2020 INFINITI QX80 weight

measured reference height when loaded,
the vehicle may handle unpredictably
which could cause a loss of vehicle
control and cause serious personal injury
or property damage.
Sway control device
Sudden maneuvers, wind gusts and buffet-
ing caused by other vehicles can affect
trailer handling. Sway control devices may
be used to help control these affects. If you
choose to use one, contact a reputable
trailer hitch supplier to make sure the sway
control device will work with the vehicle,
hitch, trailer and the trailer’s brake system.
Follow the instructions provided by the
manufacturer for installing and using the
sway control device.
Class I hitch
Class I trailer hitch equipment (receiver, ball
mount and hitch ball) can be used to tow
trailers of a maximum weight of 2,000 lb
(907 kg).
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
(1,588 kg).
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
(2,267 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 (2,267 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
vehicle is only capable of towing the max-
imum trailer weights shown in the “Towing
Load/Specification” chart earlier in this
section.
CAUTION
.Do not use axle-mounted hitches.
. Do not modify the vehicle exhaust
system, brake system, etc.
. Do not attach any additional hitches
to your vehicle because a hitch is
already mounted to your vehicle frame.
Tire pressures
.
When towing a trailer, inflate the
vehicle tires to the recommended
cold tire pressure indicated on the
Tire and Loading Information la-
bel.
. Trailer tire condition, size, load
rating and proper inflation pres-
sure should be in accordance with
the trailer and tire manufacturers’
specifications.
Safety chains
Always use a suitable chain 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.
Be sure to leave enough slack in the chains to
permit turning corners.
Technical and consumer information10-25

10-26Technical and consumer information
STI0745
Trailer lights
Your vehicle is equipped with a towing
package, which also includes the 7-pin trailer
harness connector located under the trailer
hitch cover on the rear bumper.
CAUTION
.When splicing into the vehicle elec-
trical system, a commercially avail-
able 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 than 15 milliamps from the stop
and tail lamp circuits. Using a mod-
ule/converter that exceeds these
power requirements may damage
the vehicle’s electrical system. See a
reputable trailer retailer to obtain the
proper equipment and to have it
installed.
. Do not connect electrical devices that
draw more than 40 amps to the
vehicle. The fusible link may melt.
Trailer lights should comply with federal
and/or local regulations. For assistance in
hooking up trailer lights, contact an INFINITI
retailer or reputable trailer retailer.
Trailer brakes
When towing a trailer load of 3,500 lbs.
(1,587 kg) or more, trailers with a brake
system MUST be used. However, most
states require a separate braking system on
trailers with a loaded weight above a
specific amount. Make sure the trailer meets
the local regulations and the regulations
where you plan to tow.
Several types of braking systems are avail-
able. Surge Brakes -
The surge brake actuator is
mounted on the trailer tongue with a
hydraulic line running to each trailer wheel.
Surge brakes are activated by the trailer
pushing against the hitch ball when the tow
vehicle is braking. Hydraulic surge brakes are
common on rental trailers and some boat
trailers. In this type of system, there is no
hydraulic or electric connection for brake
operation between the tow vehicle and the
trailer.
Electric Trailer Brakes - Electric braking
systems are activated by an electronic signal
sent from a trailer brake controller (special
brake sensing module).
Have a professional supplier of towing
equipment make sure the trailer brakes are
properly installed and demonstrate proper
brake function testing.WARNING
Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.
Pre-towing tips
. Be certain your vehicle maintains a level
position when a loaded or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle
if it has an abnormal nose-up or nose-

10-28Technical and consumer information
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Drive slowly until the vehicle and trailerare 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
decrease overall stability. Therefore, to
maintain adequate control, reduce your
speed and shift to a lower gear. Avoid
long or repeated use of the brakes when
descending a hill, as this reduces their
effectiveness and could cause overheat-
ing. Shifting to a lower gear instead
provides “engine braking” and reduces
the need to brake as frequently.
. If the engine coolant temperature rises to
a high temperature, see “If your vehicle
overheats” (P.6-14).
. Trailer towing requires more fuel than
normal circumstances.
. Avoid towing a trailer for your vehicle’s
first 500 miles (800 km).
. Have your vehicle serviced more often
than at intervals specified in the recom-
mended maintenance schedule shown in
the “9. Maintenance and schedules”
section. .
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 ad-
versely affect vehicle/trailer handling,
possibly causing vehicle sway. When
being passed by larger vehicles, be pre-
pared for possible changes in crosswinds
that could affect vehicle 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 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. .
Use the TOW mode or 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.
. INFINITI recommends that the cruise
control not be used while towing a
trailer.
. While towing a trailer, do not use the
following systems (if so equipped):
— the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system
— the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system
— the Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system
— the Blind Spot Intervention
®(BSI)
system
— the Back-up Collision Intervention (BCI) system
— the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
— the Distance Control Assist (DCA) system