2007 Nissan 350Z Owner's Manual - Page 295

the proper equipment and to have it installed. Trailer lights should comply with federal and/or local regulations. When wiring the vehicle for towing, connect the stop and tail light pickup into the vehicle electrical circuit at a point between the sensor and stop light or light switch. ¼ Always secure items in the trailer to prevent load shifts while driving. ¼ Load the trailer so approximately 60% of the trailer load is in the front half and 40% is in the back half. ¼ Check your hitch, trailer tire pressure, vehicle tire pressure, trailer light operation, and trailer wheel lug nuts every time you attach a trailer to the vehicle. ¼ Be certain your rear view mirrors conform to all federal, state and/or local regulations. If not, install any mirrors required for towing before driving the vehicle. speed limits for vehicles that are towing trailers. Obey the local speed limits. ¼ When backing up, hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Move your hand in the direction in which you want the trailer to go. Make small corrections and back up slowly. If possible, have someone guide you when you are backing up. 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 a vehicle is equipped with automatic transmission, first apply the parking brake and block the wheels, and then move the transmission selector lever into the P (Park) position. If you move the selector lever to the P (Park) position before blocking the wheels and applying the parking brake, the transmission may get damaged. ¼ When going down a hill, shift into a lower gear and use the engine braking effect. When going up a long grade, downshift the transmission to a lower gear and reduce speed to reduce chances of engine overloading and/or overheating. ¼ If the engine coolant rises to an extremely high temperature when the air conditioning system is on, turn off the air conditioner. Coolant heat can be additionally vented by 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. WARNING Never connect a trailer brake system directly to the vehicle brake system. Trailer towing tips In order to gain skill and an understanding of the 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 a vehicle at a moderate speed. Some states or provinces have specific Pre-towing tips ¼ Be certain a vehicle maintains a level position when a loaded and/or unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive the vehicle if it has an unusual nose-up or nose-down condition; check for improper tongue load, overload, worn suspension or other possible causes of these conditions. 9-20 Technical and consumer information