Anyone successfully tow with a Nissan X Trail

L&B

L&B

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 October 2012
Messages
417
Location
Cloud Cuckoo
Visit site
I'm exploring the possibilities of different 4x4's for towing once I have secured my b+e.
I don't have a huge budget so I am looking at an older (04 - 07) Manual 2.2l Nissan X Trail dci sport... (I have been looking at Sorento's but have been told for my year of budget they have had issues with the ToD [tourque on demand] systems and the 4wd not kicking in which is off putting).

Though I don't know if the X Trail will have enough grunt to pull my two ponies. Does anyone successfully do this? Tell me more about it? What combination/set up do you have?


If anyone is interested in the numbers, I will usually only travel one pony at once BUT since I'm going to the effort of the b+e I would like the option to tow two.

Nissan X Trail Max towing capacity 2000kgs
Nissan X Trail Gross vehicle weight 2090kgs
Each pony approx 475kgs (x2 on occassion)
Ifor 505 unladen wiehgt 920kg
Ifor 505 Max gross weight 2340kg

Above all: am I legal and am I safe?

If the above doesn't work, can anyone offer a combination that may?

Thanks in advance!!
 
I tow with one.
I tow a 17'2 750kgs horse with a Cheval Liberte Mare and Foal Trailer that weighs about 900kgs so I am towing about 1800kgs and it does OK, I wouldn't want to tow much heavier with it even though I have 200kgs to spare.
 
I have an 07 XTrail. dci. Diesel, Manual. 2.2L. Haven't towed a horse trailer with it, but have towed our boat several times. Boat + trailer easily 1500kgs. OH (expert) very impressed with it. Tows very well indeed. Just passed 200,000 miles too!
 
I tow my 15hh in a IW 401. Mines the 09 model but i had the 2.2 model prior to this. Both tow really well, although not sure I'd want to tow 2 horses with it but its certainly fine with 1. (I did have to have a new intercooler as they are prone for that going and rear arches rust easily apparently)
 
L&B said:
I'm exploring the possibilities of different 4x4's for towing once I have secured my b+e.
I don't have a huge budget so I am looking at an older (04 - 07) Manual 2.2l Nissan X Trail dci sport... (I have been looking at Sorento's but have been told for my year of budget they have had issues with the ToD [tourque on demand] systems and the 4wd not kicking in which is off putting).

Though I don't know if the X Trail will have enough grunt to pull my two ponies. Does anyone successfully do this? Tell me more about it? What combination/set up do you have?


If anyone is interested in the numbers, I will usually only travel one pony at once BUT since I'm going to the effort of the b+e I would like the option to tow two.

Nissan X Trail Max towing capacity 2000kgs
Nissan X Trail Gross vehicle weight 2090kgs
Each pony approx 475kgs (x2 on occassion)
Ifor 505 unladen wiehgt 920kg
Ifor 505 Max gross weight 2340kg

Above all: am I legal and am I safe?

If the above doesn't work, can anyone offer a combination that may?

Thanks in advance!!
Click to expand...
920+ 475 + 475 = 1870 so well within the 2000 limit

Legal under B+E licence/provisional rules
 
For B+E that is a legal combination. With both ponies in the trailer you are very close to the 2t capacity of the car (1870kg), personally I would not be happy to be that close to my car's limit, even though it is under 2t and legal. For one horse/pony, I would be happy with the set up.
I guess you need to look at how often you would take both ponies and how far you would be going.

ETA when I had a 4x4 and trailer (currently have a 3.5t lorry) I had a Jeep Cherokee and towed a Bateson Ascot with it. The Jeep had a 3.5t tow capacity so I had oodles to play with (B+E licence) as the trailer was only 925kg unladen. I towed 2 horses in it on a few occasions and it was easy for the car, my horse is approx 550kg (16.3hh TB) and I took another similar sized horse so was carrying about 1.1/1.2t of horse, plus tack and water.
 
Last edited:
I agree with AandK, it is close to the GVW. The weight of the X Trail is around 1550 kg. Even if you add in the weight of two people, tack, full fuel tank etc you are probably still looking at towing a weight that is greater than that of the vehicle, which is not recommended. Caravan club recommend 85% towed maximum, and up to 100% for experienced towers, but that is with a 'dead' load. My trailer centre recommends a maximum of 75% for a 'live' load. Note, these are opinions, not the law.
 
I had one and loved it. It towed great and I only had to get rid when I wrote it off in the snow! However I only ever towed one horse )although a bigger horse) and I wouldn't risk towing 2. Mine was an older one and so could tow 2.2 tonne but I personally would not like tonne towing at around their maximum capacity.
 
phizz4 said:
I agree with AandK, it is close to the GVW. The weight of the X Trail is around 1550 kg. Even if you add in the weight of two people, tack, full fuel tank etc you are probably still looking at towing a weight that is greater than that of the vehicle, which is not recommended. Caravan club recommend 85% towed maximum, and up to 100% for experienced towers, but that is with a 'dead' load. My trailer centre recommends a maximum of 75% for a 'live' load. Note, these are opinions, not the law.
Click to expand...

We must remember that modern vehicles are designed to tow using all of the towing capacity at minimum vehicle weight HOWEVER that does not mean it is the safest way to tow

Caravans are a different matter due to their design which is why the caravan should never be more than 85% of the weight of the towing vehicle at the time of it being towed
 
I have towed a double trailer with 1 horse in it and my single trailer plus 1 horse with mine(07 2.2dci model) and it's great. A couple of times I towed 2 when I had the double trailer. Although I was just within the 2000kg I didn't really like the way it felt.....a bit laboured and under powered and I wouldn't be keen to do that again. It's perfect for 1 horse tho and fairly good on fuel when used as an everyday car.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top