Infiniti TOWING 2008 User Manual

2008

INFINITI TOWING GUIDE

Towing Equipment

What’s Right for You

Preparing Your Vehicle

Towing Glossary

The Total Ownership Experience

Introduction

Towing Safety

Towing Tips

Specifications

Protection

For important safety warnings, please read and follow your vehicle owner’s manual.

INTRODUCTION

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, 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 FX and QX vehicles are available from your Infiniti dealer. Hitches

for the other Infiniti models — if applicable — 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 SPECIFICATIONS section of this guide for the

towing capacities of 2008 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 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 that equipment.

If, on the other hand, your towing will be infrequent, choose the Infiniti vehicle and equipment that

best meets your day-to-day needs. Be careful not to exceed the towing capacity on those few

occasions when you do tow.

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 dealer or a

professional supplier of towing equipment before you equip your Infiniti vehicle for towing.

2008 Infiniti Towing Guide

Finally, there are state and local laws on towing that you should review to ensure compliance with

all regulations.

TOWING EQUIPMENT

RENTING

The first thing to keep in mind when renting a trailer is to rent only from professional companies

that specialize in towing and towing equipment. More than likely, specialized companies hire

professional staff that can assist you in selecting and installing the proper towing equipment for

your Infiniti vehicle.

When renting, make sure you have your vehicle owner’s manual on hand so that you can reference

the towing capacities for your specific vehicle. Never rent a trailer that exceeds these capacities,

and make sure that any related towing equipment you rent will be sufficient for the loaded trailer.

While you are there, ask questions. How much does the empty trailer weigh? How much weight will

the trailer hold? What is the trailer’s tongue load? With what type of brakes is it equipped (if any)?

All of these factors have an effect on whether your Infiniti vehicle is capable of safely pulling that

type of trailer or piece of equipment.

Make certain that all of the trailer stoplights, taillights, and turn signals are connected and are

operating correctly, and that all safety equipments are properly installed. Check the safety

chains/cables, tie-downs, etc.

For safer operation, carefully inspect the condition of the trailer and towing equipment. Specifically,

check to make sure the tires are not worn excessively and are properly inflated. Make sure there are

not any broken welds, missing bolts, and that the hitch components are not damaged.

Towing safety should be a high priority when choosing and renting towing equipment, including

hitches. NEVER RENT A CLAMP-ON-TYPE HITCH. Your vehicle’s bumpers are not designed for using

this type of hitch. Using it will damage your vehicle and could even result in the trailer separating

from the towing vehicle; this can cause death or serious injury. To avoid this, use only a permanent-

type hitch.

PURCHASING

If you are buying a travel or boat trailer, be sure that your Infiniti vehicle has the towing capacity to

pull it. See the SPECIFICATIONS section of this guide or refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for

detailed information regarding the towing capacity of your specific vehicle. Your vehicle owner’s

manual should ALWAYS be referenced before making any towing decisions.

2008 Infiniti Towing Guide

Naturally, you will want to buy the highest-quality equipment you can find for maximum towing

safety. And if you plan to tow often, consider convenience. Quick-disconnect trailer light connectors

and ratchet-type tie-downs, for example, make the job go faster and easier and are usually worth

the extra small investment. Purchase towing items such as hitches and hitch balls only from your

Infiniti dealer or a professional supplier of towing equipment.

If you are intending to use your vehicle to tow a trailer you already own, you must ensure that your

loaded trailer remains well within your vehicle's towing capacity as specified in the vehicle owner's

manual. In addition, you should purchase the right type, style, and class* of hitch and towing

equipment to properly adapt the trailer to your vehicle.

WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

TYPES OF EQUIPMENT

Towing requires a variety of equipment, and, depending upon the application, there can be several

types or styles of each piece of equipment. Working with your Infiniti dealer or a professional

supplier of towing equipment, it should be relatively simple to determine the proper type of

equipment for your specific vehicle given the intended application. This section explains the most

common pieces of towing equipment available.

HITCHES

Whichever type of hitch you use, it should be firmly bolted to your vehicle, and should be of the

appropriate weight class for the equipment you intend to tow. In addition, keep the following in

mind:

 Do not modify the vehicle’s braking or exhaust systems or its body structure/frame when

installing the hitch.

 Be sure that the hitch does not interfere in any way with the vehicle’s impact-absorbing bumper.  Regularly check to see that all hitch-mounting bolts are securely fastened.  Where practical, remove the hitch when not in use. Your Infiniti dealer can assist you in hitch

removal and reinstallation.

 For receiver-type hitches using a ball mount, the ball mount should be removed when not

towing.



If you install a hitch yourself, remember that it must be securely attached to the frame or

underbody, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Never attach a hitch or towing device

to the vehicle axle housing. This may damage the housing, wheel bearings, wheels, or tires.

See the SPECIFICATIONS section of this guide for equipment class information specific to your vehicle.

2008 Infiniti Towing Guide

Hitch Types

Bumper Hitch – This is a special reinforced

bumper designed to accommodate a hitch ball.

Receiver Hitch – A receiver hitch is bolted directly

to the vehicle structure for added strength and

durability. Infiniti bolt-on receiver hitches are

designed specifically for Infiniti vehicles and include

the necessary reinforcements, with ample clearance

around bumpers, frame members, etc. These hitches

allow for the removal of the ball mount when not

towing.

Clamp-On Bumper Hitch – This is a temporary hitch

that clamps onto the bumper assembly. DO NOT USE

this type of hitch on any Infiniti vehicle because

using it may result in the trailer separating from the

towing vehicle; this can cause death or serious injury.

Use of this type of hitch can also damage the towing

vehicle.

2008 Infiniti Towing Guide

Weight-Distributing Hitch System – This type of

system uses a “load-leveling” or “equalizing” hitch.

The weight-distributing feature helps shift the trailer

tongue weight to all trailer tires and the tow vehicle

front tires.

For QX vehicles, a weight-distributing hitch ball

mount (Class IV) IS REQUIRED if you plan to tow

trailers with a maximum weight over 5,000 lbs. This

ball mount includes a 2

/16” hitch ball rated for up to 10,000 lbs., and is available through your

Infiniti dealer.

BALL MOUNT

A ball mount (also known as a drawbar or “stinger”) is a bar that holds a hitch ball and is inserted

into a receiver-type hitch. Ball mounts come in a number of weight capacities (3,500 lbs., 5,000 lbs.,

etc.) and sizes (1

/4”, 2”, etc.), and can be weight-distributing or non-weight-distributing.

HITCH BALL

A hitch ball is bolted through a ball mount or a hitch

hole in the tow vehicle’s rear bumper. The coupler on

the trailer tongue attaches over the hitch ball.

Like ball mounts, hitch balls are available in a

number of weight capacities and sizes. Always make

sure the hitch ball selected has the proper shank

Ball Mount

diameter and weight rating for the ball mount as well

as the coupler on your trailer. Using a 1

/8” hitch ball in a 2” coupler, for example, could result in

the trailer separating from the tow vehicle.

The diameter of the hitch ball shank must be matched to the ball mount hole diameter. The shank

should be no more than

/16” smaller than the hole.

To keep the hitch ball in top condition, a simple maintenance routine is recommended. Coating it

with light grease will minimize wear of both the coupler and hitch ball. Also, by removing the hitch

ball when not towing, or by protecting it with a special cover, you will help prevent rust from forming

on it.

Hitch

Ball

2008 Infiniti Towing Guide

TRAILER TONGUE

The tongue is the part of the trailer that extends forward to meet the tow vehicle, and it also carries

the coupler assembly. Knowledge of the trailer tongue load is critical as it can have a significant

effect on the handling of the tow vehicle. See the SPECIFICATIONS section of this guide or refer to

your vehicle owner’s manual to view the maximum trailer tongue load listed for your vehicle.

SAFETY CHAINS/CABLES

Always use suitable safety chains/cables between the tow vehicle and the trailer. If the hitch

should break or become disengaged for some reason, these chains/cables will provide an

emergency connection between the vehicle and the trailer.

The chains/cables should be crossed under the

trailer tongue and attached to the hitch or

vehicle frame. Crossing the chains/cables under

the tongue will help prevent the tongue from

hitting the ground should the trailer become

disconnected.

Be sure to leave enough slack in the

chains/cables to turn corners without binding;

however, note that excessive slack will allow the

chains/cables to drag on the ground.

Do not use S-hooks for attaching, as they may

become un-hooked and are illegal in many

states.

To avoid damage to the bumper and chains/cables when making a sharp turn, do not attach the

chains/cables too close to the coupler. Consult your trailer manufacturer for the proper location of

the chain/cable attachment to the trailer.

Not OK

REAR VIEW MIRRORS

In many cases, a trailer can block your rear vision when you are using only the standard Infiniti rear

view mirrors. These mirrors were not designed for towing. “Extended” mirrors specifically designed

for trailer towing should be used when your rearward vision is obstructed. Before using these

mirrors, make certain that they comply with state and local regulations. Telescoping Tow Mirrors are

available as an accessory for QX vehicles. Contact your Infiniti dealer for details.

2008 Infiniti Towing Guide

SWAY CONTROL DEVICE

Sudden maneuvers, wind gusts, and buffeting 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.

BREAKAWAY SWITCH

On a trailer with electric brakes, a breakaway switch can automatically activate the trailer brake

system if the trailer becomes separated from the tow vehicle. Should the trailer become detached,

a breakaway switch may help prevent the trailer from wandering into another lane and will bring it

to a safer stop with less damage.

A breakaway switch relies on the power of a trailer battery, so make sure it is not discharged. Never

use the breakaway switch to “park” the trailer on a grade. The battery would eventually discharge

and release the brake, allowing the trailer to roll.

Be sure to leave enough slack in the tether on the breakaway switch to turn corners without binding.

If you do not, the electric trailer brakes will lock-up and not release. See your trailer manufacturer

for proper installation of a breakaway switch that is compatible with your trailer braking system.

TRAILER LIGHTS

Trailer lights should comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, and should be

in proper working order at all times. A trailer’s taillights, stoplights, and turn signal lights must be

wired into the towing vehicle’s electrical system.*

Most trailers operate on a four-wire system in which the stoplights and turn signal lights utilize the

same wire. All Infiniti vehicles have separate wires for the stoplights and turn signal lights,

therefore a device called a “converter” is needed.** Specifically, a “powered converter” must be

used, as a converter of this type creates only minimal additional demand (draw) on the vehicle

lighting circuits, which helps to ensure protection for the vehicle’s sensitive electronics.

Always check for correct operation of the taillights, stoplights, and turn signal lights every time you

connect a trailer for towing. Never replace vehicle fuses with fuses of a higher amperage rating than

the original.

Vehicles equipped with LED taillights require that wiring be connected at a specific location. For assistance in hooking up trailer lights, contact your Infiniti dealer or a professional supplier of towing equipment.

QX vehicles equipped with the tow package are pre-wired for trailer lighting and do not require a converter.

2008 Infiniti Towing Guide

+ 18 hidden pages

Infiniti TOWING 2008 User Manual

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

TOWING EQUIPMENT