2007 Toyota RAV4 Owner's Manual - Page 345

'07 Rav4_U (L/O 0701) CAUTION TRAILER LIGHTS PRE−TOWING SAFETY CHECK D Trailer lights must comply with federal, D If the total trailer weight exceeds D Never tap into your vehicle's hy- 272 kg (600 lb.), trailer brakes are required. draulic system as it would lower its braking effectiveness. 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. D Never tow a trailer without using a 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. loaded so that it cannot shift. D Make sure the trailer cargo is securely 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. BREAK−IN SCHEDULE D Toyota recommends that you do not TIRES D Ensure that your vehicle's tires are properly inflated. See page 402 Section 7−2 and page 427 in Section 8 for instructions. the pressure recommended by the trailer manufacturer in respect to the total trailer weight. 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. TRAILER TOWING TIPS When towing a trailer, your vehicle will handle differently than when not towing. The three main causes of vehicle− trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed and improper trailer loading. Keep these in mind when towing: MAINTENANCE D If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will D The trailer tires should be inflated to 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". ball and bracket after approximately 1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving. D Before starting out, check operation of D Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing 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. 345 2007 RAV4 from Dec. '06 Prod. (OM42662U)