Lexus RX300 Manual page 212

Maintenance
D If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent
maintenance due to the additional load. For this information,
please refer to the scheduled maintenance information in the
"Owner's Manual Supplement/ Maintenance Schedule".
D Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after
approximately 1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.
Pre–towing safety check
D Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has an abnormal
nose–up or nose–down condition, and check for improper tongue
load, overload, worn suspension or other possible causes.
D Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that it cannot
shift.
D Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any federal,
state/provincial or local regulation. If they do not, install required
rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.
Trailer towing tips
When towing a trailer, your vehicle will handle differently than
when not towing. The three main causes of vehicle–trailer
accidents are driver error, excessive speed and improper trailer
loading. Keep these in mind when towing:
D Before starting out, check the operation of the lights and all
vehicle–trailer connections. After driving a short distance, stop
and recheck the lights and connections. Practice turning,
stopping and backing with a trailer in an area away from traffic
until you learn the feel.
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.) 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.
D Because stopping distance may be increased, vehicle–to–vehicle
distance should be increased when towing a trailer. For each 16
km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer
length between you and the vehicle 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 Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
DRIVING TIPS
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