2003 Nissan Pathfinder Owner's Manual - Page 283

¼ After the hitch is removed, seal the bolt holes to prevent exhaust fumes, water or dust from entering the passenger compartment. ¼ Regularly check all hitch mounting bolts are securely mounted. ¼ To reduce the possibility of additional damage if your vehicle is struck from the rear, where practical, remove the hitch and/or receiver when not in use. ¼ Never connect a trailer brake system directly to the vehicle brake system. Always use a suitable chain between your vehicle and the trailer. The chain should be crossed and should be attached to the hitch, not to the vehicle bumper or axle. Be sure to leave enough slack in the chain to permit turning corners. vehicle's behavior, you should practice turning, stopping and backing up in an area which is free from traffic. Steering stability and braking performance will be somewhat different than under normal driving conditions. ¼ Always secure items in the trailer to prevent load shift while driving. ¼ Avoid abrupt starts, acceleration or stops. ¼ Avoid sharp turns or lane changes. ¼ Always drive your vehicle at a moderate speed. ¼ Always block the wheels on both vehicle and trailer when parking. Parking on a slope is not recommended; however, if you must do so, and if your vehicle is equipped with automatic transmission, first block the wheels and apply the parking brake, and then move the transmission selector lever into the P position. If you move the selector lever to the P position before blocking the wheels and applying the parking brake, transmission damage could occur. ¼ When going down a hill, shift into a lower gear and use the engine braking effect. When ascending a long grade, downshift the transmission to a lower gear and reduce speed to reduce chances of engine overloading and/or overheating. Trailer lights Trailer lights should comply with Federal and/or local regulations. When wiring vehicle for towing connection, connect stop and tail light pickup into the vehicle electrical circuit at point between the sensor and stop light switch or light switch. Trailer brakes If your trailer is equipped with a braking system, make sure it conforms to Federal and/or local regulations and that it is properly installed. Tire pressures ¼ When towing a trailer, inflate the vehicle tires to the recommended cold tire pressure indicated on the tire placard (affixed to the glove box lid). ¼ Trailer tire condition, size, load rating and proper inflation pressure should be in accordance with the trailer and tire manufacturers' specifications. WARNING Never connect a trailer brake system directly to the vehicle brake system. Safety chains 9-20 Technical and consumer information Trailer towing tips In order to gain skill and an understanding of the