are not a practical tow vehicle.

PeterD · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
The current model SUV X-trail wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding.

Which particular model are you talking about? What is the source of your info? On other forums they are reporting on good towing from the bigger motors.

PeterD · Guru

Bare Rambler wrote:
Does anyone know what size/weight van, not pop-top, that can be towed by an X-Trail?

Geoff, you were on the forum this morning but did not answer Landy's question. Which model are you thinking about?

It does not matter whether you are considering to tow. The rules are the same whether it is a camper trailer, pop-top or full height caravan. The thing you consider is the total weight you are towing. The weight you should be looking at is the ATM on the compliance plate of the trailer. If you select one of the X-Trail models with a 2000/200 kg (van weight/ball weight) towing weight I would suggest you select a trailer with an ATM that is 1800 kg or less. The reason for that is you should always have a bit of capacity up your sleeve, vans/campers often a bit over weight (the tare weight is often fudged.)

Regarding the chassis cracking, right from the start Nissan has said do not use WDH with this model and Hayman Reese also say do not use WDH. HR will not warrant their tow bars on X-Trails if you have used WDH. Those who have cracked their chassis have done so by abusing the vehicle, they are suitable for towing their rated load if you don't use WDH

toglhot · Senior Member

Varies with year, the old shape were rated at 2000kgs but the new ones are only rated at around 1500kgs. There is also a difference in tow weights dependant on engine type and transmission type - same as all vehicles. The van that suits your Xtrail is the van that fits within it's tow rating as stated by Nissan in the owners manual.

Desert Dweller · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
The current model SUV X-trail wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding.
Which particular model are you talking about? What is the source of your info? On other forums they are reporting on good towing from the bigger motors.

As stated, the CURRENT MODEL.

http://www.nissan.com.au/~/media/Files/Brochures/Specifications/XTRAIL/X-TRAIL.ashx

Jetta7 · Veteran Member

Hi,

last vehicle was a 2008 XTrail diesel auto. Rated at 1500kg towing and 150 kg ball weight. We towed a 1300kg van , it performed very well averaged 11.8 ltr per km when towing.

the manual diesel in that model ( T31) was rated at 2000kg towing and 200 kg ball weight.

we found it o be a very capable vehicle .

no wdh allowed as others said.

PeterD · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
PeterD wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
The current model SUV X-trail wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding.
Which particular model are you talking about? What is the source of your info? On other forums they are reporting on good towing from the bigger motors.
As stated, the CURRENT MODEL.
http://www.nissan.com.au/~/media/Files/Brochures/Specifications/XTRAIL/X-TRAIL.ashx

There is nothing in that link that indicates "wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding."

Desert Dweller · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
PeterD wrote:
Desert Dweller wrote:
The current model SUV X-trail wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding.
Which particular model are you talking about? What is the source of your info? On other forums they are reporting on good towing from the bigger motors.
As stated, the CURRENT MODEL.
http://www.nissan.com.au/~/media/Files/Brochures/Specifications/XTRAIL/X-TRAIL.ashx

There is nothing in that link that indicates "wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding."

Compared to the old model with a 2000kg towing capacity it wouldn't. The old model was a great vehicle with real capabilities in the ''rough stuff'' not just a ''mums shopping chariot'' like the current model. Same goes for the Pathfinder.

Plain Truth · Guru

There is a write up on the Nissan X-Trail ST-L in the motoring section of the Herald-Sun today.

The reviewing states 1500 kg.towing,and it has a space-saver spare wheel too.

PeterD · Guru

There is more to towing capacity than the pulling power of the vehicle. Maybe you can do some real research and inform us of the real reason for the reduction of towing capacity.

-- Edited by PeterD on Friday 1st of September 2017 03:32:14 PM

toglhot · Senior Member

The problem with asking for advice on caravaning type forums is most who tow caravans think you need a Mack truck to tow anything over a tonne. That of course is absolute rubbish, acceptable limits are roughly: the towed mass shouldn't exceed 85% of the vehicle's actual GVM. in Australia TDL is generally thought best at around 10% of the towed mass. Obviously, there will be many debunking these figures (wait for it), do a google search, that will provide better info than what you will get here!

-- Edited by toglhot on Saturday 2nd of September 2017 10:42:22 AM

macka17 · Guru

TOOLHOG>

Just remember that a LOT of statements here on Towing.
Go NOT by the paper figures MFG's and dealers put out.

BUT by a LOT of long term EXPERIENCED Drivers of Trucks and all sorts of rigs.
Over a lot of yrs.
Myself. Over 55 yrs. Heavy commercial. Multi's and private.

Our recommendations are basically.
Based on the SAFETY on road of the individual rigs.
For both the people in the cab. AND the people around them.

Cars. Around 1.5ton. MAX
Utes. (ALL) around 2 to 2.3 ton MAX.
SUV's. Depending on size. Also under the 2.3 mark.
Smaller ones around the 1.2t
Large 4WD's. around 3 to 3.2 ton. Again MAX>

A Trailer. The same weight or more of the tug.
WILL When getting extra velocity for any reason.
CONTROL the tug, 95% of the time.

Plus a light drawbar. WILL give a heavier Tail.

Heard about tails wagging dogs???.

Pertains here too.

----------------------------------

Pete.

Probably Moulded sub chassis tub. NOT full chassis under it.

-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 3rd of September 2017 12:41:11 AM

Bryan · Guru

I don't know anything about a tugs towing capacity and never mind the x trail, I can't get my head around how a Land Rover Defender 90 SWB can tow 3,500 kgs.

-- Edited by Bryan on Sunday 3rd of September 2017 09:55:59 AM

WRV · Member

I have a 2008 xtrail diesel 6speed manual, a coromal seka 505 atm 1490kg(pop top), the xtrail tows this effortlessly, only ever use 5th gear, change to 4th on big hills but never loses speed