Get Driving -> Trailer towing Guide for Toyota 4 Runner SUV Fifth Generation (2010-2024)

182

4-1. Before driving

Trailer towing

Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger-and-load-car-

rying vehicle. Towing a trailer can have an adverse impact on

handling, performance, braking, durability, and fuel consump-

tion. For your safety and the safety of others, you must not over-

load your vehicle or trailer. You must also ensure that you are

using appropriate towing equipment, that the towing equipment

has been installed correctly and used properly, and that you

employ the requisite driving habits.

Vehicle-trailer stability and braking performance are affected by

trailer stability, brake performance and setting, trailer brakes,

the hitch and hitch systems (if equipped).

To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in

accordance with your trailer’s characteristics and operating

conditions.

Toyota warranties do not apply to damage or malfunction

caused by towing a trailer for commercial purposes.

Contact your Toyota dealer for further information about addi-

tional requirements such as a towing kit, etc.

4RUNNER (U)

183

4-1. Before driving

Towing related terms

■ GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating)

The maximum allowable gross

combination weight. The gross

combination weight is the sum

of the total vehicle weight

(including the occupants, cargo

and any optional equipment

installed on the vehicle) and the

weight of the trailer being towed

(including the cargo in the

trailer).

■ GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)

The maximum allowable gross

vehicle weight. The gross vehi-

cle weight is the total weight of

the vehicle. When towing a

trailer, it is the sum of the vehi-

cle weight (including the occu-

pants, cargo and any optional

equipment installed on the vehi-

cle) and the tongue weight.

4

4RUNNER (U)

184

4-1. Before driving

■ GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)

The maximum allowable gross

Front GAWR

axle weight. The gross axle

weight is the load placed on

each axle (front and rear).

Rear GAWR

■ 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.

(With brakes)

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 recommended

to use a trailer with 2 or more axles.

4RUNNER (U)

185

4-1. Before driving

■ Unbraked TWR (Unbraked Trailer Weight Rating)

The trailer weight rating for tow-

ing a trailer without a trailer ser-

vice brake system.

(Without brakes)

■ Tongue Weight

The load placed on the trailer

hitch ball. (P. 187)

4

4RUNNER (U)

186

Weight limits

4-1. Before driving

● The gross trailer weight must never exceed the TWR described in

the table. (P. 187)

● The gross combination weight must never exceed the GCWR

described in the table. (P. 187)

● 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 service

brakes are required.

● If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control

device with sufficient capacity is required.

4RUNNER (U)

187

4-1. Before driving

GCWR, TWR and Unbraked TWR

Confirm that the gross trailer weight, gross combination weight, gross

vehicle weight, gross axle weight and tongue weight are all within the

limits.

■ GCWR* and TWR*

Trailer Weight

Driving system

GCWR

Rating

2WD

4WD

11100 lb. (5035 kg)

11300 lb. (5125 kg)

5000 lb.

(2270 kg)

■ Unbraked TWR*

1655 lb. (750 kg)

*: These models meet the tow-vehicle trailering requirement of SAE Interna-

tional per SAE J2807.

4

Trailer Tongue Weight

● 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 x 100

= 9% to 11%)

Gross trailer weight

Tongue weight

1

2

The gross trailer weight, gross axle weight and tongue weight

can be measured with platform scales found at a highway weigh-

ing station, building supply company, trucking company, junk

yard, etc.

4RUNNER (U)

188

Hitch

4-1. Before driving

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 hitch ball whenever you are not towing a trailer.

Remove the trailer hitch if you do not need it. After removing the

hitch, seal any mounting hole in the vehicle body to prevent entry of

any substances into the vehicle.

4RUNNER (U)

189

4-1. Before driving

Selecting trailer ball

Use the correct trailer ball for your application.

Trailer ball load rating

1

Matches or exceeds the gross

trailer weight rating of the trailer.

Ball diameter

2

Matches the size of the trailer cou-

pler. Most couplers are stamped

with the required trailer ball size.

Trailer class

Typical trailer ball size

2 5/16 in.

IV

II and III

4

2 in.

I

1 7/8 in.

Shank length

3

4

Protrudes beyond the bottom of the lock washer and nut by at least 2

threads.

Shank diameter

Matches the ball mount hole diameter size.

4RUNNER (U)

190

Positions for towing hitch receiver and hitch ball

4-1. Before driving

Weight carrying ball position:

50.1 in. (1272 mm)

1

Hitch receiver pin hole position:

43.7 in. (1109 mm)

2

Connecting trailer lights

Use the wire harness stored in the

rear end under body.

Please consult your dealer 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.

■Service connector for towing brake controller

Your vehicle is equipped with a service

connector for the trailer brake controller

as shown.

4RUNNER (U)

191

4-1. Before driving

Trailer towing tips

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 towing 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 speed 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 reversing with the trailer attached in

an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel

of the vehicle-trailer combination.

4

● 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.

● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to

vehicle distance should be increased. 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 control. This is especially true on wet or

slippery surfaces.

4RUNNER (U)

192

4-1. Before driving

● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.

● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before making

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 cross winds, 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 have plenty of room before changing

lanes.

● To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system perfor-

mance when using engine braking, do not put the transmission in

D.

● 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 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 driving

up a long or steep grade. If the engine coolant temperature gauge

indicates overheating, immediately turn off the air conditioning (if in

use), pull your vehicle off the road and stop in a safe spot.

(P. 519)

4RUNNER (U)

193

4-1. Before driving

● Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the trailer’s

wheels when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly, and put the

transmission in P. Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do

so only after performing the following:

1

2

Apply the brakes and keep them applied.

Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and

trailer’s wheels.

3

When the wheel blocks are in place, release the brakes slowly

until the blocks absorb the load.

4

5

Apply the parking brake firmly.

Shift into P and turn off the engine.

● When restarting after parking on a slope:

1

With the transmission in P, start the engine. Be sure to keep the

brake pedal pressed.

4

2

3

Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.

Release the parking brake and brake pedal, and slowly pull or

back away from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.

4

Have someone retrieve the blocks.

■Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height

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

1

2

Trailer ball

4RUNNER (U)

194

4-1. Before driving

■Before towing

Check that the following conditions are met:

●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. (P. 532)

●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.

■When towing a trailer

Disable the following systems, as the systems may not operate properly.

●LDA (Lane Departure Alert) (P. 249)

●Dynamic radar cruise control (P. 257)

●BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) (P. 270)

●Intuitive parking assist (P. 277)

●RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert) function (P. 286)

■Break-in schedule

If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components

(such as an engine, transmission, differential 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 45 mph (72 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full throttle

acceleration.

■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.

4RUNNER (U)

195

4-1. Before driving

■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. (if enabled, Trailer Sway Control can also help to

stabilize the vehicle and trailer.)

●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.

4

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.

4RUNNER (U)

196

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 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. (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.

●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.

4RUNNER (U)

197

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.

4

●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.

4RUNNER (U)

Driving -> Trailer towing for Your Toyota 4 Runner SUV Fifth Generation (2010-2024)

Related Topics

Driving

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals