Towing with a 4 banger

Well, I actually had the chance to tow with my 4 banger. My new atv and trailer are about 1100-1200 lbs. combined. Bought it from a guy in Baton Rouge and had to tow it down the interstate in about a 30 mph. headwind. Had it not been for the head wind, I would have been able to use 5th; however, 60 mph was all she would give me in 5th. So I stayed in 4th and kept the speed limit. You certainly can tell the diff between the 4 banger and the V6 towing wise, but it can be done. I can't imagine how the 4 banger with the AT would be.

 

Nice. Only 1200? You can do alot more than that. Ive pushed 5k. Definitely wont hit the freeway with that load but I got the job done.

 

I also have the icon progressive AAL, with the overload out. Ride was ultra-smooth and I still had plenty of "happy face" on the leafs. I also had about 200 lbs in the bed. I'm quite pleased with the icons.

 

I didn't want to ask the question, but since you brought it up... Would it be ok to tow 5,000 lbs 200 miles on the freeway with a 2.7l manual transmission?

 

I wouldn't. I see you're 4X4 so with 6 lug and bigger tires but that won't help very much. The power just isn't there on the 4 cylinder. I only drove about 10 miles and was only in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and really had to rev it up and drop slowly to get going from lights. It wont pull in 5th at 60 on level ground, probably not even in 4th. Hills would need 3rd or possibly 2nd at 45 mph and with hazards on. If it were a short distance like I did, you could manage. But 200 miles is just too much.

 

I towed 2500lbs fairly often and 3000lbs+ a couple times with my 2010 2.7 4x4 manual. it wasnt all that fun... Im used to towing and hauling at the capacity limit on many vehicles for work tho. With this setup You had to really ride the clutch to get going and wind out all of the gears, and had to start stopping early ( no trailer brakes ) Even still while driving along i always felt like if someone were too cut me off or turn in front of me id plow right through them.

Its really just the fact that the little engine has to work so hard to do the job. Id still be towing with that truck if it didnt get wrecked, but the 4.0 in my new taco does the job so much better. If you're someone thats gonna tow something not that far every so often then yea the 2.7 would be ok. If its with any regularity and the load more than half the 3500lb capacity i would recommend the 6.

Just my opinion from personal experience

 

I would never even think of doing this. Please, for all the others on the roads sake, dont. Just because it has been done doesnt mean it should be done. 1.5 times the maximum towing capacity.

 

I towed about 3000# worth of stuff half way across the country with my old Nissan 4-Banger.