Quote "I have a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder 3.5 V6 auto with a factory stated towing limit of 3500 lbs."
Mr. Transmission has a great progressive transmission/transaxle cooler always a good idea. At speed the
weight and air being pushed creates drag heating the transmission or transaxle.
2000 plus to 3500 lbs only needs a class II hitch; but electric
brakes and a sway bar might also be a good idea.
Dry weight of most 17' bolers ranges from 2000 lbs. to 2560 lbs. depends on installed features. You would have no problems with these or bigger with 5000 lbs stock rating!
Quote: "There are many key features about the 'Escape' which make it lightweight and aerodynamic, keeping travel costs to a minimum. With a dry weight of only 2510lbs, the
Escape 19’ has been designed specifically for mid sized vehicles such as SUVs and mid-sized trucks with a V6 engine or a minimum towing capacity of 4000lbs."
http://escapetrailer.com/Products/19FootEscape.aspx
We used a Toyota Echo Sport 4 door sedan with a sway bar adapter on the draw bar to pull a small trailer: never loaded over 1000 lbs. for years. Worked fine but trailer
brakes would have been a good idea.
Trailer
brakes may have made the Echo's brakes lasted longer.
We now have a larger 17' trailer and use a Class III with Weight Distribution and sway bar setup. Car has a 7 pin setup to includes brakes.