Towing with QX60 Hybrid

11964 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Rooster, Oct 18, 2015

Rooster

Discussion Starter · Jan 22, 2015 (Edited)

I'm moving back East from CA in 2 months, and I will need to tow a small 4X8 U-haul trailer loaded with "a few must have personal items" until the moving company unpacks us at our new residence--I live with 3 females, nuff said.

Looks like the towing capacity on a 2014 AWD Hybrid like mine is 3500 lbs, and the trailer I want to tow should be less that 2000 lbs fully loaded. So I intend to get a dealer installed hitch/finisher/wiring harness on my QX60 next month...which brings up the following question:

Does anyone have a trailer hitch on their QX60 Hybrid, and have you pulled a trailer with it? If so, how did it perform and what kind of gas mileage did you observe? Did you experience any issues?

Just curious.

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avishal26

· #2 · Jan 23, 2015

I don't have a hybrid but I have towed a 4x6 trailer from U-Haul - no problems at all... maybe 10% less mileage.

I have a 2014 QX60 AWD that is rated for 5,000 lbs. Yours should be rated for 5,000 lbs as well if you have the same tranny. Your engine (being smaller displacement) might work harder but no reason the mechanics wouldn't allow you to tow that much.

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Rooster

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 23, 2015

avishal26,

Thanks for the post. I too thought it was rated for 5000 lbs, but according to page 9-6 of the QX60 Hybrid Owner's Manuel Supplement, it is rated for 3502 lbs, a tongue load 350 lbs, and max combined gross weight of 8800 lbs:

https://owners.infinitiusa.com/content/manualsandguides/QX60_hybrid/2014/2014-qx60-hybrid-owner-manual.pdf

That said, I am under the impression the tow rating is dependent on the CVT "belt" used, not the engine, so I wonder if that means the hybrid CVT "belt" is different than the one used in the V-6 CVT rated at 5000 lbs?

Now you've got me thinking because I have not experienced any "shuttering". Come to think of it, has any QX60 Hybrid owner experienced any transmission shuttering? Is it possible the Hybrid does not have the shuttering issue due to a difference in the CVT design?

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yeller

· #4 · Jan 25, 2015

The lower tow-weight is related to the smaller hybrid engine (4-banger). I wouldn't worry about the tranny, in fact I would consider it a good "test" to find any issues related to the belts. Better to identify problems while under warranty.

Get the dealer-installed hitch, DON'T install the U-Haul hitch. Nearly the same price, looks ugly, wiring isn't well integrated, and did I mention it looks ugly?

Make sure your tow-ball fits the trailer in advance. Nothing sucks more than trying to find a good match the day of your trip.

Depending on the altitude of your road-trip and number of people inside, you shouldn't push the QX too hard up hills and don't ride the brakes down back down (downshift so the revs slow the QX). Your brakes and rotors will thank you.

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InfinitiFan

· #5 · Jan 27, 2015

some people even go as far as getting transmission coolers for towing

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yeller

· #6 · Jan 27, 2015

InfinitiFan said:
some people even go as far as getting transmission coolers for towing

Good point... but if he's only making one road-trip I'm not sure the tranny-cooler is worth it.

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Rooster

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 27, 2015

Yeller/InfinitiFan,

Thanks for he comments. I'm only getting the Infiniti hitch installed (including the wiring harness and finisher), no way I'm getting a U-Haul hitch installed. I've already done some checking, and one of the local dealers here in LA quoted me $850 plus tax which isn't bad. Although it's a dealer installed hitch, it the exact same installation as the factory hitch. Neither the factory or dealer installed hitch has a transmission cooler...I asked. I was told as long as I stay under 8800 lbs gross, I won't need a transmission cooler -- and I'm not too jazzed at the thought of having an aftermarket cooler installed.

It may only be one road trip, but it's going to be a duesy. California to Georgia, 2300 miles. I'm going rent and tow the small 4X6 U-Haul box trailer which weights 800 lbs empty, so the gross trailer weight (with load) should be under 2000 lbs, and the gross vehicle weight (including trailer/passengers/cat/etc) should be under 8800 lbs. I'm also going to get a weight ticket, so I'll have documentation to prove it -- just in case. (I have a 6 year/100K mile bumper to bumper warranty -- just in case Infiniti is wrong)

I've had no mechanical issues with my QX60 Hybrid, so I don't expect any problems. I've been pleased with how well the CVT handles the hills in and around LA, it's very smooth. No jerky down shifts, just higher engine RPM and HP as the CVT changes gear ratios. I'm thinking the CVT will do great with the trailer too -- I expect the engine to turn higher, but optimum RPM for the load/incline.

BTW, the Hybrid is interesting on a downhill incline. It will use the generator to slow the decent speed and charge the battery with the engine off until it reaches the battery's energy storage capacity...which doesn't take long (about a 400-500 ft elevation change), then it engages engine braking. I don't intend the ride the brakes on I-40 (route I'm taking) if I can help it. I'll definitely shift into manual mode and "downshift" into a lower simulated gear if I have too. That said, If I'm approaching red-line and still not slowing down...well sometimes you have to brake!

Cheers

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BobOB

· #8 · Jan 27, 2015

I'd be curious to hear how your trip goes and if there are any things that you experience out of the ordinary. We've traveled cross country with a fully loaded car and cargo box and the car performed well. We also used Costco and Sams Club for our fuel, food and potty stops which really worked out well for us. Clean, safe and inexpensive way to travel.

Good luck on your move and drive safe. You'll have to keep us posted.

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Rooster

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 28, 2015

Gladly, I'll also let you guys know the gross weight of the trailer and vehicle, and the MPG I achieve with my Hybrid. I'm going to try and run 70-75 MPH the whole way.

You'll have to be a little patient though, I'm not leaving until 15 March.

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Rooster

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 18, 2015 (Edited)

Posting this for information purposes, in case anyone is curious how the QX60 tows:

This past summer, I pulled a 5x8 U-Haul trailer from Warner Robins, GA to Fredericksburg, VA with my 2014 QX60 Hybrid. Here are the results as track via Fuelly:

Trailer weighed 2,000 lbs, I used cruise control set to 70 MPH, and burned regular (87 Octane) fuel. I had my family in the car (wife, 2 daughters, and a cat), and I traveled I-20 North, to I-95 North.

Trailer weighed 2,000 lbs, I used cruise control set to 70 MPH, and burned regular (87 Octane) fuel. I had my family in the car (wife, 2 daughters, and a cat), and I traveled I-20 North, to I-95 North.

Fuel used: 38.05 Gallons
Distance: 552.9 Miles
Measured Fuel Economy: 14.53 MPG

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yeller

· #11 · Oct 18, 2015

Any idea what you would have seen if you weren't pulling the trailer, maybe 25 mpg? 14.5 mpg doesn't seem that bad considering the trailer has the aerodynamics of a loaf of bread.

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Rooster

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 18, 2015

yeller said:
Any idea what you would have seen if you weren't pulling the trailer, maybe 25 mpg? 14.5 mpg doesn't seem that bad considering the trailer has the aerodynamics of a loaf of bread.

A very good guess. On the same trip without a trailer, the data I've recorded on Fuelly (10 fill ups) shows I've averaged 24.2 MPG (3946.7 miles / 162.83 gallons of 87 Octane) with the cruise control set at 75 MPH and the A/C on auto. The actual MPG spread I measured has been a min of 23.39 MPG to a max of 25.45 MPG.

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