[jimca]

The weight distribution hitches are universal. The recommended brake controller these days is the Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller that is available on Ebay for about $130 with shipping. I have had the Curt Hitch installed on my FX45 cost for hitch (JC Whitney) and installation was about $200. I had my FX45 in for checking about installing a trans cooler and they said they were not sure where it would go there was no room in the rad area. Can anyone give me any info on the type (brand) they used and an indication on the installation.
Cheers
jim

 

[Gen Xer]

Hi guys~

What are you spending on a hitch? I was told by infiniti about $800 this morning. I am more interested in getting a rear cargo carrier than towing but I figured it would be nice to be able to tow if ever needed.

Thanks


EDIT:

Looking at this cargo carrier:

http://www.sportomotoring.com/stowaway2 ... rrier.html

 

[Tatyana]

Not all the guys, gals too

It's a wise idea to forsee your future needs. We've just put up a nice Class II hitch, completed wiring and it's ready to TOW our lite trailer of 2,200 LBS. We've paid around the same as you were quoted, plus we had to pay more to get the brake controller installed and purchased. My husband was able to do the electrical wiring himself (we saved around $750 just on this work alone!)

Anyways, we ordered our hitch from the website... It was about $400 or something... Do you know that your tongue weight cannot exceed 350 LBS? It's the Infiniti's max. So, keep this in mind. If you are not sure what that means, just FYI - it's the weight that pushes on your hitch. Although, we were able to figure out some physics and noticed that when we applied weight distribution bars, our FX just leveled out and pretended that NOTHING is behind. MIRACLES! Also, when towing with distribution bars applied - smooth, complete drive, without swinging and swangling....

GO FOR IT - WE did IT! And we are glad we were not chickens about it. Although, we did a lot of home work on trying to find the TRUTH on having hitches on FXs.... GOOD LUCK!!! :twisted:

 

[Truck11]

Can you please post some pictures of the trailer hooked up with the distro bars attached.

Also - as I tell everyone who tows... get one of these hitch vise thingys..... works great - no more rattling! http://www.hitchrider.com/nowobble.htm best $32 you will spend on towing!

 

[jimca]

Can anyone tell me how they routed the trailer harness from the trunk area to the hitch. Is there an opening or do you have to make one. If so where? Pictures would be appreciated.
cheers
jim

 

[Tatyana]

Can anyone tell me how they routed the trailer harness from the trunk area to the hitch. Is there an opening or do you have to make one. If so where? Pictures would be appreciated.
cheers
jim

Hi, Jim

There is an opening in the very far corner on the passenger side, covered with the rubber plug about the size of metal dollar coin (loonie in canada). The best access is from underneath of the car, however it's obstructed with the little plastic shield, but it's visible. All you need, is to remove this plug from inside the trunk with a screwdriver and pull the harness from hitch itself from the bottom of the car.

Search topics for this.... There should be pictures somewhere, I remember. Good Luck!

 

[1mowave]

I am re-posting a reply I had made a while back regarding this subject as I believe the information may be useful (especially regarding a trans cooler):

I use my FX35 to tow a 16' Arima with a 90HP outboard. It is always fully loaded and I always have 2-3 other adults in the car.

Over all - I love towing with this car!!

There were a few issues - but are now resolved.

Power - NO problem - this thing pulls my boat up a local steep grade much easier and faster than with my previous Toyota Tundra (V6)

Steadiness - OK - I feel the load more than I did in my truck - but not bad - not scary at all

Noise - was bad - the hitch (OEM) rattled like crazy - sounded like it was in the back seat but I bought and installed the Hitch Stabilizer that was in an earlier post - great fix - no problems now
goto http://hitchrider.com/nowobble.htm to purchase one (30 bucks with shipping - well worth it and very easy to install)

Gas Mileage - Terrible - do NOT monitor it on your onboard computer - it will just make you crazy (towing is an occasional event for me - so just suck it up)

Comfort - Great - and the back seat passengers are so much happier than they were in my truck

Transmission - BEWARE!!! - after pulling the boat for on 4 trips it was time for service - my mechanic told me my trans fluid was fried. They flushed the fluid and I added a trans cooler.
(I knew better and had planned on adding the trans cooler when I had the hitch installed - unfortunately my mechanic had mistaken the power steering cooler for a trans cooler and so he told me I already had one.)

If you tow anything that has any real weight – GET A TRANS COOLER! These things are actually good even if you don’t tow as many of these high performance transmissions have problems with over heating. A trans cooler can NEVER cause harm. Cost me about $300 installed.

I had reservations when I bought the FX as I needed it to be my sole tow vehicle and I can now say, without any reservations, this is a great tow vehicle for my size boat

 

[Goldfar]

You are absolutely right, 1mowave, get the trans cooler! Can't hurt, can only help to save the fluid.

We've been towing our 17.5 foot Key West Bay Boat for the past year with no problems. We live in Atlanta and have towed to Florida Everglades, South Carolina Coast, Georgia Coast, Tennessee River, etc. The FX sure beats a pickup truck.

You are right about gas mileage as well. Try this - slow down some. We used to tow at 70 - 75 mph. I slowed to 65 and saw gas mileage go up- slowed to 60 and it measurably improved again. One other major impact on mileage - wind. We drove to Florida last Xmas and were getting 15 mpg which is great for that car with the boat. We came home a week later and were getting 10 mpg!!! Turns out a front came through with strong Northerly winds (on the nose) for the return trip home. Can't do anything about it but be aware of the effect the wind can have.

Happy boating!

 

[1mowave]

Jim,

On mine they installed a Tru cool thin trans cooler right in front of the radiator to the right - no problem
Bill

 

[2003fx35]

Three is a little rubber plug in the extreme rear passenger side of the trunk area (you must remove all the parts, spare, bose sub-woofer, trays etc. to get at it.) You'll see it under the amplifier. I popped mine out from the underneath of the FX35 by using a long rod. There was a piece of tape over it (underneath). I peeled that off, and then I could see the plug.

 

[2003fx35]

There is a rubber plug at the extreme right rear of the passenger side in the trunck area. You must remove all the hardware
from the trunk area to get at it. I popped my plug out from the underside of the FX35 and then fished my wire from the hitch up into the interior compartment and connect the wires with the plug. I used an OEM harness which I highly recommend. You don't want to mess up the on board computer or LED light system.

instructions here: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2683

 

[Goldfar]

Two things.

First, I owed the dude from LA a picture of my car (not my wife's FX) towing the boat. Here it is...

[attachment=0:zvqh30p9]Vette & Boat.jpg[/attachment:zvqh30p9]

Second...

We've been towing the boat with the FX35 for over a year now. 32,000 miles on the car and in spite of having a trans cooler added on, the trans fluid was more than a little "cooked". We had it flushed AND replaced last week. We tow significant distances, e.g., Florida Everglades, Georgia Coast, Tennessee River, etc.

I'm just saying, so far, so good BUT keep an eye on your trans fluid, even if you have a cooler!

Ron

 

[BearcatRR]

Figured I would bump this up to give my thoughts on towing with my 08 FX35. I recently purchased a 7x14 all aluminum v-nose trailer to haul my track bikes with. The ONLY reason I stepped up to an SUV was so that I would have the ability to tow an enclosed trailer versus hauling my bikes on an open trailer like I have in the past. I have to say that I am pretty disappointed in it's performance. I went and picked up the trailer two nights ago and the FX had issues just pulling it empty (1720 lbs). The transmission would never kick into overdrive and the worst part.....I averaged 8.9mpg on the highway going 65. The engine just seemed to struggle the whole trip and I can't imagine that I would be able to pull a loaded trailer any kind of distance without doing damage to the vehicle. I routinely tow my bikes from Ohio to Florida (Jennings GP) and Alabama (Barber MSP), so there is no way the FX is going to cut it. Needless to say, the trailer is back up for sale...and possibly the FX.

 

[GixxerSteve]

I have to say that I am pretty disappointed in it's performance. I went and picked up the trailer two nights ago and the FX had issues just pulling it empty (1720 lbs). The transmission would never kick into overdrive and the worst part.....I averaged 8.9mpg on the highway going 65. The engine just seemed to struggle the whole trip and I can't imagine that I would be able to pull a loaded trailer any kind of distance without doing damage to the vehicle.

Wow, are you sure your FX doesn't have engine or transmission problems? Its just abnormal that you are having such trouble with a 1,720 lbs trailer when other owners are towing 3,000 and 4,000+ lbs without problems.

 

[VitesseFX]

Re: Thank You all for the Advice

Thanks folks. I appreciate the responses and we will most likely purchase the FX35.

I am still a little concerned about the transmission, however. There is no transmission fluid cooler available (that I know of). If this was a serious tow vehicle, I believe they would have a "tow package" available consisting of a transmission cooler, stiffer rear suspension and perhaps slightly lower gearing.

I'm sure there is enough torque, even with the ‘35. When towing I don't expect to participate in any drag races, etc.

Thanks again for the comments.


Ron

I've got a supplemental transmission fluid cooler. I don't recall the brand. They are nearly universal and can be readily plumbed in.

 

[BearcatRR]

Wow, are you sure your FX doesn't have engine or transmission problems? Its just abnormal that you are having such trouble with a 1,720 lbs trailer when other owners are towing 3,000 and 4,000+ lbs without problems.

No vehicle issues. It isn't a matter of the weight, it is the wind resistance provided by the trailer. If it was a 1720lb open trailer, I imagine that it would have no issues at all.

 

[DatMan]

No vehicle issues. It isn't a matter of the weight, it is the wind resistance provided by the trailer. If it was a 1720lb open trailer, I imagine that it would have no issues at all.

Still kinda weird... like Steve said, many people have towed boats and trailers that were in excess of what you're towing... and I'm sure some of the other trailers were also enclosed... almost 300 HP (I know... I know... at the crank...) should be easily able to tow that...

 

[BearcatRR]

^^ I thought the same, but no such luck. It's kind of a moot point now though, looks like I am moving to Hawaii for work and I would be getting rid of the trailer anyways. Figures I would get the job offer the day after I buy the trailer lol.

 

[DatMan]

Nice trailer! And grats on the job! Wish I could get a job offer in Hawaii...

 

[MostInterestingMan]

The FX35 has no access to the transmission fluid to check its level or health. That's right, NO tranmission fluid dipstick. I would NOT recommend towing anything with a vehicle that has no access to the transmission fluid other than at the shop removing the transmission pan bolts while draining and changing the transmission fluid.