2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER towing

232 2-5. Driving information
HitchTrailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established
by the hitch manufacturer. Even th ough the vehicle may be rated for
towing a higher weight, the operat or must never exceed the maxi-
mum weight rating specified for the trailer hitch.
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. The 3 main
causes of vehicle-trailer accidents are driver error, excessive speed
and improper trailer loading. Keep the following in mind when towing.
● Before starting out, check the trailer lights and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and reve rsing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle.
● Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice.
Grip the bottom 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 trailer to right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least o ne vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and
loss of control. This is especiall y true on wet or slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before mak-
ing turns.

235
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
■
Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●The vehicle's tires are properly inflated. ( P. 534)
● Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer's recom-
mendation.
● All trailer lights work
● All lights work each time you connect them.
● The vehicle remains level when a loaded or unloaded trailer is hitched.
Do not drive if the vehicle is not level, and check for improper tongue
load, overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
● The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
● The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, instal l rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.
■ Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components
(such as an engine, transmission, differential and wheel bearing), Toyota
recommends that you do not tow a trailer until it has been driven for over
2000 miles (3200 km).
However, avoid full throttle acceleration.
■ Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance
due to the additional load. (See “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
● Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approxi-
mately 600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.

236 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
■Trailer towing precautions
●Follow all the instructions described in this section. Failure to do so could
cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
● Exceeding the towing capacity, GVWR or GAWR can cause an accident
resulting in death or serious personal injuries.
■ To avoid accident or injury
●Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) or the posted towing speed limit, which-
ever is lower. As instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combina-
tion increases as speed increases, exceeding 45 mph (72 km/h) may
cause loss of control.
● Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue load capacities.
● 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.
● Do not use cruise control when you are towing.
● Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden downshifts.
● 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.
● Do not tow the vehicle with the compact spare tire installed.
■ Hitches
●If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Toyota dealer.
● Use only a hitch that conforms to the gross trailer weight requirement.
● The towing capacity of 5000 lb can only be guaranteed when using a gen-
uine Toyota hitch assembly or equivalent.
● Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
● Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coat of grease.
● 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.

237
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
■
When towing a trailer
●If the gross trailer weight exceeds 1000 lb. (453 kg), trailer brakes are
required. Toyota recommends trailers wi th brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
● Never tap into your vehicle's hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle's braking effectiveness.
● Never tow a trailer without using a 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 into another lane.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
●Use only the position recommended by your Toyota dealer. Do not install
the trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
● Do not use axle-mounted hitches, as they can cause damage to the axle
housing, wheel bearings, wheels or tires.
■ Safety chain
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
the case that it becomes damaged or separated. For the correct safety chain
installation procedure, ask your Toyota dealer.
■ Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle's electrical system
and cause a malfunction.

238
2-5. Driving information
Dinghy towing
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with 4 wheels on the ground.
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on
the ground) behind a motor home.

386 3-7. Other interior features
■Stowing the luggage cover ( vehicles with luggage cover)
CAUTION
■When the cargo hooks are not in use
To avoid injury, always return the cargo hooks to their positions when they
are not in use.
■ Caution while driving
Do not drive with any of the deck boards opened. Items may fall out and
cause injury.
Remove the side deck boards and open
the center deck board.
Fold the flaps on top of the luggage cover
with the hooks rolled inside.
Place the left end of the luggage cover in
the recess on the left-hand side and then
lower the right end into the recess on the
right-hand side.STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

423
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
■
Recommended viscosity
Without towing package
With towing package
SAE 5W-30 is the best choice for
good fuel economy, and good
starting in cold weather.
*: If SAE 5W-30 oil is not avail-able, SAE 10W-30 oil may be
used. However, it should be
replaced with SAE 5W-30 at
the next oil change.
■How to read oil container labels
Some oil containers are labeled with ILSAC certification marks that
help you to select the proper oil.
Outside temperature
Outside temperature

460 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
26 RADIO115 A Audio system
27 ECU-B 10 ASteering sensor, gauges and
meters, clock, air conditioning sys-
tem, main body ECU, wireless
remote control, smart key system,
power back door, on-board diagno-
sis system
28 DOME 10 AVanity lights, personal lights, inte-
rior light, gauges and meters,
engine switch light, door courtesy
lights, power back door
29 AMP 15 A Audio system
30 TOWING 30 A Trailer lights
31 IG2 25 A INJ NO.1, INJ NO.2
32 STR LOCK 20 A Steering lock system
33 EFI MAIN 25 A EFI NO.2, EFI NO.3
34 HAZ 15 A Turn signal lights
35 G/H 10 APower door lock system, multiplex
communication system
36 ALT-S 7.5 A Charging system
37 AM2 7.5 A Multiplex communication system
38 H-LP LH 15 A Left-hand headlight (high beam)
39 H-LP RH 15 A Right-hand headlight (high beam)
40 H-LP LL 15 A Left-hand headlight (low beam)
41 H-LP RL 15 A Right-hand headlight (low beam)
42 HORN 10 A Horn
43 EFI NO.1 10 AMultiport fuel injection system/
sequential multiport fuel injection
system, smart key system
FuseAmpereCircuit