Nissan 2011 - Manual

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

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...

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” ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.*...

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...

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...