2013 TOYOTA RAV4 towing

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4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 164
Cargo and luggage............ 176
Vehicle load limits ............. 180
Trailer towing..................... 181
Dinghy towing.................... 196
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a
smart key system) ........... 197
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with a
smart key system) ........... 200
Automatic transmission ..... 207
Turn signal lever................ 214
Parking brake .................... 215
Horn .................................. 216
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 217
Automatic High Beam ....... 221
Fog light switch ................. 228
Windshield wipers and washer ..................... 229
Rear window wiper and washer ..................... 234 4-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap................................... 237
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Cruise control .................... 241
LDA (Lane Departure Alert)..... 245
Intuitive parking assist ....... 253
All-wheel drive lock switch (AWD models) ...... 259
Driving assist systems ....... 260
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)......... 266
• The Blind Spot Monitor function.......................... 270
• The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function ................. 273
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips .............. 276
Utility vehicle precautions ...................... 281
4Driving

18Pictorial index
RAV4_OM_OM42809U_(U)
■Instrument panel
Engine switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 197, 200
Starting the engine/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 197, 201
Emergency stop of the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 493
When the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 536
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Changing the shift position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 207
Precautions against towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 495
When the shift lever does not move. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 538
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 87
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrument panel light . . . . . . P. 87
Warning lights/indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 82
When the warning lights come on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 503
Multi-information display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 89
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 89
Parking brake lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 215
Applying/releasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 215
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 2771
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321-1. For safe use
RAV4_OM_OM42809U_(U)
To release the hooked buckle
“B”, push the buckle release
button.
To release the hooked plate
“A”, insert the mechanical key
( P. 96) or plate “B” or the
wireless key into the hole on
the buckle.
When releasing the seat belt,
retract it slowly.
Stow the plates in the cover.
Put plate “A” and “B”
together, and then stow the
plates in the cover.
Fully insert the plates all the
way.
Push down the plate until a
click is heard to lock it.
Releasing and stowing the seat belt (for the rear center seat)
Release button
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3-3. Adjusting the seats
CAUTION
■After returning the rear seatback to the upright position
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
●Make sure the seatback is securely locked by pushing it forward and rear-
ward on the top.
● Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught in the seatback.
NOTICE
■Stowing the seat belts
The seat belts and the buckles must be stowed before you fold down the
rear seatbacks.

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4Driving
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 164
Cargo and luggage ........... 176
Vehicle load limits ............. 180
Trailer towing..................... 181
Dinghy towing ................... 196
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a
smart key system) ........... 197
Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles with a
smart key system) ........... 200
Automatic transmission ..... 207
Turn signal lever................ 214
Parking brake .................... 215
Horn .................................. 216 4-3. Operating the lights
and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 217
Automatic High Beam ....... 221
Fog light switch ................. 228
Windshield wipers and washer ..................... 229
Rear window wiper and washer ..................... 234
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 237
4-5. Using the driving support systems
Cruise control .................... 241
LDA (Lane Departure Alert) .... 245
Intuitive parking assist....... 253
All-wheel drive lock switch (AWD models) ..... 259
Driving assist systems ...... 260
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 266
• The Blind Spot Monitor
function ......................... 270
• The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function ................. 273
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips ............. 276
Utility vehicle precautions ..................... 281

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4-1. Before driving
Cargo and luggage
Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity)  (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 lug- gage load capacity.
For example, if the “ XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be
five 150 lb passengers in your v ehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400  750 (5150) =
650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight ma y not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a tr ailer, 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. ( P. 180)
Take notice of the following information about storage precau-
tions, cargo capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution

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4-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Trailer towing
Contact your Toyota dealer for further information about additional
requirements such as a towing kit, etc.
Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger-and-load-car-
rying vehicle. Towing a trailer can have an adverse impact on
handling, performance, braking, durability, and fuel consump-
tion. For your safety and the safe ty of others, you must not over-
load your vehicle or trailer. You must also ensure that you are
using appropriate towing equipmen t, that the towing equipment
has been installed correctly a nd used properly, and that you
employ the requisite driving habits.
Vehicle-trailer stability and braking performance are affected by
trailer stability, brake performance and setting, trailer brakes,
the hitch and hitch systems (if equipped).
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in
accordance with your trailer’s characteristics and operating
conditions.
Toyota warranties do not apply to damage or malfunction
caused by towing a trailer for commercial purposes.

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4-1. Before driving
■GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating)
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).
■GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross
vehicle weight. The gross vehi-
cle weight is the total weight of
the vehicle. When towing a
trailer, it is the sum of the vehi-
cle weight (including the occu-
pants, cargo and any optional
equipment installed on the vehi-
cle) and the tongue weight.
Towing related terms