Use your caution lights as to let others know, here in SD there's not that many laws concerning towing a car/truck with a rope but for longer distance's a towhaul would be better.

 

I pulled a friend home with my '89 using only a chain and we had our flashers on,cops passed us,did'nt do anything. And we were crossing an intersection.

 

You should be fine, just use a rope or a chain, and prolly use the emergency lights on the vehicle being towed.

 

I have a F350 and 16 ft trailer but still use a tow rope for short distances and never had any problems. I learned out on the farm but have helped others pull in towns and citys with no problems from the cops. Granted the trailer is safer but for the short tows is more of a hastle to hitch up and get the car loaded and secured than just to drag it and get it done so long as the hazzards work and will roll. Just remember that you will have to push alot harder on the brakes on the tow car and that it is the one to stop both to keep the rope from having any slack in it if you decide to go that route.

 

Since no one else brought it up guess I will (and I know its because the tow distance is only 5 miles). Think about the Sentra. If you chain or rope pull it, even in neutral, your transmission on the Sentra will be unlubricated: transmission fluid pump not operating. I know the distance is short but it might be worth running this scenario past a Nissan service guy or a Sentra board on the NET. Just hire a wrecker and you avoid all liability issues also.