NISSAN 2008 Versa Hatchback - Towing Guide - Manual (Page 7)

2008 Nissan Towing Guide 6
5th Wheel or Gooseneck Hitch – Mounted
in the bed of a pick-up and designed for
heavy-duty applications, these types of
hitches are not available from Nissan but can
be purchased from a professional supplier of
towing equipment.*
A 5th wheel or gooseneck hitch is usually
installed and adjusted to meet the
requirements of a particular trailer, but two
basic rules hold true in every case. First, the
hitch should be mounted a minimum 2 inches
forward of the rear axle centerline. Second, it
should be securely attached directly to the
truck frame. This installation should be done
by professionals only, as it is very important to
mount the hitch correctly to distribute the king
pin load for the proper load carrying and sway
control performance.
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
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 diameter and weight rating for the ball mount as well as the coupler on your trailer.
Using a 1
7 /
8
” hitch ball in a 2” coupler, for example, could result in the trailer separating
* At this time, Titan is the only Nissan vehicle approved for 5th wheel and gooseneck trailer
towing. See your vehicle owner’s manual for details.
5th Wheel Hitch
Gooseneck Hitch
Hitch
Mount
Ball
Ball