
1854-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be  reduced, the win-
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be espe-
cially slippery.
● Refrain  from  high  speeds  when  driving  on  an  expressway  in  the  r ain,
because there may be  a layer of  water  between the tires  and  the  road sur-
face, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properl y.
■ Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high w hile driving.
This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to
meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
● The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
● When the accelerator pedal is released
● When  the  brake  pedal  is  depressed  while  TOW/HAUL  mode  is  select ed  (if
equipped)
■ Restraining the engine out put (Brake Override System)
● When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same  time, the
engine output may be restrained.
● A  warning  message  is  displayed  on  the  multi-information  display  while the
system is operating.
■ Restraining sudden start  (Drive-Start Control)
● When  the following  unusual operation is performed,  the  engine  o utput  may
be restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P  to D, or P to
R  (D  includes  S)  with  the  accelerator  pedal  depressed,  a  warnin g  mes-
sage appears on the multi-information display.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed too much while the veh icle is in
reverse.
●
While  Drive-Start  Control  is  being  activated,  your  vehicle  may  have  trouble
escaping  from  the  mud  or  fresh  snow.  In  such  case,  perform  the  following
actions  to  cancel  Drive-Start  Co ntrol  so  that  the  vehicle  may  become  able  to
escape from the mud or fresh snow.
•Deactivate TRAC (P. 323)
• When the AUTO LSD system is turned on. (P. 318)
• 4WD models: The four-wheel drive control switch is in “4L” pos ition. 
(P. 315) 

1874-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always  keep  your  foot  on  the  brake  pedal  while  stopped  with  the  engine
running. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■ When driving the vehicle
● Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel-
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally  depressing  the  accelerator  pedal  instead  of  the  b rake
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to di fficulty
in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals proper ly.
• Make  sure  to  keep  a  correct  driving  posture  even  when  moving  t he
vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and  accelera-
tor pedals properly.
• Depress  the  brake  pedal  using  your  right  foot.  Depressing  the  brake
pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency,  result-
ing in an accident.
● Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The  exhaust  system  and  exhaust  gases  can  be  extremely  hot. Thes e  hot
parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
● During  normal  driving,  do  not  turn  off  the  engine.  Turning  the  engine  off
while  driving  will  not  cause  loss  of  steering  or  braking  contro l,  but  the
power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it m ore difficult to
steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle a s soon as it
is safe to do so. 
However, in  the  event of  an emergency, such  as if  it becomes  im possible
to stop the vehicle in the normal way: P. 475
● Use  engine  braking  (downshift)  to  maintain  a  safe  speed  when  driving
down a steep hill. 
Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat  and lose
effectiveness. ( P. 225)
● Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or  the inside or
outside rear view mirrors while driving.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.
● Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads or other parts of  their body
are not outside the vehicle. 

1884-1. Before driving
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When driving the vehicle
● Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal sp eed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) unless your vehicl e has high-
speed  capability  tires.  Driving  over  85  mph  (140  km/h)  may  resu lt  in  tire
failure,  loss  of  control  and  possible  injury.  Be  sure  to  consult  a  tire  dealer
to  determine  whether  the  tires  on  your  vehicle  are  high-speed  c apability
tires or not before driving at such speeds.
■ When driving on slippery road surfaces
● Sudden  braking,  acceleration  and  steering  may  cause  tire  slippa ge  and
reduce your ability to control the vehicle.
● Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting, or changes  in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid.
● After  driving  through  a  puddle,  lightly  depress  the  brake  pedal  to make
sure that the brakes are functioning properly. Wet brake pads m ay prevent
the brakes from functioning properly. If the brakes on only one  side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering control may be affected.
■ When shifting the shift lever
● Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is i n a driving posi-
tion, or roll forward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake an d steering
performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
● Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving. 
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss o f vehicle
control.
● Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward. 
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss o f vehicle
control.
● Do not shift the shift lever to a driving position while the ve hicle is moving
backward. 
Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss o f vehicle
control.
● Moving  the  shift  lever  to  N  while  the  vehicle  is  moving  will  disengage  the
engine  from  the  transmission.  Engine  braking  is  not  available  w hen  N  is
selected.
● Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pe dal depressed.
Shifting  the  shift  lever  to  a  gear  other  than  P  or  N  may  lead  t o  moving
unexpectedly of the vehicle that may cause an accident. 

1904-1. Before driving
WARNING
●Do  not  leave  a  door  or  window  open  if  the  curved  glass  is  coate d  with  a
metallized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunligh t may cause
the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
● Always  apply  the  parking  brake,  shift  the  shift  lever  to  P,  stop  the  engine
and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running .
If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever in P but the park ing brake is not
set, the vehicle may start to move, possibly leading to an acci dent.
● Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the engine is running or i mmediately
after turning the engine off.
Doing so may cause burns.
● 4WD  models:  If  the  shift  lever  is  moved  before  the  “4LO”  indicator  turns
on/off, the transfer mode may not be shifted completely. The tr ansfer mode
disengages  both  the  front  and  rear  driveshafts  from  the  powertrain  and
allows the vehicle to move regardless of the shift position. (A t this time, the
indicator blinks and the buzzer sounds.)
Therefore, the vehicle is free to roll even if the automatic transmission is in
P. You or someone else could be seriously injured. You must complete the
shifting of the transfer mode. ( P. 315)
■ When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always  turn  the  engine  off.  Otherwise,  if  you  accidentally  move  the  shift
lever  or depress  the accelerator  pedal, this  could  cause  an  acc ident or  fire
due  to  engine  overheating. Additionally,  if  the  vehicle  is  park ed  in  a  poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicl e, leading to
death or a serious health hazard.
■ When braking
● When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this ma y cause
one  side  of  the  vehicle  to  brake  differently  than  the  other  sid e. Also,  the
parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
● If the brake booster device does not operate, do not follow oth er vehicles
closely and avoid hills or shar p turns that require braking. 
In  this  case,  braking  is  still  possible,  but  the  brake  pedal  sh ould  be
depressed more firmly than usual. Also, the braking distance wi ll increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately. 
● Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted
brakes.
● The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems; if one of the
systems  fails,  the  other  will  still  operate.  In  this  case,  the  brake  pedal
should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking dist ance will
increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately. 

1994-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■TWR (Trailer Weight Rating)
The  maximum  allowable  gross
trailer  weight.  The  gross  trailer
weight  is  the  sum  of  the  trailer
weight  and  the  weight  of  the
cargo in the trailer.
TWR  is  calculated  assuming
base  vehicle  with  one  driver,
one  front  passenger,  towing
package (if available), hitch and
hitch systems (if required).
Additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in the vehicle will
reduce the trailer weight rating so as not to exceed GCWR, GVWR and
GAWR.
If the gross trailer weight exceeds 3000 lb. (1360 kg), it is r ecommended
to use a trailer with 2 or more axles.
■
Unbraked TWR (Unbraked Trailer Weight Rating)
The trailer weight rating for tow-
ing a trailer without a trailer ser-
vice brake system.
■Tongue Weight
The  load  placed  on  the  trailer
hitch ball. ( P. 205)
(With brakes)
(Without brakes) 

2004-1. Before driving
■Kingpin Weight
The  load  placed  on  the  5th
wheel  mount  or  the  gooseneck
ball. (P.   2 0 6 )
● The  gross  trailer  weight  must  never  exceed  the TWR  described  in
the table. ( P.   2 0 1 )
● The  gross  combination  weight  must  never  exceed  the  GCWR
described in the table. ( P.   2 0 1 )
● The  gross  vehicle  weight  must
never  exceed  the  GVWR  indi-
cated on the Certification Label.
● The  gross  axle  weight  on  each
axle  must  never  exceed  the
GAWR  indicated  on  the  Certifi-
cation Label.
● If the gross trailer weight is over the unbraked TWR, trailer s ervice
brakes are required.
● If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway c ontrol
device with sufficient capacity is required.
● If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weigh t distrib-
uting hitch with suffici ent capacity is required.
Weight limits 

2104-1. Before driving
●Avoid sudden braking as you may  skid, resulting in the trailer  jack-
knifing and a loss of vehicle control. 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 maki ng
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 mak ing
a wider than normal turning radius.
● Slow down before making a turn, in crosswinds, on wet or slippe ry
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  lengt h  of
your  trailer,  and  be  sure  you  have  plenty  of  room  before  changi ng
lanes.
● To  maintain  engine  braking  efficiency  and  charging  system  perfo r-
mance  when  using  engine  braking,   do  not  use  the  transmission  in
D.
Transmission shift ra nge position must be in 4 in the S mode.
● Instability happens more frequently when descending steep or lo ng
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 bra kes
too frequently. This could cause  the brakes to overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
● Due to the added load of the trailer, your vehicle’s engine may  over-
heat  on  hot  days  (at  temperatures  over  85°F  [30°C])  when  drivin g
up  a  long  or steep  grade.  If  the  engine  coolant  temperature  gau ge
indicates overheating, immediately turn off the air conditionin g (if in
use), pull your vehicle off the  road and stop in a safe spot. 
(  P. 529) 

2114-1. Before driving
4
Driving
●Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the trai ler’s
wheels  when  parking. Apply  the  parking  brake  firmly,  and  put  th e
transmission  in  P. Avoid  parking  on  a  slope,  but  if  unavoidable ,  do
so only after perform ing the following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone  place wheel blocks  under both the vehicle’s and
trailer’s wheels.
When  the  wheel  blocks  are  in  pl ace,  release  the  brakes  slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
Apply the parking brake firmly.
Shift into P and turn off the engine.
● When restarting afte r parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P, start the engine. Be sure to keep t he
brake pedal pressed.
Shift into D or R (if reversing).
Release  the  parking  brake  and  brake  pedal,  and  slowly  pull  or
back away from the wheel bloc ks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
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