trailer Lexus GX470 2008 User Guide

185
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■To avoid accident or injury
●The total trailer weight (trailer weight plus the weight of cargo) must not exceed
6500 lb. (2948 kg).
●If a trailer and cargo weight over 2000 lb. (907 kg), use a sway control device
with sufficient capacity.
●The gross combined weight (sum of your vehicle weight plus its load and the total
trailer weight) must not exceed 12000 lb. (5443 kg).
●Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue load capacities.
●Never load more weight in the back than in the front of the trailer. About 60% of
the load should be in the front half of the trailer, and the remaining 40% in the
rear.
●Set the vehicle height to the “LO” mode and turn off the rear height control air
suspension to prevent the vehicle height from automatically changing.
●The tow hitch receiver installed on your vehicle must never be used on another
vehicle
■Hitches
●If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Lexus dealer.
●Use only a hitch that conforms to the total trailer weight requirement.
●Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
●Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.
●Remove the trailer hitch whenever you are not towing a trailer. After removing
the hitch, seal any mounting hole in the vehicle body to prevent entry of any sub-
stances into the vehicle.
■When towing a trailer
●If the total trailer weight exceeds 1000 lb. (453 kg), trailer brakes are required.
●Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle’s brak-
ing effectiveness.
●Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the
trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, there is
danger of the trailer wandering into another lane.

186
2-5. Driving information
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
●Use only the position recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install the
trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
●Do not use axle-mounted hitches, as they can cause damage to the axle housing,
wheel bearings, wheels or tires.
■Brakes
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable federal and
state/provincial regulations.
■Safety chain
A safety chain must always be used between the towing vehicle and the trailer.
Leave sufficient slack in the chain for turns. The chain should cross under the trailer
tongue to prevent the tongue from dropping to the ground in the case that it
becomes damaged or separated. For the correct safety chain installation proce-
dure, ask your Lexus dealer.
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle’s electrical system and
cause a malfunction.

187
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Trailer towing tipsYour vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. The 3 main
causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed and
improper trailer loading. Keep the following in mind when towing.
● Before starting out, check the trailer lights and the vehicle-trailer con-
nections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and rever sing with the trailer attached in an
area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel of the
vehicle.
● Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice Grip
the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to
move the trailer to the left. Move your hand to the right to move the
trailer to right. (This is generally opposite to reversing without a trailer
attached.) Avoid sharp or prolon ged turning. Have someone guide
you when reversing to reduce the risk of an accident.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and loss
of control. This is especially true on wet or slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before making
turns.

188
2-5. Driving information
●Note that when making a turn, the trailer wheels will be closer than the
vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making a
larger than normal turning radius.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway. Periodically check the rear to prepare
for being passed by large trucks or buses, which may cause your vehi-
cle and trailer to sway. If swaying occurs, firmly grip the steering wheel,
reduce speed immediately but gradually, and steer straight ahead.
Never increase speed. If you make no extreme correction with the
steering or brakes, your vehicle and trailer will stabilize.
● Take care when passing other vehicles. Passing requires considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do not forget the length of your
trailer, and be sure you have plenty of room before changing lanes.
● In order to maintain efficient engine braking and electrical charging
performance, do not use overdrive. Transmission shift range position
must be in “4”.
● Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over 85°F [30°C] when driving up a
long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, immediately turn off the air conditioning (if in use), pull
your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot. (
→P. 4 0 8 )

189
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer
wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly, and put the
transmission in “P”. Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do so
only after performing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in place, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into “P” and turn off the engine.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in the “P” position, start the engine. Be sure
to keep the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into “3”, “2”, “L”, or “R” position (if reversing).
Release the parking brake and brake pedal, and slowly pull or
back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
CAUTION
■To avoid an accident
●Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) or the posted towing speed limit, whichever is
lower. A instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combination increases
as speed increases, exceeding 45 mph (72 km/h) may cause loss of control.
●Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do
not make sudden downshifts.
●Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too fre-
quently.
This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.
STEP1STEP1
STEP2STEP2
STEP1STEP3STEP3
STEP1STEP4STEP4
STEP1STEP5STEP5STEP5
STEP1STEP1
STEP2STEP2
STEP1STEP3STEP3
STEP1STEP4STEP4

357
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Fuse layout and amperage ratings■ Engine compartment
FuseAmpereCircuit
1ALT140
Charging system, AM1, HEATER,
CDS FAN, FR FOG, DEFOG, AIR
SUS, AC INV, SEAT HEATER, OBD,
STOP, J/B, RR AC, MIR HEATER,
BAT T C H G, TOW I N G B R K , TOW -
ING
2HEATER50Air conditioning system
3AIR SUS50Rear height control air suspension
4AM150
ACC, CIG, IG1, FR WIP-WSH, RR
WIP, RR WSH, DIFF, ECU-IG,
TEMS, STA
5TOW I N G B R K30Trailer brake controller
6J/B50
P FR P/W, P RR P/W, D RR P/W, D
P/SEAT, P P/SEAT, TAIL, PANEL,
POWER OR TI&TE
7BATT CHG30Tr a i l e r s u b b a t t e r y

452
Alphabetical index
Steering wheelAdjustment............................................... 57
Audio switches ................................... 228
Steering wheel position
memory.................................................. 45
Storage feature......................................259
Stuck If your vehicle becomes stuck...... 410
Sun visors ................................................. 264
Switch “2nd STRT” switch .............................. 122
Center differential lock switch ...... 147
“DAC” switch ........................................ 157
Fog light switch..................................... 137
Height control off switch..................149
Light switches ........................................135
Power door lock switch .................... 26
Power window switch .......................... 61
“RSCA OFF” switch............................ 89
Window lock switch ............................. 61
Wipers and washer switch ............ 138
Tail lights Switch ........................................................135
Theft deterrent system Alarm ...........................................................72
Theft prevention labels .......................... 74
Tire inflation pressure .......................... 419
Tire information Glossary................................................. 429
Size ........................................................... 426
Tire identification number ............. 425
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.....427 Tires
Chains........................................................177
Checking............................................... 336
If you have a flat tire ........................... 391
Inflation pressure ................................. 419
Information ............................................424
Pressure warning system .............. 336
Replacing ................................................ 391
Rotating tires........................................ 336
Size ............................................................. 419
Snow tires................................................ 178
Tools.............................................................391
Total load capacity ................................. 174
Towing
Dinghy towing ......................................190
Emergency towing ............................373
Trailer towing ........................................180
Trip information display .......................132
Trip meter ..................................................126
Turn signal lights
Replacing light bulbs ....................... 365
Switch ........................................................ 124
Wattage ................................................. 420
Vanity lights Vanity lights.......................................... 265
Wattage ................................................. 420
Vanity mirrors ........................................... 265
Vehicle identification number ...........413
Vehicle load limits .................................. 174
VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) ..... 159
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V