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What is the Nissan Xterra’s towing capacity?

My friend’s car is really old and she’s driving it cross-country to sell it. I told her I’d go with her in my own car, in case her car breaks down. But then I realized we might be able to tow her car behind mine. What is the Nissan Xterra’s towing capacity?

avatar
Joshua Levy · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The
Nissan Xterra
has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Since the average car weighs only about 4,100 pounds, you should be able to tow your friend’s car behind you.
But try to keep in mind that towing isn’t an easy job. Before you hitch your friend’s car behind yours, make sure you’re taking the proper safety precautions:
  • Adjust mirrors: Mirrors are typically adjusted for shorter cars so you can get a glimpse behind them. But towing another car means your rearview mirror will likely be blocked. Make sure to adjust your side mirrors so you can see behind the car you’re towing.
  • Check lights: Your brake lights show other drivers when you’re stopping and indicate that they should slow down as well. But when you’re towing a second car, those lights will be blocked. If you’re using a trailer to tow the car, make sure the brake lights work on the trailer. Otherwise, you may be issued a citation by local law enforcement officers.
  • Respect the weight limit: Your car’s towing capacity is not a suggestion. Piling extra weight on your Nissan Xterra could lead to a major problem and leave you stranded on the side of the road.
  • Check tires: People usually remember to check their car’s tire pressure, but it’s vital that you check the tire pressure of your trailer or the car you’re towing. If the vehicle being towed gets a flat while you’re on the road, you might be in trouble.
Finally, driving with extra weight and friction is different than driving an empty car. Practice driving with the extra weight in an empty area before you hit the road. Since you’ll also have a little less control with all that weight, you should make sure you have a good car insurance policy with
Jerry
.
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