Rogue+trailer across the country ^_^

[xprogue]

Hello all:

I am a new rogue driver and trying to tow a 630 pounds uhaul utility trailer with 300 pounds of personal stuff from Texas to S.California.Here is some questions that i want to get a clue before i purchase a hitch. I hope u guys can give me some guidance, thanx in advance. (Rogue S/FWD)

Does the rogue 1000 pounds of towing capacity include the cargo-passenger's weight?

Will this long distance trip damage the Rogue?

I did some research and some web mentioned about the oil temperature of the transmission overheat?

thanx

[philipa_240sx]

The 1000lb rating is only part of the picture. You have to factor in passengers and cargo. This is referred to as the Gross Combined Weight Rating. The GCWR is the total weight including the vehicle, trailer, passengers, and all cargo:

SL with Manual Shift: 5,636lbAll other models: 5,136lb

Using an average vehicle weight of 3400lbs, subtract the GCWR from the curb weight to get the total 'cargo capacity' including passengers, cargo and trailer.

SL with Manual Shift: 2,236lbAll other models: 1,736lb

In your case, with a 1000lb trailer including cargo, you only have 736lb for passengers and cargo in the vehicle. I would say you are safe so long as you don't exceed this figure. If you are over, you will be placing extra stress on the vehicle.

A few more things to consider:

- Nissan does not recommend towing for the first 500 miles (800 km).- In some jurisdictions, exceeding the GCWR of the vehicle (overloading) can result in a ticket. All depends how strictly the law is enforced. The local law enforcement here (Ontario, Canada) has been known to crack down on this sort of stuff, especially during the busy summer months.

Re. Transmission Oil Cooler:

All Rogues have a primary transmission oil cooler (located on the side of the transmission). AWD models (and possibly all manual shift models) come with a secondary transmission oil cooler located on the lower RH corner (drivers side) of the rad area. This is part of the reason for the higher 1,500lb rating. I do not know if the cooler can be retrofitted to other models.

[Pescakl1]

Hi,

Last summer, I rented this one:It is 535 lbs empty and max load is 965 lbs.Of course, we loaded it and did an about 800 kms round trip without any problem.

So, if you rent this one:630 lbs empty, you should not have any problem at all.

Just remember while you are driving that you have a trailer (some forgot after a while), and look far in front of you to anticipate any slowdown or stop.

Go easy on acceleration and on slowdowns and your Rogue will be ok.

[ahhbeebee]

Re. Transmission Oil Cooler:

I do not know if the cooler can be retrofitted to other models.

Any idea of the likelihood this can be done? This would go a long way to allow the Rogue to pull a lightweight camper trailer. Most are near 1000lbs empty, but I've spotted some lightweight aluminum ones where the extra 500lbs would go a long way.

[philipa_240sx]

Any idea of the likelihood this can be done? This would go a long way to allow the Rogue to pull a lightweight camper trailer. Most are near 1000lbs empty, but I've spotted some lightweight aluminum ones where the extra 500lbs would go a long way.

On a conventional automatic transmission, you would simply tap into the existing oil cooler and add an auxiliary cooler. No so for the CVT:

There is a heat exchanger on the RH side of the transmission near the dipstick. It looks like a rippled cylinder. On all Rogue's, the cooler has 2 ports that connect to the engine coolant system. On models with the secondary cooler, there are 2 additional ports that route transmission fluid to the trans cooler radiator.

Problem: The heat exchanger is part of the transmission. I checked and Nissan does not sell it as a separate part. You need the entire transmission (new or used) to get one.

[xprogue]

wow nice Forum ~

thanx philipa_240sx Pescakl1 and ahhbeebee for the quick reply .

OK, so i am clear with the towing capacity part. Now i am about to choose a hitch, here is some hitch that i found from the forum and ebay, dont know what is my best choise.

Hitch : http://www.etrailer.com/pc-H~1...06733 http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?LH..._sc=1

wiring: http://www.professionalwiringp...770b0

http://www.etrailer.com/pc-VWH...06733

Also i went to uhaul today and they quote $144 for the hitch and $17 for the wiring( )? Dont know if i should belive them.....

[xprogue]

Yes, i am planning to rent the 630 lbs one . that's the lightest open cargo Trailer i can get even though i am a little worry about the "theft" at night. How fast did u drive with the trailer?

[ncsu]

Yes, i am planning to rent the 630 lbs one . that's the lightest open cargo Trailer i can get even though i am a little worry about the "theft" at night. How fast did u drive with the trailer?

65

Normally U-hauls post a max of 45mph on their small trailers, I regularly see them in excess of 65mph. I am not sure if I am just seeing the very cheap old trailers, or if all are that way.

Best of luck on your trip and post up some pics.

[philipa_240sx]

There is lots of hitch & trailer wiring information in the Official Rogue FAQ. Scroll down to Accessories & Modifications.

I have a Curt hitch, very well made and easy to install. Did mine in less than half an hour. Make sure you have something to support the hitch while installing... it's heavy.

As for wiring, order the kit from Professional Wiring Products. It's completely plug and play, no splicing. Read the FAQ for more information.

[Elton Noway]

wow nice Forum ~

Now i am about to choose a hitch, here is some hitch that i found from the forum and ebay, dont know what is my best choise. [snip] Also i went to uhaul today and they quote $144 for the hitch and $17 for the wiring( )? Dont know if i should belive them.....

As long as you get a quality Class III hitch they will all perform the same. The benefit of shopping around is to save $$$. Price varies because some are painted, some have a powdercoat finish to protect it from rusting. Some have sealed end tubes to prevent internal rust. Some "include" the wire harness. etc, etc.

As far as the UHaul install... you could probably save about $20-$40 by buying one and installing it yourself but you have to ask yourself if it's worth the hassle. Where you really come out ahead with the UHaul install is with the hitch wiring. UHaul will splice into your existing wiring and provide the connector needed for connection to their trailers. $17 for them to do it or $40 -$50 for a plug-and-play harness you'll have to install yourself.

UHaul has been around for a long time. A quote is a quote, you can believe the quoted price. The fact is... they install quality hitches at a very attractive rate. They don't do this because they want to give you a great deal on a hitch, they do it because they want to rent you a trailer (which is where they make their money)They've been installing hitches and wring them up for decades. If there was a problem with their hitches falling off, breaking, inferior products, causing accidents etc... they wouldn't still be installing them today (they'd have been sued into bankruptcy) The only concern you might have is whether or not your particular UHaul installer is gentle with his tools around your new Rogue. The last thing you need is a grease monkey leaning against your car with a screwdriver in his pocket... SSSSScratch! If you stand and watch them do the install you should be okay. (As with any mechanic, they will generally be more careful if they know the owner is watching them work)

FYI: I called my local UHaul...told them I had a Rogue... and asked if they could tell me anything about what hitch they would be installing. They told me they would have to call back. A guy called me, ironically he said they would be installing a Curt Model 13185... a Class III hitch. Anyway, here's the scoop on UHauls hitch for the 2008 -2009 Nissan Rogue:

U-Haul Hitch # 78277. This is a Class 3, 3,500 lb, 2" receiver hitch http://www.capandhitch.com/PDF...S.PDFo ... x?pn=13185

[philipa_240sx]

Just personal experience, but I will never buy or rent anything from U-Haul again, nor will I let them touch my vehicle. Just too many bad experiences that I don't care to remember.

There are lots of decent places around that will install a hitch. Try RV dealers.

[RogueGuy45]

Overloading can cause big problems.

[SlideWRX]

Yes, i am planning to rent the 630 lbs one . that's the lightest open cargo Trailer i can get even though i am a little worry about the "theft" at night. How fast did u drive with the trailer?

My parents, ever the practical people, Would spray paint 'JONES SANITATION' on the side of the bigger boxes on the exposed trailer, with the cut out lettering patterns you can buy. They did this when making trips from Michigan to Florida and back. Haven't lost a box yet...

[philipa_240sx]

That is way too funny!

[Elton Noway]

Just personal experience, but I will never buy or rent anything from U-Haul again, nor will I let them touch my vehicle. Just too many bad experiences that I don't care to remember.

There are lots of decent places around that will install a hitch. Try RV dealers.

No argument here. I do all my own work. Even if it only saved me 2 cents I'd still buy a hitch and install it myself. That said, I've personally inspected two hitches installed via UHaul and both were done very well. Could find nothing wrong. Granted you could get a real butcher who might screw it up... but that could even happen at a RV dealership. That said, if I wasnt ready to tackle installing my own hitch I'd probably get a quote from both an RV dealer and UHaul... then make my decision based on their quotes. Then watch them like a Hawk!

[ncsu]

Is there a reason you are going to rent an exposed vrs an enclosed trailer?

I would think the enclosed one would be better since it is more secure, not only for the when you are stopped, but also more secure when in motion.

[xprogue]

thanx , hope i don;t see alot of stormy weather since i will have a open cargo trailer.

[xprogue]

Elton Noway Thanks for the detail info

these helps a lot, Uhaul give me a quote of $310 include everything. but the hitch is $144 and 17$ for the wiring so the labor is $149!! I better save that $149 for my gas...

I checked the scoop i think i will have no problem with the hitch installation.But From the etrailer wiring , they route the wire up to the battery? Is this a "must"or it depends on the brand? or maybe because I have a S base model?http://www.etrailer.com/pc-VWH...6733

[xprogue]

LOL

[xprogue]

Is there a reason you are going to rent an exposed vrs an enclosed trailer?

I would think the enclosed one would be better since it is more secure, not only for the when you are stopped, but also more secure when in motion.

Yes,it is more secure .but the lightest Cargo Trailer from Uhaul weight 850 lbs itself. Overloading......

[philipa_240sx]

But From the etrailer wiring , they route the wire up to the battery? Is this a "must"or it depends on the brand?

That harness is a bit different than the Professional Wiring Products version. It's missing the plug that attaches to the 12V power connection in the cargo area. When you open up the interior body panels to get at the plugs, you should find a connector underneath the tray that holds the jack.

This is the 12V battery connection for Nissan's trailer light connector. I turned the ignition on, and used a voltmeter to find the positive terminal. I then used a simple male spade connector to attach the 12V wire from the aftermarket converter I purchased. A bit of electrical tape holds it in place. Not pretty, but effective.

You should be able to do exactly what I did. All Rogue models should have this power plug.

Read more in my thread here:

zerothread/333642

[Elton Noway]

Uhaul give me a quote of $310 include everything. but the hitch is $144 and 17$ for the wiring so the labor is $149!! I better save that $149 for my gas...

$310 YIKES ... all along I was thinking your UHaul quote was $144 and $17 total... for purchase and installation! There is no way I would pay UHaul $310!. The mounting nuts are already tack welded to your Rogue frame so the installation of the hitch is nothing more than screwing in 6 bolts. (although it helps if someone holds it in place while you get bolts started.)

If you get the Professional Wiring Products harness originally suggested by philipa_240sx ... its plug-n-play!

http://www.professionalwiringp...d=810

However as philipa_240sx also pointed out, the etrailer harnness will work but you'll need splice into the Rogue wiring.



(For the price diff and ease of install I'd go with the harness from Professional Wiring Products)

[FoeDoe350Z]

My rogue SL FWD has about 23,000 miles, approx 15,000 of those miles have been with a trailer. Total with of trailer and cargo 700 pounds and two passengers up to 400 pounds, 1,100 pounds total. I've had zero issues, mpg ranges from 22-25 pulling the trailer and cargo. Also, the vehicle is driven using the CVT option, not the 6 Speed Auto.

[kerrton]

Just installed the Professional Wiring Product trailer wiring, all went well and the wiring itself is beyond simple just plug and play, I posted in detail in the thread for this "trailer pre-wire....".

Anyway, regarding towing I've been a little dissappointed lately that I didn't check this out before buying the Rogue, the 1000 lb limit is quite limiting!! I just looked at the Jeep Patriot/Compass because it uses the same Jatco CVT as the Rogue and is roughly the same size, and I thought it was very interesting that they have 2 different CVT's to choose from, the standard one and a "heavy duty" CVT that comes with a tow package. With the heavy duty CVT they can tow 2000 lbs and the upgraded CVT has something called "Off-Road Mode" - this package also give you the extra trans cooler, and sealing package for loading a boat into water. Details:

OPTION 1:Continuously Variable (CVT2) automatic with Auto/Stick™ with 30-mm high-strength multilayer steel drive belt, ratio range (), 2.35 – 0.39; overall top gear ratio: 2.41 Opt. 1OPTION 2: Continuously Variable (CVT2L) automatic with 30-mm high-strength multilayer steel drive belt, with Off-Road Mode, ratio range (), 2.35 – 0.39; overall top gear ratio: 3.21, unique final drive with 19:1 crawl ratio feature Opt.(2)

I'm not saying I'd want a Patriot/Compass, but if they can offer the towing CVT package it would be nice if the Rogue did too.....oh well.

[kerrton]

Anyone else do some towing with their Rogue?

[asng]

Hi all:I am tring to install a Trailer Hitch too, here is what i found from the ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors....m245

They are almost the cheapest I can find but dont know too much about these brands and FEATURES. Any help or recommend would be great

Modified by asng at 11:08 PM 8/18/2009
Modified by asng at 12:32 AM 8/19/2009

[philipa_240sx]

All of the trailer hitches you have posted should be fine. There is little difference between them.

Personally, I have only used the Curt Mfg. hitch and it is very well made.

[kerrton]

I'm still annoyed that the cheap jeeps (Patriot/Compass) with CVT have the option to purchase a CVT tow package which doubles the tow capacity to 2000 lbs, and the Rogue doesn't.

I also wonder if the CVT itself is more heavy duty than the one in the Rogue, or if they just add an additional trans cooler like it says in the specs? I can't see how they can increase the tow capacity by 100% by just adding the cooler, so if they get a more heavy duty CVT that might be nice just for longevity and durability regardless if you're towing.

[xprogue]

Hello guys, Finally I installed the Hitch receiver(no ballmount yet) and the wiring harness from a local "Simple simon" store today .

After that I went to uhaul to test if the wiring works, too bad the turn signal and break light only flashed once every time I tried but the running light was normal.

So i took the car back and let the shop check it agian, later they told me "everything is fine,the reason caused the turn signal and break light only flashed once is becasue you didnt put the trailer on the hitch, you connect the wiring only.....so the ground power can not......(didn;t understand)....so once you put the trailer and wiring together everything will be fine..."

Was he right? I hope someone can explain to me what what exactly happened?

[philipa_240sx]

That is incorrect. The trailer ground is supplied via wiring harness, not the hitch. It should work even if the trailer is not actually hitched to the vehicle (ie just the harness plugged in).

I would say there is something wrong with your wiring or the trailer you tested it on. Try another trailer first.