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Your Driving, the Road, and
the Vehicle
Electric Power Steering
This vehicle has On-Demand Electric-Assist Power
Steering instead of conventional full-time hydraulic
power steering. It uses electricity supplied by the same
battery which is re-charged by the regenerative
braking system.
Because the system is On-Demand Electric-Assist,
energy is used only when the steering wheel is turned,
or when the steering gear is used to help isolate the
forces of rough roads. This system does not use power
steering fluid, making it maintenance-free.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service if the disabled vehicle needs to be towed.
Towing a Trailer
For more information, see “Towing a Trailer” in the
owner manual Index.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how the rig is used. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how
much the vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all
important. It can depend on any special equipment on
the vehicle, and the amount of tongue weight the vehicle
can carry.
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Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming only the
driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers and cargo in the tow vehicle
must be subtracted from the maximum trailer weight.Use the following charts to determine how much the
vehicle can weigh, based upon the vehicle model
and options.
Vehicle Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR*
2WD 6.0 L V8 3.08 6,200 lbs (2 812 kg) 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
4WD 6.0 L V8 3.08 6,000 lbs (2 722 kg) 12,000 lbs (5 443 kg)
*The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for the vehicle should not be
exceeded.
Trailer Brakes
If a trailer is being towed that has trailer brakes and
the trailer brakes are manually applied while driving
slower than 25 mph (40 km/h), the vehicle may go into
auto stop mode even if the brakes are not being
pressed. Using the trailer brake system manually can
make the hybrid vehicle perform as if the brake pedalin the vehicle is being pressed. The trailer brake
operation check will still work. If the trailer brakes are
manually applied for an extended period of time,
the SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM DIC message comes
on. The message goes off after the trailer brakes
have been released. No other action is necessary.
For more information, see “Trailer Brakes” in the Index
of the vehicle’s owner manual.
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Tires
In ation - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to operate
effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-in ation or over-in ation is all right.
It is not. If your tires do not have enough air
(under-in ation), you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-in ation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards
A vehicle specific Tire and Loading Information label
is attached to your vehicle. This label shows your
vehicle’s original equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressures for your tires when they are cold.
The recommended cold tire inflation pressure, shown
on the label, is the minimum amount of air pressure
needed to support your vehicle’s maximum load carrying
capacity.
For additional information regarding how much weight
your vehicle can carry, and an example of the Tire
and Loading Information label, see “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index of the owner manual. How you
load your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load your vehicle with more weight than
it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
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