steering INFINITI QX50 2021 Towing Guide

2021 INFINITI Towing Guide


1
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. 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 2021 INFINITI vehicle can be used for towing and
if so its towing capacity.

EQUIP YOUR INFINITI FOR TOWING
The frequency and type of towing dictate 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.

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

2021 INFINITI Towing Guide


13
height. On some tandem axle trailers an incorrect hitch height can result in uneven
trailer axle loading.

WARNING- Towing can significantly alter the handling, stability 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 are 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 avoid 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. Refer to your vehicle
owner’s manual for details. It is recommended you visit an INFINITI retailer for service.
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 and stability 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 of 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 causing instability, which may lead to swaying, “tail wagging,” or jackknifing
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.




60%40%
TOWING SAFETY

2021 INFINITI Towing Guide


14

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 cargo should be firmly secured to
prevent shifting. If the load should shift
abruptly during braking or cornering, it
could adversely affect the handling and
stability of your vehicle and cause a
very unsafe situation and may lead to an
accident or personal injury.
● DO NOT carry flammable materials, such as
gasoline, in your trailer. In the event of an
accident, it may result in an explosion, fire,
or personal injury or death.

PROVIDING FOR VEHICLE/TRAILER STABILITY


WARNING- Improper loading, excessive or insufficient trailer tongue load,
overloading, excessive trailer weight, poorly 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 load 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.
If the swaying continues and your trailer is suitably balanced and within the towing
capacity limits of your vehicle, discontinue towing and consult your INFINITI retailer or
trailer manufacturer to determine the problem.

VEHICLE SPEED
Please note that some states have specific 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 emergencies.

2021 INFINITI Towing Guide


16


To begin with, towing noticeably affects your vehicle’s performance:
 It will not accelerate as quickly — an important point to keep in mind when merging
onto a highway.
 It will not stop as quickly. Leave more room than usual between you and the traffic
ahead, and brake sooner when coming to a stop.
 Abrupt maneuvering can unbalance the load and reduce the handling and
stability of your tow vehicle. Plan 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
familiar with backing up a trailer — the 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 that 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, move the wheel to the right. All movements of the wheel
should be done in small increments. Of course, backing up should be done only at