i used my friend 2008 frontier many times with a same engine and manual 6 speed transmission. Wanst bad for towing.

 

Question for all of you - is it possible to keep the total weight of trailer + Evo (stock weight) at ~4500 lbs? I have an Ecoboost Flex that is rated for 4500 lbs and I'm pretty confident it would pull the 5000 lbs that has been mentioned for an open-trailer setup, but I'd like to keep it within specs if possible.

l8r)

 

A stock-ish evo RS will be a bit over 3000lbs. but you also have to add in all your gear, extra wheels, gas, ect.....

If you had an aluminum flatbed trailer, then maybe, but I'm willing to bet you'll still be a touch over.

The lightest trailer i could find was an aluminum open center, and that was still around 1000lbs.

 

My truck's capacity on paper is 4600, trailer is 1700, car is 3160, tools/payload is an easy 2-300 lbs. Ya it'll do it, but Trans temp is the kicker.

But on the RV comment, THAT is the best suggestion yet. Get a C-Class with a Diesel

 

Worth to mention the tounge weight too , since we talking about towing and hauling stuff etc to the track.
Many many times over looked factor , and one of the most important to prevent swaying etc. is the toung weight. This whole thing is about a proper towing set up, if you like it that way.
The trailer plus the car most likely will be very close to the limit of your car. If you carry tools etc , make sure you know the whole thing is also will effect for your car max payload, so as the tounge weight of your trailer.
Yourself + tools + equipment, and what ever you will bring + toung weight is all adds up for your car max payload weight...
Just let not forget that part either.

 

I use a 2007 silverado with the 5.3 v8. Right now I'm using my co-drivers closed deck steel 18' trailer, which is about 2500# by itself if I remember correctly. With my 3025# car, an extra set of wheels, water sprayers, 20gal of fuel, grill, ez-up.... a truck bed full of stuff for a weekend autox event, I have gotten anywhere from 11-13mpg. The big difference is how I drive. If I cruise at 65 and don't push the hills, I get about 13. Normal driving (70-75 mph) and keeping speed up most hills I've been high 11's to 12mpg. On the occasional "need to get home by xxx time" 80mph highway trips, It's been low 11's to high 10's mpg.

Overall, the truck pulls pretty well. The 5.3 is not a torque monster, but it gets the job done well enough for me. The truck is very stable, even when at higher speeds. The key as others have mentioned is placing the load correctly on the trailer. It's also helpful to have a decent proportional brake controller.



For long trips the top wing element will come off. For local (couple hour or less) I just set it to lowest aoa.

 

12 valve Cummins, it never quits.

with an aluminum trailer with a 1g on it I averaged around the fuel economy I get in my Evo

But seriously I got almost 19mpg towering 100 miles on flat ground and highway

 

^ My truck doesn't even get 19 mpg by itself on the highway...at least DE, MD, PA highways. Maybe if it was in the mid-west.

 

I towed this weekend with a 09 Durango Hybrid (yes i said hybrid). 14.9mpg, open steel trailer. It pulled very well.

 

Assuming with the tow button on it doesn't really "hybrid" at all?

 

with the tow button on, it will never shut off the engine, but it still does use the electric motor as an assist. Was very impressed with how well it towed.

 

Towing with a 2011 F-150 Ecoboost with tow package
Towing Evo X GSR + Trailer that is almost 1800 pounds
extra set of wheels
Gas
Tools / Etc.

And good mileage to boot. Averaged about 15-16mpg highway at 65-70mph

 

traded this on last week and picked up a 2010 ford diesel. night and day difference!

picking up a trailer today, will post pics soon

 

Good luck, mine was TRASH. I'd never own another. I just traded it in with the trans going out at 32,000 miles. Smoked, would drop power and barely move. Center console broke.

 

I blew one of my leveling shocks in the rear on the escalade. Put an evo on the trailer and I think it was forward a little too much and BOOM! Does not help that all 4 shocks have seen better days. She gets to pull my evo down to Boostin Performance next week.