Maximum payload

The main factor for max load is how much stress the chassis can take. Then there tire loads, how much load the tranny can take, the power of the morotr and others. Given its small towing capacity , it would seem that the Xterra is built on a uni-body chassis, rather than a truck one. Uni-bodies are lighter and tend to be used on cars which usually don't expect to do much towing, if at all. Also, unibody is more capable of providing creature comforts such more interior room, better suspension etc. Truck chassis main advantage is the abilit to haul A#$ %#$& :) Truck chassis type vehicles are less comfortable, less roomy, etc.

A perfect example of the differences between unibody and truck chassis is the Mercedes Benz ML line. The previous generation MLs were built on a truck chassis. They were heavier, slower, but could tow alot. The new MLs are built with a unibody structure. Mercedes has been strongly makreting how they are much faster than the previous MLs. It's mainly due to more powerful engines AND lighter bodies, unibodies. Of course these new MLs wont be able to tow as much as the last generation. Mercedes probably looked at their buyers and saw that they weren't towing much, so they re-designed accordingly.

CD

Thanks for the complete answer. The xterra is not a unibody, but definately a truck chassis, with a frame on chassis. It is the nissan frontier truck chassis, with the xterra body. I even see a report from motor trend asking the same question on "whats up with that", but they dont go into any details. I can post it, if you would like to see it.

Much regards

Yes, I would like to see the story from motor trend. The limitation, then on hte Xterra must be the tranny and engine, since it has a truck chassis.

CD

Okay here it is. Please comment if desired.

Much thanks

Motor Trend Online senior producer John Matthius discovered something disconcerting about our Xterra. If you put four adults and cargo in it, you can possibly reach or exceed the 930-pound passenger-plus-cargo weight limit. He further noted pronounced suspension rebound and exaggerated bump stops over suburban intersection dips. He goes on to say that this much gear filled the cargo area to the roof, including the space between the rear passenger seats.

Many buyers probably look at a midsize SUV like this and assume it would haul more weight than it actually does-as we did.

I guess that would explain why I mistakenly figured the Xterra had a unibody. The limitation, then, must be the engine and/or tranny.

CD

If, as someone else mentioned, Xterra is built up from the Frontier truck chassis, it makes perfect sense. A standard pickup usually has a load rating of 1/2 ton (which is 1,000 pounds). 930 is really close to that. Given the added weight of the roof and body metal, they did really good to only be off by 70 pounds. As with airplanes, everything counts, including the driver and passengers.