trailer TOYOTA RAV4 2008 XA30 / 3.G User Guide

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
351
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
CAUTION
If the total trailer weight exceeds
272 kg (600 lb.), trailer brakes are
required.
Never tap into your vehicle’s hy-
draulic system as it would lower its
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 over into another
lane.
TIRES
Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are
properly inflated. See page 408 Section
7−2 and page 433 in Section 8 for
instructions.
The trailer tires should be inflated to
the pressure recommended by the trail-
er manufacturer in respect to the total
trailer weight. TRAILER LIGHTS
Trailer lights must comply with federal,
state/provincial and local regulations.
See your local recreational vehicle
dealer or rental agency for the correct
type of wiring and relays for your trail-
er. Check for correct operation of the
turn signals and stop lights each time
you hitch up. Direct splicing may dam-
age your vehicle’s electrical system
and cause a malfunction of your lights.
BREAKIN SCHEDULE
Toyota recommends that you do not
tow a trailer with a new vehicle or a
vehicle with any new power train com-
ponent (engine, transmission, differen-
tial, wheel bearing, etc.) for the first
800 km (500 miles) of driving.
MAINTENANCE
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will
require more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. For this informa-
tion, please refer to the scheduled
maintenance information in the “Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner ’s
Manual Supplement”.
Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing
ball and bracket after approximately
1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving. PRETOWING SAFETY CHECK
Check that your vehicle remains level
when a loaded or unloaded trailer is
hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has
an abnormal nose
−up or nose −down
condition, and check for improper
tongue load, overload, worn suspension
or other possible causes.
Make sure the trailer cargo is securely
loaded so that it cannot shift.
Check that your rear view mirrors con-
form to any applicable federal, state/
provincial or local regulations. If not,
install the rear view mirrors required
for towing purpose.
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will
handle differently than when not tow-
ing. The three main causes of vehicle
trailer accidents are driver error, exces-
sive speed and improper trailer loading.
Keep these in mind when towing:
Before starting out, check operation of
the lights and all vehicle −trailer connec-
tions. After driving a short distance,
stop and recheck the lights and con-
nections. Before actually towing a trail-
er, practice turning, stopping and back-
ing with a trailer in an area away from
traffic until you learn the feel.

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Because stopping distance may be in-
creased, vehicle−to −vehicle distance
should be increased when towing a
trailer. For each 16 km/h (10 mph) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and
trailer length between you and the ve-
hicle ahead. 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 accelera-
tion.
Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns.
The trailer could hit your vehicle in a
tight turn. Slow down before making a
turn to avoid the necessity of sudden
braking.
Backing with a trailer 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 the right. (This pro-
cedure is generally opposite to that
when backing without a trailer.) Also,
just turn the steering wheel a little at
a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged
turning. Have someone guide you when
backing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
Remember that when making a turn,
the trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. Therefore, compensate for this by
making a larger than normal turning
radius with your vehicle.
Crosswinds and rough roads will ad-
versely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing sway. Pay attention
to the rear from time to time to pre-
pare yourself for being passed by large
trucks or buses, which may cause your
vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying
happens, firmly grip the steering wheel
and reduce speed immediately but
gradually. Never increase speed. Steer
straight ahead. If you make no extreme
correction with the steering or brakes,
the vehicle and trailer will stabilize.
Be careful when passing other ve-
hicles. Passing requires considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do
not forget the length of your trailer and
be sure you have plenty of room be-
fore changing lanes.
In order to maintain engine braking effi-
ciency, do not place the transmission
in “D”.
Because of the added load of the trail-
er, your vehicle’s engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over
30 C [85 F]) when going up a long or
steep grade with a trailer. If the engine
coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, immediately turn off the air
conditioning (if in use), pull off the road
and stop in a safe spot. Refer to “If
your vehicle overheats” on page 360 in
Section 4.
Always place wheel blocks under both
the vehicle and trailer wheels when
parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.
Put the transmission in “P”. Avoid park-
ing on a slope with a trailer, but if it
cannot be avoided, do so only after
performing the following:
1. Apply the brakes and hold.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks un- der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release your brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into “P” and turn off the engine.

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
When restarting out after parking on a
slope:1. With the transmission in “P” position, start the engine. Be sure to keep the
brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal. Slowly pull or back away from
the wheel blo cks. Stop and apply your
brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blo cks.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or
the posted towing speed limit,
whichever is lower. Because insta-
bility (swaying) of a towing vehicle
trailer combination usually in-
creases as the speed increases, ex-
ceeding 72 km/h (45 mph) may
cause loss of control.
Slow down and downshift before
descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden down-
shifts.
Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This
could cause the brakes to overheat
and result in reduced braking effi-
ciency.
Improving fuel economy is easy—just take
it easy. It will help make your vehicle last
longer, too. Here are some specific tips
on how to save money on both fuel and
repairs:
Keep your tires inflated at the cor-
rect pressure. Underinflation causes
tire wear and wastes fuel. See page
408 in Section 7 −2 for instructions.
Do not carry unneeded weight in
your vehicle. Excess weight puts a
heavier load on the engine, causing
greater fuel consumption.
Avoid lengthy warmup idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly, begin
driving—but gently. Remember, howev-
er, that on cold winter days this may
take a little longer.
Put the selector lever into the “D”
when engine braking is not required.
Driving with the select lever in “3”
(4 −speed) or “4” (5 −speed) will reduce
the fuel economy. (For details, see
“Automatic transmission” on page 143
or 147 in Section 1 −7.)
Accelerate slowly and smoothly.
Avoid jackrabbit starts. Get into high
gear as quickly as possible.
How to save fuel and make
your vehicle last longer

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
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2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
∗1: 215/70R16 tires∗2: 225/65R17 tires∗3: 235/55R18 tires∗4: With spare tire cover∗5: With over fender∗6: Unladen vehicle∗7: With third seat∗8: With roof rails∗9: 2.4 L 4 −cylinder (2AZ −FE) engine∗
10: 3.5 L V6 (2GR −FE) engine∗
11: Without towing package∗12: With towing package
Dimensions and weights
Overall length mm (in.)
Overall width mm (in.)
Overall height
∗ 6mm (in.)
Wheelbase mm (in.)
Front tread mm (in.)
Rear tread mm (in.)
Vehicle capacity weight
(occupants + luggage) kg (lb.) 1685 (66.3)
1690 (66.5)∗
7
1745 (68.7)∗8
1755 (69.1)∗7, 8
4570 (179.9)∗1
4575 (180.1)∗2
4580 (180.3)∗3
4600 (181.1)∗4
1815 (71.5)
1855 (73.0)∗5
2660 (104.7)
1560 (61.4)
1560 (61.4)
375 (825)
525 (1155)
∗7
Towing capacity
(trailer weight + cargo weight) kg (lb.) 680 (1500)∗
9
907 (2000)∗10, 11
1588 (3500)∗10, 12

’08 Rav4_U (L/O 0802)
449
2008 RAV4 from Feb. ’08 Prod. (OM42726U)
Tilt steering wheel108
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressure warning light 129
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressure warning system
Tire pressure warning light 163
. . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressure warning system 163 . . . . . . .
Tires
Changing 361
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking and replacing 410
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flat tire 361
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glossary 329
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inflation pressure 408,433
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing wheels 415
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotating tires 412
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Size 326,433
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Snow tires and chains 413
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spare 362
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Symbols 324
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Identification Number (TIN) 325 . . . . . .
Tools 362
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
To w i n g
Capacity 335
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dinghy towing 347
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency towing 375
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency towing eyelet 376
. . . . . . . . . . .
Emergency towing eyelet precautions 377
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If your vehicle needs to be towed 373 . . . . .
Installing front towing eyelet 376
. . . . . . . . .
Tips for towing a stuck vehicle 378 . . . . . . .
Trailer 348
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction control system 152
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer towing 348
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trip meter 127
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn signals 114
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of tires 338
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U
Uniform tire quality grading 326,327 . . . . . . . .
Utility vehicle precautions 308 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
V
Vanity mirrors 111
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle identification number 321
. . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle stability control system 155,157 . . . .
Vehicle stability control system/traction control system
warning light 129
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W
Warning buzzer 129
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warning light 129
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washer fluid
Adding washer fluid 422
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washing and waxing 383
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheels
Aluminum wheel 416
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing wheels 415
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield wiper and washer switch 120
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield wiper de −icer 122
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 346
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wireless remote control 16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .