Anyone pull with a nissan 4 cylinder truck?

[ThomasL]

I have just bought a used 1999 nissan xe extracab with a 4 cylinder automatic transmission to do chores around the house(haul trask,mulch)and take my one man boat and me to ponds.It has 260,000 miles on it but was owned by a older gentleman that was a saleman for cat and used it mostly on highways.Do you think i will have problems pulling a xpress sv17 weighing around 1600 lbs and would you be concerned about the miles on the transmission and engine?

[Jig Man]

The first thing I'd be concerned about would be the brakes.  Make sure they are top notch before you tow.

My guess it that the 4 cylinder engine will have a load pulling that boat.  A friend of mine bought a 4 cylinder pickup and pulled a 17' Tracker.  I rode with him once and it was down shifting all of the time.

[fishizzle]

I used to pull a 17' fish & ski boat with a 75 honda with my 96 toyota Tacoma V6 and that thing used to have trouble going up hills--although it weighted more than 1600lbs

my motor alone was 350lbs

[Grey Wolf]

Bad idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Olebiker]

I used to pull my 17 foot Bass Tracker with a 4 cylinder 1999 Mazda with an automatic transmission.  It did OK, but I live in Florida and didn't have to climb any big hills.  I did, however, pull it from Louisville, Kentucky to Tallahassee with no problems.  Just make sure to turn off the overdrive.

[TommyBass]

You need to look at the tow ratings for your vehicle, that would help.  That really is not that heavy of a boat and would think that a small 4 cyl truck ought to pull it just fine.  That high of miles makes it a little worse, Id be weary to give that thing full throttle but if it seems good then your probably ok, just take out of overdrive.  Definately check the breaks... dosnt do any good to start pulling something you can't stop. Just take it slow until you get a good feel for that combination.  Also, it helps control the trailer better if you have most of the weight near the front closest to the hitch, so take out any uneccessary weight and either put it in the bed or close to the front of the boat, should help any sway issues.  

[hipster_dufus]

i am on my 3rd 4 banger.the standard tranny is rated to pull 3500 lbs, the auto 2000lbs. that is why i have had sticks over the yrs. i currently pull a 1444 g3 , total wt about 1000 lbs, i still downshift on long grades. u will notice it if u pull with that tranny.

[Calcutta]

Id also make sure and be careful of them boat ramps with abrubpt drop offs. It would be a nightmare to have your trailer axle drop off and try to pull it out with a 4 cyl.

[HossFly]

Well, i have a '89 Nissan p/u (short-bed, z-24 engine) with 261,000 miles and i have pulled my 17' Tracker for years with it and no problems, except one.

Calcutta said it best; know where the boat-ramp ends and how much does it drop-off.

Having your trailer frame sitting on the ground at the lower end of a wet, steep boat launch is no fun, especially with a 4-banger.

Other than that one-lesson-learned-the-hard-way, my little p/u pulled the tin-can pretty good.

Make sure the tongue-weight is not over 100-lbs if you are using a ball on the bumper.

[jetfish]

I pull my 14ft aluminum boat with my 93' nissan 2wd. Truthfully, it gives the truck about all it wants. The boat and trailer really aren't all that heavy, maybe 800 lbs if that. The moral of the story is that my Nissan was made for gas mileage and not towing anything with weight to it. Mine is a manual transmission also, so I dont know about the transmission. Be careful is my best advice.