Parts Needed to Tow 6,500 Pound Trailer with 2017 Nissan Titan without Tow Package  

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Starting with the trailer hitch, I recommend the Curt Class III Round Tube Receiver # C13304. This Class III hitch is confirmed to fit your 2017 Nissan Titan and will use existing holes in its frame for a no-drill installation. The hitch itself features a towing capacity of 8,000 pounds and a tongue weight capacity of 800 pounds. When used with a weight distribution system though, these limits jump up to 12,000 pounds towing and 1,200 pounds of tongue weight. This is the highest rated hitch we have available for your truck. Since you mentioned a tongue weight of over 800 pounds, you will need to use a weight distribution system for the hitch to be properly rated. We will get back to that at the end of this answer.

Assuming that the trailer is equipped with electric brakes, you will also need a 7-Way connector and brake controller. For a 7-Way connector I recommend the Hopkins Factory Style 7-Way and 4-Way # N40975. This will plug right into the factory port behind the rear bumper and it includes the 3 relays needed to activate the harness on trucks like yours that don't have the tow package.

For the brake controller I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195. This is an excellent proportional controller that will activate the trailer brakes at the same time and with the same intensity that you apply to them in your truck. It features an easy-to-read LCD display, storable settings, and continuous diagnostics that will alert you to any potential issues. To install the controller, you will just need the Plug-In Adapter # 3050-P. One end of the adapter will plug into the brake controller itself, while the other end will connect to the factory port beneath the truck's dash.

Finally, when picking out a weight distribution system the most important factor to consider is the total tongue weight of your towing setup. This number includes both the loaded tongue weight of your trailer (as if loaded and ready for a trip) along with any added cargo weight coming from behind the rear axle of your Nissan Titan. Ideally this number will fall somewhere near the middle of the operating range for the system you choose.

Using a tongue weight scale like the etrailer # e99044 is the most accurate method for determining your trailer's loaded tongue weight. If the 810 pound tongue weight that you mentioned is with the trailer loaded, I recommend taking a look at the Equal-i-zer # EQ37100ET.. This system features a tongue weight capacity of 600 to 1,000 pounds and will do a great job of evenly distributing weight over the axles of your truck and trailer, while also limiting side to side movement during travel.

I have attached a short video demonstration on this system that you can also check out.

expert reply by: Chris R

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