steering wheel NISSAN FRONTIER 2016 D23 / 3.G Towing Guide

2016 NISSAN Towing Guide 15

TOWING
SAFETY

Towing can significantly have an effect in altering 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 are purchasing equipment or actually pulling the trailer. Buy or lease only quality
equipment. You should follow a more frequent maintenance schedule and check fluid levels,
proper tire pressures, tire condition, etc., more often when on the road to protect your vehicle.


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 to help ensure against the possibility of a
serious accident and personal injury or death.

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
and personal injury or death. Careful loading and balancing 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. King pin load — if using a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer — must be
between 15-25% of the total trailer weight.

WARNING - Excessive tongue/king pin 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. Too little tongue/king pin load can
cause instability, which may lead to swaying, “tail
wagging” or jackknifing which could result in a
serious accident or 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, adjust the load until the proper tongue/king pin load ratio is achieved.


60%40%

2016 NISSAN Towing Guide 19
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.

WARNING -When towing a 5th wheel or gooseneck trailer, do not make sharp turns while
driving or backing as the trailer may contact the vehicle and cause damage to both the trailer
and vehicle, or result in an accident leading to property damage or personal injury.
A special extended 5th wheel pin box or sliding hitch may be required to provide additional
trailer-to-truck clearance for tight maneuvering.

BACK UP WITH CAUTION
Backing up with a trailer is a difficult maneuver. The best way to steer is by placing one hand
at the bottom of the steering wheel to direct the trailer. The trailer will go in the same direction
your hand moves. If you want to turn the trailer to the left, you will turn 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 very slow
speeds. For large trailers that obstruct your rearward vision, have someone outside the vehicle
act as a “spotter” to guide you along.

PARK SMART
A tow vehicle and trailer can be an unwieldy combination in a small area, so always try to park
where you will have a relatively easy time maneuvering. Once parked, always block the wheels
on both the tow vehicle and the trailer.
Parking on a slope is not recommended. If, however, you must park on a slope and your
vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, there are some precautions you should
take:
 Have someone block the wheels once the tow vehicle and trailer are in position and are
being held by the vehicle’s brake.
 Next, apply the parking brake and only then move the gear lever into PARK.

CAUTION - If you move the lever into PARK before blocking the wheels and applying the
parking brake, it may be difficult later to shift out of PARK. Transmission damage could also
occur.

HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
An engine will lose about 4% of its performance for every 1,000 feet above sea level that you
travel. If you will be towing in high altitudes, it is a good idea to allow more time than usual due
to the engine’s reduced performance.