2005 Toyota RAV4 Owners Manual - Page 237

'05 Rav4_U (L/O 0409) D 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 BREAK- IN SCHEDULE D Check that your rear view mirrors conform 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 towing. The three main causes of vehicletrailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed and improper trailer loading. Keep these in mind when towing: D Toyota recommends that you do not tow a trailer with a new vehicle or a vehicle with any new power train component (engine, transmission, differential, wheel bearing, etc.) for the first 800 km (500 miles) of driving. MAINTENANCE D If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance due to the additional load. For this information, please refer to the scheduled maintenance information in the "Scheduled Maintenance Guide" or "Owner's Manual Supplement". D Ensure that your vehicle's tires are properly inflated. See page 291 Section 7- 2 and page 316 in Section 8 for instructions. D Before starting out, check operation of the lights and all vehicle- trailer connections. After driving a short distance, stop and recheck the lights and connections. Before actually towing a trailer, practice turning, stopping and backing with a trailer in an area away from traffic until you learn the feel. D The trailer tires should be inflated to the pressure recommended by the trailer manufacturer in respect to the total trailer weight. TRAILER LIGHTS D Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approximately 1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving. PRE- TOWING SAFETY CHECK D 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 trailer. Check for correct operation of the turn signals and stop lights each time you hitch up. Direct splicing may damage your vehicle's electrical system and cause a malfunction of your lights. D 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. D Because stopping distance may be increased, 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 vehicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and loss of control. This is especially true on wet or slippery surfaces. D Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that it cannot shift. 237 2005 RAV4 from Sep. '04 Prod. (OM42570U)