TOYOTA RAV4 2018 Owners Manual (in English)

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Trailer towing
For vehicles with SE grade
Toyota does not recommend towi ng a trailer with your vehicle.
Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch
or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicy-
cle, etc. Your vehicle is not desi gned for trailer towing or for the
use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

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Except vehicles with SE grade
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger-and-load-car-
rying vehicle. Towing a trailer can have an adverse impact on
handling, performance, braking, durability, and fuel consump-
tion. For your safety and the safe ty of others, you must not over-
load your vehicle or trailer. You must also ensure that you are
using appropriate towing equipmen t, that the towing equipment
has been installed correctly an d used properly, and that you
employ the requisite driving habits.
Vehicle-trailer stability and braking performance are affected by
trailer stability, brake performance and setting, trailer brakes,
the hitch and hitch systems (if equipped).
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in
accordance with your trailer’s characteristics and operating
conditions.
Toyota warranties do not appl y to damage or malfunction
caused by towing a trailer for commercial purposes.
Contact your Toyota dealer for further information about additional
requirements such as a towing kit, etc.

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■GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
combination weight. The gross
combination weight is the sum
of the total vehicle weight
(including the occupants, cargo
and any optional equipment
installed on the vehicle) and the
weight of the trailer being towed
(including the cargo in the
trailer).
■GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
vehicle weight. The gross vehi-
cle weight is the total weight of
the vehicle. When towing a
trailer, it is the sum of the vehi-
cle weight (including the occu-
pants, cargo and any optional
equipment installed on the vehi-
cle) and the tongue weight.
Towing related terms

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■GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
axle weight. The gross axle
weight is the load placed on
each axle (front and rear).
■TWR (Trailer Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
trailer weight. The gross trailer
weight is the sum of the trailer
weight and the weight of the
cargo in the trailer.
TWR is calculated assuming
base vehicle with one driver,
one front passenger, hitch and
hitch systems (if required).
Additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in the vehicle will
reduce the trailer weight rating so as not to exceed GCWR, GVWR and
GAWR.
Front GAWR
Rear GAWR
(With brakes)

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■Unbraked TWR (Unbraked Trailer Weight Rating)
The trailer weight rating for tow-
ing a trailer without a trailer ser-
vice brake system.
■Tongue Weight
The load placed on the trailer
hitch ball. (→P. 188)
(Without brakes)

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●The gross trailer weight must never exceed the TWR described
below.
Without towing package
1500 lb. (680 kg)
With towing package
2WD models: 2900 lb. (1315 kg)
AWD models: 3500 lb. (1590 kg)
● The gross combination weight must never exceed the GCWR
described below.
Without towing package
2WD models: 6025 lb. (2735 kg)
AWD models: 6140 lb. (2785 kg)
With towing package
2WD models: 7425 lb. (3370 kg)
AWD models: 8140 lb. (3695 kg)
● The gross vehicle weight must
never exceed the GVWR indi-
cated on the Certification Label.
● The gross axle weight on each
axle must never exceed the
GAWR indicated on the Certifi-
cation Label.
● If the gross trailer weight is over the unbraked TWR, trailer service
brakes are required.
Weight limits

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Confirm that the gross trailer weight, gross combination weight, gross
vehicle weight, gross axle weight and tongue weight are all within the
limits.
■GCWR*
Without towing package
2WD models: 6025 lb. (2735 kg)
AWD models: 6140 lb. (2785 kg)
With towing package
2WD models: 7425 lb. (3370 kg)
AWD models: 8140 lb. (3695 kg)
■TWR*
Without towing package
1500 lb. (680 kg)
With towing package
2WD models: 2900 lb. (1315 kg)
AWD models: 3500 lb. (1590 kg)
■Unbraked TWR*
1000 lb. (450 kg)
GCWR, TWR and Unbraked TWR
*: These models meet the tow-vehicle trailering requirement of SAE Interna- tional per SAE J2807.

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●A recommended tongue weight varies in accordance with the types
of trailers or towing as described below.
● To ensure the recommended values shown below, the trailer must
be loaded by referring to the following instructions.
• Tongue Weight
The gross trailer weight should be distributed so that the tongue
weight is 9% to 11%.
(Tongue weight /Gross trailer weight x 100 = 9% to 11%)
Gross trailer weight
Tongue weight
The gross trailer weight, gross axle weight and tongue weight
can be measured with platform sc ales found at a highway weigh-
ing station, building supply company, trucking company, junk
yard, etc.
Trailer Tongue Weight
1
2

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Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities. Toyota rec-
ommends the use of Toyota hitch/bracket for your vehicle. For details,
contact your Toyota dealer.
● If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Toyota dealer.
● Use only a hitch that conforms to the gross trailer weight require-
ment of your vehicle.
● Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
● Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coating 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 subs tances into the vehicle.
Weight carrying ball position:
45.2 in. (1147 mm)
Hitch receiver pin hole position:
38.9 in. (988 mm)
Please consult your dealer when insta lling trailer lights, as incorrect
installation may cause damage to the vehicle’s lights. Please take
care to comply with your state’s laws when installing trailer lights.
Hitch
Positions for towing hitch receiver and hitch ball
1
2
Connecting trailer lights

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Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. Help to avoid
an accident, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind when
towing:
● Speed limits for towing a trailer vary by state or province. Do not
exceed the posted to wing speed limit.
● Toyota recommends that the vehi cle-trailer speed limit is 65 mph
(104 km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exceed this limit, the
posted towing speed limit or the spe ed limit for your trailer as set
forth in your trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Instability
of the towing vehicle-trailer combination (trailer sway) increases as
speed increases. Exceeding speed limits may cause loss of control.
● Before starting out, check the tr ailer lights, tires 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-trailer combination.
● 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.
Trailer towing tips