Trailer Hitch and Vehicle Weight Capacity Difference Explained

Question:

Hello, I have a FWD 2015 Nissan Rogue. I like your product and it says it can tow up to 3500lbs. The Specs for the Rogue FWD is 1000lbs... Can you help me understand this discrepancy? Thanks,

asked by: Nic

Expert Reply:

A trailer hitch and the vehicle it is installed on can have different towing capacities. Draw Tite designed and tested the part # 75902 that you referenced and found that it had a capacity of 3,500 lbs total trailer weight and 350 lbs tongue weight. That is just for the hitch by itself.

Now Nissan came up with their own towing capacity for the 2015 Nissan Rogue that happens to be lower than the hitch. When determining the overall towing capacity of a setup the lowest rated component is the overall capacity since you are only as strong as your weakest link.

expert reply by: Jameson C