2023 TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID Owners Manual

295
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the luggage cover (if equipped)
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment.
■Load and distribution
●Do not overload your vehicle.
●Do not apply loads unevenly.
Improper loading may cause deterio-
ration of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.
■When loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped)
Observe the following precautions:
●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.584)
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is securely fastened on the roof lug-gage carrier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of grav-
ity of the vehicle higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or abrupt maneu-
vers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover due to failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly and result in death or serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough roads, or at high speeds, stop the vehicle now and then
during the trip to make sure the cargo remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 80 kg (176.4 lb.) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped)
Be careful not to scratch the surface
of the panoramic moon roof (if equipped).

2965-1. Before driving
■Tire information
●Increase the tire inflation pressure to
20.0 kPa (0.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi)
greater than the recommended value
when towing. (P.590)
●Increase the air pressure of the trailer tires in accordance with the total
trailer weight and according to the val-
ues recommended by the manufac-
turer of your trailer.
■Safety checks before towing
●Check that the maximum load limit for
the towing hitch/bracket and hitch ball
is not exceeded. Bear in mind that the
coupling weight of the trailer will add
to the load exerted on the vehicle.
Also make sure that the total load
exerted on the vehicle is within the
range of the weight limits. (P.298)
●Ensure that the trailer load is secure.
●Supplementary outside rear view mir-
rors should be added to the vehicle if
the traffic behind cannot be clearly
seen with standard mirrors. Adjust the
extending arms of these mirrors on
both sides of the vehicle so that they
always provide maximum visibility of
the road behind.
■When towing a trailer
Disable the following systems, as the
systems may not operate properly.
●LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) (if
equipped) (P.353)
●Dynamic radar cruise control with full-
speed range (if equipped) (P.368)
●Cruise control (if equipped) (P.381)
●PKSB (Parking Support Brake) (if
equipped) (P.403)
●BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) (if
equipped) (P.386)
●Toyota parking assist-sensor
(P.395)
●RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert) func-
tion (if equipped) (P.386)
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed pri-
marily as a passenger carry-
ing vehicle. Towing a trailer
will have an adverse effect on
handling, performance, brak-
ing, durability, and fuel con-
sumption. Your safety and
satisfaction depend on the
proper use of correct equip-
ment and cautious driving hab-
its. For your safety and the
safety of others, do not over-
load the vehicle or trailer.
To tow a trailer safely, use
extreme care and drive the
vehicle in accordance with the
trailer’s characteristics and
operating conditions.
Toyota warranties do not apply
to damage or malfunction
caused by towing a trailer for
commercial purposes.
Ask your local authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota
authorized repairer, or any reli-
able repairer for further details
before towing, as there are
additional legal requirements
in some countries.

297
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
Check the allowable towing capac-
ity, GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass),
MPAC (Maximum Permissible Axle
Capacity), and permissible drawbar
load before towing. ( P.584)
Toyota recommends the use of the
Toyota hitch/bracket for your vehi-
cle. Other products of a suitable
nature and comparable quality may
also be used.
For vehicles where the towing
device blocks any of the lights or
license plate, the following shall be
observed:
 Do not use towing devices that
cannot be easily removed or
repositioned.
 Towing devices must be
removed or repositioned when
not in use.
Please consult any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer
when installing trailer lights, as
incorrect installation may cause
damage to the vehicle’s lights.
Please take care to comply with
your state’s laws when installing
trailer lights.
WARNING
Follow all the instructions described in this section.
Failure to do so could cause an acci- dent resulting in death or serious injury.
■Trailer towing precautions
When towing, make sure that none of the weight limits are exceeded.
( P.298)
■To avoid accident or injury
●Vehicles with compact spare tire: Do not tow a trailer when the com-pact spare tire is installed on your
vehicle.
●Vehicles with emergency tire punc-
ture repair kit: Do not tow a trailer when the tire installed is repaired with the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit.
●Do not use dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed range (if equipped) or cruise control (if equipped) when trailer towing.
■Vehicle speed in towing
Observe the legal maximum speeds
for trailer towing.
■Before descending hills or long
declines
Reduce speed and downshift. How- ever, never downshift suddenly while
descending steep or long downhill grades.
■Operation of the brake pedal
Do not hold the brake pedal depressed often or for long periods of
time. Doing so may result in the brake over-heating or reduce braking effects.
Weight limits
Towing hitch/bracket
Connecting trailer lights

2985-1. Before driving
■Total trailer weight and per-
missible drawbar load
Total trailer weight
Weight of the trailer itself plus the trailer
load should be within the maximum
towing capacity. Exceeding this weight
is dangerous. ( P.584)
When towing a trailer, use a friction
coupler or friction stabilizer (sway con-
trol device).
Permissible drawbar load
Allocate the trailer load so that the
drawbar load is greater than 25 kg
(55.1 lb.) or 4% of the towing capacity.
Do not let the drawbar load exceed the
indicated weight. ( P.584)
■Information tag (manufac-
turer’s label)
Gross vehicle mass
The combined weight of the driver, pas-
sengers, luggage, towing hitch, total
curb mass and drawbar load should not
exceed the gross vehicle mass by more
than 100 kg (220.5 lb.). Exceeding this
weight is dangerous.
Maximum permissible rear axle
capacity
The weight borne by the rear axle
should not exceed the maximum per-
missible rear axle capacity by 15% or
more. Exceeding this weight is danger-
ous.
The values for towing capacity were
derived from testing conducted at sea
level. Take note that hybrid system out-
put and towing capacity will be reduced
at high altitudes.
NOTICE
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Directly splicing trailer lights may damage your vehicle’s electrical sys-tem and cause a malfunction.
Important points regarding
trailer loads
A
B
A
B

299
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
■When the gross vehicle mass or maximum permissible axle
capacity is exceeded
Failing to observe this precaution may lead to an accident causing death or
serious injury.
●Add an additional 20.0 kPa (0.2
kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi) to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure value. ( P.590)
●Do not exceed the established speed limit for towing a trailer in
built-up areas or 100 km/h (62 mph), whichever is lower.

3005-1. Before driving
Except for GR SPORT models
457 mm (18.0 in.)
461 mm (18.1 in.)
Installation positions for the towing hitch/bracket and hitch
ball
A
B

301
5 5-1. Before driving
Driving
536 mm (21.1 in.)
538 mm (21.2 in.)
538 mm (21.2 in.)
536 mm (21.1 in.)
461 mm (18.1 in.)
457 mm (18.0 in.)C
D
E
F
G
H

3025-1. Before driving
For GR SPORT models
457 mm (18.0 in.)
461 mm (18.1 in.)
536 mm (21.1 in.)
538 mm (21.2 in.)
A
B
C
D