2006 NISSAN FRONTIER trailer

Class II hitch
Class II trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 3,500 lb (1,510 kg) .
The genuine NISSAN step bumper is considered
a Class II ball mount.
Class III hitch
Class III trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 5,000 lb (2,272 kg) .
Class IV hitch
Class IV trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow trailers
of a maximum weight of 10,000 lb (4,545 kg) . A
weight distributing hitch should be used to tow
trailers that weigh over 5,000 lb (2,272 kg) .
Your vehicle may be equipped with Class IV
trailer hitch equipment that has a 10,000 lb
(4,545 kg) maximum weight rating, but your ve-
hicle is only capable of towing the maximum
trailer weights shown in the “Towing
Load/Specification” chart earlier in this section.
CAUTION
cSpecial hitches which include frame re-
inforcements are required for towing
above 2,000 lb (907 kg) . Suitable genu-
ine NISSAN hitches, ball mounts and
hitch balls 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.
cRegularly check that all trailer hitch
mounting bolts are securely mounted.
cWhen towing with the hitch ball
mounted to the rear bumper, do not
make sharp turns. The trailer may con-
tact the bumper and cause damage to
the bumper or trailer.
Tire pressures
cWhen towing a trailer, inflate the ve-
hicle tires to the recommended cold
tire pressure indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
cTrailer tire condition, size, load rating
and proper inflation pressure should
be in accordance 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. The safety
chains can be attached to the bumper if the hitch
ball is mounted to the bumper. Be sure to leave
enough slack in the chains to permit turning
corners.
9-32Technical and consumer information
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2006 Truck/Frontier(d22)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
10/26/05Ðtbrooks
X

Trailer lights
CAUTION
When splicing into the vehicle electrical
system, a commercially available power-
type module/converter must be used to
provide power for all trailer lighting. This
unit uses the vehicle battery as a direct
power source for all trailer lights while
using the vehicle tail light, stoplight and
turn signal circuits as a signal source. The
module/converter must draw no more
that 15 milliamps from the stop and tail
lamp circuits. Using a module/converter
that exceeds these power requirements
may damage the vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem. See a reputable trailer dealer to ob-
tain the proper equipment and to have it
installed.
Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or
local regulations. For assistance in hooking up
trailer lights, contact a NISSAN dealer or repu-
table trailer dealer. Vehicles equipped with the
optional trailer tow package are equipped with a
7-pin trailer harness connector. If your trailer is
equipped with a flat 4-pin connector, an adapter
will be needed to connect the trailer lights to the
vehicle. Adapters are available at NISSAN deal-
ers as well as auto parts stores and hitch retail-
ers.
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.
cKeep the cargo load as low as possible in
the trailer to keep the trailer center of gravity
low.
cLoad the trailer so approximately 60% of the
trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in
the back half. Also make sure the load is
balanced side to side.cCheck your hitch, trailer tire pressure, ve-
hicle tire pressure, trailer light operation, and
trailer wheel lug nuts every time you attach a
trailer to the vehicle.
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.
cDetermine the overall height of the vehicle
and trailer so the required clearance is
known.
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.
cLock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadvert-
ently becoming unlatched.
cAvoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
cAvoid sharp turns or lane changes.
Technical and consumer information9-33
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2006 Truck/Frontier(d22)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
10/17/05Ðdebbie
X

cAlways drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
cWhen backing up, hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand. Move your
hand in the direction in which you want the
trailer to go. Make small corrections and
back up slowly. If possible, have someone
guide you when you are backing up.
Always block the wheels on both vehicle and
trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not
recommended; however, if you must do so:
CAUTION
If you move the shift selector lever to the P
(Park) position before blocking the
wheels and applying the parking brake,
transmission damage could occur.
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Have someone place blocks on the down hill
side of the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. After the wheel blocks are in place, slowly
release the brake pedal until the blocks ab-
sorb the vehicle load.
4. Apply the parking brake.
5. Shift the transmission into P (Park) .6. Make sure the
indicator light (if so
equipped) indicates the transfer case is in
4H, 4L, or 2H and that the ATP light is off. If
the
indicator light is flashing, or the
ATP light is ON, make sure the transmission
is in P (Park) (AT) and turn the 4WD switch
to 2WD or 4H. See9Automatic transmission
park warning light9in the9Instruments and
controls9section and9Using four wheel
drive9in the9Starting and driving9section.
7. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Start the vehicle.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer are
clear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
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, forlong steep grades, do not stay in 1st gear
when driving above 35 MPH (56 km/h) or
2nd gear when driving above 58 MPH (93
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.
cTrailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
cAvoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
cFor the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h) .
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.
9-34Technical and consumer information
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2006 Truck/Frontier(d22)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
10/17/05Ðdebbie
X

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.
Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:
1.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to
allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the vehicle
- Do not correct trailer sway by steering or
applying the brakes.
2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the
brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-
anced as described earlier in this section.
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 must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
cDown shift the transmission to a lower gear
for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.cTo maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive.
cAvoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
cIncrease your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually
cDo not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
cSome states or provinces have specific regu-
lations and speed limits for vehicles that are
towing trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
cCheck your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
cWhen stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.
cWhen launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
cMake sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and 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.
Technical and consumer information9-35
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2006 Truck/Frontier(d22)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
10/17/05Ðdebbie
X

T
Tachometer....................2-6
Tailgate latch..................3-15
Temperature gauge
Engine coolant temperature gauge.....2-6
Theft (NISSAN vehicle immobilizer system) ,
engine start..............2-22, 3-2, 5-9
Three-way catalyst................5-2
Tie down hooks.................3-17
Tilting steering wheel..............3-11
Tire
Flat tire....................6-2
Spare tire...................6-4
Tire chains..................8-40
Tire placard.................9-11
Tire pressure................8-32
Tire rotation.................8-40
Tires of 4-wheel drive............8-42
Types of tires................8-39
Uniform tire quality grading.........9-36
Wheels and tires..............8-32
Wheel/tire size................9-8
Tire pressure
Low tire pressure warning light......2-15
Tire pressure monitoring system........5-3
Top tether strap child restraint.........1-36
Towing
2-wheel drive models............6-12
4-wheel drive models............6-13
Flat towing..................9-35
Tow truck towing..............6-11
Towing load/specification.........9-29
Trailer towing................9-25Transceiver
HomeLinkTUniversal Transceiver.....2-50
Transmission
Driving with automatic transmission. . . .5-11
Driving with manual transmission.....5-14
Selector lever lock release.........5-13
Travel (See registering your vehicle in another
country)......................9-9
Trip computer...................2-5
Trip odometer...................2-4
Truck - camper loading.............9-22
Turn signal switch................2-28
U
Uniform tire quality grading...........9-36
V
Vanity mirror...................3-12
Vehicle dimensions and weights........9-8
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off switch. . .2-31
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) system. . . .5-30
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..............6-14, 7-2
Vehicle security system.............2-21
Vehicle security system (NISSAN vehicle
immobilizer system) , engine start . .2-22, 3-2, 5-9Ventilators.....................4-2
Visors......................3-12
Voltmeter.....................2-8
W
Warning
4WD warning light.............2-15
Air bag warning light.........1-64, 2-16
Anti-lock brake warning light........2-13
Battery charge warning light........2-14
Brake warning light.............2-13
Door open warning light..........2-14
Engine oil pressure warning light.....2-14
Hazard warning flasher switch.......2-29
Low fuel warning light...........2-15
Low tire pressure warning light......2-15
Low washer fluid warning light.......2-16
Passenger air bag and status light.....1-58
Seat belt warning light...........2-15
Vehicle security system...........2-21
Warning labels (for SRS)..........1-64
Warning/indicator lights and audible
reminders..................2-12
Warning lights..................2-12
Washer switch
Windshield wiper and washer switch . . .2-23
Weights (See dimensions and weights). . . .9-8
Wheels and tires................8-32
Wheel/tire size..................9-8
When traveling or registering your vehicle in
another country..................9-9
Window washer fluid..............8-15
10-6
ZREVIEW COPYÐ2006 Truck/Frontier(d22)
Owners ManualÐUSA_English(nna)
10/17/05Ðdebbie
X