
214
SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
Confirm that the gross trailer weight, gross combination weight, gross
vehicle weight, gross axle weight and tongue weight are all within the
limits.
■GCWR
2WD models: 8900 lb. (4037 kg)
AWD models: 8990 lb. (4078 kg)
■TWR
3500 lb. (1585 kg)
■Unbraked TWR
1000 lb. (450 kg)
GCWR, TWR and Unbraked TWR 
: These models meet the tow-vehicle trailering requirement of SAE Interna-tional per SAE J2807.
The towing package is required.
Toyota  does  not  recommend  towing  with  this  vehicle  without  the  towing
package. 

SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
2154-1. Before driving
4
Driving
●A recommended tongue weight varies  in accordance with the types
of trailers or towing as described below.
● To  ensure  the  recommended  values  shown  below,  the  trailer  must
be loaded by referring to the following instructions.
• Tongue Weight
The gross trailer weight should be distributed so that the tongue
weight is 9% to 11%.
(Tongue weight / Gross trailer weight   100 = 9% to 11%)
Gross trailer weight
Tongue weight
The  gross  trailer  weight,  gross  axle  weight  and  tongue  weight  can
be measured with platform scales found at a highway weighing sta-
tion, building supply company, trucking company, junk yard, etc.
Trailer  hitch  assemblies  have  different  weight  capacities.  Toyota  rec-
ommends the use of Toyota hitch/bracket for your vehicle. For details,
contact your Toyota dealer.
● If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Toyota dealer.
● Use  only  a  hitch  that  conforms  to  the  gross  trailer  weight  require-
ment of your vehicle.
● Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
● Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coating of grease.
● Remove the trailer hitch whenever you are not towing a trailer. After
removing  the  hitch,  seal  any  mounting  hole  in  the  vehicle  body  to
prevent entry of any subs tances into the vehicle.
Trailer Tongue Weight
1
2
Hitch 

SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
2174-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Hitch receiver pin hole position:
37.3 in. (949.8 mm)
Please  consult  your  dealer  when  inst alling  trailer  lights,  as  incorrect
installation  may  cause  damage  to  th e  vehicle’s  lights.  Please  take
care to comply with y our state’s laws when installing trailer lights.
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  vehicle-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  trailer  lights,  tires  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-trailer combination.
Positions for towing hitch receiver
1
Connecting trailer lights
Trailer towing tips 

218
SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
●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  traile r  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  increa sed.  For  each  10  mph  (16  km/h)
of speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as  you may skid, resulting in the trailer jack-
knifing and a loss of vehicle contro l. This is especially true on wet or
slippery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before making
a turn.
● Note that when making a turn, the trailer wheels will be closer than
the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a wider than normal turning radius.
● Slow down before making a turn, in crosswinds, on wet or slippery
surfaces, etc. 
Increasing vehicle speed can destabilize the trailer.
● Take care when passing other vehicles. Passing requires consider-
able  distance.  After  passing  a  vehicle,  do  not  forget  the  length  of
your  trailer,  and  be  sure  you  hav e  plenty  of  room  before  changing
lanes.
● To  maintain  engine  braking  effici ency  and  charging  system  perfor-
mance  when  using  engine  braking,  do  not  put  the  transmission  in
D. If in the S mode, transmission shift range position must be in 6 or
lower.
● Instability happens more  frequently when descending steep or long
downhill grades. Before descending, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long down-
hill grades.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes
too frequently. This could cause th e brakes to overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency. 

220
SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
4-1. Before 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. 606)
● 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.
■ Break-in schedule
If  your  vehicle  is  new  or  equipped  with  any  new  power  train  components
(such  as  an  engine,  transmission,  differ ential  or  wheel  bearing),  Toyota  rec-
ommends  that  you  do  not  tow  a  trailer  until  the  vehicle  has  been  driven  for
over 500 miles (800 km). 
After  the  vehicle  has  been  driven  for  over  500  miles  (800  km),  you  can  start
towing. However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a speed
of  less  than  50  mph  (80  km/h)  when  towing  a  trailer,  and  avoid  full  throttle
acceleration. No  matter  which  class  of  tow  hitch
applies,  for  a  safe  trailer  hookup,  the
trailer ball setup on must be proper height
for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball
1
2 

SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
2214-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance due
to  the  additional  load.  (See  “Scheduled  Maintenance  Guide”  or  “Owner’s
Manual Supplement”.)
● Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approximately
600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
■ If trailer sway occurs
One  or  more  factors  (crosswinds,  passing  vehicles,  rough  roads,  etc.)  can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead. 
Do not try to control trailer swaying by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin  releasing  the  accelerator  pedal  immediately  but  very  gradually  to reduce speed. 
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If  you  make  no  extreme  correction  with  the  steering  or  brakes,  your  vehicle
and trailer should stabilize.
● After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer. 
Make sure the load has not shifted. 
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle.  Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred
is beyond the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination. 
Drive  at  a  lower  speed  to  prevent  instability.  Remember  that  swaying  of  the
towing vehicle-trailer increases as speed increases. 

222
SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
4-1. Before driving
WARNING
■Trailer towing precautions
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in accordance
with  the  trailer’s  characteristics  and  operating  conditions.  Failure  to  do  so
could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle stability
and  braking  performance  are  affected  by  trailer  stability,  brake  setting  and
performance, and the hitch. Your vehi cle will handle differently when towing
a trailer.
■ To avoid accident or injury
●Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.
● If  the  gross  trailer  weight  is  over  2000  lb.  (907  kg),  a  sway  control  device
with sufficient capacity is required.
● Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place heavier loads
as close to the trailer axle as possible.
● Do  not  exceed  65  mph  (104  km/h),  the  posted  towing  speed  limit  or  the
speed  limit  for  your  trailer  as  set  forth  in  your  trailer  owner’s  manual,
whichever is lowest. Slow down sufficiently before making a turn, in cross-
winds,  on  wet  or  slippery  surface,  etc.  to  help  avoid  an  accident.  If  you
experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing a certain speed, slow
down  and  make  sure  you  keep  your  vehicle  speed  under  the  speed  of
which you experience the instability.
● Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.
● Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and  loss  of  vehicle  control.  This  is  especially  true  on  wet  or  slippery  sur-
faces.
● Do  not  exceed  the  trailer  hitch  assembly  weight,  gross  vehicle  weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue weight capacities. 

SIENNA_OM_OM08007U_(U)
2234-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not use cruise control when towing.
● Slow  down  and  downshift  before  descending  steep  or  long  downhill
grades.  Do  not  make  sudden  downshifts  while  descending  steep  or  long
downhill grades.
● Vehicle-trailer  instability  is  more  likely  on  steep  long  downhills.  Before
descending  steep  or  long  downhill  grades,  slow  down  and  downshift.  Do
not  make  sudden  downshifts  when  descending  steep  or  long  downhill
grades.  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.
● Vehicles  with  compact  spare  tire:  Do  not  tow  a  trailer  when  the  compact
spare tire is installed on your vehicle.
■ 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.