Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with doing any towing with one of the newer Nissan Pathfinders. We have an 06 which is rated to pull 6000 lbs. No big trips planned we pretty much pull it from the marina to the ramp which is about 5oo yards and from time to time will pull it home in town about 3 miles.

It's odd I noticed they just released for 08 a Pathfinder with the 5.6L that is in the Titan and it's now rated to pull up to 7,000.
From what I can see everything is the same other than the engine and HP. Brakes and everything else look identical. I understand you have more HP to pull , But I was always had the understanding it had to do more with stopping the load. Looks like the brakes rotors are the same size. I know over the last couple years that all the manufactures have been increasing there tow weigh capacities without much change in the vehicle itself. Would that be because they've always been so under rated to began with with? Or simply that's what sells, thus we'll tell the consumer what they want to hear??

Just was looking for some input on how the Nissan towed.

Engineers used to set tow ratings. Now marketing departments do. It's gotten so bad that the NHTSA is working on intervening with actual mandated standards.

I wouldn't hook 7K to a Pathfinder. I wouldn't hook 6K to it either. My buddy has one and we tow our 6-bike trailer behind it sometimes- About 3K total. It's not terribly comfortable but it isn't completely unsafe.

Do us a favor....hook up and tow it the 3 miles...test it out then gather up your balls and come back here and tell us...serious....hit the breaks...panic stop...swerv....find a ramp in a lot..take it...stop on the boat ramp cause you forgot to put the drive up...then see how it is taking off again...put it through the paces....don't forget to come back here and tell us...welcome back.

Will do on the results. I've done a lot of searching and have only come across a few pulling loads up to 4,000lbs with no complaints. I sold myhalf ton pick up about 2 months ago (Nissan Titan what a piece of @#*#) Darn thing spent more time in the shop in 14 months than I care to admit. If the Pathfinder won't pull it 400 yrds to the ramp and out, back to he marina than rack storage for a couple years.Not the end of the world.But I really think it will be fine from the marina to the ramp. 25mph zone anyhow.But I will pass on the results for what there worth. No plans on taking it down the highway.

But I will say there sure seems to be something with all this big towing capacity as of recent.It's funny vehicles just 2-3years rated for 5000 are now at 6000 plus. Heck my Toyota FJ is rated for 5000 and theres no way!!

Well...at least you are not in denile....All tow ratings are basically bs these days.....

Well I decided to call a few Nissan Dealers and see if they have had any customers that have towed near or at what the vehicle is rated for. I was not able to talk with anyone with hands on experience , however I did receive a return phone call from one dealer after talking with the service dept and the comment was made to me that the 6,000 towing capacity was a conservative amount and that the vehicle could without a doubt pull more. Please note I'm only posting this to prove point. The auto manufactures will tell anyone what they want to hear to make a sale. I still think this is a more of a 4500 to 5000 max towing capacity SUV rather than a 6000-7000.
The only real test will be this spring when I pull the boat out of storage and see for myself. I will certainly make a post so that anyone else considering this SUV may have some better idea of what it will do.

Heck I checked Fords website today and noted the Explorer is now rated at just over 7300lbs. If I'm not mistaken my 02 F-150 with the 5.3 (I think that was the size) was rated at 7300-7800. Very interesting???