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jacqqueandsusan View Drop Down
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Joined: 20 Jun 2014
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Posts: 14 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: New User and Question
    Posted: 27 Jun 2014 at 10:09pm
Phew, all this information is overwhelming.  I have to take small bites.

We are Jacque and Susan in Spokane Washington and are the proud new owners of a 2014 177.

This is our very first camping trailer.  We've decided that at 50+ we're tired of tent camping for weeks at a time.    So very much looking forward to our first trip.  

My first question so far is about towing.  And feel free to direct me to another thread if I am mis-posting. 

We have a 2005 Nissan Frontier with the 4.0L V-6.  It's a 4 wheel drive with manual transmission. 

Does anyone recommend a transmission cooler?  It's towing capacity is around 6,500 pounds so we're well within it's limits. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  

Looking forward to replies, meeting other and of course traveling. 
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ron_whitt View Drop Down
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Joined: 08 Sep 2011
Location: Chesterville On
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Posts: 261 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 2014 at 10:18pm
congrats on your new rpod. We have a 2012 177. Your towing capacity is well within limits. My FJ Cruiser has a 5000lb limit. I put a tranny cooler on mine just because couple hundred now is better than a couple grand later down the road. What ever would give you piece of mind is my thoughts...
Ron & Shirley
2020 Tacoma
2012 177 rpod
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jacqqueandsusan View Drop Down
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Joined: 20 Jun 2014
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Posts: 14 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 2014 at 10:25pm
I'm all for peace of mind and tend to agree. 

Thanks!
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Boomertype View Drop Down
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Joined: 12 Jan 2014
Location: Seattle
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Posts: 108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jun 2014 at 11:14pm
Be sure to join two FaceBook groups - R-Pod Owners and Northwest R-Pod Owners groups.  Tons of good info there and lots of great folks to reference.  Really active groups.
And BTW, welcome to Podland.
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Leo B View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 7:13am
Welcome to the group!! We tow our 171 with our Grand Caravan and have never had a problem, we have towed in the Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire and the Pocono Mtns in Pennsylvania. With that capacity you should be fine, but Ron is definitely right, peace of mind is worth it's weight in gold!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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shroomer View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Aug 2013
Location: New Haven, CT
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Posts: 236 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 8:06am
Do manual transmissions need coolers? Fluid is different and performs a different function.
Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6
New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8
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ron_whitt View Drop Down
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Joined: 08 Sep 2011
Location: Chesterville On
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Posts: 261 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 9:18am
No mechanic here but to me a tranny cooler is a tranny cooler... anything to keep your transmission from burning out. Like I said $200 now or $2000 later... Me... I don't like those odds....
Ron & Shirley
2020 Tacoma
2012 177 rpod
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ahefner View Drop Down
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Joined: 03 Aug 2013
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Posts: 63 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 9:44am
Manual transmissions can't take a cooler. There is no transmission fluid to cool. However there is a manual transmission gear lube and a good quality gear lube would be a good idea. I personally like the synthetic stuff made by Amsoil. I know the automatic transmissions in the Nissans are very picky and I will only use Nissan fluid in my automatic transmission. Not sure if the manual transmissions are the same way or not.
2014 rPod 178
2014 Toyota Tundra 5.7
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jacqqueandsusan View Drop Down
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Joined: 20 Jun 2014
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Posts: 14 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 10:41pm
Great information!  Thanks all.  
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Budward View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 Apr 2014
Location: SC/NC
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Posts: 438 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jun 2014 at 6:09pm
Most manual transmissions have no means to add a cooler as there is no pump to direct the fluid through a cooler or if there is a pump it is all internal with no place to tap in.
However, some do have pumps and external coolers.
Some do indeed use the same automatic transmission fluid as some automatic transmissions.

I doubt your Nissan has the means to add a cooler but it might.
2014 179
Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel
Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle!
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