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4-1. Before driving
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. Help to avoid
an accident, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind when
towing:
● Speed limits for towing a trailer vary by state or province. Do not
exceed the posted to wing speed limit.
● Toyota recommends that the vehi cle-trailer speed limit is 65 mph
(104 km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exceed this limit, the
posted towing speed limit or the spe ed limit for your trailer as set
forth in your trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Instability
of the towing vehicle-trailer combination (trailer sway) increases as
speed increases. Exceeding speed limits may cause loss of control.
● Before starting out, check the tr ailer lights, tires and the vehicle-
trailer connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle-trailer combination.
● 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.
Trailer towing tips
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RAV4_OM_OM0R005U_(U)
1914-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■ Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. ( →P. 675)
● Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recommen-
dation.
● All trailer lights work as required by law.
● All lights work each time you connect them.
● The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on the trailer.
● The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and check for improper tongue weight,
overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
● The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
● The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for tow-
ing purposes.
No matter which class of tow hitch
applies, for a more safe trailer hookup,
the trailer ball setup must be the proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball
1
2
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4-1. Before driving
WARNING
■Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the
hitch manufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of
towing a higher weight, the operator must determine the maximum weight
rating of the particular hitch assembly and never exceed the maximum
weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch. Exceeding the maximum weight
rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause an accident resulting
in death or serious personal injuries.
■ 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.
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4-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Turn signal lever
Right turn
Lane change to the right (move
the lever partway and release
it)
The right hand signals will flash 3
times.
Lane change to the left (move
the lever partway and release
it)
The left hand signals will flash 3
times.
Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated when
Vehicles without smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
Vehicles with smart key system
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■ If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear turn signal lights has not burned
out.
■ If the turn signals stop flashing before a lane change has been per-
formed
Operate the lever again.
■ To discontinue flashing of the turn signals during a lane change
Operate the lever in the opposite direction.
■ Customization
The setting of the turn signals flash during a lane change can be changed.
(Customizable features: →P. 701)
Operating instructions
1
2
3
4
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4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
Headlight switch
Turning the end of the lever turns on the lights as follows:
Ty p e A
The headlights can be operated manually or automatically.
Operating instructions
The side marker, parking,
tail, license plate and
instrument panel lights
turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above turn on.
The headlights, daytime
running lights (→P. 215)
and all the lights listed
above turn on and off
automatically.
(When the engine switch
is in the “ON” position
[vehicles without smart
key system] or IGNITION
ON mode [vehicles with
smart key system])
Off
The daytime running
lights turn on. ( →P. 215)1
2
3
4
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
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RAV4_OM_OM0R005U_(U)
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Ty p e BThe side marker, parking,
tail, license plate, and
instrument panel lights
turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above turn on.
The daytime running lights
turn on. ( →P. 215)
Off
Ty p e C
The side marker, parking,
tail, license plate, and
instrument panel lights
turn on.
The headlights and all
lights listed above turn on.
The daytime running lights
turn on. ( →P. 215)
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
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RAV4_OM_OM0R005U_(U)
2154-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
With the headlights on, push
the lever away from you to turn
on the high beams.
Pull the lever toward you to the
center position to turn the high
beams off.
Pull the lever toward you and
release it to flash the high
beams once.
You can flash the high beams with the headlights on or off.
■Daytime running light system
Vehicles with halogen headlights
● To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving,
the daytime running lights turn on automatically whenever the engine is
started and the parking brake is released with the headlight switch off or in
/ position. (Illuminate dimmer than the headlight lights.) Daytime run-
ning lights are not designed for use at night.
For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the
switch.
● Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system
offers greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve
fuel economy.
Vehicles with LED headlights
● To make your vehicle more visible to other drivers during daytime driving,
the daytime running lights turn on automatically whenever the engine is
started and the parking brake is released with the headlight switch off or in
/ position. (Illuminate brighter than the parking lights.) Daytime run-
ning lights are not designed for use at night.
For the U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operating the
switch.
● Compared to turning on the headlights, the daytime running light system
offers greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it can help improve
fuel economy.
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2
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4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
■Headlight control sensor (if equipped)
■ Automatic light off system
When the headlights are on: The lights turn off 30 seconds after the engine
switch is turned to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without smart key system) or
off (vehicles with smart key system) and a door is opened and all of the doors
are closed. (The lights turn off immediately if on the key is pressed
while all the doors are locked.)
When only the tail lights are on: The lights turn off after the engine switch is
turned to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without smart key system) or off
(vehicles with smart key system) and the driver’s door is opened.
To turn the lights on again, turn the engine switch to the “ON” position (vehi-
cles without smart key system) or to IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with smart
key system), or turn the light switch off once, or turn the light switch to
once, then turn it to or to .
If any of the doors is kept open and the engine switch is in the “LOCK” posi-
tion (vehicles without smart key system) or off (vehicles with smart key sys-
tem), the lights automatically turn off after 20 minutes.
■ Light reminder buzzer
Vehicles without smart key system
A buzzer sounds when the engine switch is turned to the “LOCK” position, the
key is removed and the driver’s door is opened while the lights are turned on.
Vehicles with smart key system
A buzzer sounds when the engine switch is turned off and the driver’s door is
opened while the lights are turned on.
■ Customization
Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitivity) can be changed.
(Customizable features: →P. 700)
The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything
that blocks the sensor is affixed to the
windshield.
Doing so interferes with the sensor
detecting the level of ambient light and
may cause the automatic headlight sys-
tem to malfunction.
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not leave the lights on longer than necessary when the engine is not
running.