Nissan 2011 Manual - Free PDF Download

Page 2 - INTRODUCTION; SAFETY IS PRIORITY ONE; help you select that equipment.

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 1 INTRODUCTION SAFETY IS PRIORITY ONE Obviously, your first concern should be safety. Your vehicle was designed to be used primarily to carry passengers and cargo. Always remember that towing a trailer places additional loads on your vehicle’s engine, drivetrain, suspension,...

Page 3 - with all regulations.; RENTING; towing equipment for your NISSAN vehicle.

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 2 It is also a good idea to discuss your towing requirements with either your NISSAN dealer or a professional supplier of towing equipment before you equip your NISSAN vehicle for towing. Finally, there are state and local laws on towing that you should review to ensure comp...

Page 4 - PURCHASING; referenced before making any towing decisions.; TYPES OF EQUIPMENT; explains the most common pieces of towing equipment available.; HITCHES; installing the hitch.

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 3 PURCHASING If you are buying a travel or boat trailer, be sure that your NISSAN vehicle has the towing capacity to pull it. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for detailed information regarding the towing capacity of your specific vehicle. Your vehicle owner’s manual sho...

Page 5 - Hitch Types

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 4 Installing an aftermarket hitch may affect the rear crash performance of your vehicle. Be sure that the hitch does not interfere in any way with the vehicle’s impact-absorbing bumper. Regularly check to see that all hitch-mounting bolts are securely fastened. For r...

Page 7 - At this time, Titan is the only NISSAN vehicle; th Wheel Hitch

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 6 5th Wheel or Gooseneck Hitch – Mounted in the bed of a pick-up and designed for heavy-duty applications, these types of hitches are not available from NISSAN but can be purchased from a professional supplier of towing equipment.* A 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch is usually i...

Page 8 - Not OK

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 7 Like ball mounts, hitch balls are available in a number of weight capacities and sizes. Always make sure the hitch ball selected has the proper shank diameter and weight rating for the ball mount as well as the coupler on your trailer. Using a 1 7 / 8 ” hitch ball in a 2” ...

Page 9 - REAR VIEW MIRRORS; Contact your NISSAN dealer for details.; BREAKAWAY SWITCH; must be wired into the tow vehicle’s electrical system.*; towing

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 8 will allow the chains/cables to drag on the ground. Do not use S-hooks for attaching, as they may become un-hooked and are illegal in many states. To avoid damage to the bumper and chains/cables when making a sharp turn, do not attach the chains/cables too close to the cou...

Page 10 - BRAKES

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 9 converter” must be used, as a converter of this type creates only minimal additional electrical demand (draw) on the vehicle lighting circuits, which helps to ensure protection for the vehicle’s sensitive electronics. Always check for correct operation of the taillights, s...

Page 11 - supplier of towing equipment for compatible equipment.; SWAY CONTROL DEVICE; vehicle and designed to assist you with your towing needs.; PREPARING; BREAK-IN AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 10 NOTE – Improper or poor quality trailer harness wiring may affect your vehicle’s electrical system. Use only a NISSAN approved wiring harness, or consult your dealer or a professional supplier of towing equipment for compatible equipment. SWAY CONTROL DEVICE Sudden maneuv...

Page 12 - MEASURING VEHICLE WEIGHT

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 11 MEASURING VEHICLE WEIGHT The key to safe, efficient towing has to do with weight. Your vehicle — SUV, crossover, truck or passenger car — is capable of carrying and towing only a certain amount of weight. You must compare your vehicle’s tow weight ratings with the combine...

Page 13 - Certification Label

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 12 On all NISSAN vehicles, the GVWR is shown on the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (F.M.V.S.S.) certification label located in the driver’s-side door area. To avoid overloading the vehicle, be sure to include the trailer tongue/king pin load as a part of the cargo whe...

Page 14 - TRAILER TONGUE/KING PIN LOAD; trailer tongue load

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 13 GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT (GCW) The Gross Combined Weight (GCW) is the total weight of the tow vehicle with all passengers, cargo, and fuel, plus the total weight of the trailer and all its cargo. To determine the GCW, simply weigh your vehicle when fully loaded and ready to ...

Page 15 - TIRE PRESSURE

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 14 For example, to determine the proper trailer tongue load for a 1,500-lb. trailer, multiply the weight of 1,500 lbs. by 10% to arrive at a figure of 150 lbs. 5th wheel and gooseneck trailer king pin load must be kept between 15-25% of the actual trailer weight, within the ...

Page 16 - LOADING YOUR TRAILER

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 15 TOWING SAFETY Towing can significantly alter the handling and performance characteristics of your vehicle. Plus, it puts increased strain on the engine and drivetrain. Therefore, it is always a good idea to approach towing from the standpoint of safety — whether you are p...

Page 18 - VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS; vehicle and possibly void warranty coverage.; TOOL KIT; Are vehicle and electric trailer brakes working properly?

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 17 VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS Vehicle modifications — beyond those required for proper hitch installation, wiring hook-up, or adding extended mirrors — are not recommended for any NISSAN vehicle being used for towing purposes. Changes to the drivetrain, suspension, exhaust system...

Page 20 - PARK SMART; on both the tow vehicle and the trailer.; HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE; to the engine’s reduced performance.; HILLS – UPGRADES

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 19 the trailer to the right, move the wheel to the right. All movements of the wheel should be done in small increments. Of course, backing up should be done only at very slow speeds. For large trailers that obstruct your rearward vision, have someone outside the vehicle act...

Page 21 - YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS later in this section for more information.; HILLS – DOWNGRADES; information about the use of this function.; AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL; Do not use cruise control while towing a trailer.; IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS; overheating and you should immediately take the following steps:

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 20 (if equipped) carefully. At the first sign of overheating, pull to the side of the road. See IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS later in this section for more information. HILLS – DOWNGRADES While going downhill, the weight of the trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may decrease ove...

Page 22 - causing serious injury.; NOTES; vehicle owner’s manual for details.

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 21 the hood. Never remove the radiator cap when the radiator is hot. If the cap is removed under these conditions, hot water/coolant under high pressure may spurt out, possibly causing serious injury. 5. As soon as the engine has cooled to its normal operating temperature, v...

Page 25 - PROTECTION; Vehicle

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 24 PROTECTION At NISSAN, we back everything we build. So we are proud that every NISSAN is protected by some of the best New Vehicle Limited Warranties, including 3-year/36,000-mile basic coverage. All 2011 models also feature 5-year/60,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty.*...

Page 26 - CONCERN FOR YOUR SAFETY; and must always be used in conjunction with a seat belt.; COMMITMENT; transportation needs.

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 25 CONCERN FOR YOUR SAFETY NISSAN urges you to always use your seat belt whenever you drive. Also, please make sure all passengers are buckled up. Keep in mind that air bags are a supplemental restraint system and must always be used in conjunction with a seat belt. In addit...

Page 27 - options or accessories, contact your NISSAN dealer.

2011 NISSAN Towing Guide 26 All illustrations, and specifications in this document are based on the latest product information available at the time of publication. Some vehicles are shown with optional equipment. See the actual vehicle for complete accuracy. Availability and delivery time for parti...