How to Complete the Tow Package on a 2011 Nissan Xterra

Updated 04/13/2015 | Published 04/11/2015

Question:

2011 Nissan Xterra tow package plugs

asked by: Karen C

Helpful Expert Reply:

Thank you for submitting your pictures. It looks like your 2011 Nissan Xterra was pre-wired for the factory tow package. The only additional item that you will need to complete the tow package is the Tow Ready Nissan Custom Wiring Harness, # 118266. The gray and black plugs on the harness for the 7-way trailer connector will plug into the black and gray connectors that you found behind your rear bumper. The additional jumper harness will install behind the passenger side kick panel to provide power to the running lights and 12v power leads of the tow package. The relays for the turn signals and brake lights should already be installed in the underhood fuse box.

Check out the installation video that I attached on the Nissan Frontier. The installation will be the exact same as your Xterra.

To install a brake controller, you will just need a brake controller of your choice and the appropriate plug-in wiring harness. The brake controller that I would recommend is the Tekonsha Prodigy P3, # 90195, along with the Nissan Plug-In Wiring Adapter, # 3050-P. All you will need to do is mount the brake controller and plug it into the port that you found under the drivers side dash. The brake controller port is already connected to the black plug at the back of the vehicle. I have attached an installation video for the brake controller plug as well. The video is on a Nissan Pathfinder, but it will be the exact same installation as your Xterra.

One word of caution, we have had some customers complain that once they completed the installation, the brakes on the trailer locked up and the brake controller did detect that a trailer was connected. This is because Nissan had a mix-up between two manufacturing plants and accidentally wired the black connectors behind the bumper backwards on some models. If you run into this problem once you complete the installation, check out the help article that I attached that explains how to correct this issue.

expert reply by: John H