Trailer Towing Precautions - Toyota Tacoma 2013 Owner's Manual

After the trailer swaying has stopped:
●
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants 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.
• Check the load in the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded 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 combination.
Drive at a lower speed to prevent instability. Remember that swaying of the
towing vehicle-trailer increases as speed increases.
CAUTION

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.
●
If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (905 kg), a sway control device
●
with sufficient capacity is required.
If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2265 kg), a weight distributing
●
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.
2-5. Driving information
2
239