2012 Nissan NV3500 S Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
9,500 lbs
Safe limit: 7,600 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
—
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
11.0 mpg
9 city / 13 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2012 Nissan NV3500 S is rated to tow up to 9,500 lbs powered by the 5.6L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 7,600 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. Always verify your door-sticker payload rating, as it's often the real limiting factor once passengers, gear, and tongue weight are factored in. With this setup, you're looking at most travel trailers and slide-in campers.
Recommended Equipment
Towing Gear for This Truck
Matched to this trim's Class III hitch class and 9,500 lb tow rating
Class III Hitch Receiver
Required for towing. 2" receiver is standard on tow-equipped models.
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Trailer Wiring Adapter
7-pin to 4-pin adapters for trailer brake lights and signals.
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Brake Controller
Required by law in most states for trailers over 3,000 lbs.
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Weight Distribution Hitch
Strongly recommended for trailers over 6,000 lbs to level the load and reduce sway.
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Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
6,778 lbs
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Engine
Engine
5.6L
Horsepower
317 HP @ 5200 rpm
Torque
385 lb-ft @ 3400 rpm
Transmission
5-speed automatic
Drive Type
Rear Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Regular unleaded
Fuel Tank
28.0 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City9 mpg
Highway13 mpg
Combined11 mpg
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Dimensions
Overall Length240.6"
Overall Width79.9"
Height84.0"
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 7,600 lbs. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
Toy Haulers
5th / Bumper
1,300 – 112,250 lbs
Limited
Fifth Wheels
5th Wheel
1,176 – 24,000 lbs
Limited
Destination Trailers
Bumper Pull
9,800 – 16,500 lbs
Out of Range
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2012 Nissan NV3500 Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Nissan NV3500 SV RWD | 9,400 lbs | 11.7 mpg | View → |
| 2021 Nissan NV3500 SV RWD | 9,400 lbs | 11.7 mpg | View → |
| 2021 Nissan NV3500 SL RWD | 8,700 lbs | 11.7 mpg | View → |
| 2021 Nissan NV3500 S RWD | 6,200 lbs | 11.7 mpg | View → |
| 2021 Nissan NV3500 SV RWD | 6,200 lbs | 11.7 mpg | View → |
| 2020 Nissan NV3500 S RWD | 9,400 lbs | 11.3 mpg | View → |
| 2020 Nissan NV3500 S RWD | 9,400 lbs | 11.3 mpg | View → |
| 2020 Nissan NV3500 SV RWD | 9,400 lbs | 11.3 mpg | View → |
| 2020 Nissan NV3500 SV RWD | 9,400 lbs | 11.3 mpg | View → |
| 2020 Nissan NV3500 SL RWD | 8,700 lbs | 11.3 mpg | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2012 Nissan NV3500 S?
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The 2012 Nissan NV3500 S is rated at 9,500 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 7,600 lbs as your practical limit. This gives you margin for hills, headwinds, braking distance, and real-world load variance. More critically, check your payload first — the door sticker tells you your specific truck's limit, and payload may be your actual binding constraint.
What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?
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You have 0 lbs of payload capacity — that's everything going IN the truck: passengers (~150 lbs each), camping gear, coolers, and critically the tongue weight from your trailer. For bumper pull trailers, tongue weight is typically 10–15% of the trailer's loaded weight. It fills up faster than most people expect, especially on longer trips.
What kind of hitch do I need?
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For the 2012 Nissan NV3500 S, you need a Class III receiver hitch rated for 9,500 lbs. Don't skimp here — the hitch is the critical link between truck and trailer. For fifth wheel towing, you'll need a dedicated kingpin-style fifth wheel hitch mounted in the truck bed.
What types of RVs will work with my truck?
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With your 7,600 lb safe towing capacity, you're looking at most travel trailers and slide-in campers. The compatibility chart above shows what percentage of each RV class in our database you can handle. Use the Tow Calculator to check a specific RV including gear, water, and passengers.
What does GVWR mean and why should I care?
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GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — the maximum your truck can weigh when fully loaded with people, gear, and fuel. Your truck's GVWR is 9,500 lbs. Exceed it and you're over-stressing brakes, suspension, and tires. This is different from towing capacity — it's about what the truck itself can carry.
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