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 2016 NISSAN Towing Guide    1
INTRODUCTION 
 
SAFETY IS PRIORITY ONE 
Obviously, your first concern should be safety. Your vehicle was designed to be used primarily 
to carry passengers and cargo. Always remember that towing a trailer places additional loads 
on your vehicle’s engine, drivetrain, suspension, and steering, braking, and other systems. 
Therefore, be certain that your vehicle can meet the demands of the towing application you 
have in mind. 
  Rent or purchase towing equipment that complies with established industry standards and 
state and federal safety regulations. Reinforced tow hitches designed especially for certain 
NISSAN vehicles are available from your NISSAN dealer. Hitches for other NISSAN models – 
if Nissan recommends towing with that vehicle - should be bought from and installed by a 
professional supplier of towing equipment.   Carefully review all information and literature 
provided with any hitch you purchase for safety and proper use information. 
Finally, it is important to follow the towing capacity limit set for your specific vehicle, and to 
ensure that your vehicle is in top mechanical condition, especially the tires, brakes, 
suspension, and engine cooling system. See your vehicle owner’s manual for details.  
 
WHAT IS THE ESTABLISHED TOWING CAPACITY FOR YOUR VEHICLE 
Towing capacities vary from vehicle to vehicle. See the towing information in your vehicle 
owner’s manual to confirm whether your NISSAN vehicle can be used to tow and if so, what 
its towing capacity rating is. Use this data to help select the proper NISSAN vehicle to meet 
your anticipated towing needs, and refer to it when renting a trailer or other piece of towing 
equipment. 
 
 
EQUIP YOUR NISSAN FOR TOWING 
The frequency and type of towing dictate the manner in which you equip your vehicle. If you 
plan to tow often, for either recreation or work, select the engine size, transmission type, 
suspension, and towing capacity that are best suited to your requirements. This guide can 
help you select that equipment.   
  If, on the other hand, your towing will be infrequent, choose the NISSAN vehicle and 
equipment that best meets your day-to-day needs. Be careful not to exceed the towing 
capacity on those few occasions when you do tow.  
 
 
READ THIS GUIDE BEFORE YOU TOW 
This guide was designed to provide an overview of safe towing practices. Here, you will find 
information on towing equipment, safety, proper loading and driving techniques, towing tips, 
and much more.   
     
        
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 2016 NISSAN Towing Guide    14
For example, to determine the proper trailer tongue load for a 1,500-lb. trailer, multiply the 
weight of 1,500 lbs. by 10% to arrive at a figure of 150 lbs. 5th wheel and gooseneck trailer 
king pin load must be kept between 15-25% of the actual trailer weight, within the limits of 
the king pin load allowable. 
  Some trailer types may require different trailer tongue loads for safe towing. Always follow 
the trailer manufacturer’s recommendations for proper trailer set-up and trailer tongue load. 
Keep the trailer tongue load within the maximum trailer tongue load allowable. Additionally, 
make sure the vehicle has the payload capacity available for the trailer tongue load.  
 Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual to view the maximum conventional trailer tongue load 
listed for your vehicle.  
 WARNING – DO NOT exceed any of the individual vehicle weight ratings (GVWR, 
GAWR, GCWR, etc.), regardless of trailer or hitch type.  Overloading or improper 
loading of a trailer can cause unsafe vehicle handling, braking and performance and may 
lead to a serious accident and personal injury or death. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HITCH & TRAILER HEIGHT 
It is important that your trailer floor and tongue ride as level as possible. This will help prevent 
over-angling, bottoming-out, and improper tongue load and load transfer. Therefore, the hitch 
or trailer tongue must be adjusted during the initial vehicle/trailer fit-up to ensure a level ride. 
Ball mounts are available in different configurations to adjust the hitch ball height. 
 
TIRE PRESSURE 
When towing a trailer, ensure that the tow vehicle’s tire pressures are inflated to the 
recommended cold tire specification. You will find these figures in the vehicle owner’s manual 
and on the tire pressure chart located in the vehicle. Trailer tire condition, size, load rating, and 
tire pressure must be in accordance with the trailer and tire manufacturer’s specifications. 
 
  
     
        
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 2016 NISSAN Towing Guide    23
 
 
GROSS COMBINED  
WEIGHT RATING (GCWR) The maximum allowable combined weight of the vehicle and trailer, 
including passengers and all cargo. 
GROSS VEHICLE 
WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle, including passengers, cargo, 
fuel, hitch, trailer tongue load, and any optional equipment. 
KING PIN 
LOAD The amount of trailer (5th wheel or gooseneck) weight pressing down on the 
tow vehicle hitch. 
HITCH BALL 
 A ball that connects the trailer to the tow vehicle hitch that provides the 
means by which the trailer pivots during cornering.  Available in a number 
of sizes and weight capacities, it must correspond to the trailer coupler 
size, and have a sufficient capacity rating for the trailer being pulled. 
 
RECEIVER HITCH A frame- or structure-mounted hitch with a receiver that allows removal of 
the ball mount. 
 
SAFETY CHAINS/CABLES Provides an emergency connection between the tow vehicle and the trailer, 
should the trailer become disengaged for any reason. 
 
SURGE BRAKES 
 Hydraulic-type braking system activated by inertia. As the tow vehicle 
begins to brake, the trailer pushes against the hitch ball, consequently 
activating the trailer brakes.   
 
TRAILER TONGUE/COUPLER The part of the trailer that extends forward to meet the tow vehicle, and 
carries the coupler assembly. 
 
TRAILER TONGUE 
LOAD The amount of trailer (conventional) weight pressing down on the tow 
vehicle hitch. 
 
WEIGHT-DISTRIBUTING  
HITCH SYSTEM Type of hitch system that helps shift the trailer tongue weight to all trailer 
tires and the tow vehicle front tires. Strongly recommended when towing 
trailers with a Maximum Trailer Weight greater than 5,000 lbs. 
 
WIRING HARNESS  Provides an electrical connection linking the tow vehicle’s electrical system 
to the trailer’s system.