The Nissan Frontier is one of the more popular international midsize pickup truck that has found a loyal following in the United States domestic market.
With so many people driving them as work and commuter vehicles, and so many people taking to the adventures offered by the RV experience, it’s no surprise that you might be wondering if a Nissan Frontier can tow a camper?
When properly equipped, New Nissan Frontier has a towing capacity that ranges between 6,250-6,720 lbs. Depending on the specific truck configuration (cab style, bed length, engine etc.) Nissan Frontier can safely pull most teardrop trailers, small pop-campers and a few travel trailer that’s under 5,000 lbs.
If you’re looking for a mid-size pickup for towing, the Frontier is an excellent choice. Though as a compact light-duty pickup truck, there are some limitations to the Nissan Frontier that need to be taken into account when choosing a camper to pair it with.
Pushing the too hard on its upper limits can lead to some serious safety issues.
To help you choose the best camper to pair with a Nissan Frontier, we decided to rollup our sleeves and take a closer look at the finer details of this intriguingly popular light-duty pickup.
The 2021 Nissan Frontier’s Specifications
The 2021 Nissan Frontier has enjoyed a few special upgrades that make it a little more robust than previous models.
Though it still can’t stand shoulder to shoulder with its bigger brother the Nissan Titan.
It’s also built on a similar chassis and frame platform as other popular vehicles in Nissan’s lineup including the Armada, the Pathfinder, and the popular Xterra.
The Nissan Frontier: Engines & Towing Capacity
The Nissan Frontier is available in five different trim levels include S, SV, Desert Runner, SL, and Pro-4X series, with two different cargo box sizes. The King Cab version of the Nissan Frontier has a 59.5-inch cargo box and the Crew Cab version of the Nissan Frontier has a 73.3-inch cargo box.
Though these aren’t the only two distinctions between the various trim levels of the Nissan Frontier, especially when you look at the towing capacity.
Depending on the model 2021 Frontier’s towing capacity ranges from 6,250 to 6,720 pounds in towing capacity. Towing capacity changes drastically depending on the Frontier model you choose.
Here’s a list of max towing capacity limits on each Frontier model:
- 2021 Nissan Frontier King Cab has a maximum towing capacity of up to 6,720 lbs.
- 2021 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab has a maximum towing capacity of up to 6,640 lbs.
- 2021 Nissan Frontier Long Bed has a maximum towing capacity of up to 6,500lbs.
The maximum payload capacity of these trim levels is rated to 1,460 lbs. This gives you the ability to haul a lot of gear in the box of the 2021 Nissan Frontier while still towing a modest-size camper behind it.
The 9-speed transmission does a great job of putting down the power generated from the 3.8-liter V6. This gives it the ability to make the most out of the 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque.
The Hitch On The 2021 Nissan Frontier was engineered to let you tow with confidence. It comes with a Class III Hitch Ball Mount that attaches to the tow hitch receiver. It is rated for towing up to 5,000 lbs.
It’s also worth noting that the 2021 Nissan Frontier’s Weight-distributing Hitch Ball Mount also helps improve handling when towing heavy loads over 5,000-pounds, which helps reduce the risk of trailer sway at highway speeds.
What Kind Of Gas Mileage Does The Nissan Frontier Get?
The 2021 Nissan Frontier is rated to get 16 miles per gallon in the city and roughly 21 miles per gallon on the highway.
Of course, it will get roughly 20 to 25% less fuel efficiency when you tow a camper behind it. Though this is true of pretty much most pickup trucks and SUVs that are used as tow vehicles.
Is The Nissan Frontier A Reliable Tow Vehicle?
Nissan in general has a reputation for reliable trucks and SUVs. While 2021 is an updated model without a lot of history behind it, you do get a relatively fuel-efficient light-duty pickup truck with the durable material build quality.
Just be mindful that it cannot do all the things you might expect from a full-size pickup truck like its bigger brother the Nissan Titan, or domestic counterparts like the Ford F-150, the Chevrolet Silverado, the GMC Sierra, or the Dodge Ram.
Can The Nissan Frontier Tow An RV?
Yes, you can absolutely tow an RV trailer with a Nissan Frontier. The question is how big of a trailer.
When equipped properly, the Nissan Frontier towing capacity can reach up to 6,720 pounds. So, you can definitely tow a travel trailer as long as it’s not very big.
What Size Camper Can A Nissan Frontier Pull?
The Nissan Frontier has a towing capacity of around 6,500 pounds and a maximum payload capacity of these trim levels is rated to 1,460-pounds. Frontier’s towing capacity can comfortably handle most teardrop campers and popup campers with ease.
It’s when we start moving into the world of travel trailers that we start to push the upper limits of the Nissan Frontier’s towing capabilities.
To put this in context the average weight of a teardrop trailer is typically 4,000-pounds or less. The average weight of a popup camper ranges from 1,180 to 2,700 lbs.
A lot of modest size travel trailers that can comfortably sleep a family of four weighs in at around 5,000-pounds or less.
4 Of the Best Camper You Can Tow With Nissan Frontier
Some of the most popular travel trailers that the Nissan Frontier can tow include:
Livin Lite CampliteTravel Trailer
With a dry weight of 2430-pounds this 16-foot long lightweight travel trailer can sleep 3 to 5 people comfortably, and is well within the towing capacity of the 2021 Nissan Frontier.
Lance Ultra Light Weight Travel Trailers
The 19-foot long version of this compact travel trailer has a dry weight of 2600-pounds and sleeps two to three people comfortably. It is comfortably within the towing capacity of the 2021 Nissan Frontier.
Forest River Flagstaff Micro-Lite Travel Trailer
The Flagstaff is one of Forest River’s most popular models with several iterations and floor plans.
The 20-foot version of the Forest River Flagstaff Micro-Lite tips the scales with a dry weight of a little over 3,120-pounds and can sleep 3 to 5 people comfortably.
It’s easy to tow with the 2021 Nissan Frontier and is designed to be comfortable for small families who love to travel.
Outfitter Caribou Lite 6.5 Travel Trailer
With a dry weight of only 950-pounds this13.5-foot long compact travel trailer can easily be towed by the 2021 Nissan Frontier as well as many other smaller lightweight pickup trucks.
It can sleep three to five people comfortably and has a reputation for tracking neatly behind the slightly smaller wheelbase turning radius of lightweight pickup trucks.
Does Cargo Capacity Of A Trailer Affect The Nissan Frontier’s Towing Capacity?
Cargo capacity, which is sometimes referred to as payload capacity can have a significant impact on a travel trailer’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
So, make sure you are paying attention to the gross weight rather than the dry weight of a camper when it comes time to load it.
If possible, try to travel with the fresh and wastewater storage tanks empty to help reduce the risk of trailer sway.
How Much Does The Nissan Frontier Cost?
A new 2021 Nissan Frontier costs between $25,000 to $30,000 depending on the trim level and the optional extras you select.
You can, of course, fine gently pre-owned models for less than that, though they won’t have the robust towing specifications that you get with the upgraded and updated 2021 levels of the Nissan Frontier.
Is The Nissan Frontier A Good Work Vehicle?
A lot of people gravitate toward the Nissan Frontier for its ability to double as a commuter vehicle or a light-duty work truck.
Depending on the trim level the 2021 Frontier has a payload capacity of between 1,316 to 1,867-pounds. This is typically sufficient for holding a typical load of lumber or basic construction equipment.
With a towing capacity of over 6,000-pounds, the Nissan Frontier can also tow a lot of equipment trailers.
This makes it a great option for a small family who needs a truck that can earn its keep working for a living and still have enough power on the weekends to bring a popup camper, teardrop camper, or a lightweight travel trailer.
What Is The Nissan Frontier Value Truck Package?
The SV Value Truck Package adds a variety of special features. This includes things like rear sonar, Dual Zone Auto air conditioning, two additional speakers, auto-dimming mirror with compass and temperature, spray-in bedliner, Utili-Track™ system with four adjustable tie-down cleats, heated cloth seats, fog lights, Vehicle Security System, and a sliding bed extender for hauling exceptionally long loads.
Conclusion
The Nissan Frontier is one of the most popular international light-duty pickup trucks on the market today. With the 2021 model, you get a towing capacity of over 6,000-pounds with every trim level.
This is more than enough to tow most popup campers, teardrop campers, and even a few of the lighter travel trailers like the Forest River Flagstaff Micro-Lite Travel Trailer and the 16-foot version of the TheLivin Lite Camplite Travel Trailer.
Yet it still has the payload capacity and suspension under the cargo box to also work for a living as a durable light-duty pickup truck.
There’s even enough room in the interior to bring a family of four on a vacation or transport coworkers with you to the jobsite.
