6. Turn off the engine.
To drive away:
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift the transmission into gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailer areclear from the blocks.
6. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
7. Have someone retrieve and store the blocks.
. When 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.
. If the engine coolant rises to an extremely
high temperature when the air conditioning
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.
. Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
. Avoid towing a trailer for the first 500 miles
(800 km) . .
Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
maintenance schedule in the NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide.
. When 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.
. Crosswinds 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
vehicle handling. If swaying does occur,
firmly grip the steering wheel, steer straight
ahead, and immediately (but gradually)
reduce vehicle speed. This combination will
help stabilize the vehicle. Never increase
speed.
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 orapplying 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 balanced as described earlier in this section.
. Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires
considerably more distance than normal
passing. Remember the length of the trailer
must also pass the other vehicle before you
can safely change lanes.
. Down 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.
. Avoid holding the brake pedal down too
long or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
. Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
. Do not use cruise control (if so equipped)
while towing a trailer.
. Some states or provinces have specific
regulations and speed limits for vehicles
that are towing trailers. Obey the local
speed limits.
Technical and consumer information9-23
9-24Technical and consumer information
.Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness
connections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after
50 miles (80 km) of travel and at every
break.
. When stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.
. When launching a boat, don’t allow the
water level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
. Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, the transmission
fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see the “8.
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
. Failure to follow these guidelines
can result in severe transmission
damage.
. Whenever flat towing your vehicle,
always tow forward, never back-
ward.
. DO NOT tow any continuously vari-
able transmission vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground (flat
towing) . Doing so WILL DAMAGE
internal transmission parts due to
lack of transmission lubrication.
. DO NOT tow an All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground. Doing so
may cause serious and expensive
damage to the powertrain.
. For emergency towing procedures
refer to “Towing recommended by
NISSAN” (P.6-13) of this manual.
Continuously Variable Transmission
(CVT)
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) models:
Do not tow an AWD vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground.
Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) models:
To tow a vehicle equipped with a Continuously
Variable Transmission (CVT) , an appropriate
vehicle dolly MUSTbe placed under the towed
vehicle’s driving wheels. Alwaysfollow the dolly
manufacturer’s recommendations when using
their product.
