2004 TOYOTA RAV4 Owners Manual

’04 Rav4_U (L/O 0403)
217
2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
Ti r e relat ed ter mMeaning
Normal occupant weight68 kg (150 lb.) times the number of occupants specified in the second
column of Table 1 that follows
Occupant distributiondistribution of occupants in a vehicle as specified in the third column of Table
1 that follows
Production options weight
the combined weight of those installed regular production options weighing
over 2.3 kg (5 lb.) in excess of those standard items which they replace,
not previously considered in curb weight or accessory weight, including
heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special
trim
Recommended inflation pressurecold tire inflation pressure recommended by a manufacturer
Rima metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire beads
are seated
Rim diameter (Wheel diameter)nominal diameter of the bead seat
Rim size designationrim diameter and width
Rim type designationthe industry of manufacturer ’s designation for a rim by style or code
Rim widt hnominal distance between rim flanges
Vehicle capacity weight
(Total load capacity)the rated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kg (150 lb.) times the vehicle’s desig-
nated seating capacity
Vehicle maximum load on the tirethe load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle
its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by two

’04 Rav4_U (L/O 0403)
218
2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
Ti r e relat ed ter mMeaning
Vehicle normal load on the tire
the load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle
its share of the curb weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant weight
(distributed in accordance with Table 1 that follows) and dividing by two
Weather sidethe surface area of the rim no t covered by the inflated tire
Table 1—Occupant loading and distribution for vehicle normal load for various designated seating capacities
Designated seating capacity,number of occupants
Vehicle normal load, number of occupantsOccupant distribution in a normallyloaded vehicle
2 through 422 in front
5 through 1032 in front, 1 in second seat

’04 Rav4_U (L/O 0403)
219
2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
Vehicle load limits include total load
capacity, seating capacity, towing ca-
pacity and cargo capacity. Follow the
load limits shown below.
Total load capacity:Four −wheel drive models
With automatic transmission
345 kg (761 lb.)
With manual transmission 375 kg (826 lb.)
Tw o −wheel drive models
With automatic transmission 417 kg (919 lb.)
With manual transmission 447 kg (985 lb.)
Total load capacity means com-
bined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage. Tongue load is in-
cluded when trailer towing.
Seating capacity: Total 5 (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maxi-
mum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 68 kg
(150 lb.) per person. Depending on
the weight of each person, the seat-
ing capacity given may exceed the
total load capacity. NOTICE
Even if the number of occupants
are within the seating capacity,
do not exceed the total load ca-
pacity.
Towing capacity:
680 kg (1500 lb.)
Towing capacity means the maxi-
mum gross trailer weight (trailer
weight plus its cargo weight) that
your vehicle is able to tow.
Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or de-
crease depending on the size (weight)
and the number of occupants. For de-
tails, see “Capacity and distribution”
that follows.
CAUTION
Do not apply the load more than
each load limit. That may cause
not only damage to the tires, but
also deterioration to the steering
ability and braking ability, which
may cause an accident.
When stowing cargo and luggage in
the vehicle, observe the following:  Put cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment when at all
possible. Be sure all items are se-
cured in place.
 Be careful to keep the vehicle bal-
anced. Locating the weight as far
forward as possible helps maintain
balance.
 For better fuel economy, do not
carry unneeded weight.
Veh icle lo ad limit s Cargo and luggage—
—Stowage precautions

’04 Rav4_U (L/O 0403)
220
2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
CAUTION
To prevent cargo and l uggage
from sliding forward during
braking, do not stack anything
in the luggage compartment
higher than the seatbacks.
Keep cargo and luggage low,
as close to the floor as pos-
sible.
 Never allow anyone to ride in
the luggage compartment. It is
not designed for passengers.
They should ride in their seats
with their seat belts properly
fastened. Otherwise, they are
much more likely suffer seri-
ous bodily injury, in the event
of sudden braking or a colli-
sion.
 Do not place anything on the
flattened seat, or it may slide
forward during braking.
Do not place anything on the
luggage cover. Such items may
be thrown about and possibly
injure people in the vehicle
during sudden braking or an
accident. Secure all items in a
safe place.
 Do not drive with objects left
on top of the instrument panel.
They may interfere with the
driver’s field of view. Or they
may move during sharp vehicle
acceleration or turning, and im-
pair the driver’s control of the
vehicle. In an accident they
may injure the vehicle occu-
pants.Cargo capacity depends on the to-
tal weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity) – (Total weight of occupants)
STEPS FOR DETERMINING
CORRECT LOAD LIMIT
1. Locate the statement “The com- bined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX
pounds” on your vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from
XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.
—Capacity and distribution

’04 Rav4_U (L/O 0403)
221
2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
4. The resulting figure equals theavailable amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity. For example,
if the “XXX” am ount equals 1400
lbs. and there will be five 150 lb.
passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400–750 (5x150)=650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available car-
go and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
For details about trailer towing, see
page 232.
Cargo
capacity
Total load
capacity
EXAMPLE ON YOUR VEHICLE
In case that 2 people with the com-
bined weight of 166 kg (366 lb.) are
riding in your vehicle, the available
amount of cargo and luggage load ca-
pacity will be as follows:
Four −wheel drive models—
With automatic transmission
Total load capacity: 345 kg (761 lb.) 345 kg – 166 kg = 179 kg.
( 761 lb. – 366 lb. = 395 lb. )
With manual transmission
Total load capacity: 375 kg (826 lb.) 375 kg – 166 kg = 209 kg.
( 826 lb. – 366 lb. = 460 lb. ) Tw o
−wheel drive models—
With automatic transmission
Total load capacity: 417 kg (919 lb.) 417 kg – 166 kg = 251 kg.
( 919 lb. – 366 lb. = 553 lb. )
With manual transmission
Total load capacity: 447 kg (985 lb.) 447 kg – 166 kg = 281 kg.
( 985 lb. – 366 lb. = 619 lb. )
From this condition, if 3 more passen-
gers with the combined weight of 176
kg (388 lb.) get on , the av ailable car-
go and luggage load will be reduced
as follows:
Four −wheel drive models—
With automatic transmission 179 kg – 176 kg = 3 kg.
( 395 lb. – 388 lb. = 7 lb. )
With manual transmission 209 kg – 176 kg = 33 kg.
( 460 lb. – 388 lb. = 72 lb. )

’04 Rav4_U (L/O 0403)
222
2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
Tw o−wheel drive models—
With automatic transmission 251 kg – 176 kg = 75 kg.
( 553 lb. – 388 lb. = 165 lb. )
With manual transmission 281 kg – 176 kg = 105 kg.
( 619 lb. – 388 lb. = 231 lb. )
As shown in the above example, if the
number of occupants increases, the
cargo and luggage load equaling the
combined weight of occupants who
got on later must be reduced. In other
words, if the incr ease in the number
of occupants causes the excess of
the total load capacity (combined
weight of occupants plus cargo and
luggage load), you have to reduce the
cargo and luggage on your vehicle.
For details about total load capacity,
see “Vehicle load limits” on page 219.CAUTION
Even if the total load of occu-
pant’s weight and the cargo load
is less than the total load capac-
ity, do not apply the load uneven-
ly. That may cause not only dam-
age to the tire but also deteriora-
tion to the steering ability due to
unbalance of the vehicle, causing
an accident.
Cargo
capacity Weight of the
removed second seat
SEATING CONFIGURATION
VARIATION
In case of removing the rear seats,
it is possible to load as much cargo
as the weight of the removed seats.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity) − (Total weight of occupants) +
(Weight of the removed rear seats)
Rear seat weight:
Each seat 17 kg (37.5 lb.)

’04 Rav4_U (L/O 0403)
223
2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)
Determine what kind of tires your
vehicle is originally equipped with.1. Summer tires
Summer tires are high −speed capabil-
ity tires best suited to highway driving
under dry conditions.
Since summer tires do not have the
same traction performance as snow
tires, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow −covered or icy roads.
For driving on snow −covered or icy
roads, we recommend using snow
tires. If installing snow tires, be sure
to replace all four tires.
2. All season tires
All season tires are designed to pro-
vide better traction in snow and to be
adequate for driving in most winter
conditions, as well as for use all year
round. All season tires, however, do not have
adequate traction performance
compared with snow tires in heavy or
loose snow. Also, all season tires fall
short in acceleration and handling
performance compared with summer
tires in highway driving.
The details about how to distinguish
summer tires from all season tires are
described on page 211.
CAUTION

Do not mix summer and all sea-
son tires on your vehicle as
this can cause dangerous han-
dling characteristics, resulting
in loss of control.
 Do not use tire other than the
manufacturer’s designated
tires, and never mix tires or
wheels of the sizes different
from the originals.
Types of tires

’04 Rav4_U (L/O 0403)
224
2004 RAV4 from Mar. ’04 Prod. (OM42568U)