2012 Nissan Frontier
The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2012 Nissan Frontier is 6,500 lb, the top of 5 rows transcribed from Nissan’s 2012 Nissan Frontier brochure (specifications). That row is printed for the 4.0L V6, King Cab, 2WD. Most configurations are rated lower: 4 of the 5 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2012 are below 6,500 lb. Across 5 manufacturer chart rows for 2012, ratings run conventional 3,500 lb to 6,500 lb; the engine, cab, axle ratio and package on your truck decide its number.
The build table for 2012 is not transcribed. This page will not multiply trims, cabs, and engines into trucks the order guide did not list.
| Hitch | Cited maximum | Configuration | Source grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 6,500 lb | 4.0L V6, King Cab, 2WD. | OEM published maximum |
Highest rows among 5 transcribed chart configurations. Most trucks of this model year are rated lower; find your exact configuration in the table below.
Source: Nissan, 2012 Nissan Frontier brochure (specifications), Page 3, MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES table. Engine displacements are taken from the same brochure's engine specifications (2.5L 4-cylinder, 4.0L V6).
Spec sheet
2 of 25 fields cited; 1 estimate. Field index
Cited fields may cover selected trims or only part of a measurement. Read the configuration and source beside each value; a cited field does not mean every version is researched.
Towing
- Conventional maximum
- 6,500 lb. 4.0L V6, King Cab, 2WD.Nissan source
- Gooseneck maximum
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Fifth-wheel maximum
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Tongue or pin load
- 650 lb tongue at the 6,500 lb conventional maximum. Illustration at 10 percent conventional and 15 percent in-bed, not a measured load or recommendation. Follow the trailer and vehicle instructions; actual load may be higher.Estimate
- Weight distribution
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Trailer frontal area
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Weights
- Payload
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- GCWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- GVWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Front GAWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Rear GAWR
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Curb weight
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Body
- Wheelbase
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Bed length
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Bed width and depth
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Cab-to-axle
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Overall length, width, height
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Ground clearance and angles
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Fifth-wheel clearance
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Power
- Engine, horsepower, torque
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Transmission
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Fuel type and tank
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Drivetrain
- 2WD, 4WDNissan source
- Axle ratio
- Not transcribed for this model year.
- Tow package
- Not transcribed for this model year.
Bed, tongue weight, and wheelbase
The trailer rating is one limit. The bed has to fit the load, the tongue or pin has to fit in payload, and the wheelbase is the column the chart uses.
- An illustrative 10 percent of the 6,500 lb conventional maximum is 650 lb of tongue weight. This is not a measured load or recommended percentage; actual load may be higher.
Bed capacity · Tongue and pin weight · Wheelbase · GCWR, GVWR, and GAWR. Wheelbase is not transcribed for this year. GCWR is not transcribed for this year.
Estimate payload margin and bed volume · How these limits work together
Change from 2011
- Conventional: 6,500 lb in 2011, 6,500 lb in 2012 (unchanged maximum, different source or equipment list).
Generation
Second generation
2012 is year 8 of this generation (2005–2021). A long second generation. A 2020 update stayed on this platform.
2012 towing by engine
Lowest to highest printed rating for each engine across 5 transcribed chart rows. A missing hitch means the chart did not print one for that engine, not that it is zero.
| Engine | Conventional | Chart rows |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0L V6 | 6,100–6,500 lb | 4 |
| 2.5L I4 (4-cylinder) | 3,500 lb | 1 |
Highest-rated configurations
| Trailer | Engine | Cab / bed | Drive | Axle / package | GCWR | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,500 lb Conventional | 4.0L V6 | King Cab | 2WD | —note 1 | — | Page 3, Specifications, MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES table, V6 4x2 (4x4) row, King Cab, first figure (4x2) |
| 6,300 lb Conventional | 4.0L V6 | King Cab | 4WD | —note 1 | — | Page 3, Specifications, MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES table, V6 4x2 (4x4) row, King Cab, figure in parentheses (4x4) |
| 6,300 lb Conventional | 4.0L V6 | Crew Cab | 2WD | —note 2 | — | Page 3, Specifications, MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES table, V6 4x2 (4x4) row, Crew Cab, first figure (4x2) |
| 6,100 lb Conventional | 4.0L V6 | Crew Cab | 4WD | —note 2 | — | Page 3, Specifications, MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES table, V6 4x2 (4x4) row, Crew Cab, figure in parentheses (4x4) |
| 3,500 lb Conventional | 2.5L I4 (4-cylinder) | King Cab | Not specified | —note 3 | — | Page 3, Specifications, MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES table, 4-cylinder row, King Cab |
- Brochure towing table "MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES (LBS)" with footnote 3 (see Nissan Towing Guide/Owner's Manual). Chart prints '6,500 (6,300)' as 4x2 (4x4).
- Brochure towing table "MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES (LBS)" with footnote 3 (see Nissan Towing Guide/Owner's Manual). Chart prints '6,300 (6,100)' as 4x2 (4x4).
- Brochure towing table "MAXIMUM TOWING CAPABILITIES (LBS)" with footnote 3 (see Nissan Towing Guide/Owner's Manual). Drivetrain not stated for the 4-cylinder row.
Chart source: Nissan, 2012 Nissan Frontier brochure (specifications). The evidence column gives each row’s page and table.
Find your exact configuration (5 rows) →Download 2012 rows as CSV ↓
What changes the number
- Engine and transmission
- Cab, bed, and wheelbase
- Two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive
- Axle ratio and tow package
- Conventional hitch versus fifth-wheel versus gooseneck
- People, options, and cargo, which spend payload the chart assumed was empty
Questions
- How much can a 2012 Nissan Frontier tow?
- The highest conventional-hitch rating for the 2012 Nissan Frontier is 6,500 lb, the top of 5 rows transcribed from Nissan’s 2012 Nissan Frontier brochure (specifications). That row is printed for the 4.0L V6, King Cab, 2WD. Most configurations are rated lower: 4 of the 5 transcribed conventional-hitch chart rows for 2012 are below 6,500 lb.
- Did Frontier towing change for 2012?
- Compare the cited 2012 figures on this page with the 2011 record. They are stored separately.
- Which configuration hits the maximum?
- The 6,500 lb conventional maximum is printed for the 4.0L V6, King Cab, 2WD.
- What tongue weight should I plan for a 2012 Frontier?
- At the cited 6,500 lb conventional maximum, an illustrative 10% assumption produces 650 lb of tongue weight. This is not a recommended percentage or a measurement; follow your trailer and vehicle instructions and measure the actual load. That load counts against payload and the rear axle rating.
Compare with
2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · All Frontier years