Flat towing -22 – NISSAN 2011 Altima Hybrid - Owner's Manual User Manual

Page 407

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● For the first 500 miles (805 km) that you do

tow, do not drive over 50 MPH (80 km/h).

● Have your vehicle serviced more often than

at intervals specified in the recommended
Maintenance Schedule in the “NISSAN Ser-
vice and Maintenance Guide”.

● When making a turn, your trailer wheels will

be closer to the inside of the turn than your
vehicle wheels. To compensate for this,
make a larger than normal turning radius
during the turn.

● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely

affect vehicle/trailer handling, possibly caus-
ing vehicle sway. When being passed by
larger vehicles, be prepared for possible
changes in crosswinds that could affect ve-
hicle handling.

Do the following if the trailer begins to sway:

1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to

allow the vehicle to coast and steer as
straight ahead as the road conditions allow.
This combination will help stabilize the ve-
hicle.

– Do not correct trailer sway by steering or

applying the brakes.

2. When the trailer sway stops, gently apply the

brakes and pull to the side of the road in a
safe area.

3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it is bal-

anced as described earlier in this section.

● Be careful when passing other vehicles.

Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember, the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.

● Downshift the transmission to a lower gear

for engine braking when driving down steep
or long hills. This will help slow the vehicle
without applying the brakes.

● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long

or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.

● Increase your following distance to allow for

greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.

● NISSAN recommends that the cruise con-

trol not be used while towing a trailer.

● Some states or provinces have specific

regulations and speed limits for vehicles that
are towing trailers. Obey the local speed
limits.

● Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-

nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.

● When launching a boat, don’t allow the wa-

ter level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.

● Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights

before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.

When towing a trailer, eCVT fluid should be
changed more frequently. For additional
information, see the “Maintenance and do-
it-yourself” section earlier in this manual.

FLAT TOWING

Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground is sometimes called flat towing. This
method is sometimes used when towing a vehicle
behind a recreational vehicle, such as a motor
home.

Your vehicle is not designed to be flat towed with
all four wheels on the ground.

9-22

Technical and consumer information

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