2006 Nissan Towing Guide 3 If you are buying a travel or boat trailer, be sure that your Nissan vehicle has the towing
capacity to pull it. See the SPECIFICATIONS section of this guide, or refer to your owner’s
manual for detailed information regarding the towing capacity of your specific vehicle. Your
owner’s manual should ALWAYS be referenced before making any towing decisions.
Naturally, you’ll want to buy the highest-quality equipment you can find for maximum
towing safety. And if you plan to tow often, consider convenience. Quick-disconnect trailer
light connectors and ratchet-type tie-downs, for example, make the job go faster and easier,
and are usually worth the small extra investment.
WHAT’S
RIGHT FOR YOU
TYPES OF EQUIPMENT
Towing requires a variety of equipment, and, depending upon the application, there can be
several types or styles of each piece of equipment. Working with your Nissan dealer or a
professional supplier of towing equipment, it should be relatively simple to determine the
proper type of equipment for your specific vehicle given the intended application. This
section explains the most common pieces of towing equipment available.
HITCHES
Whichever type of hitch you use, it should be firmly bolted to your vehicle, and should be of
the appropriate weight class for the equipment you intend to tow. In addition, keep the
following in mind:
Š Do not modify the vehicle’s braking or exhaust systems or its body structure/frame when
installing the hitch.
Š Be sure that the hitch does not interfere in any way with the vehicle’s energy-absorbing
bumper.
Š Regularly check to see that all hitch-mounting bolts are securely fastened.
Š Where practical, remove the hitch when not in use. Your Nissan dealer can assist you in
hitch removal and reinstallation. When removed, seal the bolt holes to prevent road
spray, fumes, water, and dirt from entering the vehicle.
Š For receiver-type hitches using a ball mount, the ball mount should be removed when
not towing.
Š If you install a hitch yourself, remember that it must be securely attached to the frame or
underbody, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Never attach a hitch or
towing device to the vehicle axle housing. This may damage the housing, wheel
bearings, wheels, or tires.
2006 Nissan Towing Guide 5 Clamp-On Bumper Hitch – As the name
suggests, this type of temporary hitch
clamps onto the bumper assembly.
Nissan does not recommend the use of
this type hitch for a number of reasons.
It may interfere with performance of the
energy-absorbing bumper. And because
the bumper was not designed to carry
this type of load, it could damage the
bumper and bodywork, and may possibly result in trailer separation during towing.
Therefore, tow only with a permanent hitch.
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 installed and adjusted to meet the
requirements of a particular trailer, but
two basic rules hold true in every case.
First, the hitch should be mounted a
minimum 2 inches forward of the rear axle
centerline. Second, it should be securely
attached directly to the truck frame. This
installation should be done by
professionals only, as it is very important
to mount the hitch correctly to distribute
the king pin load for the proper load
carrying and sway control performance.
At this time, Titan is the only Nissan vehicle approved for 5th wheel and
gooseneck trailer towing. See your owner’s manual for details.
5th Wheel Hitch
Gooseneck Hitch
