trailer TOYOTA MATRIX 2011 E140 / 2.G User Guide

162 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
■To avoid accident or injury
●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.
■Hitches
●If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Toyota 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 substances into the vehicle.
■When towing a trailer
●If the gross trailer weight exceeds 1000 lb. (453 kg), trailer brakes are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
●Never tap into your vehicle's hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle's braking 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.

163 2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. In order to
avoid accident, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind
when towing:
●Before starting out, check the trailer lights and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
●Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
●Use only the position recommended by your Toyota 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
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable fed-
eral 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 procedure, ask your Toyota dealer.
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle's electrical system
and cause a malfunction.

164 2-5. Driving information
●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 prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
●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 mak-
ing turns.
●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 vehicle 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 consider-
able distance. After passing a vehicle, do not forget the length of
your trailer, and be sure you have plenty of room before changing
lanes.

165 2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system perfor-
mance when using engine braking, do not use 5th gear (manual
transmission), or do not put the transmission in “D” (automatic
transmission).
●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 condition-
ing (if in use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.
(P. 433)
●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 (automatic transmission) or in 1 or R (manual
transmission). 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 1 or R (manual transmission) or P (automatic trans-
mission) and turn off the engine.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5

166 2-5. Driving information
●When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in the P position (automatic transmis-
sion) or the clutch pedal (manual transmission) depressed,
start the engine. On vehicles with an automatic transmission,
be sure to keep the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into the R position.
Release the parking brake (also brake pedal on vehicles with
an automatic transmission), 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 posted towing speed limit, whichever
is lower. As 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 while descending steep or long
downhill grades.
●Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too
frequently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced
braking efficiency.
●Do not tow the vehicle with the compact spare tire installed.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4

442
6-1. Specifications
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.)
Dimensions and weights
*1: Except S or XRS grade models
*2: S or XRS grade models
*3: Unladen vehicle
*4: Vehicles without double wishbone rear suspension
*5: Vehicles with double wishbone rear suspension
*6: 2.4 L 4-cylinder (2AZ-FE) engine only
Overall length171.9 in. (4365 mm)
*1
173.0 in. (4395 mm)*2
Overall width 69.5 in. (1765 mm)
Overall height*361.0 in. (1550 mm)*4
61.4 in. (1560 mm)*5
Wheelbase 102.4 in. (2600 mm)
TreadFront 59.8 in. (1519 mm)
Rear 59.9 in. (1522 mm)
Vehicle capacity weight
(Occupants + luggage)850 lb. (385 kg)
Towing capacity*6
(Trailer weight + cargo weight)1500 lb. (680 kg)

496 Alphabetical index
Side marker lights
Replacing light bulbs ............. 380
Switch.................................... 135
Wattage ................................. 456
Side mirror
Adjusting .................................55
Spare tire
Inflation pressure................... 360
Storage location .................... 411
Spark plug ................................ 449
Specifications........................... 442
Speedometer ............................ 129
Steering
Column lock release.............. 117
Steering wheel
Adjustment ..............................52
Audio switches ...................... 227
Stop lights
Replacing light bulbs ............. 380
Wattage ................................. 456
Storage feature......................... 286
Storage precautions ................150
Stuck
If your vehicle becomes
stuck ................................... 436
Sun visors................................. 293
Sunshade
Roof.........................................60
Switch
Emergency flasher switch ..... 390
Engine switch ........................ 115
Fog light switch ..................... 137
Hazard light switch ................390
Ignition switch........................ 115
Light switches........................ 135
Power door lock switch ...........29
Power window switch ..............57
Window lock switch .................57
Wiper and washer switch ...... 138Tachometer .............................. 129
Tail lights
Replacing light bulbs ............. 380
Switch ................................... 135
Wattage................................. 456
Talk switch ............................... 253
Telephone switch..................... 253
Theft deterrent system
Engine immobilizer system ..... 66
Theft prevention labels ............. 68
Tie-down belts.......................... 304
Tire inflation pressure ............. 360
Tire information
Glossary ................................ 466
Size ....................................... 463
Tire identification number...... 462
Uniform tire quality
grading................................ 464
Tires
Chains ................................... 154
Checking ............................... 351
If you have a flat tire.............. 411
Inflation pressure .................. 360
Inflation pressure sensor....... 352
Replacing .............................. 411
Rotating tires ......................... 351
Size ....................................... 454
Snow tires ............................. 154
Spare tire .............................. 411
Tonneau cover ......................... 306
Tools ......................................... 411
Total load capacity .................. 153
Towing
Dinghy towing ............... 167, 168
Trailer towing ................ 158, 159T