2014-1. Before driving
4
Driving
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Cargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capacity) — (Total weight of occ upants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The co mbined 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 t hat
will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers fr om
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo an d lug-
gage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there wil l be
five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 750 (5150) =
650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loa ded
on the vehicle. That weight may n ot safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capac ity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your tra iler will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine h ow
this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of y our
vehicle.
( P. 206)
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following information about storage precau-
tions, cargo capacity and load:
Capacity and distribution
2024-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_U
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight) (P. 652)
When 2 people with the combined weight of A lb. (kg) are riding in
your vehicle, which has a total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight)
of B lb. (kg), the available amount of cargo and luggage load c apacity
will be C lb. (kg) as follows:
B
*2 lb. (kg) - A*1 lb. (kg) = C*3 lb. (kg)
*1: A =Weight of people
*2: B =Total load capacity
*3: C =Available cargo and luggage load
In this condition, if 3 more passengers with the combined weigh t of D
lb. (kg) get on, the available cargo and luggage load will be r educed E
lb. (kg) as follows:
C lb. (kg) - D*4 lb. (kg) = E*5 lb. (kg)
*4: D =Additional we ight of people
*5: E =Available cargo and luggage load
As shown in the example above, if the number of occupants
increases, the cargo and luggage load will be reduced by an amo unt
that equals the increased weight due to the additional occupant s. In
other words, if an increase in the number of occupants causes a n
excess of the total load capacity (combined weight of occupants plus
cargo and luggage load), you must reduce the cargo and luggage on
your vehicle.
Calculation formul a for your vehicle
1
2
2044-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_U
WARNING
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum axle weight rating or the total vehicle
weight rating.
●Even if the total load of occupant’s weight and the cargo load is less
than the total load capacity, d o not apply the load unevenly. I mproper
loading may cause deterioration of steering or braking control which
may cause death or serious injury.
■Roof luggage carrier precautions (vehicles with roof rails)
To use the roof rails as a roof luggage carrier, you must fit t he roof rails
with two or more genuine Toyota cross rails or their equivalent.
When you load cargo on the roof luggage carrier, observe the fo llowing:
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of the
vehicle gravity higher. Avoid hi gh speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns,
sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers, otherwise it may result in loss of
control or vehicle rollover due to failure to operate this vehi cle correctly
and result in death or serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough roads, or at high spee ds, stop
the vehicle now and then during the trip to make sure the cargo
remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 165 lb. (75 kg) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
●Place the cargo so that its weight is
distributed evenly between the front
and rear axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, never
exceed the vehicle overall length or
width. (P. 652)
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is
securely fastened on the roof luggage
carrier.
Cross rails
Roof rails
2064-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_U
◆Total load capacity (vehicle capacity weight): P. 652
Total load capacity means the co mbined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
◆Seating capacity: 7 or 8 occ upants (Front 2, Rear 5 or 6)
Seating capacity means the max imum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 1 50 lb. (68 kg) per person.
◆TWR (Trailer Weight Rating): P. 212, 652
TWR means the maximum gross trai ler weight (trailer weight plus
its cargo weight) that your vehicle is able to tow.
◆Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the weight
and the number o f occupants.
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading inform ation label.
( P. 544)
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capaci ty,
TWR (Trailer Weight Rati ng) and cargo capacity.
WARNING
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires, but also degrade steering
and braking ability, res ulting in an accident.
2214-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
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. V ehicle stability
and braking performance are affected by trailer stability, brak e setting and
performance, and the hitch. Your vehicle 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. (900 kg), a sway control device
with sufficient capacity is required.
● If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2200 kg), a weigh t distributing
hitch with sufficient capacity is required.
● Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place he avier 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 tur n, in cross
winds, on wet or slippery surface, etc. to help avoid an accident. If you
experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing a certai n 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.
● Do not use dynamic radar 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.
3434-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
WARNING
■TRAC/VSC may not operate effectively when
Directional control and power may not be achievable while driving on slip-
pery road surfaces, even if the TRAC/VSC system is operating.
Drive the vehicle carefully in conditions where stability and p ower may be
lost.
■ Hill- start assist control does not operate effectively when
● Do not overly rely on hill-start assist control. Hill-start ass ist control may
not operate effectively on steep inclines and roads covered wit h ice.
● Unlike the parking brake, hill-start assist control is not inte nded to hold the
vehicle stationary for an extended period of time. Do not attempt to use
hill-start assist control to hold the vehicle on an incline, as doing so may
lead to an accident.
■ When the VSC is activated
The slip indicator light flashes. Always drive carefully. Reckless driving may
cause an accident. Exercise particular care when the indicator light flashes.
■ When the TRAC/VSC systems are turned off
Be especially careful and drive at a speed appropriate to the r oad condi-
tions. As these are the systems to help ensure vehicle stabilit y and driving
force, do not turn the TRAC/VSC systems off unless necessary.
Trailer Sway Control is part of the VSC system and will not ope rate if VSC
turned off or experiences a malfunction.
■ Replacing tires
Make sure that all tires are of the specified size, brand, trea d pattern and
total load capacity. In addition, make sure that the tires are inflated to the
recommended tire inflation pressure level.
The ABS, TRAC and VSC systems will not function correctly if di fferent tires
are installed on the vehicle.
Contact your Toyota dealer for further information when replaci ng tires or
wheels.
■ Handling of tires and the suspension
Using tires with any kind of problem or modifying the suspensio n will affect
the driving assist systems, and may cause a system to malfuncti on.
5387-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER_U■
Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire
inflation
pressure checks. Make sure to chec k tire inflation pressure as part of
your routine of daily vehicle checks.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the number given by dividing the maximum load by 1.1 0 of the
replacement tire is greater than 1/2 of the Gross Axle Weight R atings
(GAWR) of either the front axle or the rear axle, whichever is greater.
■Tire types
●Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to hi ghway
driving under dry conditions. Si nce summer tires do not have th e same
traction performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy ro ads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When install-
ing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
●All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in sno w and to
be adequate for driving in most winter conditions as well as fo r use
year-round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate tra ction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Al so, all
season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performanc e com-
pared with summer tires in highway driving.
●Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend us ing
snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same si ze, con-
struction and load capacity as t he originally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construct ion. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. Sno w tires
should be install ed on all wheels. ( P. 346)
■If the tread on snow tires wea rs down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tires as snow tires is lost. For the GAWR, see the Certification
Label. For the maximum load of the tire,
see the load limit at maximum cold tire
inflation pressure mentioned on the
sidewall of the tire. ( P. 6 6 9 )
5477-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
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When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that they are
equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim wid th and
inset
*.
Replacement wheels are available at your Toyota dealer.
*: Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Toyota does not recommend using the following:
● Wheels of different sizes or types
● Used wheels
● Bent wheels that hav e been straightened
● Use only Toyota wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use with
your aluminum wheels.
● When rotating, repairing or changi ng your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight afte r driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
● Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using tire
chains.
● Use only Toyota genuine balance we ights or equivalent and a plas-
tic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped with tire pressure warn ing
valves and transmitters that allow the tire pressure warning sy stem to
provide advance warning in the event of a loss in tire inflatio n pressure.
Whenever wheels are replaced, tir e pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters must be installed. ( P. 535)
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be
replaced. Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or
cause a loss of handling control.
Wheel selection
Aluminum wheel precautions