Get Starting and Driving -> Trailer towing Guide for Toyota Aurion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

STARTING AND DRIVING

Trailer towing

Your vehicle is designed primarily as

passenger-carrying vehicle. Towing

CAUTION

trailer will have an adverse effect on

handling, performance, braking, durability

and driving economy (fuel consumption,

etc.). Your safety and satisfaction depend

on the proper use of correct equipment

and cautious driving habits.

D The total trailer weight (trailer weight

plus its cargo load) must not exceed

1600 kg. Exceeding this weight is dan-

gerous.

D Trailer tow bar assemblies have differ-

ent weight capacities established by

the tow bar manufacturer. The opera-

tor must determine the maximum

weight rating of the particular tow bar

assembly, even though the vehicle

may be physically capable of towing

a greater weight, and never exceed the

maximum weight rating specified for

the trailer tow bar.

NOTICE

D For your safety and the safety of

others, you must not overload your

vehicle or trailer.

D Toyota warranties do not apply to

damage or malfunction caused by

towing a trailer for commercial pur-

poses.

D Exceeding the maximum weight rating

set by the trailer tow bar manufacturer

can cause vehicle damage or an acci-

dent resulting in serious personal in-

juries.

D Ask your local Toyota dealer for

further details before towing, as there

are additional legal requirements in

some countries.

D The gross vehicle weight must not ex-

ceed 2110 kg. Exceeding this weight

is dangerous.

WEIGHT LIMITS

Before towing, make sure the total trailer

weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle

weight and vertical tow ball load are all wi-

thin the limits.

D The gross vehicle weight is the sum

of weights of the:

D unloaded vehicle,

D driver,

The total trailer weight and vertical tow

ball load can be measured with platform

scales which are located at such places

as a public weighbridge.

D passengers,

D luggage,

D tow bar,

D trailer vertical tow ball load, and

D any special equipment installed on

your vehicle.

D The load on either the front or the rear

axle resulting from distribution of the

gross vehicle weight on both axles

must not exceed:

Front:

Rear:

1210 kg

1070 kg

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STARTING AND DRIVING

BRAKES AND SAFETY CHAINS

Total trailer weight

Vertical tow ball

load

D Toyota recommends trailers with

brakes conform to applicable federal

and state regulations.

D Safety chains must always be used

between the towing vehicle and the

trailer.

D Leave sufficient slack in the chains

for turns.

Vertical tow ball load

Total trailer weight

D The chains should cross under the

trailer coupling to prevent the trailer

coupling from dropping to the

ground in case it becomes damaged

or the trailer separates from the ve-

hicle.

× 100 = 5 to 10%

CAUTION

D For correct safety chains proced-

ures, follow the tow bar or trailer

manufacturer’s recommendations.

D The trailer cargo load should be distri-

buted so that the vertical tow ball load

is 5 to 10% of the total trailer weight,

not exceeding 160 kg.

CAUTION

D Never load the trailer with more

weight in the back than in the front.

About 60% of the trailer load should

be in the front half of the trailer and

the remaining 40% in the rear.

D If the total trailer weight exceeds 500

kg, trailer brakes are required.

D Never tap into your vehicle’s hy-

draulic system as it would lower its

braking effectiveness.

TOW BARS

D Never tow a trailer without using safe-

ty chains securely attached to both

the trailer and the vehicle. If detach-

ment occurs to the coupling unit or

tow ball, there is danger of the trailer

wandering into another lane.

D Use only a tow bar which is recommended

by the tow bar manufacturer and con-

forms to the total trailer weight require-

ment.

D Follow the directions supplied by the tow

bar manufacturer, and bolt the tow bar se-

curely to the vehicle. Lubricate the tow

ball with a light coat of grease.

TYRES

D Ensure that your vehicle’s tyres are cor-

rectly inflated. See page 263 in Section

7--2 and page 283 in Section 8 for instruc-

tions.

D If removing the tow bar assembly, seal

any mounting holes in the vehicle body

to prevent entry of pollutants such as ex-

haust fumes, dirt, water, etc.

212

STARTING AND DRIVING

D The trailer tyres should be inflated to the

pressure recommended by the trailer

manufacturer in respect to the total trailer

weight.

D Check that your rear view mirrors conform

to any applicable federal and state regula-

tions. If not, install the rear view mirrors

required for towing purpose.

TRAILER LIGHTS

TRAILER TOWING TIPS

D Trailer lights must comply with federal

and state regulations. See your Toyota

dealer for the correct type of wiring and

relays for your trailer. Check for correct

operation of the turn signals and stop

lights each time you attach the trailer. Di-

rect splicing may damage your vehicle’s

electrical system and cause a malfunction

of your lights.

CAUTION

D When towing a trailer, your vehicle

will handle differently than when not

towing.

D The three main causes of vehicle

trailer accidents are driver error, ex-

cessive speed and improper trailer

RUNNING-IN SCHEDULE

D Toyota recommends that you do not tow

a trailer with a new vehicle or a vehicle

with any new power train component (en-

gine, transmission, differential, wheel

bearing, etc.) for the first 800 km of driv-

ing.

D Before starting out, check operation of the

lights and all vehicle-trailer connections.

After driving a short distance, stop and re-

check the lights and connections. Before

actually towing a trailer, practice turning,

stopping and backing with a trailer in an

area away from traffic until you learn the

feel.

MAINTENANCE

D If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will re-

quire more frequent maintenance due to

the additional load. For this information,

please refer to the scheduled mainte-

nance information in the “Warranty and

Service Book”.

D Backing with a trailer 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 the right.

(This procedure is generally opposite to that

when backing without a trailer.)

D Retighten all fixing bolts of the tow ball

and tow bar after approximately 1000 km

of trailer driving.

Also, just turn the steering wheel a little at

a time, avoiding sharp or prolonged turning.

Have someone guide you when backing to

reduce the risk of an accident.

PRE-TOWING SAFETY CHECK

D Check that your vehicle remains level

when a loaded or unloaded trailer is at-

tached. Do not drive if the vehicle has an

abnormal nose-up or nose-down condi-

tion, and check for improper vertical tow

ball load, overload, load distribution of the

vehicle or trailer, worn suspension or

other possible causes.

D Because the stopping distance may be in-

creased, vehicle-to-vehicle distance should

be increased when towing a trailer. For each

10 km/h of speed, allow at least one vehicle

and trailer length between you and the ve-

hicle ahead. Avoid sudden braking as you

may skid, resulting in jackknifing and loss

of control. This is especially true on wet or

slippery surfaces.

D Make sure the trailer cargo is securely

loaded so that it cannot shift.

213

STARTING AND DRIVING

D Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns. The

trailer could hit your vehicle in a tight turn.

Slow down before making a turn to avoid

the necessity of sudden braking.

D Always place wheel blocks under both the

vehicle and trailer wheels when parking.

Apply the parking brake firmly. Put the

transmission in “P”. Avoid parking on a

slope with a trailer, but if it cannot be

avoided, do so only after performing the

following:

D Remember that when making a turn, the

trailer wheels will be closer than the vehi-

cle wheels to the inside of the turn. There-

fore, compensate for this by making a

larger than normal turning radius with

your vehicle.

1. Apply the brakes and hold.

2. Have someone place wheel blocks under

both the vehicle and trailer wheels.

D Crosswinds and rough roads will adverse-

ly affect handling of your vehicle and

trailer, causing sway. Pay attention to the

rear from time to time to prepare yourself

for being passed by large trucks or buses,

which may cause your vehicle and trailer

to sway. If swaying happens, firmly grip

the steering wheel and reduce speed im-

mediately but gradually. Never increase

speed. If it is necessary to reduce speed,

brake slowly. Steer straight ahead follow-

ing the road. If you make no extreme

correction with the steering or brakes, the

vehicle and trailer will stabilise.

3. When the wheel blocks are in place, re-

lease your brakes slowly until the blocks

absorb the load.

4. Apply the parking brake firmly.

5. Shift into “P” and turn off the engine.

When restarting out after parking on a slope:

1. With the transmission in “P” position, start

the engine. Be sure to keep the brake

pedal depressed.

2. Shift into gear.

3. Release the parking brake and slowly pull

or back away from the wheel blocks. Stop

and apply your brakes.

D Be careful when passing other vehicles.

Passing requires considerable distance.

After passing a vehicle, do not forget the

length of your trailer and be sure you have

plenty of room before changing lanes.

4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.

CAUTION

D In order to maintain engine braking effi-

D Observe the legal maximum speeds

for trailer towing.

ciency, do not use overdrive.

D Because of the added load of the trailer,

your vehicle’s engine may overheat on hot

days (at temperatures over 30_C [85_F])

when going up a long or steep grade with

a trailer. If the engine coolant temperature

gauge indicates overheating, immediately

turn off the air conditioning (if in use), pull

off the road and stop in a safe spot. Refer

to “If your vehicle overheats” on page 223

in Section 4.

D Slow down and downshift before de-

scending steep or long downhill

grades. Do not make sudden down-

shifts.

D Avoid holding the brake pedal down

too long or too frequently. This could

cause the brakes to overheat and re-

sult in reduced braking efficiency.

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Starting and Driving -> Trailer towing for Your Toyota Aurion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

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