tire size INFINITI JX 2013 Towing Guide

2013 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. Reinforced 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.

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 for the towing capacities of 2013 Infiniti vehicles produced at the time of Towing Guide
publication. Use this data to help select the proper Infiniti vehicle to meet your anticipated towing
needs, and refer to it when towing, renting a trailer or other piece of towing equipment.

EQUIP YOUR INFINITI FOR TOWING
The frequency and type of towing should influence the manner in which you 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.

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.

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 compliance with
all regulations.

Special Note: Do not use your new vehicle to tow a trailer or haul a heavy load for the first 500 miles
(800 km). 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

2013 Infiniti Towing Guide
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PREPARING YOUR VEHICLE

BREAK-IN AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Infiniti recommends that you allow a sufficient “break-in” (500 miles) of both the engine and
drivetrain before towing with your new Infiniti vehicle. In addition, for the first 500 miles that you
tow a trailer, do not drive over 50 mph and do not make starts at full throttle.

Keep in mind, too, that towing places higher demands and added loads on vehicle components, so
more frequent maintenance is called for. Your Infiniti Service & Maintenance Guide provides the
accelerated maintenance schedule for towing purposes. Engine oil, filter, transmission oil, and
possibly other fluids should be changed more frequently when towing.

TIRE PRESSURE
When towing a trailer, increase the tow vehicle tire pressures to the recommended cold
specifications. You will find these figures in the vehicle owner’s manual and on the tire pressure
chart located within the vehicle. Trailer tire condition, size, load rating, and inflation pressure must
be in accordance with the trailer and tire manufacturer’s specifications.

MEASURING VEHICLE WEIGHT
The key to safe, efficient towing has to do with weight. Your vehicle — SUV, crossover, or passenger
car — is capable of carrying and towing only a certain amount of weight. You must compare your
vehicle’s tow weight ratings with the combined weight of the vehicle, trailer, and their contents.
This will help ensure that the total weight does not exceed any of your vehicle’s tow weight ratings.
There are four weights to consider when towing:
Š Gross Vehicle Weight
Š Gross Axle Weight (Front and Rear)
Š Gross Combined Weight
Š Trailer Tongue Load

These ratings are based upon normal highway driving and may be reduced if operating in reduced-
traction situations, for example, slippery boat ramps.

2013 Infiniti Towing Guide
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BALL MOUNT A bar that holds the hitch ball and is inserted into the hitch receiver. Also
commonly called a drawbar.
BREAKAWAY SWITCH A safety device using a trailer battery that automatically applies the trailer’s
brakes if it should accidentally become separated from the tow vehicle. 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 BRAKES 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 and 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 also
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.

WIRING HARNESS
Provides an electrical connection linking the tow vehicle’s electrical system to the
trailer’s system.

TOWING GLOSSARY