Get Driving -> Before driving Guide for Toyota 4 Runner SUV Sixth Generation (2025-2026)

193

4-1. Before driving

4-1.Before driving

■ Parking the vehicle

Driving t he vehicle

1 With the shift lever in D,

depress the brake pedal to

stop the vehicle completely.

The following procedures

should be observed to

ensure safe driving:

2 Set the parking brake

(P.227), and shift the shift

lever to P. (P.222)

Driving procedure

Make sure the parking brake indi-

cator light is on.

■ Starting the engine

P.218

Do not press the shift release but-

ton after shifting the shift position to

P.

■ Driving

3 Turn the engine switch to

OFF to stop the engine.

1 With the brake pedal

depressed, shift the shift

lever to D.

4 Lock the door, making sure

that you have the electronic

key on your person.

4

2 Release the parking brake.

(P.227)

If parking on a hill, block the wheels

as needed.

If the parking brake is in automatic

mode, the parking brake will be

released automatically. (P.228)

3 Gradually release the brake

pedal and gently depress the

accelerator pedal to acceler-

ate the vehicle.

■ Starting off on a steep

uphill

1 With the brake pedal

depressed, shift the shift

lever to D.

■ Stopping

The hill-start assist control will be

activated.

1 With the shift lever in D,

depress the brake pedal.

2 Pull the parking brake switch

and parking brake is set man-

ually. (P.227)

Vehicles with a Stop & Start system:

If the Stop & Start system is

enabled, depressing the brake

pedal will stop the engine.

(P.309)

2 If necessary, set the parking

brake. (P.227)

3 Release the brake pedal and

gently depress the accelera-

tor pedal to accelerate the

vehicle.

4 Press the parking brake

switch and parking brake is

released manually. (P.227)

If the vehicle is to be stopped for an

extended period of time, shift the

shift lever to P. (P.222)

Parking brake automatic release

function. (P.228)

194

4-1. Before driving

is recommended:

■When starting off on an uphill

●For the first 200 miles (300 km):

Avoid sudden stops.

The hill-start assist control will acti-

vate. (P.431)

●For the first 500 miles (800 km):

■Driving in the rain

Do not tow a trailer.

●Drive carefully when it is raining,

because visibility will be reduced,

the windows may become fogged-

up, and the road will be slippery.

●For the first 1000 miles (1600 km):

• Do not drive at extremely high

speeds.

• Avoid sudden acceleration.

• Do not drive continuously in low

gears.

●Drive carefully when it starts to

rain, because the road surface will

be especially slippery.

• Do not drive at a constant speed

for extended periods.

●Refrain from high speeds when

driving on an expressway in the

rain, because there may be a

layer of water between the tires

and the road surface, preventing

the steering and brakes from

operating properly.

■Operating your vehicle in a for-

eign country

Comply with the relevant vehicle

registration laws and confirm the

availability of the correct fuel.

(P.617)

■Engine speed while driving

■Idling time before engine stop

In the following conditions, the

engine speed may become high

while driving.

To prevent damage to the turbo-

charger, allow the engine to idle

immediately after high-speed driving

or hill climbing.

This is due to automatic up-shifting

control or down-shifting implementa-

tion to meet driving conditions. It

does not indicate sudden accelera-

tion.

Driving condition

Idling time

●The vehicle is judged to be driving

Not nec-

essary

Normal city driving

uphill or downhill

●When the accelerator pedal is

released

High-speed driving

(Constant speed of

approx. 50 mph [80

km/h])

Not nec-

essary

●When the brake pedal is

depressed while “TOW HAUL”

mode is selected

■Restraining the engine output

Steep hill driving or

continuous driving at 62 Approxi-

mph (100 km/h) or mately 1

more (race track driv- minute

ing, etc.)

(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.

WARNING

Observe the following precau-

tions.

Failure to do so may result in

death or serious injury.

■Breaking in your new Toyota

To extend the life of the vehicle,

observing the following precautions

195

4-1. Before driving

●During normal driving, do not

WARNING

turn off the engine. Turning the

engine off while driving will not

cause loss of steering or brak-

ing control, however, power

assist to the steering will be lost.

This will make it more difficult to

steer smoothly, so you should

pull over and stop the vehicle as

soon as it is safe to do so.

In the event of an emergency,

such as if it becomes impossible

to stop the vehicle in the normal

way: P.568

■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 unfamil-

iar with the location of the brake

and accelerator pedals to avoid

depressing the wrong pedal.

• Accidentally depressing the

accelerator pedal instead of the

brake pedal will result in sudden

acceleration that may lead to an

accident.

●Use engine braking (downshift)

to maintain a safe speed when

driving down a steep hill.

Using the brakes continuously

may cause the brakes to over-

heat and lose effectiveness.

(P.222)

4

• When backing up, you may twist

your body around, leading to dif-

ficulty in operating the pedals.

Make sure to operate the pedals

properly.

●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.

• Make sure to keep a correct

driving posture even when mov-

ing the vehicle only slightly. This

allows you to depress the brake

and accelerator pedals properly.

●Always check that all passen-

gers’ arms, heads or other parts

of their body are not outside the

vehicle.

• Depress the brake pedal using

your right foot. Depressing the

brake pedal using your left foot

may delay response in an emer-

gency, resulting in an accident.

●Do not drive in excess of the

speed limit. Even if the legal

speed limit permits it, do not

drive over 85 mph (140 km/h)

unless your vehicle has high-

speed capability tires. Driving

over 85 mph (140 km/h) may

result in tire failure, loss of con-

trol and possible injury. Be sure

to consult a tire dealer to deter-

mine whether the tires on your

vehicle are high-speed capabil-

ity tires or not before driving at

such speeds.

●Do not drive the vehicle over or

stop the vehicle near flammable

materials.

The exhaust system and

exhaust gases can be

extremely hot. These hot parts

may cause a fire if there is any

flammable material nearby.

196

4-1. Before driving

WARNING

●Moving the shift lever to N while

the vehicle is moving will disen-

gage the engine from the trans-

mission.

■When driving on slippery

road surfaces

Engine braking is not available

when N is selected.

●Sudden braking, acceleration

and steering may cause tire

slippage and reduce your ability

to control the vehicle.

●Be careful not to shift the shift

lever with the accelerator pedal

depressed. Shifting the shift

lever to any positions other than

P or N may lead to unexpected

rapid acceleration of the vehicle

that may cause an accident and

result in death or serious injury.

●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 may prevent the

brakes from functioning prop-

erly. If the brakes on only one

side are wet and not functioning

properly, steering control may

be affected.

■If you hear a squealing or

scraping noise (brake pad

wear indicators)

Have the brake pads checked and

replaced by your Toyota dealer, or

any reliable repairer as soon as

possible.

Rotor damage may result if the

pads are not replaced when

needed.

■When shifting the shift lever

It is dangerous to drive the vehicle

when the wear limits of the brake

pads and/or those of the brake

discs are exceeded.

●Do not let the vehicle roll back-

ward while a forward driving

position is selected, or roll for-

ward while the shift lever is in R.

Doing so may result in an acci-

dent or damage to the vehicle.

■When the vehicle is stopped

●Do not race the engine.

●Do not shift the shift lever to P

while the vehicle is moving.

Doing so can damage the trans-

mission and may result in a loss

of vehicle control.

If the vehicle is in any gear other

than P or N, the vehicle may

accelerate suddenly and unex-

pectedly, causing an accident.

●In order to prevent accidents

due to the vehicle rolling away,

always keep depressing the

brake pedal while the engine is

running, and apply the parking

brake as necessary.

●Do not shift the shift lever to R

while the vehicle is moving for-

ward.

Doing so can damage the trans-

mission and may result in a loss

of vehicle control.

●If the vehicle is stopped on an

incline, in order to prevent acci-

dents caused by the vehicle roll-

ing forward or backward, always

depress the brake pedal and

securely apply the parking

brake as needed.

●Do not shift the shift lever to a

driving position while the vehicle

is moving backward.

Doing so can damage the trans-

mission and may result in a loss

of vehicle control.

197

4-1. Before driving

●Do not leave a door or window

open if the curved glass is

coated with a metallized film

such as a silver-colored one.

Reflected sunlight may cause

the glass to act as a lens, caus-

ing a fire.

WARNING

●Avoid revving or racing the

engine.

Running the engine at high

speed while the vehicle is

stopped may cause the exhaust

system to overheat, which could

result in a fire if combustible

material is nearby.

●Always apply the parking brake,

shift the shift lever to P, stop the

engine and lock the vehicle. Do

not leave the vehicle unat-

tended while the engine is run-

ning.

If the vehicle is parked with the

shift lever in P but the parking

brake is not set, the vehicle may

start to move, possibly leading

to an accident.

■When the vehicle is parked

●Do not leave glasses, cigarette

lighters, spray cans, or soft

drink cans in the vehicle when it

is in the sun.

Doing so may result in the fol-

lowing:

• Gas may leak from a cigarette

lighter or spray can, and may

lead to a fire.

●Do not touch the exhaust pipes

while the engine is running or

immediately after turning the

engine off.

4

• The temperature inside the

vehicle may cause the plastic

lenses and plastic material of

glasses to deform or crack.

Doing so may cause burns.

●4WD models: If the shift lever is

moved before the “4HI” (part-

time 4WD models) or “4LO”

indicator turns on/off, the trans-

fer mode may not be shifted

completely.

The transfer mode disengages

both the front and rear drivesh-

afts from the powertrain and

allows the vehicle to move

regardless of the shift position.

(At this time, the indicator blinks

and the buzzer sounds.)

Therefore, the vehicle is free to

roll even if the automatic trans-

mission is in P. You or someone

else could be seriously injured.

You must complete the shifting

of the transfer mode. (P.414,

417)

• Soft drink cans may fracture,

causing the contents to spray

over the interior of the vehicle,

and may also cause a short cir-

cuit in the vehicle’s electrical

components.

●Do not leave cigarette lighters in

the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter

is in a place such as the glove

box or on the floor, it may be lit

accidentally when luggage is

loaded or the seat is adjusted,

causing a fire.

●Do not attach adhesive discs to

the windshield or windows. Do

not place containers such as air

fresheners on the instrument

panel or dashboard. Adhesive

discs or containers may act as

lenses, causing a fire in the

vehicle.

198

4-1. Before driving

WARNING

●The brake system consists of 2

or more individual hydraulic sys-

tems; 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 distance

will increase. Have your brakes

fixed immediately.

■When taking a nap in the vehi-

cle

Always turn the engine off. Other-

wise, if you accidentally move the

shift lever or depress the acceler-

ator pedal, this could cause an

accident or fire due to engine

overheating. Additionally, if the

vehicle is parked in a poorly venti-

lated area, exhaust gases may

collect and enter the vehicle, lead-

ing to death or a serious health

hazard.

■If the vehicle becomes stuck

Do not spin the wheels exces-

sively when a driven wheel is up

in the air, or the vehicle is stuck in

sand, mud, etc. This may damage

the driveline components or pro-

pel the vehicle forward or back-

ward, causing an accident.

■When braking

●When the brakes are wet, drive

more cautiously.

Braking distance increases

when the brakes are wet, and

this may cause one side of the

vehicle to brake differently than

the other side. Also, the parking

brake may not securely hold the

vehicle.

NOTICE

■When driving the vehicle

●Do not depress the accelerator

and brake pedals at the same

time during driving, as this may

restrain the engine output.

●If the brake booster device does

not operate, do not follow other

vehicles closely and avoid hills

or sharp turns that require brak-

ing.

In this case, braking is still pos-

sible, but the brake pedal

should be depressed more

firmly than usual. Also, the brak-

ing distance will increase. Have

your brakes fixed immediately.

●Do not use the accelerator

pedal or depress the accelera-

tor and brake pedals at the

same time to hold the vehicle on

a hill.

■When parking the vehicle

Always set the parking brake and

shift the shift lever to P. Failure to

do so may cause the vehicle to

move or the vehicle may acceler-

ate suddenly if the accelerator

pedal is accidentally depressed.

●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.

■Avoiding damage to vehicle

parts

●Do not turn the steering wheel

fully in either direction and hold

it there for an extended period

of time.

Doing so may damage the

power steering.

199

4-1. Before driving

●Changes in quantity and quality

of oil and fluid used for the

NOTICE

●When driving over bumps in the

road, drive as slowly as possible

to avoid damaging the wheels,

underside of the vehicle, etc.

engine, transmission, transfer

(4WD vehicles), differential, etc.

●Lubricant condition for the pro-

peller shaft, bearings and sus-

pension joints (where possible),

and the function of all joints,

bearings, etc.

●Make sure to idle the engine

immediately after high-load driv-

ing. Stop the engine only after

the turbocharger has cooled

down. Failure to do so may

cause damage to the turbo-

charger

Sudden start restraint

control (Drive-Start Con-

trol [DSC])

■If you get a flat tire while driv-

ing

A flat or damaged tire may cause

the following situations. Hold the

steering wheel firmly and gradu-

ally depress the brake pedal to

slow down the vehicle.

When the following unusual

operation is performed with the

accelerator pedal depressed,

the engine output may be

restrained.

4

●It may be difficult to control your

vehicle.

• When the shift lever is shifted

●The vehicle will make abnormal

sounds or vibrations.

to R^*.

• When the shift lever is shifted

from P or R to forward drive

●The vehicle will lean abnor-

mally.

shift position such as D^*.

Information on what to do in case

of a flat tire (P.593)

When the system operates, a mes-

sage appears on the multi-informa-

tion display. Read the message and

follow the instruction.

■When encountering flooded

roads

Do not drive on a road that has

flooded after heavy rain, etc.

Doing so may cause the following

serious damage to the vehicle:

*

: Depending on the situation, the

shift position may not be

changed.

●Engine stalling

■Drive-Start Control (DSC)

●Short in electrical components

When the TRAC is turned off

●Engine damage caused by

water immersion

(P.432), sudden start restraint

control also does not operate. If

your vehicle have trouble escaping

from the mud or fresh snow due to

sudden start restraint operation,

deactivate TRAC (P.432) so that

the vehicle may become able to

escape from the mud or fresh snow.

In the event that you drive on a

flooded road and the vehicle

becomes flooded or stuck in mud

or sand, be sure to have your Toy-

ota dealer check the following:

●Brake function

Also, sudden start restraint control

200

4-1. Before driving

will not operate in the following con-

ditions:

Cargo and luggage

●When the AUTO LSD mode is

selected (if equipped)

Take notice of the following

information about storage

precautions, cargo capacity

and load:

●Vehicles with part-time 4WD:

When the front-wheel drive control

switch is in “4H” or “4L” position.

●Vehicles with full-time 4WD: When

the front-wheel drive control

switch is in “H4L” or “L4L” posi-

tion.

Capacity and distribution

●When the center differential is

locked (if equipped)

Cargo capacity depends on the

total weight of the occupants.

●When Multi-terrain Select is

selected (if equipped)

(Cargo capacity) = (Total load

capacity) — (Total weight of

occupants)

Steps for Determining Correct

Load Limit —

(1) Locate the statement “The

combined 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 passen-

gers that will be riding in your

vehicle.

(3) Subtract the combined

weight of the driver and passen-

gers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.

(4) The resulting figure equals

the available amount of cargo

and luggage load capacity.

For example, if the “XXX”

amount equals 1400 lbs. and

there will be five 150 lb passen-

gers in your vehicle, the amount

of available cargo and luggage

load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 −

201

4-1. Before driving

750 (5  150) = 650 lbs.)

be C lb. (kg) as follows:

B^*2lb. (kg) - A^*1lb. (kg) = C^*3lb.

(kg)

(5) Determine the combined

weight of luggage and cargo

being loaded on the vehicle.

That weight may not safely

exceed the available cargo and

luggage load capacity calcu-

lated in Step 4.

*1

:A =Weight of people

*2

:B =Total load capacity

*3

:C =Available cargo and luggage

load

In this condition, if 3 more passen-

gers with the combined weight of D

lb. (kg) get on, the available cargo

and luggage load will be reduced E

lb. (kg) as follows:

(6) If your vehicle will be towing

a trailer, load from your trailer

will be transferred to your vehi-

cle. Consult this manual to

determine how this reduces the

available cargo and luggage

load capacity of your vehicle.

(P.204)

C lb. (kg) - D^*4lb. (kg) = E^*5lb.

(kg)

4

*4

:D =Additional weight of people

*5

:E =Available cargo and luggage

load

Calculation formula for

your vehicle

As shown in the example above,

if the number of occupants

increases, the cargo and lug-

gage load will be reduced by an

amount that equals the

increased weight due to the

additional occupants. In other

words, if an increase in the num-

ber of occupants causes an

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.

Cargo capacity

Total load capacity (vehicle

capacity weight) (P.616)

When 2 people with the com-

bined weight of A lb. (kg) are rid-

ing in your vehicle, which has a

total load capacity (vehicle

WARNING

■Things that must not be car-

ried in the luggage compart-

ment

capacity weight) of B lb. (kg),

the available amount of cargo

and luggage load capacity will

The following things may cause a

fire if loaded in the luggage com-

partment:

202

4-1. Before driving

WARNING

●Never allow anyone to ride in

the rear deck. It is not designed

for passengers. They should

ride in their seats with their seat

belts properly fastened. Other-

wise, they are much more likely

to suffer death or serious bodily

injury, in the event of sudden

braking, sudden swerving or an

accident.

●Receptacles containing gaso-

line

●Aerosol cans

■Storage precautions

Observe the following precau-

tions.

Failure to do so may prevent the

pedals from being depressed

properly, may block the driver’s

vision, or may result in items hit-

ting the driver or passengers, pos-

sibly causing an accident.

■Capacity and distribution

●Do not exceed the maximum

axle weight rating or the total

vehicle weight rating.

●Even if the total load of occu-

pant’s weight and the cargo

load is less than the total load

capacity, do not apply the load

unevenly. Improper loading may

cause deterioration of steering

or braking control which may

cause death or serious injury.

●Stow cargo and luggage in the

luggage compartment when-

ever possible.

●Do not stack cargo and luggage

in the luggage compartment

higher than the seatbacks.

●Do not place cargo or luggage

in or on the following locations.

Roof luggage carrier

• At the feet of the driver

■ Roof luggage carrier com-

• On the front passenger or rear

seats (when stacking items)

ponents

• On the instrument panel

• On the dashboard

• On the auxiliary box or tray that

has no lid

●Secure all items in the occupant

compartment.

●When you fold down the rear

seats, long items should not be

placed directly behind the front

seats.

Roof rails

Cross rails

203

4-1. Before driving

●2WD models: Do not exceed

WARNING

125 lb. (57 kg) cargo weight on

the roof luggage carrier. Place

the cargo so that its weight is

distributed evenly between both

cross rails.

■When loading cargo on the

roof luggage carrier

To use the roof rails as a roof lug-

gage carrier, you must fit the roof

rails with two or more genuine

Toyota cross rails or their equiva-

lent. When you load cargo on the

roof luggage carrier, observe the

following:

●4WD models: Do not exceed

135 lb. (62 kg) cargo weight on

the roof luggage carrier. Place

the cargo so that its weight is

distributed evenly between both

cross rails.

●Place the cargo so that its

weight is distributed evenly

between the front and rear

axles.

NOTICE

●If loading long or wide cargo,

never exceed the vehicle overall

length or width. (P.616)

■When loading cargo (vehi-

cles with moon roof)

Be careful not to scratch the sur-

face of the moon roof.

4

●Before driving, make sure the

cargo is securely fastened on

the roof luggage carrier.

●Loading cargo on the roof lug-

gage carrier will make the cen-

ter of gravity of the vehicle

higher. Avoid high speeds, sud-

den 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 vehicle

correctly 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.

204

4-1. Before driving

Vehicle load limits

■Total load capacity and seating

capacity

These details are also described on

the tire and loading information

label. (P.622)

Vehicle load limits include

total load capacity, seating

capacity, TWR (Trailer

Weight Rating) and cargo

capacity.

WARNING

■Overloading the vehicle

 Total load capacity (vehicle

capacity weight): P.616

Do not overload the vehicle.

It may not only cause damage to

the tires, but also degrade steer-

ing and braking ability, resulting in

an accident.

Total load capacity means the

combined weight of occu-

pants, cargo and luggage.

 Seating capacity: P.616

Seating capacity means the

maximum number of occu-

pants whose estimated aver-

age weight is 150 lb. (68 kg)

per person.

Even if the number of occu-

pants are within the seating

capacity, do not exceed the

total load capacity.

 TWR (Trailer Weight Rat-

ing): P.209

TWR means the maximum

gross trailer 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 of

occupants.

205

4-1. Before driving

Contact your Toyota dealer for

further information about addi-

tional requirements such as a

towing kit, etc.

Trailer tow ing

Your vehicle is designed pri-

marily as a passenger-and-

load-carrying vehicle. Tow-

ing a trailer can have an

adverse impact on handling,

performance, braking, dura-

bility, and fuel consumption.

For your safety and the

■Trailer brake controller

P.437

■Before towing

Check that the following conditions

are met:

●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires

are properly inflated. (P.622)

●Trailer tires are inflated according

to the trailer manufacturer’s rec-

ommendation.

safety of others, you must

not overload your vehicle or

trailer. You must also

ensure that you are using

appropriate towing equip-

ment, that the towing equip-

ment has been installed

correctly and used prop-

erly, and that you employ

the requisite driving habits.

●All trailer lights work as required

by law.

4

●All lights work each time you con-

nect 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, overload-

ing, worn suspension, or other

possible causes.

Vehicle-trailer stability and

braking performance are

affected by trailer stability,

brake performance and set-

ting, trailer brakes, the hitch

and hitch systems.

●The trailer cargo is securely

loaded.

●The rear view mirrors conform to

all applicable federal, state/provin-

cial or local regulations. If they do

not, install rear view mirrors

To tow a trailer safely, use

extreme care and drive the

vehicle in accordance with

your trailer’s characteris-

tics and operating condi-

tions.

appropriate for towing purposes.

Toyota warranties do not

apply to damage or mal-

function caused by towing a

trailer for commercial pur-

poses.

206

4-1. Before driving

WARNING

●Do not make jerky, abrupt or

sharp turns.

■Trailer towing precautions

●Do not apply the brakes sud-

denly as you may skid, resulting

in jackknifing and loss of vehicle

control. This is especially true

on wet or slippery surfaces.

To tow a trailer safely, use

extreme care and drive the vehi-

cle in accordance with the trailer’s

characteristics and operating con-

ditions. 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.

●Do not exceed the trailer hitch

assembly weight, gross vehicle

weight, gross axle weight and

trailer tongue weight capacities.

●Certain Toyota Safety Sense 3.0

functions will be affected or be

unavailable: P.250, 308

■To avoid accident or injury

●Slow down and downshift

before descending steep or long

downhill grades. Do not make

sudden downshifts while

descending steep or long down-

hill grades.

●Do not exceed the TWR,

unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR

or GAWR.

●If the gross trailer weight is over

2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway con-

trol device with sufficient capac-

ity is required.

●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 down-

hill grades. Avoid holding the

brake pedal down too long or

applying the brakes too fre-

quently. This could cause the

brakes to overheat and result in

reduced braking efficiency.

●If the gross trailer weight is over

5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weight dis-

tributing hitch 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 sur-

face, etc., to help avoid an acci-

dent. 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 tow a trailer when the

temporary spare tire is installed

on your vehicle.

■When towing a trailer

Toyota recommends trailers with

brakes that conform to any appli-

cable federal and state/provincial

regulations.

207

4-1. Before driving

■ GVWR (Gross Vehicle

WARNING

Weight Rating)

●If the gross trailer weight

exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer

brakes are required. Toyota rec-

ommends trailers with brakes

that conform to all applicable

federal and state/provincial reg-

ulations.

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 vehicle

weight (including the occu-

pants, cargo and any optional

equipment installed on the vehi-

cle) and the tongue weight.

●Never tap into your vehicle’s

hydraulic system, as this will

lower the vehicle’s braking

effectiveness.

●Never tow a trailer without using

a safety chain securely attached

to both the trailer and the vehi-

cle. If damage occurs to the

coupling unit or hitch ball, there

is danger of the trailer wander-

ing into another lane.

4

Towing related terms

■ GCWR (Gross Combination

■ GAWR (Gross Axle Weight

Weight Rating)

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).

The maximum allowable gross

axle weight. The gross axle

weight is the load placed on

each axle (front and rear).

Front GAWR

208

4-1. Before driving

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.

TWR is calculated assuming

base vehicle with one driver,

one front passenger, towing

package (if available), hitch and

hitch systems (if required).

Without brakes

■ Tongue Weight

The load placed on the trailer

hitch ball. (P.210)

Additional optional equipment, pas-

sengers 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 recom-

mended to use a trailer with 2 or

more axles.

Weight limits

 The gross trailer weight must

never exceed the TWR

described in the table.

(P.209)

 The gross combination weight

must never exceed the

GCWR described in the table.

(P.209)

With brakes

■ Unbraked TWR (Unbraked

Trailer Weight Rating)

 The gross vehicle weight

must never exceed the

The trailer weight rating for tow-

ing a trailer without a trailer ser-

vice brake system.

GVWR indicated on the Certi-

fication Label. (P.616)

 The gross axle weight on

each axle must never exceed

the GAWR indicated on the

209

4-1. Before driving

Certification Label. (P.616)

control device with sufficient

capacity is required.

 If the gross trailer weight is

over the unbraked TWR,

trailer service brakes are

required.

 If the gross trailer weight is

over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a

weight distributing hitch with

sufficient capacity is required.

 If the gross trailer weight is

over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway

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^*

4

Drive

Grade

SR5

GCWR

TWR

10970 lb.

(4975 kg)

11025 lb.

(5000 kg)

2WD

TRD Sport

Limited

11245 lb.

(5100 kg)

11235 lb.

(5095 kg)

6000 lb.

(2720 kg)

SR5

11265 lb.

(5110 kg)

TRD Off-Road

TRD Sport

Limited

4WD

11285 lb.

(5115 kg)

11485 lb.

(5210 kg)

■ Unbraked TWR^*

1655 lb. (750 kg)

*

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

tional per SAE J2807.

210

4-1. Before driving

height as before connection.

Trailer Tongue Weight

Do not reduce front fender height

below original measurement.

 A recommended tongue

weight or kingpin weight var-

ies in accordance with the

types of trailers or towing as

described below.

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.

 To ensure the recommended

values shown below, the

trailer must be loaded by

referring to the following

instructions.

Hitch

Trailer hitch assemblies have

different weight capacities. Toy-

ota recommends the use of Toy-

ota hitch/bracket for your

vehicle. For details, contact your

Toyota dealer.

• Conventional Towing

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%)

 If you wish to install a trailer

hitch, contact your Toyota

dealer.

 Use only a hitch that con-

forms to the gross trailer

weight requirement of your

vehicle.

 Follow the directions supplied

by the hitch manufacturer.

 Lubricate the hitch ball and

kingpin with a light coating of

grease.

Gross trailer weight

Tongue Weight

If using a weight distributing hitch

when towing, return the front axle to

the same weight as before the

trailer connection.

 Remove the hitch ball when-

ever you are not towing a

trailer. Remove the trailer

hitch if you do not need it.

After removing the hitch, seal

any mounting holes in the

vehicle body to prevent entry

of any substances into the

vehicle.

If front axle weight cannot be mea-

sured directly, measure the front

fender height above the front axle

before connection. Adjust weight

distributing hitch torque until front

fender is returned to the same

211

4-1. Before driving

Protrudes beyond the bottom of the

lock washer and nut at least 2

threads.

WARNING

■Hitch

Trailer hitch assemblies have dif-

ferent weight capacities estab-

lished 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.

Shank diameter

Matches the ball mount hole diame-

ter size.

Ball diameter

Matches the size of the trailer cou-

pler. Most couplers are stamped

with the required trailer ball size.

Typical trailer

Trailer class

ball size

IV

2 5/16 in.

2 in.

II and III

I

4

NOTICE

1 7/8 in.

■When installing a trailer hitch

Use only the position recom-

mended by your Toyota dealer.

Do not install the trailer hitch on

the bumper; this may cause body

damage.

Positions for towing hitch

receiver and hitch ball

Selecting trailer ball

Use the correct trailer ball for

your application.

Weight carrying ball position:

52.4 in. (1331.2 mm)

Hitch receiver pin hole posi-

tion: 45.0 in. (1143.2 mm)

■Matching trailer ball height to

Trailer ball load rating

trailer coupler height

Matches or exceeds the gross

trailer weight rating of the trailer.

No matter which class of tow hitch

applies, for a more safer trailer

hookup, the trailer ball setup must

be the proper height for the coupler

Shank length

212

4-1. Before driving

on the trailer.

■Service connector for towing

brake controllers (vehicles

without trailer brake controller)

Your vehicle is equipped with a ser-

vice connector for the trailer brake

controller as shown.

Coupler

Trailer ball

Connecting trailer lights

■Auto current cut-off function

In case of over current, the auto cut-

off function stops the power flowing

to the trailer lights to prevent dam-

age to the vehicle’s electrical sys-

tem.

Use the wire harness located in

the rear end of the vehicle.

The tow lighting system is

designed for 64 watts/5 amps of

electrical current per side (right

and left) for the trailer brake/turn

light functions.

This function is activated when the

rated current of any of the following

trailer light circuit components is

exceeded:

●Stop/turn signal light (right): maxi-

mum 5 A

Please contact your Toyota

dealer with any questions or

concerns.

●Stop/turn signal light (left): maxi-

mum 5 A

■When the auto current cut func-

tion is activated

If a trailer light does not come on

due to the activation of the auto cur-

rent cut function, the light system

will need to be reset.

Follow the reset procedure shown

below.

●If a tail light does not come on,

turn off the headlight switch.

●If the right-side stop/turn signal

light does not come on, put the

213

4-1. Before driving

turn signal in the off position or

3 Press

or

to select “Vehi-

remove foot from the brake pedal.

cle Settings” and then press and

●If the left-side stop/turn signal light

does not come on, put the turn

signal in the off position or remove

foot from the brake pedal.

hold

.

4 Press

or

to select “Trailer

If the emergency flashers do not

operate, press the emergency

flasher switch to turn them off.

Light Check” and then press

.

After the light system is reset, oper-

ate the light switches again to see if

the lights operate normally.

5 Press

check.

to start the trailer light

If the lights do not operate normally,

have the vehicle inspected by your

Toyota dealer.

The light check operates in the cycle

of Brake lights  Left turn lights 

Right turn lights.

■Trailer lights operation check

function

■The trailer light check is opera-

tional when

Use the meter control switches to

The trailer light check operates

when all of the following conditions

are met:

4

start the function. (P.92, 101)

 Vehicles with 7-inch display

●The vehicle is stopped.

1 Press

control switch to select

2 Press or to select “Vehi-

cle Settings” and then press and

or

of the meter

●The shift lever is shifted to P.

.

NOTICE

■Do not directly splice trailer

lights

hold

.

Do not directly splice trailer lights.

Directly splicing trailer lights may

damage your vehicle’s electrical

system and cause a malfunction.

3 Press

/

to select “Trailer

Light Check” and then press

.

Removing hitch cover

4 Press

check.

 Vehicles with 12.3-inch display

1 Press and hold to display

to start the trailer light

Pull the lower edge of the hitch

cover.

the cursor on the content display

area (center) of the multi-infor-

mation display.

2 Press

or

of the meter

control switches to select “

Settings” and then press

.

214

4-1. Before driving

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 the

right. (This is generally oppo-

site to reversing without a

trailer attached.) Avoid sharp

or prolonged turning. Have

someone guide you when

reversing to reduce the risk of

an accident.

Trailer towing tips

Your vehicle will handle differ-

ently when towing a trailer. To

help avoid an accident, death or

serious injury, keep the following

in mind when towing:

 Speed limits for towing a

trailer vary by state or prov-

ince. 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 vehi-

cle-trailer combination (trailer

sway) increases as speed

increases. Exceeding speed

limits may cause loss of con-

trol.

 As stopping distance is

increased when towing a

trailer, vehicle-to-vehicle dis-

tance 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 jackknifing and a loss of

vehicle control. This is espe-

cially true on wet or slippery

surfaces.

 Avoid jerky starts or sudden

acceleration.

 Before starting out, check the

trailer lights, tires and the

vehicle-trailer connections.

Recheck after driving a short

distance.

 Avoid jerky steering and

sharp turns, and slow down

before making a turn.

 Practice turning, stopping and

reversing with the trailer

 Note that when making a turn,

the trailer wheels will be

attached in an area away

from traffic until you become

accustomed to the feel of the

vehicle-trailer combination.

closer than the vehicle wheels

to the inside of the turn. Com-

pensate by making a wider

than normal turning radius.

 Reversing with a trailer

attached is difficult and

 Slow down before making a

215

4-1. Before driving

or steep grade. If the engine

coolant temperature gauge

indicates overheating, imme-

diately turn off the air condi-

tioning (if in use), pull your

vehicle off the road and stop

in a safe spot. (P.612)

turn, in crosswinds, on wet or

slippery surfaces, etc.

Increasing vehicle speed can

destabilize the trailer.

 Take care when passing other

vehicles. Passing requires

considerable distance. After

passing a vehicle, do not for-

get the length of your trailer,

and be sure you have plenty

of room before changing

lanes.

 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 park-

ing on a slope, but if unavoid-

able, do so only after

 To maintain engine braking

efficiency and charging sys-

tem performance when using

engine braking, do not use

the transmission in D. If in the

S mode, the transmission shift

range position must be in 5 or

lower.

4

performing the following:

1 Apply the brakes and keep

them applied.

2 Have someone place wheel

blocks under both the vehi-

cle’s and trailer’s wheels.

 Instability happens more fre-

quently when descending

steep or long downhill grades.

Before descending, slow

down and downshift. Do not

make sudden downshifts

while descending steep or

long downhill grades.

3 When the wheel blocks are in

place, release the brakes

slowly until the blocks absorb

the load.

4 Apply the parking brake

firmly.

5 Shift into P and turn off the

engine.

 Avoid holding the brake pedal

down too long or applying the

brakes too frequently. This

could cause the brakes to

overheat and result in

 When restarting after parking

on a slope:

1 With the transmission in P,

start the engine. Be sure to

keep the brake pedal

pressed.

reduced braking efficiency.

 Due to the added load of the

trailer, your vehicle’s engine

may overheat on hot days (at

temperatures over 85°F

2 Shift into a forward gear. If

reversing, shift into R.

[30°C]) when driving up a long

216

4-1. Before driving

Steer straight ahead. Do not try to

control trailer swaying by turning

the steering wheel.

• Begin releasing the accelerator

pedal immediately but very gradu-

ally to reduce speed. Do not

increase speed. Do not apply

vehicle brakes.

3 If the parking brake is in man-

ual mode, release the park-

ing brake. (P.227)

4 Release the brake pedal, and

slowly pull or back away from

the wheel blocks. Stop and

apply the 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.)

5 Have someone retrieve the

blocks.

■Break-in schedule

●After the trailer swaying has

stopped:

• Stop in a safe place. Get all occu-

pants 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.

If your vehicle is new or equipped

with any new power train compo-

nents (such as an engine, transmis-

sion, transfer [4WD models], rear

differential or wheel bearing), Toyota

recommends 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 vehi-

cle at a speed of less than 45 mph

(72 km/h) when towing a trailer, and

avoid full throttle acceleration.

• Check the load in the vehicle.

Make sure the vehicle is not over-

loaded 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 combina-

tion. Drive at a lower speed to pre-

vent instability. Remember that

swaying of the towing vehicle-trailer

increases as speed increases.

■Maintenance

●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle

will require more frequent mainte-

nance due to the additional load.

(See “Owner’s Warranty Informa-

tion Booklet” or “Scheduled Main-

tenance Guide” / “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.

217

4-1. Before driving

Dinghy towing

Your vehicle is not designed

to be dinghy towed (with 4

wheels on the ground)

behind a motor home.

4

NOTICE

■To avoid serious damage to

your vehicle

Do not tow your vehicle with the

four wheels on the ground.

Driving -> Before driving for Your Toyota 4 Runner SUV Sixth Generation (2025-2026)

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