2005 TOYOTA RAV4 tow

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To secure your luggage, use the tie- down
hooks as shown above.
See ÐStowage precautionsº on page 221
in Section 2 for precautions when loading
luggage.
CAUTION
To avoid personal injury, keep the tie-
down hooks stored under the carpet
when not in use.
NOTICE
Do not use the seat anchors insteadof the tie- down hooks.
This hook is designed to hang things
like grocery bags.
To use the hook, pull it down.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the hook, donot hang any object heavier than 4 kg(8.8 lb.) on it.
This hook is designed to hang things
like grocery bags.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the hook, do
not hang any object heavier than 4 kg(8.8 lb.) on it.
Tie- d o wn ho o ks Gro cery bag ho o ks (t yp e A) Gro cery bag ho o ks (t yp e B)

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Always slow down in gusty cross-
winds. Because of its profile and
higher center of gravity, your ve-
hicle is more sensitive to side
winds than an ordinary passenger
car. Slowing down will allow you to
have better control.

When driving off- road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns,
strike objects, etc. This may cause
loss of control or vehicle rollover
causing death or serious injury. You
are also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle's suspension and
chassis.

Do not drive horizontally across
steep slopes. Driving straight up or
straight down is preferred. Your ve-
hicle (or any similar off- road ve-
hicle) can tip over sideways much
more easily than forward or back-
ward.
Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break- in. But following a few simple tips
for the first 1600 km (1000 miles) can add
to the future economy and long life of
your vehicle:

Avoid full throttle acceleration when
starting and driving.

Avoid racing the engine.

Try to avoid hard stops during the first
300 km (200 miles).

Do not drive slowly with the manual
transmission in a high gear.

Do not drive for a long time at any
single speed, either fast or slow.

Do not tow a trailer during the first 800
km (500 miles).FUEL TYPE
Your new vehicle must use only un-
leaded gasoline.
To help prevent gas station mix- ups, your
Toyota has a smaller fuel tank opening.
The special nozzle on pumps with un-
leaded fuel will fit it, but the larger stan-
dard nozzle on pumps with leaded gas will
not.
At a minimum, the gasoline you use
should meet the specifications of ASTM
D4814 in the U.S.A. and CGSB 3.5- M93
in Canada.
NOTICE
Do not use leaded gasoline. Use of
leaded gasoline will cause the three-way catalytic converter to lose its ef-fectiveness and the emission control
system to function improperly. Also,this can increase maintenance costs.
Break- in period Fuel

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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 modelsWith automatic transmission
345 kg (761 lb.)
With manual transmission 375 kg (826 lb.)
Two- 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 occupantsare 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 distributionº
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 luggageÐ
ÐStowage precautions

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4. The resulting figure equals theavailable amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity. For example,
if the XXXº amount 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 234.
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 modelsÐ
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. ) Two- wheel drive modelsÐ
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 available car-
go and luggage load will be reduced
as follows:
Four- wheel drive modelsÐ
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. )

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STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Before starting the engine228
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How to start the engine 228
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Tips for driving in various conditions 229
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Off- road driving precautions 230
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Winter driving tips 231
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. . . . . .
Dinghy towing 233
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Trailer towing 234
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How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer 239
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SECTION 3

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Your vehicle is not designed to be
dinghy towed (with four wheels on the
ground) behind a motorhome.
NOTICE
Do not tow your vehicle with fourwheels on the ground. This maycause serious damage to your vehicle.
Your vehicle can be dinghy towed (with
four wheels on the ground) from the
front behind a motorhome.
CAUTION
Dinghy towing requires special equip-
ment and accessories. Please refer to
your service outlet of the motorhome
manufacture for the recommended
equipment.
NOTICE
Dinghy towing does not eliminate the
possibility of damage to your vehicle.
DINGHY TOWING TIPS
Before dinghy towing, be sure to ob-
serve the following in order to reduce
the damage to your vehicle.
1. Put the shift lever in neutral.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the ACCº position. Make sure the audio is turned
off and any item is not plugged into
the power outlet.
NOTICE
To avoid the locking of the steeringwheel, turn the ignition switch to theACCº position.
3. Release the parking brake.
Dinghy towing
(with automatic transmission) Dinghy towing
(with manual transmission)

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NOTICE
Four- wheel drive models:To prevent the vehicle from beingdamaged, observe following.

Do not tow the vehicle at a speed
higher than 88 km/h (55 mph).

Do not tow the vehicle for morethan 320 km (200 miles).
After dinghy towing or at the recom-
mended distance limit, let the engine idle
for more than 3 minutes before driving the
vehicle or resuming towing.
NOTICE
Do not tow your vehicle from therear. This may cause serious damageto your vehicle.
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a
passenger- carrying vehicle. Towing a
trailer will have an adverse effect on
handling, performance, braking, durab ility
and driving economy (fuel consumption,
etc.). Your safety and satisfaction depend
on the proper use of correct equipment
and cautious driving habits. For your
safety and the safety of others, you must
not overload your vehicle or trailer. Toyota
warranties do not apply to damage or
malfunction caused by towing a trailer for
commercial purposes. Ask your local
Toyota dealer for further details before
towing.
WEIGHT LIMITS
Before towing, make sure the total trail-
er weight, gross combination weight,
gross vehicle weight, gross axle weight
and trailer tongue load are all within
the limits.
The total trailer weight and tongue load
can be measured with platform scales
found at a highway weighing station, build-
ing supply company, trucking company,
junk yard, etc.
Trailer towing

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CAUTION

The total trailer weight (trailer
weight plus its cargo load) must
not exceed 680 kg (1500 lb.).

The gross combination weight (sum
of your vehicle weight plus its load
and the total trailer weight) must
not exceed the following.Two- wheel drive models2513 kg (5540 lb.)
Four- wheel drive models 2534 kg (5586 lb.)

Trailer hitch assemblies have differ-
ent weight capacities established by
the hitch manufacturer. Even though
the vehicle may be physically capa-
ble of towing a higher weight, the
operator must determine the maxi-
mum weight rating of the particular
hitch assembly and never exceed
the maximum weight rating speci-
fied for the trailer- hitch. Exceeding
the maximum weight rating set by
the trailer hitch manufacturer can
cause an accident resulting in seri-
ous personal injuries.

The gross vehicle weight must not
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) indicated on the
Certification Label. The gross ve-
hicle weight is the sum of weights
of the unloaded vehicle, driver, pas-
sengers, luggage, hitch and trailer
tongue load. It also includes the
weight of any special equipment
installed on your vehicle.

The load on either the front or rear
axle resulting from distribution of
the gross vehicle weight on both
axles must not exceed the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed
on the Certification Label.