1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER trailer

4RUNNER (1998)
Total trailer weight
Tongue load
Tongue load
Total trailer weight
100 9 to 11 %
The trailer cargo load should be
distributed so that the tongue
load is 9 to 11% of the total
trailer weight, not exceeding the
maximum of the following. Nev-
er load the trailer with more
weight in the back than in the
front. About 60% of the trailer
load should be in the front half
of the trailer and the remaining
40% in the rear.
3RZ- FE engine158 kg (350 lb.)
5VZ- FE engine 226 kg (500 lb.)HITCHES
Use only a weight carrying hitch
designed for the total trailer weight.
Toyota does not recommend using
a weight distribution (load equaliz-
ing) hitch.
The hitch must be bolted securely
to the vehicle frame and installed
according to the hitch manufactur-
er 's instructions.
The hitch ball and king pin should
have a light coat of grease.
Toyota recommends removing the
hitch when not towing to preventin-
jury and/or damage due to the
hitch in event of a rear end colli-
sion. After removal of the hitch,
seal the installation area to prevent
entry of exhaust fumes and mud.
NOTICE
Do not use an axle- mounting
hitch as it may cause damage tothe axle housing, wheel bearings,wheels and or tires.
BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS
Toyota recommends trailers with
brakes that conform to any appli-
cable federal and state/provincial
regulations.

4RUNNER (1998)
A safety chain must always be
used between the towing vehicle
and the trailer. Leave sufficient
slack in the chain for turns. The
chain should cross under the
trailer tongue to prevent the
tongue from dropping to the
ground in case it becomes dam-
aged or separated. For correct
safety chain procedures, follow
the hitch or trailer manufactur-
er 's recommendations.
CAUTION
If the total trailer weight ex-
ceeds 453 kg (1000 lb.), trailer
brakes are required .
Never tap into your vehicle's
hydraulic system as it would
lower its braking effectiveness .
Never tow a trailer without us-
ing a safety chain securely atta-
ched 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
Ensure that your vehicle's tires are
properly inflated. See Chapter 7- 2
for instructions.
The trailer tires should be inflated
to the pressure recommended by
the trailer manufacturer in respect
to the total trailer weight.
TRAILER LIGHTS Trailer lights must comply with fed-
eral, state/provincial and local re-
gulations. See your local recre-
ational vehicle dealer or rental
agency for the correct type of wir-
ing 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 electri-
cal system and cause a malfunc-
tion of your lights.
BREAK- IN SCHEDULE Toyota recommends that you do
not tow a trailer with a new vehicle
or a vehicle with any new power
train component (engine, transmis-
sion, differential, wheel bearing,
etc.) for the first 800 km (500
miles) of driving. MAINTENANCE
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 ºOwner 's Manual
Supplement/Maintenance Scheduleº.
Retighten all fixing bolts of the
towing ball and bracket after
approximately 1000 km (600 miles)
of trailer driving.
PRE- TOWING SAFETY CHECK
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.
Make sure the trailer cargo is se-
curely loaded so that it cannot
shift.
Check that your rear view mirrors
conform to any applicable federal,
state/provincial or local regulation.
If not, install the rear view mirrors
required for towing purpose.

4RUNNER (1998)
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 driv-
er error, excessive speed and im-
proper trailer loading. Keep these in
mind when towing:
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 ac-
tually towing a trailer, practice turn-
ing, stopping and backing with a
trailer in an area away from traffic
until you learn the feel.
Backing with a trailer is difficult
and requires practice. Grip the bot-
tom 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 trail-
er to the right. (This procedure is
generally opposite to that when
backing without a trailer). Also, just
turn the steering wheel a little at
a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged
turning. Have someone guide you
when backing to reduce the risk of
an accident.
Because stopping distance may be
increased, vehicle- to- vehicle dis-
tance should be increased when
towing a trailer. For each 16 km/h
(10 mph) of speed, allow at least
one vehicle and trailer length bet-
ween 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.
Avoid jerky starts or sudden accel-
eration. If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, prevent ex-
cessive clutch slippage by keeping
engine rpm low and not racing the
engine. Always start out in first
gear.
Avoid jerky steering and sharp
turns. The trailer could hit your ve-
hicle in a tight turn. Slow down
before making a turn to avoid the
necessity of sudden braking.
Remember that when making a
turn, the trailer wheels will be clos-
er than the vehicle wheels to the
inside of the turn. Therefore, com-
pensate for this by making a larger
than normal turning radius with y-
our vehicle.
Crosswinds and rough roads will
adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway.
Pay attention to the rear from time
to time to prepare yourself for be-
ing passed by large trucks or
buses, which may cause your ve-
hicle and trailer to sway. If swaying
happens, firmly grip the steering
wheel and reduce speed immedi-
ately but gradually. Never increase
speed. Steer straight ahead. If you
make no extreme correction with
the steering or brakes, the vehicle
and trailer will stabilize.
Be careful when passing other ve-
hicles. Passing requires consider-
able distance. After passing a ve-
hicle, do not forget the length of
your trailer and be sure you have
plenty of room before changing
lanes.
In order to maintain engine braking
efficiency, do not use fifth gear
(manual transmission) or overdrive
(automatic transmission).

4RUNNER (1998)
Because of the added load of the
trailer, your vehicle's engine may
overheat on hot days (at tempera-
tures over 30 C [85 F]) when go-
ing up a long or steep grade with
a trailer. If the engine coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates overheat-
ing, immediately turn off the air-
conditioning (if in use), pull off the
road and stop in a safe spot. Refer
to ºIf your vehicle overheatsº in
Part 4 of this manual.
Always place wheel blocks under
both the vehicle and trailer wheels
when parking. Apply the parking
brake firmly. Put the transmission
in Pº (automatic) or in first or re-
verse (manual). Avoid parking on a
slope with a trailer, but if it cannot
be avoided, do so only after per-
forming the following:
1. Apply the brakes and hold.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place, release your brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly. 5. Shift into first or reverse (manual)
or ºPº (automatic) and turn off the
engine. When restarting out after parking on
a slope:
1. With the transmission in ºPº posi- tion (automatic) or the clutch pedal
depressed (manual), start the en-
gine. (With an automatic transmis-
sion, be sure to keep the brake
pedal depressed.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also foot brake on automatic transmis-
sion vehicles) and slowly pull or
back away from the wheel blo cks.
Stop and apply your brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blo cks.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 72 km/h (45
mph) or the posted towing
speed limit, whichever is lower.
Because instab ility (swaying) of
a towing vehicle- trailer com-
bination usually increases as
the speed increases, exceeding
72 km/h (45 mph) may cause
loss of control.