2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA Owners Manual

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2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
CAUTION
A recommended tongue load or
king pin weight varies in accor-
dance with the types of trailers or
towing as described below.
In order to ensure the recom-
mended values shown below, the
trailer must be loaded by referring
to the following instructions.
1. Conventional Towing
The tongue load is 9 to 11 % of
the Gross Trailer weight.
If the gross trailer weight is over
907 kg (2000 lbs), it is necessary
to use a sway control device with
sufficient capacity.
If the gross trailer weight is over
2268 kg (5000 lbs), it is necessary
to use a weight distributing hitch
with sufficient capacity.
If using a weight distributing
hitch when towing, keep your ve-
hicle level with the ground.
2. Fifth wheel TowingThe king pin weight is 15 to 25
% of the Gross Trailer weight.
Current fifthwheel trailer designs
are not compatible with Short bed
(Crew Max models).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 trailerhitch. Exceeding
the maximum weight rating set by
the trailer hitch manufacturer can
cause an accident resulting in death
or serious personal injuries.

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2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
HITCHES
If you wish to install a trailer hitch, you
should consult with your Toyota dealer.
Use only a hitch recommended by the
hitch manufacturer and the one which
conforms to the gross trailer weight
requirement.
The hitch must be bolted securely to
the vehicle frame and installed accord-
ing to the hitch manufacturer ’s instruc-
tions.
The hitch ball and king pin should have
a light coat of grease.
Toyota recommends removing the trail-
er hitch whenever you are not towing
a trailer to reduce the possibility of
additional damage caused by the hitch
if your vehicle is struck from behind.
After removing the hitch, seal any
mounting holes in the vehicle body to
prevent entry of pollutants such as ex-
haust fumes, dirt, water, etc. TRAILER BALL
Follow these easy steps to properly deter-
mine the correct trailer ball for your ap-
plication:
1. Determine the correct trailer ball size for the trailer coupler. Most couplers
are stamped with the required trailer
ball size. The sizes you will most likely
find stamped on the coupler are:
Trailer class
Typical trailer ball size
IV2 5/16 in.
II and III2 in.
I1 7/8 in.
2. Select the appropriate trailer ball to match or exceed the gross trailer
weight rating of the trailer. The trailer
ball load rating should be printed on
the top of the ball.
3. When mounted in the ball mount, the threaded ball shank must protrude be-
yond the bottom of the lock washer
and nut at least 2 threads. The trailer
ball shank must be matched to the ball
mount hole diameter size.
LS30011
1 Trailer ball load rating
2 Ball diameter
3 Shank length
4 Shank diameter

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2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
XS30001
BUMPER TOWING (steel bumper only)
The rear bumper of your vehicle is
equipped with a hole to install a trailer
ball.
For details, contact your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
The gross trailer weight (trailer
weight plus cargo weight) when tow-
ing with the bumper must never ex-
ceed 2268 kg (5000 lb.).
XS30002
FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER
NOTICE
When towing a fifth wheel trailer, be
careful not to hit the cabin or deck
by the trailer while making a sharp
turn.
MATCHING TRAILER BALL HEIGHT TO
TRAILER COUPLER HEIGHT
No matter which class of tow hitch ap-
plies, for a safe trailer hookup, the trailer
ball setup on must be the proper height
for the coupler on the trailer.

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2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
XS30003
XS30004
1. Coupler
2. Trailer ball
BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS
Toyota recommends trailers with
brakes that conform to any applica-
ble federal and state/provincial regu-
lations.
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 manufacturer ’s recommenda-
tions.
CAUTION
If the gross trailer weight exceeds
453 kg (1000 lb.), trailer brakes are
required.
Never tap into your vehicle’s hy-
draulic system as it would lower its
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 over into another
lane.

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2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
XS30014aTrim board
Clip
Scuff
plate Connector
cover
SERVICE CONNECTOR FOR TOWING
BRAKE CONTROLLER (with towing
package)
Your vehicle is equipped with a service
connector for the trailer brake controller
as shown.
Access the service connector.
1. Remove the scuff plate.
2. Remove the clip (screw type) and trim board.
Remove the connector cover from the ser-
vice connector before connecting the con-
nector.
Link the connector to the trailer brake
controller via the sub wire harness stored
in the glove box. The detailed explanation
of the sub wire harness circuit is packed
together with the sub wire harness.
Be sure to position the trailer brake con-
troller where it does not prevent the driver
from operating the pedal.
Toyota recommends that the sub wire har-
ness be stored in the glove box when it
is not in use. TIRES
Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are
properly inflated. See page 553 in Sec-
tion 7
−2 and page 594 in Section 8 for
instructions.
The trailer tires should be inflated to
the pressure recommended by the trail-
er manufacturer in respect to the gross
trailer weight.

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2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
XS30005
4Pin connector
XS30006
4Pin, 7Pin connector
TOWING CONNECTOR FOR TRAILER
LIGHTS
Your vehicle is equipped with wire har-
ness sockets for trailer lights under the
rear bumper. Use them to connect and
operate the trailer lights. However, the
trailer lights must comply with federal,
state/provincial and local regulations.
See your local recreational vehicle
dealer or rental agency for the correct
type of wiring and relays for your trail-
er. Check for correct operation of the
turn signals and stop lights each time
you hitch up. Direct splicing may dam-
age your vehicle’s electrical system
and cause a malfunction of your lights.
The towing connector can be also con-
nected to the trailer brake and trailer
sub battery. BREAKIN SCHEDULE
If your vehicle is new or equipped with
any new power train components (such
as the engine, transmission, differential
and wheel bearing), Toyota recom-
mends that you do not tow a trailer
until it has been driven for over 800
km (500 miles). After the vehicle has
been driven for over 800 km (500
miles), you can start towing. However,
drive the vehicle at a speed of less
than 80 km/h (50 mph) when towing a
trailer for another 800 km (500 miles).
In addition, avoid full throttle accelera-
tion.
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 “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner ’s Manual Supplement”.
Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing
ball and bracket after approximately
1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.

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2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
PRETOWING 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 securely
loaded so that it cannot shift.
Check that your rear view mirrors con-
form to any applicable federal state/
provincial or local regulations. If not,
install the rear view mirrors required
for towing purpose.
TRAILER TOWING TIPS
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will
handle differently than when not tow-
ing. The three main causes of vehicle
trailer accidents are driver error, exces-
sive speed and improper trailer loading.
Keep these in mind when towing:
Speed limits for towing a trailer vary
by state or province. Do not exceed
the posted towing speed limit.
Before starting out, check operation of
the lights and all vehicle −trailer connec-
tions. After driving a short distance,
stop and recheck the lights and con-
nections. Before actually towing a trail-
er, practice turning, stopping and back-
ing 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 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 the right. (This pro-
cedure 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 acci-
dent.
Because stopping distance may be in-
creased, following distance should be
increased when towing a trailer. For
each 16 km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow
at least one vehicle and trailer length
between you and the vehicle ahead.
Avoid sudden braking as you may skid,
resulting in jackknifing and loss of con-
trol. This is especially true on wet or
slippery surfaces.
Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns.
The trailer could hit your vehicle 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 closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. Therefore, compensate for this by
making a larger than normal turning
radius with your vehicle.
Crosswinds and rough roads will ad-
versely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing sway. Pay attention
to the rear from time to time to pre-
pare yourself for being passed by large
trucks or buses, which may cause your
vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying
happens, firmly grip the steering wheel
and reduce speed immediately 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 considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do
not forget the length of your trailer and
be sure you have plenty of room be-
fore changing lanes.

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2008 TUNDRA from Apr. ’08 Prod. (OM 34477U)
In order to maintain engine braking effi-
ciency when driving on a long steep
downgrade, do not use the transmis-
sion in “D”. Select an appropriate shift
range in “S” mode (See “Automatic
transmission” on page 211 in Section
1−7).
Because of the added load of the trail-
er, your vehicle’s engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over
30 C [85 F]) when going up a long or
steep grade with a trailer. If the engine
coolant temperature gauge indicates
overheating, immediately turn off the air
conditioning (if in use), pull off the road
and stop in a safe spot. Refer to “If
your vehicle overheats” on page 502 in
Section 4.
Always place wheel blocks under both
the vehicle and trailer wheels when
parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.
Put the transmission in “P”. Avoid park-
ing on a slope with a trailer, but if it
cannot be avoided, do so only after
performing the following:
1. Apply the brakes and hold.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks un- der 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 “P” and turn off the engine.
When restarting out after parking on a
slope: 1. With the transmission in “P” position, start the engine. Be sure to keep the
brake pedal depressed.
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake and brake pedal, 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 use cruise control when you
are towing down long, steep grades
or with heavy loads.
Slow down and downshift before
descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden down-
shifts.
Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This
could cause the brakes to overheat
and result in reduced braking effi-
ciency.