towing TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2012 2.G Owner's Manual

291
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
■
Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■ Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. ( P. 654)
● Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recom-
mendation.
● All trailer lights work as required by law.
● All lights work each time you connect them.
● The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on the trai\
ler.
● The vehicle remains level when a loaded or unloaded trailer is hitched.
Do not drive if the vehicle is not level, and check for improper tongue
weight, overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
● The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
● The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, instal l rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.
● Depress TOW/HAUL button (if equipped)
■ AVS (adaptive variable suspension system) (if equipped)
The suspension can be switched for improvement in driveability. ( P. 246)
No matter which class of tow hitch
applies, for a more safe trailer hookup,
the trailer ball setup must be the proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball

292 2-5. Driving information
■Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components
(such as an engine, transmission, differential or wheel bearing), Toyota rec-
ommends that you do not tow a trailer until the vehicle has been driven \
for
over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can s\
tart
towing. However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a
speed of less than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full
throttle acceleration.
■ Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance
due to the additional load. (See “Owner’s Warranty Information Booklet”
or “Scheduled Maintenance Guide/Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
● Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approxi-
mately 600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
■ If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal immediately but very gradually to reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your vehicle
and trailer should stabilize. (if enabled, Trailer Sway Control can also help to
stabilize the vehicle and trailer.)
● After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded after occupants get in.

293
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occu\
rred
is beyond the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination.
Drive at a lower speed to prevent instability. Remember that swaying of the
towing vehicle-trailer increases as speed increases.
CAUTION
■
Trailer towing precautions
●To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in accor-
dance with the trailer’s characteristics and operating conditions. Failure to
do so could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle
stability and braking performance are affe cted by trailer stability, brake set-
ting and performance, and the hitch. Y our vehicle will handle differently
when towing a trailer.
● Vehicles with electronically modulated air suspension: Set the vehicle
height to the LO mode and turn off the rear height control air suspension
when you connect a trailer, otherwise the vehicle height may change due
to the automatic leveling function, and you may catch part of your body in
the vehicle, resulting in an accident.
■ To avoid accident or injury
●Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.
● If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device
with sufficient capacity is required.
● If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weight distributing
hitch with sufficient capacity is required.
● Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place heavier loads
as close to the trailer axle as possible.
● Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h), the posted towing speed limit or the
speed limit for your trailer as set forth in your trailer owner’s manual,
whichever is lowest. Slow down sufficiently before making a turn, in cross-
winds, on wet or slippery surface, etc. to help avoid an accident. If you
experience a vehicle-trailer instabilit y from reducing a certain speed, slow
down and make sure you keep your vehicle speed under the speed of
which you experience the instability.
● Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.

294 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery sur-
faces.
● Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.
● Do not use cruise control when towing.
● Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long
downhill grades.
● Vehicle-trailer instability is more likely on steep long downhills. Before
descending steep or long downhill grades, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts when 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 a trailer when the temporary spare tire is installed on your vehi-
cle.
■ Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the
hitch manufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of
towing a higher weight, the operator must determine the maximum weight
rating of the particular hitch assembly and never exceed the maximum
weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch. Exceeding the maximum weight
rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause an accident resulting in
death or serious personal injuries.
■ When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
●If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, 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.

295
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
When towing a trailer
●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.
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 directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing trailer lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.

296
2-5. Driving information
Dinghy towing
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on
the ground) behind a motor home.

473
3-7. Using the
storage features
3
Interior features
Rear
Auxiliary boxes
Front Press the knob then pull the lid
down.
NOTICE
■Items that should not be stowed in the bottle holders
Put the cap on before stowing a bottle. Do not place open bottles in the bot-
tle holders, or glasses and paper cups containing liquid. The contents may
spill and glasses may break.
Bottle holders and auxiliary boxes

572 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
13 POWER NO.4 25 A Power windows
14 FOG15 A Front fog lights
15 STOP 15 AStop lights, high mounted stop-
light, vehicle stability control sys-
tem, anti-lock brake system, shift
lock system, multiport fuel injection
system/sequential multiport fuel
injection system, towing converter
16 TOW BRK 30 A Trailer brake controller
17 IMB 7.5 AMultiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection
system
18 AM2 7.5 A Starting system
19 TOWING 30 A Towing converter
20 AI-HTR 10 A Air injection pump heaters
21 ALT-S 5 A Charging system
22 TURN-HAZ 15 A Turn signal lights, emergency
flashers, towing converter
23 F/PMP 25 A Fuel pump
24 ETCS 10 AMultiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection
system, electric throttle control sys-
tem
25 MET-B 5 A Gauges and meters
26 AMP 30 AAudio system, rear view monitor,
navigation system, rear seat enter-
tainment system
27 RAD NO.1 15 A Audio system, rear view monitor,
navigation system, rear seat enter-
tainment system
FuseAmpereCircuit

574 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
39 AIR SUS NO.2 7.5 AElectronically modulated air sus-
pension system
40 SPARE 5 A Spare fuse
41 SPARE 15 A Spare fuse
42 SPARE 30 A Spare fuse
43 AIR SUS 50 A Electronically modulated air sus-
pension system
44 PBD 30 A Power back door
45 RR HTR 40 A Air conditioning system
46 H-LP CLN 30 A Headlight cleaner
47 DEFOG 40 A Rear window defogger
48 SUB BATT 40 A Trailer towing
49 ABS1 50 AAnti-lock brake system, vehicle sta-
bility control system
50 ABS2 40 AAnti-lock brake system, vehicle sta-
bility control system
51 ST 30 A Starting system
52 HTR 50 A Air conditioning system
53 LH-J/B 150 AAM1, TAIL, PANEL, ACC, CIG, LH-
IG, 4WD, ECU-IG NO.1, BK/UP LP,
SEAT-HTR, A/C IG, ECU-IG NO.2,
WSH, WIPER, OBD, A/C, TI&TE,
FR P/SEAT RH, MIR, DR/LCK, FR
P/SEAT LH, CARGO LP, PWR
OUTLET, POWER NO.1 fuses
54 ALT 180 A
*LH-J/B, HTR, SUB BATT, TOW
BRK, STOP, FOG, TOW TAIL,
DEICER fuses
140 A
*
55 A/PUMP NO.1 50 A Multiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection
system
FuseAmpereCircuit

577
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
15 ECU-IG No.1 7.5 A
Anti-lock brake system, vehicle sta-
bility control system, multiplex com-
munication system, intuitive
parking assist system, power front
driver’s seat, power tilt and power
telescopic, shift lock, tire pressure
warning system, accessory meter,
trailer towing, power outlet, electric
moon roof, power back door, head
light cleaner, Blind Spot Monitor
system, BSM main switch
16 AIR SUS IG 20 A Electronically modulated air sus-
pension system
17 LH-IG 7.5 A Back-up lights, charging system,
gauge and meters, turn signal
lights, air conditioning system, seat
heaters, rear window defogger
18 4WD 20 A Four-wheel drive control system
19 RR SEAT-HTR
LH 10 A Seat heaters
20 WSH 20 A Window washer
21 WIPER 30 A Wiper and washer
22 ECU-IG No.2 7.5 A Multiplex communication system,
power steering, gateway ECU
23 TAIL 15 A Tail lights, trailer lights (tail lights),
parking lights
24 A/C IG 10 A Air conditioning system
25 SEAT-HTR 20 A Seat heater or Heated and venti-
lated seats
FuseAmpereCircuit