2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA towing

469
2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
Vehicle load limits include total load
capacity, seating capacity, towing
capacity and cargo capacity. Follow
the load limits shown below. Total
load capacity and seating capacity
are also described on the tire and
loading information label. For location
of the tire and loading information
label, see “Checking tire inflation
pressure” on page 553.
Total load capacity:
Total load capacity means combined
weight of occupants, cargo and
luggage. Tongue load is included
when trailer towing. For the total load
capacity about your vehicle, see
“Vehicle capacity weight” on page 580
in Section 8. Seating capacity:
Regular cab modelsWith separate seats
Tot al 2
With bench seats Tot al 3
Double cab and Crew Max models With separate seatsTotal 5 (Front 2, Rear 3)
With bench seats
Total 6 (Front 3, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the maximum
number of occupants whose esti-
mated average weight is 68 kg (150
lb.) per person. Depending on the
weight of each person, the seating ca-
pacity 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:
Towing capacity means the maximum
allowable gross trailer weight (trailer
weight plus its cargo weight) that your
vehicle is able to tow. For the towing
capacity about your vehicle, see
“Towing capacity” on page 586 in Sec-
tion 8.
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.
Veh icle lo ad limit s

470
2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
When stowing cargo and luggage in
the vehicle, observe the following:
 Put cargo and luggage in the rear
deck when at all possible. Be sure
all items are secured 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.
CAUTION
To prevent cargo and l uggage
from sliding forward during
braking, do not stack anything
behind the front seats higher
than the seatbacks. Keep cargo
and luggage low, as close to
the floor as possible.
 Never allow anyone to ride in
the rear deck. It is not designed
for passengers. They s hould
ride in their seats with their
seat belts properly fastened.
Otherwise, they are much more
likely to suffer death or serious
bodily injury, in the event of
sudden braking or a collision.
 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
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs.” 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 kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For exam-
ple, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb passengers in your ve-
hicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity
is 650 lbs. (1400–750
(5x150)=650 lbs.)
Cargo and luggage—
—Stowage precautions —Capacity and distribution

471
2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
(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
cargo and luggage load capacity
of your vehicle.
For details about trailer towing, see
“Trailer towing” on page 481 in Sec-
tion 3.
SU21020
Cargo
capacity
Total load
capacity
Example on Your Vehicle
In case that 2 people with the com-
bined weight of A kg (lb.) are riding
in your vehicle with the total load ca-
pacity of B kg (lb.), the available
amount of cargo and luggage load ca-
pacity will be C kg (lb.) as follows:
B kg (lb. ) – A kg (lb. ) = C kg (lb. )
From this condition, if 3 more passen-
gers with the combined weight of D
kg (lb.) get on, the available cargo
and luggage load will be reduced E
kg (lb.) as follows:
C kg (lb. ) – D kg (lb. ) = E kg (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 469
in this Section.
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.

473
2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
STARTING AND DRIVING
Starting and driving
Before starting the engine 474
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How to start the engine 474
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. .
Tips for driving in various conditions 475
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving in the rain 477
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . .
Off −road driving precautions 478
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Winter driving tips 479
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . .
Dinghy towing 480
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
Trailer towing 481
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . .
How to save fuel and make your vehicle last longer 495
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 3

480
2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
Check the condition of the battery and
cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of
any battery, so it must be in top shape
to provide enough power for winter start-
ing. Section 7−3 tells you how to visually
inspect the battery. Your Toyota dealer
and most service stations will be pleased
to check the level of charge.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is
suitable for the cold weather.
See page 549 in Section 7 −2 for recom-
mended viscosity. Leaving a heavy sum-
mer oil in your vehicle during winter
months may cause harder starting. If you
are not sure about which oil to use, call
your Toyota dealer—they will be pleased
to help.
Keep the door locks from freezing.
Squirt lock de −icer or glycerine into the
locks to keep them from freezing. To open
a frozen lock, try heating the key before
inserting it.
Use a washer fluid containing an anti
freeze solution.
This product is available at your Toyota
dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow
the manufacturer ’s directions for how
much to mix with water.NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any
other substitute because it may dam-
age your vehicle’s paint.
Do not use your parking brake when
there is a possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into
“P” and block the front wheels. Do not
use the parking brake, or snow or water
accumulated in and around the parking
brake mechanism may freeze, making it
hard to release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating
under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders
can make steering difficult. During bad
winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally.
Depending on where you are driving,
we recommend you carry some emer-
gency equipment.
Some of the things you might put in the
vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,
bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.XS30007
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 four
wheels on the ground. This may
cause serious damage to your vehicle.
Dinghy towing

481
2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a
passenger−and− load− carrying vehicle. Tow-
ing a trailer will have an adverse effect on
handling, performance, braking, durability
and driving economy (fuel consumption,
etc.). Your safety and satisfaction depend
on the proper use of correct equipment
and cautious driving habits. For your safe-
ty and the safety of others, you must not
overload your vehicle or trailer. Ask your
local Toyota dealer for further details be-
fore towing.
NOTICE
When towing a trailer, be sure to con-
sult your Toyota dealer for further in-
formation on additional requirements
such as a towing kit, etc.
CAUTION
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme
care and drive the vehicle in accor-
dance with the trailer ’s characteristics
and operating conditions.
The vehicle stability and braking per-
formance are affected by trailer sta-
bility, brake setting and performance,
and the hitch.
Follow all the instructions described
in this section. Failure to do so could
cause an accident resulting in death
or serious injury.
WEIGHT LIMITS
Before towing, make sure the gross
trailer weight, gross combination
weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue load are all
within the limits.
The gross 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

482
2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
Reference
Vehicle weight
The tongue load is the load placed on the trailer hitch ball.
The king pin weight is the load placed on the fifth wheel trailer hitch mount.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
is the maximum allowable gross vehicle weight.
The gross vehicle weight is the total weight of the vehicle. When towing a trailer, it is the sum of the vehicle weight
(including the occupants, cargo and any optional equipment installed on the vehicle) and the tongue load (or the king pin
weight).
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) is the maximum allowable gross axle weight.
The gross axle weight is the load placed on each axle (front and rear).
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) is the maximum allowable gross combination weight.
The gross combination weight is the sum of the total vehicle weight (including the occupants, cargo and any optional
equipment installed on the vehicle) and the weight of the trailer being towed (including the cargo in the trailer).
The gross trailer weight is the sum of the trailer weight and the weight of the cargo in the trailer.
Towing Capacity is the maximum allowable gross trailer weight.
Towing Capacity is calculated considering base vehicle with necessary vehicle equipment and 150 pound driver.
Additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in the vehi cle will reduce the towing capacity, Gross Trailer weight
includes the trailer, cargo and necessary equipment for towing.

483
2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
GCWR, Towing capacity
kg (lb.)
Model code
∗ 7EngineCab typeDriving
systemBed type
GCWRTowing capacity
With towing packageWithout tow-ing packageWith towing packageWithout tow-ing package
GSK50L− TRADKA1GR−FE∗
1
Regular
2WD∗4Standard—4535 (10000)—2310 (5100)
GSK51L− THADKALong—4535 (10000)—2265 (5000)
UCK50L−TRADKA
2UZ−FE∗
2
2WD∗4Standard6120 (13500)5440 (12000)3855 (8500)3175 (7000)
UCK51L− THADKALong6120 (13500)5440 (12000)3810 (8400)3125 (6900)
UCK55L−TRADKA4WD∗
5Standard6120 (13500)5440 (12000)3715 (8200)3035 (6700)
UCK56L− THADKALong6120 (13500)5440 (12000)3670 (8100)2990 (6600)
USK50L−TRTDKA
3UR−FE∗
3
2WD∗4Standard7030 (15500)6350 (14000)4715 (10400)4035 (8900)6800 (15000)∗64490 (9900)∗6
USK51L− THTDKALong7255 (16000)6350 (14000)4895 (10800)3990 (8800)
USK55L−TRTDKA4WD∗
5Standard7030 (15500)6350 (14000)4580 (10100)3945 (8700)6800 (15000)∗64350 (9600)∗6
USK56L− THTDKALong7255 (16000)6350 (14000)4760 (10500)3900 (8600)
∗
1: 4.0 L V6 (1GR −FE) engine∗
2: 4.7 L V8 (2UZ −FE) engine∗
3: 5.7 L V8 (3UR −FE) engine∗
4:Two −wheel drive models∗
5: Four −wheel drive models∗
6: With P275/55R20 tires∗7: The model code is indicated on the Certification Label. See “Your Toyota’s identification” on page 455 in Section 2 for the Ce rtifica-
tion Label location.