silverkorn

iTrader: (3)

I'm looking at buying two waverunners with a dual trailer and worried about using the maxima to tow them around town, nothing further then about 25 miles.

Each waverunner is about 800lbs, rated weight, and the trailer comes in around 450lbs putting me at 2050lbs not figuring on smaller things like fluid weight in the skis.

has anyone done towing over 2000lbs on a max, and how did it handle it?

i have recently upgraded my pads to a better compund, the tranny has Amsoil in it which i'll probably change when i change my oil, and the rear shocks im going to replace as they have gotten soft.

which higher duty hitches do you guys use and how was it?

kcowden

iTrader: (2)

Good question.... I just got a trailer hitch for my car, which has a 2000 lb towing capacity, because I'll be towing my dirt bike. It sure doesn't weight 800 lbs so I should be ok. I think the towing capacity is 2000 lbs and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. With that much weight it will steer and brake much differently, but if you stay on top of it you should be ok. I'd install a tranny cooler if you plan on towing them often, especially in the hot summer. Did you install you own hitch?

silverkorn

iTrader: (3)

well i havnt put the hitch on just yet, im just doing the math and seeing if i really want to use my max as a local tower right now.

i did find that Valley Hitch has a Class II hitch with a 3500lbs and 310 tongue limit but thats just for the hardware. they still say to go by the owners manual about what you can and cant do with towing. the owners manual says you can only do 1000lbs towing and 100lbs tongue weight, but im sure thats for long hauls at highway speeds and taking a low estimate in regards to weight limits.

oh and i think my tranny will be ok since i have a manual, the clutch is the first thing to go when pulling too much weight.

as it stands right now i think im going to do it, but im going to look into getting a trailer brake system, since its recommended when you go over 1500lbs, and upgrade my now soft suspension and with that i think i'll be ok

kcowden

iTrader: (2)

I think you'll be ok for short hauls. Got under my car yesterday to see how the install may go to find out that our bumber is one fully boxed piece of aluminum with openings at either end. Not sure how I'm going to get the mounting hardware inside the bumper. This will be a test of my mechanical ingenuity... if you have any suggestions please let me know. I have a few that I'll try and if they work I'll post them. Have fun.

GBAUER

iTrader: (2)

I think the hitch will look great with a set of 32" M/T's to fill out the wheel wells!

Seriously, though, the manual states that you can tow 2000lbs.

mikelly

Follow what the manual says MAXIMUM Towing load: 1000lb. MAXIMUM Tongue load:
110lb. Another thing to remember is for every 1000ft in altitude you lose 10 percent
of your 1000lb per towing load. So at 4000ft you lose close to 40 percent of your
towing capability. You never tow at MAXIMUM Towing load but approximately 75 percent
of max towing. If you keep all this in mind your transmission will last a long time.

Mike

Gears & Crosses

I am all for towing with a Maxima. I will probably be doing this soon with a small utility trailer (probably 5x8) for trips to Home Depot etc. I have one concern. Right now I use my 2002 SE to carpool with. I have three other people in the car. Our weights vary between 170 to 210 lbs each. Also we each bring small gym type bags to work in the trunk. In this state the rear suspension bottoms out VERY easily. We go over a section of highway that has dips in it and we bottom out pretty bad. I am wondering what it would be like for you guys towing more weight. Keep in mind I also have a 1997 SE and I use it to car pool with sometimes. The bottoming on that car is not as bad and not really noticeable. The 2002 is bad enough for me have to do something it. I may write a separate post about this later. My point is I dont think 2k2 cars can support very much weight. Any ideas on fixing this?

Also I recommend a trans. cooler to those with Auto's if this wasn't already mentioned.
Gears

kratz74

No the Max cannot safely tow that much weight. Just b/c it has the power doesnt mean it is safe. Look at the vehicle's GVWR thats the max it should have in it or behind it. If you are towing a few blocks, thats one thing but out in traffic-its another. The suspension, frame and brakes of the Maxima are not designed for this. Also to tow that weight properly ou should have at least 10% of the loads weight resting on the tongue. At over 200 pound on the ball, you have almost doubled the MAX towing capacity and MAX tongue weight.

One more thing to consider for anyone that tows like this-you get into an accident, besides killing yourself or someone else, you may be liable for punitive damages for acting so recklessly. Is it worth it?

MaximaPolak

iTrader: (9)

Check your manual...there is a section for towing in there...

NismoMaxm

thats just awful to tow with a max hahaha but if you have to you have to. Waverunners are where its at too man. have fun!

silverkorn

iTrader: (3)

its not like im going to use my maxima all the time to tow, just incase i cant use someone else's truck and going to the local lake. i would hate having to get a single trailer and make two trips cause i cant make the one.