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.● Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
● Lock the trailer hitch coupler with a pin or
lock to prevent the coupler from inadver-
tently becoming unlatched.
● Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops.
● Avoid sharp turns or lane changes.
● Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed.
● When 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 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 downhill 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. 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. ●
While going downhill, the weight of the
trailer pushing on the tow vehicle may de-
crease overall stability. Therefore, to main-
tain adequate control, reduce your speed
and shift to a lower gear. Avoid long or
repeated use of the brakes when descend-
ing a hill, as this reduces their effectiveness
and could cause overheating. Shifting to a
lower gear instead provides “engine brak-
ing” and reduces the need to brake as fre-
quently.
● If the engine coolant temperature rises to a
high temperature, refer to “If your vehicle
overheats” in the “In case of emergency”
section of this owner’s manual.
● Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
circumstances.
● Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s first
500 miles (805 km) .
● For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do
tow, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h).
● Have your vehicle serviced more often than
at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.
9-24Technical and consumer information
●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 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 ve-
hicle
– 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 in this section. ●
Be 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.
● Downshift 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.
● NISSAN recommends that the cruise con-
trol not be used 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. ●
Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after
50 miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
● When launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-
ter 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, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more fre-
quently. For additional information, refer to
the “Maintenance and do-it-yourself” sec-
tion of this manual.
FLAT TOWING FOR ALL–WHEEL
DRIVE VEHICLE (if so equipped)
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.
Technical and consumer information9-25
10 Index
2nd row bench seat adjustment.........1-6
A
Aiming control, headlights ...........2-39
Air bag (See supplemental restraint
system) .....................1-47
Air bag system Front (See supplemental front impact
air bag system) ...............1-54
Airbagwarninglabels.............1-64
Airbagwarninglight...........1-65,2-15
Air bag warning light, supplemental . .1-65, 2-15
Air cleaner housing filter ............8-17
Air conditioner Air conditioner operation ..........4-34
Air conditioner specification label .....9-12
Air conditioner system refrigerant and
oil recommendations .............9-7
Air conditioner system refrigerant
recommendations ..............9-7
Heater and air conditioner
controls................4-32,4-40
Servicing air conditioner ..........4-42
Airflowcharts..................4-36
Alarm system
(See vehicle security system) .........2-32
All-Wheel Drive .................5-43
Anchor point locations .............1-30
Antenna .....................4-74
Antifreeze ....................5-57
Anti-lock brake warning light ..........2-11Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
........5-48
Apps .......................4-74
Armrests .....................1-6
AroundView®Monitor.............4-16
Audible reminders ...............2-18
Audio system ..................4-42
AMradioreception.............4-43
Bluetooth®audio..........4-70,4-71
Bluetooth® streaming audio ....4-70,4-71
Compact disc (CD) player .....4-53,4-60
FM/AM/SAT radio with compact disc (CD)
player.................4-50,4-55
FMradioreception.............4-42
iPod® Player .............4-65,4-67
iPod® player operation .......4-65,4-67
Radio ....................4-42
Steering wheel audio control switch . . .4-73
USB interface ............4-61,4-63
USB (Universal Serial Bus) Connection
Port..................4-61,4-63
Autolight switch .................2-38
Automatic Automatic power window switch .....2-59
Automatic anti-glare inside mirror .......3-34
Automatic door locks ..............3-7
AUXjack ....................4-61
AWD.......................5-43
B
Battery ..................5-57,8-14
Chargewarninglight............2-12 Battery replacement
..............8-24
Keyfob ...................8-24
NISSAN Intelligent Key® ......8-26,8-27
Before starting the engine ...........5-15
Belt (See drive belt) ..............8-16
Blind Spot Warning (BSW) warning
system..................2-11,5-24
Block heater Engine ....................5-58
Bluetooth® audio ............4-70,4-71
Bluetooth® hands-free phone
system..................4-79,4-93
Bluetooth® streaming audio with Navigation
System .....................4-71
Boosterseats..................1-43
Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ......5-48
Brake fluid ..................8-12
Brakelight(Seestoplight).........8-30
Brake system ................5-48
Brakewarninglight.............2-11
Brakewearindicators........2-18,8-20
Parking brake operation ..........5-22
Self-adjusting brakes ............8-20
Brake fluid ....................8-12
Brakes ......................8-20
Brake system ..................5-48
Break-inschedule ...............5-41
Brightness/contrast button ...........4-9
Brightness control Instrument panel ..............
2-40
Bulb check/instrument panel ..........2-11
Bulbreplacement................8-30
Seatback pockets................2-49
Seat belt Childsafety..................1-23
Infantsandsmallchildren..........1-24
Injured Person ................1-18
Largerchildren................1-24
Precautionsonseatbeltusage.......1-15
Pregnant women ...............1-18
Seat belt extenders .............1-22
Seat belt maintenance ............1-22
Seat belts ................1-15,7-5
Shoulder belt height adjustment ......1-21
Three-point type with retractor .......1-18
Seat belt extenders ...............1-22
Seatbeltwarninglight..........1-18,2-15
Seats 2nd row bench seat adjustment .......1-6
Adjustment ...................1-2
Armrests....................1-6
Frontseats...................1-2
Heatedseats.................2-42
Manual front seat adjustment .........1-3
Seats/floor mats ..................7-4
Security indicator light ..............2-17
Security system (NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer
System) , engine start .......2-33,5-12,5-15
Security systems Vehicle security system ...........2-32
Self-adjusting brakes ..............8-20
Service manual order form ...........9-30
Servicing air conditioner .............4-42
Setting button ...................4-7
Shoulder belt height adjustment ........1-21
Smartphone connectivity ............4-74
Spark plug replacement .............8-17
Spark plugs ...................8-17 Specifications
...................9-8
Speedometer ...................2-4
Speedometer and odometer ...........2-4
SPORT mode switch ...........2-44,5-23
Spotlights(Seemaplight) ...........2-63
SRSwarninglabel................1-64
Starting Before starting the engine ..........5-15
Jump starting .............6-10,8-16
Precautions when starting and
driving ...................5-2,5-9
Push starting .................6-12
Starting the engine .............5-16
Starting the engine ...............5-16
Starting the engine (models with NISSAN
Intelligent Key® system) .............5-17
Steering Power steering system ...........5-47
Steeringwheel..................3-32
Steering wheel audio control switch ......4-73
Stoplight.....................8-30
Storage......................2-49
Storagebin....................2-54
Sunglassescase.................2-50
Sunglassesholder................2-50
Sunroof......................2-60
Sunroof(seeMoonroof).............2-60
Sun visors ....................3-33
Supplemental air bag warning labels ......1-64
Supplemental air bag warning light . . .1-65, 2-15
Supplemental front impact air bag system . . .1-54
Supplemental restraint system Information and warning labels .......1-64
Precautions on supplemental restraint
system ....................1-47 Supplemental restraint system
(Supplemental air bag system)
.........1-47
Switch Autolightswitch...............2-38
Automatic power window switch ......2-59
Fog light switch ...............2-41
Hazard warning flasher switch ........6-2
Headlightaimingcontrol ..........2-39
Headlightandturnsignalswitch......2-37
Headlight control switch ..........2-37
H
illdescentcontrolswitch.........2-44
Ignition switch ................5-11
Instrument brightness control ........2-40
Power door lock switch .........3-6,3-7
Rear window and outside mirror defroster
switch .....................2-36
Rear window wiper and washer
switches ...................2-35
Turnsignalswitch..............2-41
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC) off
switch .....................2-43
T
Tachometer ....................2-5
Temperature gauge Engine coolant temperature gauge .....2-5
Theft (NISSAN Vehicle Immobilizer System) ,
engine start .............2-33,5-12,5-15
Three-way catalyst ................5-2
Tire Flat tire .....................6-3
Spare tire ................6-5,8-44
Tire and Loading Information label .....9-12
Tire chains ..................8-40
10-6