Toyota RAV4 Owners Manual: If your vehicle needs to be towed

If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by your toyota dealer or commercial towing service, using a wheel-lift type truck or flatbed truck.

Awd models: if towing your vehicle with a wheel-lift type truck, use a towing dolly.

Situations need to contact dealers before towing

The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact your toyota dealer or commercial towing service before towing.

• The engine is running but the vehicle will not move.
• The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.

Towing with a sling-type truck

Do not tow with a sling-type truck to prevent body damage.

Towing with a wheel-lift type truck

From the front (2wd models)

Release the parking brake.

From the front (awd models)

Use a towing dolly under the rear wheels.

From the rear

Use a towing dolly under the front wheels.

Using a flatbed truck

If you use chains or cables to tie down your vehicle, the angles shaded in black must be 45„a.

Do not overly tighten the tie downs or the vehicle may be damaged.

Emergency towing

If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency towing eyelets. This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads for 50 miles (80 km) at low speeds.

A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The vehicle’s wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condition.

Emergency towing procedure

1. Take out the towing eyelet.
2. Remove the eyelet cover using a flathead screwdriver.

To protect the bodywork, place a rag between the screwdriver and the vehicle body as shown in the illustration.

3. Insert the towing eyelet into the hole and tighten partially by hand.

4. Tighten down the towing eyelet securely using a wheel nut wrench or hard metal bar.

5. Securely attach a cable or chain to the towing eyelet.

   Take care not to damage the vehicle body.

6. enter the vehicle being towed and start the engine.

   if the engine does not start, turn the engine switch to the “on” position (vehicles without a smart key system) or ignition on mode (vehicles with a smart key system).

7. Shift the shift lever to n and release the parking brake.

   When the shift lever cannot be shifted

While towing

If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not function, making steering and braking more difficult.

Wheel nut wrench

Wheel nut wrench is installed in the luggage compartment.

Caution

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

When towing the vehicle

2Wd models: be sure to transport the vehicle with the front wheels raised or with all four wheels raised off the ground.If the vehicle is towed with the front wheels contacting the ground, the drivetrain and related parts may be damaged.

Awd models: be sure to transport the vehicle with all four wheels raised off the ground. If the vehicle is towed with the tires contacting the ground, the drivetrain or related parts may be damaged, the vehicle may fly off the truck.

While towing

• When towing using cables or chains, avoid sudden starts, etc. Which place excessive stress on the towing eyelets, cables or chains. The towing eyelets, cables or chains may become damaged, broken debris may hit people and cause serious damage.
• Do not turn the engine switch to the “lock” position (vehicles without a smart key system) or off (vehicles with a smart key system).

  There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and cannot be operated.

Installing towing eyelets to the vehicle

Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely.

If not securely installed, towing eyelets may come loose during towing.

Notice

To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing using a wheel-lift type truck

When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the vehicle could be damaged while being towed.

To prevent body damage when towing with a sling-type truck

Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.

Recreational towing (behind motor home, etc.)

Never dinghy tow your vehicle to prevent causing serious damage to the dynamic torque control awd system (awd models) and transmission.