2008 Toyota Highlander Owners Manual - Page 267

2-5. Driving information CAUTION n Trailer towing precautions l Follow all the instructions described in this section. Failure to do so could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. l Exceeding the towing capacity, GVWR or GAWR can cause an accident resulting in death or serious personal injuries. n To avoid accident or injury l Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) or the posted towing speed limit, whichever is lower. As instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combination increases as speed increases, exceeding 45 mph (72 km/h) may cause loss of control. l Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle weight and trailer tongue load capacities. l Never load more weight in the back than in the front of the trailer. About 60% of the load should be in the front half of the trailer, and the remaining 40% in the rear. l Do not use cruise control when you are towing. l Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do not make sudden downshifts. l 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. l Do not tow the vehicle with the compact spare tire installed. n Hitches l If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Toyota dealer. l Use only a hitch that conforms to the gross trailer weight requirement. l The towing capacity of 5000 lb can only be guaranteed when using a genuine Toyota hitch assembly or equivalent. l Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer. l Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease. l 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 substances into the vehicle. 236