triumph7 said:FWIW, after my Ranger got rear ended I had a Frontier as a rental. Both were 2019 models but the Ranger feels like it's ten model years newer. I'd have to look up the tow ratings though the Ranger has had no problems pulling anything I've had behind it.
The rental Frontiers are HORRIBLE, I don't know why they are so different but they sure seem to be. My brother had a frontier and it was good for this type of towing.
In reply to 03Panther :
I left work early Friday to look at the 4.8 Silverado, it drove really nice and the interior was MINT, but I crawled underneath it and this is the second Pennsylvania truck with a rusty frame someone tried to hide with some mystery coating, in this case you could peel the coating off it big chunks with your fingers, and some of the crossmembers looked particularly gross. If they had just left it alone I could assess the rust and maybe make a low offer, but as it was I didn't feel confident I that I could tell whether the frame was sound, and I walked away..
In reply to dannyp84 :
Smart plan. I like your thoughts on the "leave it alone" for evaluation part.
In reply to 03Panther :
That was the second Silverado in a week that I looked at where someone had done a hasty job of trying to dress up the frame with some sort of spray or coating, and their work neither does the truck any favors nor makes me inclined to trust the seller.. I have the black Frontier scheduled to go on my mechanic's lift Thursday and look it over, if it checks out the next order of business will be a trailer harness and brake controller. After that, it'll need a stereo as it doesn't even have an aux input.
Dannyp84.. look in the console for the aux port... that where mine is (2015 SL). Can't remember where it was on my '08 Pathfinder SE, but there should be one somewhere..
Gordon
The trailer harness is an easy add-on as well. A few minutes in the passenger foot well to make connections and then out to the back of the truck, the harness in between is already there. I drilled a hole next to the license plate to move the connector up out of harms way.
Looks like they average $50-60 - OEM NEW 7-pin Trailer Tow Wiring Harness 2005-2017 Frontier - Nissan (999T8-BR020)
If you are looking at the '10 that you posted, The aux is the bottom of the 2 covers on the right side of the console. Top is 12V power and bottom is Aux.
In reply to bmw88rider :
I thought that was a blank, but I'll check it more closely Thursday.
So I went with the black Frontier linked in my first post, it would probably be a much cheaper truck pre covid, but I don't think things are going to go back to the way they were nearly as soon as most people expect. Also, it was still at least 1000 less than any comparable frontier within 400 mi online, and my mechanic thought it was pretty sound. I'm set to pick it up Monday, I'll order the appropriate trailer wiring shorty thereafter. I already feel slightly relieved to have a fairly modern and not I'm practically modified vehicle at my disposal.
In reply to dannyp84 :
Good to hear! I think you'll be happy with that.
I'm the guy that will normally advise a heavier duty truck than that for towing... but for your needs, I think it'll do great.
In reply to 03Panther :
Yeah for my own vehicles the Frontier's capacity is plenty, if someone wants me to tow something bigger with my trailer they'll just have to supply the truck. Also I think the mid size truck will be nicer to live with on a day to day basis in town.
My thought is, if you need more than the Fronteer, a 3/4 ton would be best... skip over the half ton. And the day to day difference, the Fronteer will excell at.
Impressions after a few weeks: I really like the truck so far, the 4.0 is impressively powerful, and warms up quickly, which is nice considering temps here lately are sub 20 degrees. The heater also performs admirably. It really feels like a "goldilocks" truck in terms of being big enough to do the work I need it to, but otherwise not being annoyingly big for driving around town. So far the dealership and I split the cost of new tires after 1 blew out in the sidewall from being old and dry rotted, and I had to cut out and replace about an inch of fuel line that was left exposed to the elements and started leaking. I haven't pulled my trailer with it yet because I don't have the harness for it, I need to find out whether I have the towing package or not to order the right one. My average mpg on the last tank was about 16, but it has been very cold and I've done a lot of fairly short trips with very steep hills, when I drive to Cincinnati tonight I'll see if it cracks 20 mpg. Also the 4 wheel drive system must be pretty good, because I used a tow strap to pull a Lincoln Mark VII up the snowy icey driveway with no slipping, but I don't think you can turn off the traction control if you did want to have some fun in a snowy lot..
Glad you are enjoying it. I just got my 2nd Pro-4X (third on the platform if you count the Xterra too) so I can tow and do truck stuff. I totally agree on the Goldilocks sizing. That is what keeps me coming back to the platform. Powerful enough to do what ever I need yet small enough to feel livable in the city.
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