Armada/QX56/QX80 9000lb towing?

[q45inca]

Hello experts

I'm looking for maximum towing and maximum reliability (which means no fancy gizmos, specially no air/magnetic etc suspensions, no turbos, as little electronics as possible, gasoline powered, everything proven, easy to fix and manufactured for many years etc). That makes this forum subjects the best choice, unless you steer me elsewhere.

But are all 2WD cars rated at 9000lb towing and 8900lb 4WD, or there are some lower towing numbers for some variants? Is the towing rated for use with a load distribution hitch or without it? Does is require a special "tow package" and how to recognize it? What weight is actually written on the hitch or what are the weights on the weights plate to look for? (GCWR-GVWR?)

Are the first generation JA60 or second generation Z62 better in the above respects (again I don't care about electronic gizmos, entertainment systems etc or the looks, actually I think the older looks better :-)? Any years or engines or transmissions (5 vs 7) to avoid? I'm thinking mostly about 2004-2014. (I've been very pleased with a 2002 Q45 for many years)

thanks!

[VStar650CL]

You can get Owner's Manuals here, towing info is usually in the "Technical & Consumer Information" section:
https://www.nissan-techinfo.com/
https://www.infiniti-techinfo.com/

The TA60 ('04~'15) Armadas and the Y62's ('17 up) have very different ratings. The TA60's have a different rating with or without tow package, the Y62's don't. I'm sure the same is true of the various QX56/QX80 implementations, they're basically the same platforms. Here a couple of examples, '06 and '17 Armada:

06 Armada Towing.png (57.36 KiB) Viewed 1620 times

17 Armada Towing.jpg (30.95 KiB) Viewed 1620 times

[q45inca]

Thanks @VStar650CL - that helps a lot, the manuals make it clear in terms of the overall max trailer weights.

It's still a bit unclear what the tow package is, as it is also mentioned in the newest vehicles in the text, despite not being mentioned in the max rating tables - for example if that's just a Class 4 tow bar, which could be added, or better brakes/transmission cooler etc. I guess the key will be to check the weights on the weights plate of the car.

Thanks.

[VStar650CL]

The newer ones don't come with a tow package because everything is standard. That's why the table for the '17 is a whole lot shorter than the '06. What the hitch will handle is strictly determined by the hitch manufacturer, not Nissan/Infiniti. N/I is just telling you the limits of the chassis, suspension, and drivetrain.

[q45inca]

I understand. What I was referring to is for example page 9-20 from 2010 QX56 manual which has the same short table as the '17 and table does not mention a "tow package".

But the page 9-20 says: "Your vehicle may be equipped with an optional trailer tow package. The trailer tow package includes a receiver-type frame mounted hitch." So I will just assume that's a cut and paste from previous years and there is nothing more to the "optional trailer tow package" than the Class 4 hitch itself, which could be added to any QX which is missing one.

[VStar650CL]

Yah, there's a lot of cut and paste in all the Nissan OM's. I guess they figure "may" covers the bases automatically, but it sure can confuse people sometimes.