Toyota RAV4 (XA50) 2019-2026 Owners Manual: Trailer towing

Your vehicle is designed primarily as a passenger-and- load-carrying vehicle.

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 additional requirements such as a towing kit, etc.

■Before towing

Check that the following conditions are met:

• Ensure that your vehicle's tires are properly inflated.
• Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer's recommendation.
• 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 towing purposes.

■When towing a trailer

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

• LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
• Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range
• PKSB (Parking Support Brake) (if equipped)
• BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) (if equipped)
• Intuitive parking assist (if equipped)
• RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert) function (if equipped)

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.
• Vehicles with towing package: 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 surfaces.
• Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.
• Do not use dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range 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.

• Do not tow a trailer when the compact spare tire is installed on your vehicle.

■When towing a trailer

Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable federal 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 applicable federal and state/provincial regulations.
• 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 vehicle.

  If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, there is danger of the trailer wandering into another lane.