Toyota RAV4 Owner's Manual page 217

216
4-1. Before driving
Important points regarding
■
turning
The wheels of the trailer will travel
closer to the inside of the curve
than the wheels of the vehicle. To
make allowance for this, take the
turns wider than you would nor-
mally do.
Important points regarding
■
stability
Vehicle movement resulting from
uneven road surfaces and strong
crosswinds will affect handling. The
vehicle may also be rocked by
passing buses or large trucks. Fre-
quently check behind when moving
alongside such vehicles. As soon
as such vehicle movement occurs,
immediately start to decelerate
smoothly by slowly applying the
brakes. Always steer the vehicle
straight ahead while braking.
Passing other vehicles
■
Consider the total combined length
of your vehicle and trailer and
ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance is sufficient before execut-
ing lane changes.
Transmission information
■
 Vehicles with automatic trans-
mission
To maintain engine braking effi-
ciency, when using engine braking,
do not use the transmission in D. If
in the S mode, the transmission
shift range position must be in 6 or
lower. (P.223)
 Vehicles with CVT
To maintain engine braking effi-
ciency, when using engine braking,
do not use the transmission in D.
(P.228)
 Vehicles with manual transmis-
sion
To maintain engine braking effi-
ciency and charging system perfor-
mance, when using engine braking,
do not use the transmission in 5th
gear or above. (P.232)
If the engine overheats
■
Towing a loaded trailer up a long,
steep incline in temperatures
exceeding 30°C (85°F) may result
in the engine overheating. If the
engine coolant temperature gauge
indicates that the engine is over-
heating, turn the air conditioning off
immediately, leave the road and
stop the vehicle in a safe place.
(P.591)
When parking the vehicle
■
Always place wheel chocks under
the wheels of both the vehicle and
trailer. Firmly set the parking brake
and shift the shift lever to P for
automatic transmissions and CVT,
and 1 or R for manual transmis-
sions.
■ Break-in schedule
Toyota recommends that vehicles fitted
with new power train components
should not be used for towing trailers for
the first 800 km (500 miles).