I am looking at a 2003 Infiniti QX4 (actually 2). One has around 60,000 miles and the other had around 70,000. Both are listed around $12,900 at retail outlets. My question comes down to towing. I can't really find what was originally included in the towing package. I know many cars have upgraded tran coolers. If someone could let me know I would appreciate it. I have looked though this site and I do find it interesting. Consumer reports still lists the QX4 as a recommended used SUV. CR doesn’t have any test drives listed or real specs listed for this vehicle, just the reliability. However still look sharp and seem to be a really good value.
The other thing I noticed is the brakes. I would have preferred to see 4 wheel disc brakes instead of front discs and rear drums. My question here is how are the brakes on these vehicles? I will be using this vehicle to tow a 26' sailboat (the trailer does have brakes too) and I would like to be able to stop the boat if the trailer brakes fail.
Any advice on this car would be great too.
Shopping - General Questions
the QX4 has rear coils and is not the most ideal vehicle vehicle for towing. it has a short wheelbase and no factory hookup for trailer brakes. also, like you mention it does not have rear discs (though i've never had an issue in terms of inadequate stopping power).
what is the gross weight of your boat/trailer, and what is the tongue weight? a 26ft sailboat would be on an awful long trailer, perhaps too long for a QX4.
not all QX4s with a "tow package" came with the trans cooler. some dealerships fitted the receiver hitch, but that's it. it's easy to spot a trans cooler though. just pop the hood, and look behind the grille, in front of the AC condenser on the lower-left corner. the auxiliary trans cooler would be a 6x14in (roughly) radiator with two hard lines coming out the top of it.
anyhow, if you insist on using this vehicle as your tow rig, i'd recommend getting the rear helper bags from AirLift or the heavy-duty non-lift rear coils from 4x4Parts.com. also, you'll need to get your trailer brake hookup installed.
what is the gross weight of your boat/trailer, and what is the tongue weight? a 26ft sailboat would be on an awful long trailer, perhaps too long for a QX4.
not all QX4s with a "tow package" came with the trans cooler. some dealerships fitted the receiver hitch, but that's it. it's easy to spot a trans cooler though. just pop the hood, and look behind the grille, in front of the AC condenser on the lower-left corner. the auxiliary trans cooler would be a 6x14in (roughly) radiator with two hard lines coming out the top of it.
anyhow, if you insist on using this vehicle as your tow rig, i'd recommend getting the rear helper bags from AirLift or the heavy-duty non-lift rear coils from 4x4Parts.com. also, you'll need to get your trailer brake hookup installed.
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mebeshopping
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Re: (alexf20c)
Thanks for the reply. I guess I should have mentioned the sailboat is Macgregor 26x. It is water ballast and weighs in at 3500 pounds (weight without water ballast and including the trailer), tounge weight is about 200-300 pounds (depends how I load the boat). I tow it exactly twice a year once to the marina and then home from the marina at the end of the year. I currently tow it with the wife's Lexus '02 RX300 (it is maxed out with the towing capacity at 3500).
Re: (mebeshopping)
Don't they advertise that the mcgregor is so light that you can tow it with a Taurus?
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Densetsu
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Prev: 2003 Nissan Pathfinder Chilkoot - Location: Edmonton, AB
Re: Shopping - General Questions (mebeshopping)
I've towed a few things in the short time I've had my '03 Pathy. Never had an issue with anything that was under 5000lbs (on flat land); as you approach 5000lbs it take a bit more effort on the engine's part but there's still plenty of power left. For comparison, I towed my friend's 3000lbs boat in the mountains and the Pathy handled the inclines just fine.
The only time I really felt the Pathy struggling was when I was towing a load of topsoil. It had tough time accelerating up to highway speeds, but that was because the dirt + trailer was 7500lbs. Of course, officially I don't recommend this, but if you keep your acceleration / braking gentle and turn O/D off, you can do the odd short haul.
The only time I really felt the Pathy struggling was when I was towing a load of topsoil. It had tough time accelerating up to highway speeds, but that was because the dirt + trailer was 7500lbs. Of course, officially I don't recommend this, but if you keep your acceleration / braking gentle and turn O/D off, you can do the odd short haul.
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mebeshopping
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Re: (chaonis)
Only a fool would tow a 26' boat with a ford Taurus, no matter what it weighs. It is a good little boat and it is easy to tow around, but some of the manufactures claims are just garbage. We sail it on Lake Michigan but by no means is it a blue water type boat.
I like my tow vehicle to weigh more than the item being towed. In all reality the boat probably weighs more toward 3800 pounds. The QX4 (4074) weighs a few more pounds than the Lexus (3924) so it would meet my requirements of being heavier than the towed item. Granted the wheel base is short, but the QX4 has a 3” longer wheel base than the RX 300.
Thank you all for your input. I will probably go see and test drive a QX4 to see how I like it. I just can’t pass up the prices on these cars compared to what is out there.
I like my tow vehicle to weigh more than the item being towed. In all reality the boat probably weighs more toward 3800 pounds. The QX4 (4074) weighs a few more pounds than the Lexus (3924) so it would meet my requirements of being heavier than the towed item. Granted the wheel base is short, but the QX4 has a 3” longer wheel base than the RX 300.
Thank you all for your input. I will probably go see and test drive a QX4 to see how I like it. I just can’t pass up the prices on these cars compared to what is out there.