If you’re looking for a large SUV that can tow a serious load, the 2027 Nissan Patrol deserves a place on your shortlist. The new Y63 Patrol will have a 3700kg braked towing capacity when fitted with the appropriate towing equipment, giving it more towing capacity than the 3500kg figure commonly seen among large SUVs in Australia.
But choosing a tow vehicle isn’t as simple as comparing maximum towing capacities. CARS24 Australia says buyers should consider the weight of their trailer, the vehicle’s payload, towing equipment and how they plan to use the SUV before choosing a Patrol specifically for towing. Here are the key things to keep in mind.
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How heavy is your trailer?
The first question to ask is how much you actually need to tow. The Nissan Patrol’s 3700kg maximum applies to braked trailers, so it is most relevant to buyers towing heavier caravans, boats, horse floats and other substantial trailers. If your trailer weighs considerably less than this when fully loaded, you may not need a vehicle with such a high towing limit.
More importantly, don’t rely on the trailer’s empty or tare weight. A caravan, for example, can gain significant weight once you add water, gas bottles, batteries, food, camping equipment and personal belongings.
CARS24 Australia says buyers should work from the trailer’s loaded weight when assessing whether a vehicle is suitable, rather than its empty weight.
Make sure you get the right towing equipment
The 3700kg figure is not automatically available with every tow-ball setup. According to Nissan, the Y63 Patrol will come with options for tow tongues and tow balls, with one particular configuration that is able to support the entire 3700kg of braked towing capability.
The exact configuration therefore matters if you intend to tow at the Patrol’s maximum rating. A 70mm tow ball is expected to be required for the 3700kg rating, as Australian regulations limit a 50mm tow ball to trailers up to 3500kg.
Cars24 Australia suggests that before buying, check exactly what towing equipment is included or needs to be added to the vehicle.
Don’t confuse towing capacity with payload
This is one of the most important things to understand when choosing a tow vehicle. A 3700kg towing capacity doesn’t mean you can load the Patrol with passengers, luggage and accessories and simply add a 3700kg trailer. The weight carried by the Patrol itself still matters.
Passengers, luggage, a tow bar, accessories and the trailer’s tow-ball load all contribute to the vehicle’s overall weight. If you regularly travel with a full cabin and a heavily loaded trailer, this becomes particularly important.
CARS24 Australia says buyers planning to tow a heavy caravan should check the Patrol’s relevant weight limits alongside the trailer’s loaded weight, rather than looking at the towing capacity alone.
Read more: 2027 Nissan Patrol set to become Australia’s heaviest-towing SUV
Think about how the Nissan Patrol will be used?
The Nissan Patrol isn’t just a tow vehicle. It’s a large family SUV, and that matters if you’re planning long road trips.
The Y63 has more interior space than the outgoing Y62, including up to 250mm more second-row legroom when the sliding seat is positioned accordingly.
Nissan also claims improvements in third-row space, making the Patrol more practical for families that need all three rows. That could be useful if your typical towing trip involves several passengers rather than just a driver and one passenger.
CARS24 Australia suggests considering how you plan to use the Patrol beyond towing, particularly if it will double as a family and long-distance road-trip vehicle.
Will you have enough room for your gear?
The Nissan Patrol also offers more luggage space than its predecessor. With all three rows in use, the Y63 has 577 litres of boot space. The third row can be folded to provide 1594 litres of space, while folding both rows create 2749 litres.
That gives you plenty of flexibility for road trips, but there is an important catch. More storage space doesn’t mean unlimited carrying capacity. Camping gear, luggage, recovery equipment and other accessories all add weight to the vehicle. If you’re towing a heavy trailer, that extra weight needs to be accounted for as part of the Patrol’s overall weight limits.
CARS24 Australia suggests working out how much gear you’ll typically carry and factoring its weight into your towing calculations before choosing the Patrol for heavy-duty towing.
What about towing assistance?
For regular towing, the Nissan Patrol’s driver-assistance features are worth considering as well. Trailer Blind Spot Warning and Trailer Sway Control will be standard across the Patrol range.
The PRO-4X and Ti go a step further with Trailer Docking Support. These features have been designed to help the driver line up the tow ball with the trailer coupling. These features don’t replace careful trailer setup or good towing technique, but they can make some of the more awkward parts of towing easier.
CARS24 Australia says considering these towing assistance features if you’ll regularly tow a large caravan, boat or trailer, particularly when manoeuvring or changing lanes.
Is the 2027 Nissan Patrol right for your trailer?
The Patrol’s 3700kg braked towing capacity makes it a serious option for buyers who regularly tow heavy loads. But the maximum figure shouldn’t be the only reason to choose one.
Before buying, work out your trailer’s fully loaded weight, how many people and how much luggage you’ll carry, what towing equipment you’ll need and whether the Nissan Patrol’s other weight limits work with your intended setup. For buyers who tow large caravans or other heavy trailers regularly, those details can be just as important as the headline towing capacity.
CARS24 Australia says the best tow vehicle is one that comfortably suits your real-world towing needs, rather than one chosen purely because it has the biggest number on the specification sheet.
Is the 2027 Nissan Patrol a good tow vehicle?
The 2027 Nissan Patrol could make sense for Australian buyers who want one vehicle that can handle the school run during the week and a caravan, boat or trailer on the weekend. Its 3700kg braked towing capacity gives it plenty of towing capability, but that’s only part of the picture. Before buying, check the weight of your fully loaded trailer, the Patrol’s payload, tow-ball setup and how much you’ll be carrying inside the SUV.
For longer trips around Australia, the extra cabin and boot space could also be useful, particularly for families carrying passengers, camping gear and luggage. Ultimately, the right Patrol for towing will depend on what you’re hauling, how often you tow and how you plan to use the SUV when you’re not hooked up to a trailer.
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