2015 TOYOTA RAV4 towing

RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
1954-1. Before driving
4
Driving
CAUTION
■When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
● If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
● Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle’s 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 into another lane.
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 directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing trailer lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.

196
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels
on the ground) behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
■ To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission and Dynamic
Torque Control AWD system (AWD models)
Do not tow your vehicle with 4 wheels on
the ground.
2WD models: Never tow this vehicle from
the rear with the front wheels on the
ground. This may cause serious damage
to the transmission.
AWD models: Never tow this vehicle with
any of the wheels on the ground. This
may cause serious damage to the trans-
mission and Dynamic Torque Control
AWD system.

244
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
CAUTION
■To avoid operating the cruise control by mistake
Switch the cruise control off using the “ON-OFF” button when not in use.
■ Situations unsuitable for cruise control
Do not use cruise control in any of the following situations.
Doing so may result in loss of control and could cause an accident resulting
in death or serious injury.
● In heavy traffic
● On roads with sharp bends
● On winding roads
● On slippery roads, such as those covered with rain, ice or snow
● On steep hills
Vehicle speed may exceed the set speed when driving down a steep hill.
● When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing

RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
2834-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■Conditions under which the Blind Spot Monitor function may not func-
tion correctly
●The Blind Spot Monitor function may not detect vehicles correctly in the fol-
lowing conditions:
• During bad weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow, etc.
• When ice, mud, etc. is attached to the rear bumper
• When driving on a road surface that is wet due to rain, standing water,
etc.
• When there is a significant difference in speed between your vehicle and the vehicle that enters the detection area
• When a vehicle is in the detection area from a stop and remains in the detection area as your vehicle accelerates
• When driving up or down consecutive steep inclines, such as hills, a dip in the road, etc.
• When multiple vehicles approach with only a small gap between each vehicle
• When vehicle lanes are wide, and the vehicle in the next lane is too far away from your vehicle
• When the vehicle that enters the detection area is traveling at about the same speed as your vehicle
• When there is a significant difference in height between your vehicle and the vehicle that enters the detection area
• Directly after the BSM main switch is set to on
• When towing a trailer
• When items such as a bicycle carrier ar e installed on the rear of the vehi-
cle.
● Instances of the Blind Spot Monitor function unnecessarily detecting a vehi-
cle and/or object may increase under the following conditions:
• When there is only a short distance between your vehicle and a guardrail,
wall, etc.
• When there is only a short distance between your vehicle and a following vehicle
• When vehicle lanes are narrow and a vehicle driving 2 lanes across from your vehicle enters the detection area
• When items such as a bicycle carrier ar e installed on the rear of the vehi-
cle

286
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
4-5. Using the driving support systems
■Conditions under which the Rear Cr oss Traffic Alert function will not
detect a vehicle
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function is not designed to detect the following
types of vehicles and/or objects.
● Small motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, etc.
*
●Vehicles approaching from directly behind
● Guardrails, walls, signs, parked vehicles and similar stationary objects
*
●Vehicles moving away from your vehicle
● Vehicles approaching from the parking spaces next to your vehicle
*
●Vehicles backing up in the parking space next to your vehicle*
*
: Depending on conditions, detection of a vehicle and/or object may occur.
■ Conditions under which the Rear Cross Traffic Alert function may not
function correctly
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function may not detect vehicles correctly in the
following conditions:
● When ice, mud, etc. is attached to the rear bumper
● During bad weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow, etc.
● When multiple vehicles approach continuously
● Shallow angle parking
● When a vehicle is approaching at high speed
● When parking on a steep incline, such as hills, a dip in the road, etc.
● Directly after the BSM main switch is set to on
● Directly after the engine is started with the BSM main switch on
● When towing a trailer
● Vehicles that the sensors cannot detect
because of obstacles

RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
4935-5. Using the storage features
5
Interior features
■Front
■Rear
Bottle holders
CAUTION
■Items unsuitable for the bottle holder
Do not place anything other than a bottle in the bottle holders.
Other items may be thrown out of the holders in the event of an accident or
sudden braking and cause injury.
NOTICE
■Items that should not be st owed in the bottle holders
Put the cap on before stowing a bottle. Do not place open bottles in the bot-
tle holders, or glasses and paper cups containing liquid. The contents may
spill and glasses may break.

RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
4975-5. Using the storage features
5
Interior features
■Removing the luggage coverRelease the cover from the
left and right anchors and
allow it to retract.
Compress the end of the lug-
gage cover and lift the lug-
gage cover up.
■Stowing the luggage cover (vehicles with the luggage cover
holders)Open the rear deck board
and remove the deck side
covers.
1
2
1

498
RAV4_OM_OM42A78U_(U)
5-5. Using the storage features
Insert the right end of the lug-
gage cover into the recess,
then compress the left end of
the luggage cover and insert
it into the recess.2
CAUTION
■When installing/stowing the luggage cover
Make sure that the luggage cover is securely installed/stowed. Failure to do
so may result in serious injury in the event of sudden braking or a collision.
■ Caution for the luggage cover
● Do not place anything on the luggage cover to avoid death or serious
injury.
● Do not allow children to climb on the luggage cover. Climbing on the lug-
gage cover could result in damage to the luggage cover, possibly causing
death or serious injury to the child.
NOTICE
■When using the luggage cover
● Do not put heavy items on the luggage cover.
●Install the cover unit in the correct direc-
tion so that the “TOP” mark faces
upward.