2004 NISSAN XTERRA towing

Your new vehicle was designed to be used pri-
marily to carry passengers and cargo. Remember
that towing a trailer places additional loads on
your vehicle’s engine, drive train, steering, brak-
ing and other systems.
ANissan Trailer Towing Guide (U.S. only)is
available from a NISSAN dealer. This guide in-
cludes information on trailer towing ability and the
special equipment required for proper towing.
MAXIMUM LOAD LIMITS
Maximum trailer loads
Never allow the total trailer load to exceed the
value specified in the following Towing
Load/Specification Chart found later in this sec-
tion. The total trailer load equals trailer weight
plus its cargo weight.
cWhen towing a trailer load of 1,000 lbs.
(454 kg) or more, trailers with a brake sys-
tem MUST be used.
The maximum GCWR (Gross Combined Weight
Rating) should not exceed the value specified in
the following Towing Load/ Specification Chart.
The GCWR equals the combined weight of the
towing vehicle (including passengers and cargo)
plus the total trailer load. Towing loads greaterthan these or using improper towing equipment
could adversely affect vehicle handling, braking
and performance.
The ability of your vehicle to tow a trailer is not
only related to the maximum trailer loads, but also
the places you plan to tow. Tow weights appro-
priate for level highway driving may have to be
reduced on very steep grades or in low traction
situations (for example, on slippery boat ramps) .
Temperature conditions can also affect towing.
For example, towing a heavy trailer in high outside
temperatures on graded roads can affect engine
performance and cause overheating.CAUTION
Vehicle damage resulting from improper
towing procedures are not covered by
NISSAN warranties. A NISSAN Trailer
Towing Guide (U.S. only) containing infor-
mation on trailer towing ability and the
special equipment required may be ob-
tained from a NISSAN dealer.Tongue load
Keep the tongue load between9-11percent of
the total trailer load within the maximum tongue
load limits shown in the following Towing
Load/Specification Chart. If the tongue load be-
comes excessive, rearrange cargo to allow for
proper tongue load.
CA0009
TOWING A TRAILER
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Maximum gross vehicle
weight/maximum gross axle weight
The gross vehicle weight of the towing vehicle
must not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) shown on the F. M. V. S. S. certification
label. The gross vehicle weight equals the com-
bined weight of the unloaded vehicle, passen-
gers, luggage, hitch, trailer tongue load and any
other optional equipment. In addition, front or rear
gross axle weight must not exceed the gross axle
weight rating (GAWR) shown on the F. M. V. S. S.
certification label.
ATI1025
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TOWING LOAD/SPECIFICATION
CHART
Unit: lbs (kg)
Engine KA24DE (4 cyl) VG33E/VG33ER (V6)
Model 2WD 2WD 4WD
Transmission M/T M/T A/T M/T A/T
Maxiumum Trailer Weight*1 3,500 (1,588) 3,500 (1,588) 5,000 (2,268) 3,500 (1,588) 5,000 (2,268)
Maximum Tongue Load 350 (159) 350 (159) 500 (227) 350 (159) 500 (227)
Gross Combined Weight
Rating7,700 (3,492) 8,000 (3,628) 9,500 (4,309) 8,000 (3,628) 9,500 (4,309)
Recommended
Equipment*2Sway Control Device Sway Control Device Sway Control Device Sway Control Device Sway Control Device
*1: All towing above 1,000 lb (454 kg) requires the use of trailer brakes. NISSAN recommends the use of a tandem axle trailer whenever towing above 3,000lb (1,361 kg) .
*2: A sway control device is recommended for all towing above 2,000 lb (907 kg) . Sway control devices are not offered by NISSAN. See a professional trailer/hitch outlet for a prop-
erly designed sway control device for your trailer.
M/T = Manual Transmission
A/T = Automatic Transmission
2WD = 2-wheel drive
4WD = 4-wheel drive
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TOWING SAFETY
Trailer hitch
Check the towing capacity of your bumper hitch
or receiver-type frame mounted hitch. Choose a
proper hitch for your vehicle and trailer. A genuine
Nissan trailer hitch is available from your NISSAN
dealer. Make sure the trailer hitch is securely
attached to the vehicle to help avoid personal
injury or property damage due to sway caused by
crosswinds, rough road surfaces or passing
trucks.
CAUTION
cSpecial hitches which include frame re-
inforcements are required for towing
above 2,000 lb (907 kg) . Suitable genu-
ine NISSAN hitches for pickup trucks
and sport utility vehicles are available
at a NISSAN dealer.
cThe hitch should not be attached to or
affect the operation of the impact-
absorbing bumper.
cDo not use axle-mounted hitches.
cDo not modify the vehicle exhaust sys-
tem, brake system, etc. to install a
trailer hitch.cTo reduce the possibility of additional
damage if your vehicle is struck from
the rear, where practical, remove the
hitch and/or receiver when not in use.
cAfter the hitch is removed, seal the bolt
holes to prevent exhaust fumes, water
or dust from entering the passenger
compartment.
cRegularly check that all trailer hitch
mounting bolts are securely mounted.
Tire pressures
cWhen towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle tires
to the recommended cold tire pressure indi-
cated on the tire placard.
cTrailer tire condition, size, load rating and
proper inflation pressure should be in accor-
dance with the trailer and tire manufacturer’s
specifications.
Safety chains
Always use suitable safety chains between your
vehicle and the trailer. The safety chains should
be crossed and should be attached to the hitch,
not to the vehicle bumper or axle. Be sure to leave
enough slack in the chains to permit turning
corners.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. For assistance in hooking up
trailer lights, contact a NISSAN dealer.
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3. Route the trailer tow harness so that it does
not block access to the spare tire winch
socket.
4. Connect the tow harness connector (SAE
J1239) to your trailer.
5. Confirm proper vehicle and trailer stop/turn
lamp operation.
6. When towing is completed, disconnect the
tow harness from the trailer and the vehicle.
Store the tow harness in the glove box.
Reinstall the connector cap to the vehicle
harness.
If you need further assistance in wiring a trailer to
your NISSAN, contact a NISSAN dealer.
Always confirm proper vehicle and trailer
stop/turn lamp operation every time the
trailer light circuits are connected for use.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal and/or local
regulations and that it is properly installed.
WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system di-
rectly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
cBe certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded and/or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if it
has an abnormal nose-up or nose-down
condition; check for improper tongue load,
overload, worn suspension or other possible
causes of either condition.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cBe certain your rearview mirrors conform to
all federal, state or local regulations. If not,
install any mirrors required for towing before
driving the vehicle.
Trailer towing tips
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free
from traffic. Steering stability and braking perfor-
mance will be somewhat different than under
normal driving conditions.
cAlways secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
cAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
cAlways block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is
not recommended; however, if you must do
so, and if your vehicle is equipped with an
automatic transmission, first block the
wheels and apply the parking brake, and
then move the transmission shift selector
lever into the P (Park) position. If you move
the shift selector lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion before blocking the wheels and applying
the parking brake, transmission damage
could occur.
cWhen going down a hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine braking effect.
When going up a long grade, downshift the
transmission to a lower gear and reduce
speed to reduce chances of engine over-
loading and/or overheating. However, for
long steep grades, do not stay in 1st or 2nd
gear when driving above 35 MPH (56 km/h) .
cIf the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioner
system is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the fan
control to high and setting the temperature
control to the HOT position.
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cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cHave your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
cWhen making a turn, your trailer wheels will
be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.
cCrosswinds and rough roads will adversely
affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling. If swaying does occur, firmly
grip the steering wheel, steer straight ahead,
and immediately (but gradually) reduce ve-
hicle speed. This combination will help sta-
bilize the vehicle. Never increase speed.
cBe careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer mustalso pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cTo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
5th gear (manual transmission) or overdrive
(automatic transmission) .
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
When towing a trailer, transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, see the
“Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section
earlier in this manual.
FLAT TOWING
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.
CAUTION
cFailure to follow these guidelines can
result in severe transmission damage.
cWhenever flat towing your vehicle, al-
ways tow forward, never backward.cDO NOT tow any automatic transmis-
sion vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground (flat towing) . Doing so WILL
DAMAGE internal transmission parts
due to lack of transmission lubrication.
cFor emergency towing procedures refer
to “Towing recommended by NISSAN”
in the “In case of emergency” section of
this manual.
Automatic Transmission
To tow a vehicle equipped with an automatic
transmission, an appropriate vehicle dollyMUST
be placed under the towed vehicle’s drive
wheels.Alwaysfollow the dolly manufacturer’s
recommendations when using their product.
Manual Transmission
cAlways tow with the manual transmission in
Neutral.
cOn four-wheel drive vehicles, place the
transfer case in the 2H range. Failure to do
so will cause the powertrain to bind up.
cAfter towing 500 miles, start and idle the
engine with the transmission in Neutral for
two minutes. Failure to idle the engine after
every 500 miles of towing may cause dam-
age to internal transmission parts.
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Shifting
Automatic transmission...........5-11
Manual transmission............5-14
Shoulder belt height adjustment........1-27
Spark plug replacement............8-21
Speedometer...................2-3
Spotlights (See map light)...........2-41
SRS warning label...............1-19
Starting
Before starting the engine..........5-9
Jump starting.................6-9
Precautions when starting and driving . . .5-2
Push starting................6-11
Starting the engine..............5-9
Steering
Power steering fluid.............8-15
Power steering system...........5-23
Tilting steering wheel............3-13
Steering wheel audio control switch......4-28
Step rail.....................3-11
Stop light....................8-36
Storage.....................2-26
Sunroof.....................2-39
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-19, 2-13
Supplemental restraint system
Information and warning labels.......1-19
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system.....................1-8
Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system).........1-8
Switch
Automatic power window switch.....2-38
Fog light switch...............2-22
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-23
Headlight and turn signal switch......2-20
Ignition switch................5-7Overdrive switch..............5-13
Power door lock switch...........3-3
Rear window defogger switch.......2-20
Rear window wiper and washer
switches...................2-19
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch....................2-24
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-18
T
Tachometer....................2-5
Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-5
Engine oil pressure low/engine coolant
temperature high warning light.......2-11
Three-way catalyst................5-2
Tie down hooks.................2-31
Tilting steering wheel..............3-13
Tire
Flat tire....................6-2
Spare tire...................6-4
Tire chains..................8-46
Tire placard.................9-11
Tire pressure................8-40
Tire rotation.................8-47
Tires of 4-wheel drive............8-49
Types of tires................8-46
Uniform tire quality grading.........9-23
Wheels and tires..............8-40
Wheel/tire size................9-8
Tire pressure
Low tire pressure warning light......2-11
Top tether strap child restraint.........1-41Towing
2-wheel drive models............6-13
4-wheel drive models............6-14
Flat towing..................9-22
Tow truck towing..............6-12
Towing load/specification chart......9-18
Trailer towing................9-16
Transfer case..................5-19
Transmission
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF). . . .8-14
Driving with automatic transmission. . . .5-10
Driving with manual transmission.....5-14
Selector lever lock release.........5-13
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country)......................9-9
Turn signal switch (See headlight and turn
signal switch)...............2-20, 2-22
U
Uniform tire quality grading...........9-23
V
Vanity mirror...................3-13
Vehicle dimensions and weights........9-8
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch. . .2-24
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system. . . .5-25
Vehicle identification...............9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
(Chassis number).................9-9
Vehicle identification number (VIN) plate. . . .9-9
Vehicle loading information...........9-12
Vehicle recovery.................6-15
10-5
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