ESP INFINITI QX50 2020 Towing Guide

2020 INFINITI Towing Guide


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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, 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 only the highest -quality towing and safety equipment you can find.
Rein forced tow hitches designed especially for certain INFINITI vehicles are available from
your INFINITI retailer. Hitches for other INFINITI models — if INFINITI 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.

NEVER EXCEED THE ESTABLISHED TOWING CAPACITY
Towing capacities vary from vehicle to vehicle . See the towing information in your vehicle
owner’s manual to confirm whether your 20 20 INFINITI vehicle can be used for towing and
if so it’s towing capacity .

EQUIP YOUR INFINITI FOR TOWING
The frequency and type of towing dictate the manner in which y ou equip your vehicle. If
you plan to tow often, either for 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 the proper equipment.

RE AD THIS GUIDE BEFORE YOU TOW
This guide was designed to provide an overview of safe towing practices. Here, y ou will
find information on towing equipment, safety, proper loading and driving techniques,
towing tips , and much more.

It is also a good idea to discuss your towing requirements with either your INFINITI retailer
or a professional supplier of towing equipment before you equip your INFINITI vehicle for
towing. Finally, there are state and local laws on towing that you should review to ensure
compli ance with all regulations.

CAUTION : INFINITI recommends you do not use your new vehicle to tow a trailer or
haul a heavy load for the first 500 miles (800 km) of use . Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged. For the first 500 miles that you tow a trailer, do not drive over 50 mph
and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your
vehicle wear in at heavier loads.







INTRODUCTION

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in different configurations to adjust the tongue load and load tr ansfer and hitch ball
he ight . On some tandem axle trailers an incorrect hitch height can result in uneven
trailer axle loading.

WARNING- Towing can significantly alter the handling and performance
characteristics of your vehicle. Moreover , it puts increased strain on the engine and
drivetrain. Therefore, it is always a good idea to approach towing from the standpoint
of safety — whether you a re purchasing equipment or actually pulling the trailer.

WARNING- Always make sure your vehicle’s towing capacity is adequate for the
trailer you intend to tow. Be certain that you have all of the proper equipment needed
for safe towing, such as safety chains/cables, electric trailer brakes, electric trailer
brake controller, breakaway switch, and extended rear view mirrors . Make certain
your equipment conforms to all federal, state or local regulations to help ensure
against the possibility of a serious accident and personal injury or death.

You should follow a more frequent maintenance schedule and check fluid levels,
pressures, tire condition, etc., more often when on the road. See your vehicle owner’s
manual for details.
LOADING YOUR TRAILER

WARNING - Taking the time to load and balance your trailer properly will improve
overall handling and minimize the strain on your tow vehicle. Incorrectly , loaded trailers
tend to sway or swing from side to side, upsetting vehicle handling which could result in
a serious accident , personal injury or death . Careful loading and balancing , and a
weight distribution hitch and sway -control device can help eliminate these problems.

As mentioned earlier, conventional trailer tongue load must fall between 10-15% of the
total trailer weight, or within the limits o f the maximum trailer tongue load specified by
the trailer manufacturer.

WARNING - Excessive trailer tongue load can actually push down the tow vehicle in
back, lifting the front wheels to a point where traction, steering response , and braking
may be severely reduced . which could result in an accident, personal injury or death .
Too little trailer tongue load or negative load can lift the trailer tongue upwards on the
trailer ball caus ing instability, which may lead to swaying, “tail wagging ,” or jackknif ing
which could result in an accident, personal injury or death .

With this in mind, proper loading is extremely
important. When loading a trailer, 60% of
the total cargo weight should be positioned
in the front portion of the trailer and 40% in
the back. Then the load should be adjusted
until the proper tongue load ratio is
achieved.





TOWING SAFETY

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WARNING -The trailer load should be
balanced equally from side -to -side.
Unequal side -to -side loading can
negatively affect handling and braking.
Once in place, all carg o should be firmly
secured to prevent shifting. I f the load
should shift abruptly during braking or
cornering, it could adversely affect the
handling of your vehicle and cause a
very unsafe situation and may lead to
anaccident or personal injury .
● D O N OT carry flammable materials, such as
gasoline, in your t railer. In the event of an
a ccident, an explosion or fire could occur.

PROVIDING FOR VEHICLE/TRAILER STABILITY

WARNING - Improper loading, excessive or in sufficient trailer tongue load,
overloading, excessive trailer weight, po orly designed trailer suspensions, crosswinds,
and poor maintenance are all things that can affect the stability of your vehicle
and trailer combination. Vehicle instability may result in loss of vehicle control and
cause an accident, personal injury or death.

If swaying occurs, gradually reduce speed, and apply only the trailer brakes to help
reduce sway. Steady the steering wheel and gradually pull over and stop to check
the cargo loa d for proper balance and distribution to ensure proper trailer tongue
load. In addition, check the condition of the suspension and shocks, as well as the tires,
tire pressures, and wheel bearings on both the tow vehicle and trailer.

I f the swaying contin ues and your trailer is suitably balanced and within the towing
capacity limits of your vehicle, discontinue towing and consult your INFINITI retailer or
trailer m anufacturer to determine the problem.

VEHICLE SPEED
Please note that s ome states have speci fic regulations and speed limits for vehicles
that are towing trailers. Remember to reduce your speed in unsafe or less -than- ideal
road conditions or weather. When towing a trailer, braking distances increase while
handling agility decreases. Always leave yourself an extra margin of distance to
respond to emergenc ies.

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To begin with, towing noticeably affects your vehicle’s performa nce:
 It will not accelerate as quickly — an important point to keep in mind when merging
onto a highway.
 It will not stop as quickly. L eave more room than usual between you and the traffic
ahead, and brake sooner when coming to a stop.
 Abrupt maneuvering can unbalance t he load and reduce the handling and
sta bility of your tow vehicle. P lan ahead and make lane changes and turns
smoothly.

If possible, before you actually hit the open road, practice towing in a large
uncrowded area such as a safe, open place with minimal traffic. Become especially
fam iliar with backing up a trailer — t he maneuver many people find most difficult.

BRAKE SOONER
The combination of your tow vehicle and trailer obviously requires a greater distance
to stop. A good rule of thumb to remember is t hat for each 10 mph of speed, allow
yourself one tow vehicle and trailer length of distance between the front of your
vehicle and the vehicle ahead. When braking, use firm but gradual pressure on the
pedal rather than panic braking.

WARNING - Applying the brakes abruptly or with too much force can cause the
trailer to skid or jackknife at its point of attachment with the vehicle. This, in turn, can
throw the tow vehicle out of control. If equipped with an electric trailer brake
controller, follow the recommended operational instructions.

CORNER MORE SLOWLY
Know your vehicle and trailer capabilities.

WARNING - Entering a sharp corner too quickly or abruptly can “crack the whip,”
whereby the trailer can actually pull the tow vehicle off the road resulting in property
damage, a serious accident , personal injury, or death.

Therefore, when approaching a relatively sharp corner, begin braking sooner than you
would when not towing. Do your braking in a straight line prior to the corner, and turn
smoothly into it. In addition, remember to make a wider turn than normal to ensure that
the trailer safely clears the inside of the turn.

BACK UP WITH CAUTION
Backing up with a trailer is a difficult maneuver . Steer with one hand at the bottom of
the steering wheel. To turn the trailer to the left, first move the steering wheel to the left.
To turn the trailer to the right, m ove the wheel to the right. All movements of the wheel
shou ld be done in small increm ents. Of course, backing up should be done only at
very slow speeds. For large trailers that obstruct your rearward vision, have someone
outside the vehicle act as a “spotter” to guide you along.

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A breakaway switch may be used with both electric or surge trailer brake
systems.


BUMPER HITCH A reinforced bumper designed to accommodate a hitch ball.
ELECTRIC TRAILER BR AKES When the brakes on a tow vehicle are applied, an electric current is sent to
an actuator which applies the trailer’s brakes.
ELECTRIC TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER A device that controls the electric trailer brakes.
GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR)
The maximum amount of weight each vehicle axle (front and rear) is
designed to safely carry.

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.

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 CHAI NS/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 weight pressing down on the 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.
WI RI NG HARNESS Provides an electrical connection linking the tow vehicle’s electrical system to
the trailer’s system.

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By far the most important benefit of INFINITI luxury is the Total Ownership E xperience.®
Years before we ever built our first luxury car, we built this belief: Luxury is much more
than a collection of features on an automobile. It is a way of doing business based
upon building a lasting relationship. From the ve ry moment you arrive at an INFINITI
retailer , we strive to exceed your expectations at every turn with our line of products
and our people. You will notice our commitment to your satisfaction in everything we
do, fro m the way we build our vehicles to the way we support them for years to come.
As an INFINITI driver you wi ll enjoy a host of useful services like 24-hour Roadside
Assistance ,* a Complimentary INFINITI Service Loan Car** and Trip Interruption
Benefits .* Your ownership e xperience will be a comple te one, extending from our
showroom to our Web site and beyond.

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
4-year/unlimited -mileage* includes: Trip Interruption Benefits, 24 -hour toll-free customer
assistance number, battery boost, lock -outs, flat tires, out-of -gas, accident towing.

SERVICE LOAN CAR PROGRAM
When you make an appointment and drop off your INFINITI vehicle for warranty repair
m aintenance at participating retailer s, a complimentary INFINITI Service Loan Car** will
be waiting. And before your INFINITI is r eturned to you, it will be hand -washed and
running smoothly.

COMMITMENT
To a superior product representing excellent value, presented in a unique environment.
To honor our guests and treat them with respect during the buying process. To give our
customer s outstanding service throughout their ownership, so that they may enjoy an
ongoing relationship with knowledgeable people. To be completely committed to
ensuring total satisfaction for our customers.

OWNERSHIP ONLINE
Our goal is to provide owners with a premium quality vehicle and an outstanding
ownership experience that does not end when you drive away from the showroom. To
that end, we have created the “Ownersh ip” section of the www.INFINITIUSA.com Web
site, which further reflects our commitment to ser ving INFINITI owners’ needs. There you
can find easily accessible maintenance schedules, warranty information, and articles
exclusively available to INFINITI owners.

*Roadside Assistance/Trip Interruption available during the first four years after initia l new vehicle
delivery.
**Subject to availability. Available only during the 4 -year/60,000- mile Basic coverage. The
customer must be 21 years of age or older with a valid U.S. driver’s license. The customer must
provide proof of primary insurance. Restrict ions may apply.
THE TOTAL OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE
INFINITIUSA.com