Towing with the Versa HB?

[BlackMetal]

anyone tow with their Versa?I see there is a hitch receiver avail for the HB. any comments appreciated?

This would be as a back up to my regular tow vehicle, no more than 900 - 1000#`s

[silverarrow27]

Your Versa should be more than capable to pull that weight.

[VersaCality]

I am new to the Versa, so I should be asking questions instead of answering them, but I read in the Nissan general manual that...DO NOT tow anything with the 370Z or a Versa. Someone else noted that they attached a tow hitch to their car in order to carry a bike and that voided the warranty. Like I said, I am not an expert, so others input or corrections are welcome. I too would like to be able to use it for attaching my 200 pound 4x8 trailer so I can haul light loads.

[kerrton]

Just check the towing specs very carefully, it's located on the inside of the driver's door sill on a metal placard. I own a Rogue FWD CVT and it is only rated to tow maximum 1000 lbs, and I have a larger engine and transmission. I was disappointed in this, as I only learned about it after buying the vehicle, I just assumed it could tow a moderate 2500 lbs at least considering it's size, but I was wrong.

For your Versa, the conventional 4-spd auto or even manual may be able to tow more, perhaps around 1000 lbs but I'd guess that the CVT owners will be out of luck. The CVT is not designed for towing, so the answer to your question depends on which transmission you have. Check your door placard and let us know, I'm curious about this too. Good luck.
Modified by kerrton at 8:46 AM 7/14/2009

[BlackMetal]

It`s the auto 4spd transmission. I don`t see anything listed on the tag on the door jamb. just GVW.I wouldn`t be towing on a regular basis, just in case I need to move my trailer/ski from one location to another. That wouldn`t surprise me if the warranty was voided bc of a hitch, good grief...

[kerrton]

As long as you don't exceed the maximum tow rating the warranty won't be voided. My advice would be to just give your Nissan Service Dept. a quick call, get them to look up the tow capacity and ask them about the waranty concerns. The 4-speed should be able to tow 1000 lbs no problem, especially considering you won't be going far.

[VersaCality]

I appreciate the tip. Calling the dealerships service dept. is a good idea. So I did, and bingo, yes the warranty if voided if you have a tow hitch installed on a Versa. He didn't say, oh yes only if it is a CVT, he just said that if a tow hitch is installed on a Versa it voids the warranty period. I only used my light trailer with my previous vehicle only ocassionally, but it is a bummer that I cannot even do that. I still think the Versa is worth it and I am going to take delivery on it. Now let me see, which of my friends has a car with a tow hitch. Let alone I have a 1987 Donzi with a 350 mag that weighs 2600 pounds that needs to be hauled around a few times per year. Fortunately I have a buddy with a Jeep Grand Cherokee that can easily handle the weight, and loves to go boating.I figure if it can seat up to 5 adults, it can easily handle 1000 pounds. I think Nissan got tired of replacing transmissions on Versa's from guys who were hauling around their heavy boats with it. Someone, not knowing, suggested to me that I could put a new set of brakes on my trailer, and haul my boat with it. My response was oh yeah, that way it would stop good enough, but I could just see burning up the trans trying to get it out of the water on a steep ramp, let alone that the car weighs about the same as the boat. It would almost qualify as the tail wagging the dog.

[matt_a]

Iyes the warranty if voided if you have a tow hitch installed on a Versa. He didn't say, oh yes only if it is a CVT, he just said that if a tow hitch is installed on a Versa it voids the warranty period.

Actually, the act of putting a trailer hitch on a Versa cannot and will not void the warranty....towing with it can though. I asked about this a while back because I wanted to get a hitch-mounted bike rack. I was told that if I didn't connect a wireing harness for towing then they couldn't claim any damage was caused by towing. Bottom line: The book says not to tow with a Versa and if you do, any damage caused by it won't be covered. It sucks because I'm sure the car could handle small to medium loads, but I won't risk it.

[NODES]

Darn, I was hoping to pull a seadoo....I guess that is out of the question

[shorside]

the thing about towing with the V is that eurape and asia offer a tow hich for the V and its only rated for about 1000 lbs if you do the conversion but the reason it is not offered in north amirica is becose nissan thought that cars sold in the stats might also be sold in canada and thay think that people in the us are stuped and try to pull more than what its rated for plus thay whanted to sell the V with the cvt's in the us more but if you whant to see the manual and the tow hitch that is made for the V put out buy nissan look at other contury nissan web sits thats how i found out

[BlackMetal]

Here is where I purchased most of my hitches. shown are 3 avail for the versaWow, how`s about 2k capacity...LOL...

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-...a.htm

[MinisterofDOOM]

Remember that engine power and transmission durability are not the only factors in towing capacity, especially in light cars. Trucks can tow a lot not because they make tons of power, but because they have BEEFY ladder frames designed for towing. Modern passenger cars (Crown Victoria being the only remaining exception) are not built that way. They have much less durable unibodies instead of ladder frames. These unibodies can be deformed if exposed to stresses beyond what they were designed for. The car does have a rear "subframe" that anchors to the unibody, but those anchor points are not designed with towing stresses in mind either.

But automatic transmissions in cars are also not designed for towing. They'll overheat rapidly (especially if allowed to operate in overdrive while towing) and you could be looking at transmission failure from a single trip depending on the weight you're towing and the terrain you're towing on. Even pickup truck transmissions will overheat easily if towing in overdrive.

Towing with any unibody passenger car (and that includes modern unibody SUVs), especially one with an automatic transmission, is very ill advised.

[GapRunr]

The reason that towing with your Versa is not allowed has nothing to do with the ability of the car, the strength of the unibody, the transmission, or any of the other reasons mentioned so far. The simple truth is that cars like the Versa are not allowed to tow because litigation is out of control in this country. If you were an idiot and tried to tow a 30 foot cabin cruiser with your Versa and you killed yourself or someone else, you could sue Nissan USA for their negligence to put a sticker specifically forbidding you to tow a 30 foot cabin cruiser. Frivolous law suits are why we can't tow in this country.

Consider this.. the Versa in other countries has a tow rating of 1323 pounds for a regular trailer, and up to 2204 pounds if the trailer is equipped with electric brakes. This is true for most small cars in the US today. Heck, in the UK a Honda Jazz, known as a Fit in the US market, can tow 2204 pounds if the trailer has electric brakes.

[Stumpkin]

I also believe like GapRunr it has more to do about lawyers and litigation (due to stupid people towing) then it has to do with towing with a “V.” The rest of the world can tow with a “V” but we can’t (U.S.) however all the hitch companies make hitches for the “V” go figure! What ticks me off is I want to put a hitch on to use for a receiver type bicycle rack use only. I’m told if I do this I void the warranty. Well once the warranty is off – on goes the receiver hitch for the bikes.

[BlackMetal]

the last few days I have been driving my wifes Versa to work to save on gas. well let me tell you,,, this little car boogies!!! when pulling out on a highway I was very surprised to see it`s pep and I was well over the speed limit in no time... most of the time the car was used for grocery`s and when we go out and about compared to my gas guzzling E250 van. So the last few days it got it`s legs stretched out a bit. did the first oil change yesterday @ 3000K, that was unbelievably easy!...LOL...

anyways, I can`t for the life of me think that this car can`t handle towing a jet ski, and I can understand the political BS prohibitting us in doing so... good grief...

I may just put a hitch on this yet as a back up, just in case I need to move my ski...and I would also like to get another Nissan sometime/someday maybe a Altima for commuting and retire the van...

[steed77]

I think it's the brakes also.. IMO they get hot and fade fast. Maybe a better pad would help.

[GapRunr]

I think it's the brakes also.. IMO they get hot and fade fast. Maybe a better pad would help.

Agreed. I've got one of those 4' x 8' folding utility trailers with a plywood base that I used to pull with my 2000 Civic Hatchback. I upgraded the hubs of the trailer to electric brakes, and it's a non issue now to pull a 600 pound motorcycle on the trailer.

GapRunr

[BlackMetal]

well it saddened me to get rid of the 07 Van. It served the purpose for the last few years for work and towing a jet ski... basically a rolling dressing room and lounge to hang out...LOL...

so we decided on an 09 Altima Coupe as it`s replacement vehicle... 6sp, yeah!!!

[nayslo]

I got uhaul to install a hitch on my Hatchback versa and I towed a Seadoo and trailer no problem on an incline out of the water, no high revving or wheel spinning

[kerrton]

Wow that's really cool, hearing this makes me more confident towing with my Rogue, it too has a conservative tow rating of just 1000 lbs and I agree it's probably due largely to Nissan being highly conservative to avoid liabilities and to compensate for stupid people and their tendancy to break limits and blame others when their stupidity blows up in their face.

[BlackMetal]

well looks like well over a year since this thread. Towed all season with the AC no issues. but I am still contemplating installing a hitch on the Versa HB...
according to etrailer.com the wiring is plug and play which is a hell of a lot easier than hardwiring the AC.ooof
my only drawback is that the right side of the trailer hitch is connected to the factory tie down/tow hook with one grade 5 bolt, yikes...
got to be a better way...

[kvg]

Nissan says, DO NOT TOW.
post5728663.html?hilit=towing#p5728663

[BlackMetal]

pituee on NIssan!!! they didn`t buy the car! I did... and as long as I see it is allowed in other countries and the vehicle actually has a tow limit listed I can not see why I couldn`t tow a ski 100 feet to the ramp once a week...

I do not have the dreaded CVT, I have the 4spd auto...

http://www.caradvice.com.au/60794/nissa ... -launched/

2010 Nissan Tiida Ti Hatch; 1.8-litre four-cylinder petrol ... Electronic Stability Control is available on Tiidas in the ... Tow Capacity: 1000kg/600kg braked/unbraked

[ADOversa]

Nissan says, DO NOT TOW.
post5728663.html?hilit=towing#p5728663

X2
Its not just the brakes (which barely keep up with spirited driving in some twisties), its not just the transmission (clutch) or lack of rear subframe... its weight too. Its just not heavy enough to make a decent tow vehicle for anything more than the little trailer you might tow behind your lawn tractor. Try keeping control of the thing when a wind gust catches the trailer, or regaining control when the trailer starts to walk. You may not have the power to pull out of it.

I thought about getting a hitch VERY breifly on my Versa to tow a jetski. Then I realized that its not a good idea. I either use my parents outback to tow (rated by manufacturer for 2000 lbs) or the truck. I suggest you just buy an old beater pickup instead of risking your car, and even life towing with a Versa.

[BlackMetal]

NOTED! thanks...

we are not talking 100 mile trip here.. we are talking 6-700 pounds 2 seater for 15 miles max, and 100 feet minimum, depending on where I want to launch from...
what kind of ski do you have?

my Altima 6spd tow with absolutely no problems, so no need to get a junker...

[Silver Eagle]

I have a TIIDA 1.6 sve Auto and the towing capacity is stated as 1000kg with braking and 600kg without braking also tow bars are available for the Tiida here in Scotland and Ireland. An old method of judging what you can tow ( rough guide ) is not more than the weight of the car and half that if what you are towing has no brakes also what you are towing should be no longer 1.5 x your car length. As mentioned on earlier threads local legal requirements need to be taken into consideration or pop goes your insurance.

[Eemrek]

Tiida 1.8 is 1,000 kg (2,204 lbs) with brake-assist and 600 kg (1,322 lbs) without.

Yes, the frame will handle those capacities.
No, Nissan North American lawyers decided the Versa can't tow here.

Plus, it would cut into Rogue & Murano sales if they advertise the Versa/Tiida as having towing capabilities.

Cheers,
Eemrek

[BlackMetal]

Silver Eagle, you think the car insurance company will not pay out a claim if there were an incident while towing, even tho it may be no fault of your own???

[mitchellhuth]

I've been thinking of taking Nissan to court over this issue. How could they justify a tow rating in one country and none in the US in court? I wonder if I could do it in small claims, anybody a lawyer on this forum? (They are probably on the 370Z page:))
I did talk to Nissan HQ here in the states. Their lame-o story is that Nissan USA is a separate corporation than Nissan Europe and the engineers here in the USA have evaluated the Versa and gave it a "Do not tow" rating.
I spent 6 years living in Germany and saw some crazy towing situations there. I'm thinking seriously of canceling my extended warranty and using the refund to buy a used engine and just keep it in the garage as a spare.

[Andrews Chalmers]

I've been thinking of taking Nissan to court over this issue. How could they justify a tow rating in one country and none in the US in court?
I wonder if I could do it in small claims, anybody a lawyer on this forum? (They are probably on the 370Z page:))

You've suffered no injury, what do you have to sue about? You can take anyone to court. But you'll just be laughed out of court.

As for the decision? Simple business decision. The specs are all public information, you as a consumer relied on that information, and decided to pay a price agreed. That price reflects Nissan's engineering research, risk management, production cost, profit margin, and ultimately resulted in a business decision.

You can risk towing all you want - just don't come back crying foul when you have damaged the engine or transmission with overheating.