Page 170 of 392

170 2-5. Driving information
●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 the 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. Vehicles with a manual
transmission, prevent excessive cl utch slippage by keeping engine
rpm low and not racing the engine. Always start out in first gear.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before mak-
ing a turn.
● Note that when making a turn, th e trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a larger than normal turning radius.
● Crosswinds and rough roads will adversely affect handling of your
vehicle and trailer, causing sway . Periodically check the rear to
prepare for being passed by large trucks or buses, which may
cause your vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying occurs, firmly grip
the steering wheel, reduce speed immediately but gradually, and
steer straight ahead. Never increase speed. If you make no
extreme correction with the stee ring or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer will stabilize.
● Take care when passing other v ehicles. Passing requires consider-
able distance. After passing a vehi cle, do not forget the length of
your trailer, and be sure you hav e plenty of room before changing
lanes.
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171
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●
In order to maintain engine braking efficiency, do not use the trans-
mission in D (automatic transmiss ion) or 5 (manual transmission).
● Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may
overheat on hot days (at temperatures over 85°F [30°C]) when
driving up a long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature
gauge indicates overheating, immedi ately turn off the air condition-
ing (if in use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.
( P. 337)
● Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer
wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly, and put the
transmission in P (automatic transmission) or in 1 or R (manual
transmission). Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do so
only after performing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle and
trailer wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in pl ace, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into 1 or R (manual transmission) or P (automatic trans-
mission) and turn off the engine.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P (automatic transmission) or the
clutch pedal (manual transmission) depressed, start the
engine. On vehicles with an au tomatic transmission, be sure
to keep the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.
Release the parking brake (also brake pedal on vehicles with
an automatic transmission), and slowly pull or back away from
the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
Page 174 of 392
174
2-5. Driving information
Dinghy towing (vehicles with a manual transmission)
Towing your vehicle with 4 wheels on the groundTo prevent damage to your vehicle, perform the following procedures
before towing. Shift the shift lever to N.
Turn the engine switch to the ACC position.
Ensure that the audio system and other powered devices have been
turned off.
Release the parking brake.
After towing, leave the engine in idle for at least 3 minutes before
driving the vehicle.
■Necessary equipment and accessories
Specialized equipment and accessories are required for dinghy towing. Con-
tact the service branch of the motor home manufacturer regarding recom-
mended equipment.
Your vehicle can be dinghy towed in a forward direction (with 4
wheels on the ground) behind a motor home.
Dinghy towing does not elimi-
nate the possibility of damage
to your vehicle.
Page 175 of 392
175
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
NOTICE
■
Dinghy towing direction
■ To prevent the steering from locking
Ensure the engine switch is in the ACC position.
Do not tow the vehicle backwards.
Doing so may cause serious damage.
Page 184 of 392
184 3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the air conditioning system on longer than necessary when the
engine is stopped.
Page 185 of 392

185
3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
3
Interior features
Rear window and outside rear view mirror defoggers (if equipped)
■The rear window and outside rear vi ew mirror defoggers can be oper-
ated when
The engine switch is in the ON position.
■ Outside rear view mirror defoggers (vehicles with outside rear view
mirror defoggers)
Turning the rear window defogger on will turn the outside rear view mirror
defoggers on.
CAUTION
■ When the outside rear view mirror defoggers are on (vehicles with out-
side rear view mirror defoggers)
Do not touch the rear view mirror surfaces, as they can become very hot and
burn you.
These features are used to defog the rear window, and to remove
raindrops, dew and frost from the outside rear view mirrors.
On/off
Press the button to turn on the
rear window defogger. The
indicator light will come on.
Pressing the button again also
turns the defoggers off.
Vehicles with timer: The defog-
gers will automatically turn off
after approximately 15 min-
utes.
Page 186 of 392
186 3-1. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the rear window defogger on longer than necessary when the
engine is stopped.
Page 188 of 392

188 3-2. Using the audio system
CAUTION
■For vehicles sold in U.S.A. and Canada
●Part 15 of the FCC Rules
FCC Warning:
Any unauthorized changes or modifications to this equipment will void the
user’s authority to operate this device.
● Laser products
Do not take this unit apart or attempt to make any changes yourself.
This is an intricate unit that uses a laser pickup to retrieve information from
the surface of compact discs. The laser is carefully shielded so that its
rays remain inside the cabinet. Therefore, never try to disassemble the
player or alter any of its parts since you may be exposed to laser rays and
dangerous voltages.
● CAUTION
This product utilizes a laser.
Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than
those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure.
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the audio system on longer than necessary with the engine o\
ff.
■ To avoid damaging the audio system
Take care not to spill drinks or other fluids over the audio system.