2011 TOYOTA CAMRY trailer

191
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently w hen towing a trailer. In order to
avoid accident or, death or serious injury, 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.
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.
■ Brakes
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
■ 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.

192 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 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.
● 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.

193
2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
●
In order to maintain efficient engine braking and electrical charging
performance, do not use overdrive (automatic transmission) or the
5th gear (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. 479)
● 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 first 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 first or R (manual transmission) or P (automatic
transmission) and turn off the engine.
● When restarting after parking on a slope:
With the transmission in the P position (automatic transmis-
sion) or the clutch pedal (m anual transmission) depressed,
start the engine. On vehicles with an automatic transmission,
be sure to keep the brake pedal pressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into the R position.
Release the parking brake (also brake pedal on vehicles with
automatic transmission), and sl owly pull or back away from
the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4
STEP5
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3
STEP4

194 2-5. Driving information
CAUTION
■To avoid an accident
●Do not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h) or posted towing speed limit, whichever
is lower. As instability (swaying) of the towing vehicle-trailer combination
increases as speed increases, exceeding 45 mph (72 km/h) may cause
loss of control.
● 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.

488
6-1. Specifications
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.)
Dimensions and weights
*1: Unladen vehicles
*2: P215/55R17 tires
*3: P215/60R16 tires
Vehicle identification■ Vehicle identification number
The vehicle identificati on number (VIN) is the legal identifier for your
vehicle. This is the primary identification number for your Toyota. It is
used in registering the ownership of your vehicle.
This number is stamped on the
top left of the instrument panel.
Overall length 189.2 in. (4805 mm)
Overall width71.7 in. (1820 mm)
Overall height*157.7 in. (1465 mm)*2
57.9 in. (1470 mm)*3
Wheelbase109.3 in. (2775 mm)
TreadFront 62.0 in. (1575 mm)
Rear 61.6 in. (1565 mm)
Vehicle capacity weight
(Occupants + luggage) 900 lb. (410 kg)
Towing capacity
(trailer weight + cargo weight)1000 lb. (453 kg)

547
Alphabetical index
Switch
Emergency flasher switch .... 428
Engine switch ............... 133, 137
Fog light switch..................... 167
Hazard light switch ............... 428
Ignition switch ............... 133, 137
Light switches ....................... 162
Power door lock switch........... 44
Power window switch ............. 72
Window lock switch ................ 72
Wiper and washer switch ..... 168
Tachometer .............................. 150
Theft deterrent system Alarm ...................................... 85
Engine immobilizer system..... 82
Tire inflation pressure ............ 397
Tire information Glossary ............................... 510
Size ...................................... 507
Tire identification number ..... 506
Uniform tire quality
grading ............................... 508
Tires Chains .................................. 183
Checking .............................. 387
If you have a flat tire ............. 458
Inflation pressure .................. 397
Inflation pressure sensor ...... 389
Replacing ............................. 458
Rotating tires ........................ 387
Size ...................................... 497
Snow tires............................. 183
Spare tire .............................. 458 Tools .........................................458
Total load capacity...................182
Towing
Dinghy towing................195, 196
Trailer towing.........................187
TRAC .........................................174
Traction control........................174
Trip information .......................158
Trip meter .........................150, 158
Trunk Extending a space................. 339
Opener ....................................49
Trunk light Trunk light ...............................50
Wattage .................................500
Turn signal lights Replacing light bulbs .............423
Switch....................................146
Wattage .................................500
Vanity lights Vanity lights ...........................330
Wattage .................................500
Vanity mirrors...........................330
Vehicle identification number ...................................488
Vehicle stability control...........174
VSC............................................174
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