Toyota RAV4 2003 Manual page 186

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Crosswinds and rough roads will ad-
versely affect handling of your vehicle
and trailer, causing sway. Pay attention
to the rear from time to time to pre-
pare yourself for being passed by large
trucks or buses, which may cause your
vehicle and trailer to sway. If swaying
happens, firmly grip the steering wheel
and reduce speed immediately
gradually. Never increase speed. Steer
straight ahead. If you make no extreme
correction with the steering or brakes,
the vehicle and trailer will stabilize.
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Be careful when passing other ve-
hicles. Passing requires considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do
not forget the length of your trailer and
be sure you have plenty of room be-
fore changing lanes.
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In order to maintain engine braking effi-
ciency, do not use fifth gear (manual
transmission) or overdrive (automatic
transmission).
180
'03 Rav4_U (L/O 0208)
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Because of the added load of the trail-
er, your vehicle's engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over
30_C [85_F]) when going up a long or
steep grade with a trailer. If the engine
coolant temperature gauge
overheating, immediately turn off the air
conditioning (if in use), pull off the road
but and stop in a safe spot. Refer to "If
your vehicle overheats" on page 188 in
Section 4.
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Always place wheel blocks under both
the vehicle and trailer wheels when
parking. Apply the parking brake firmly.
Put the transmission in "P" (automatic)
or in first or reverse (manual). Avoid
parking on a slope with a trailer, but
if it cannot be avoided, do so only
after performing the following:
1. Apply the brakes and hold.
2. Have someone place wheel blocks un-
der both the vehicle and trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel blocks are in place,
release your brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
4. Apply the parking brake firmly.
5. Shift into first or reverse (manual) or
"P" (automatic) and turn off the engine.
When restarting out after parking on a
slope:
1. With the transmission in "P" position
(automatic) or the clutch pedal de-
pressed (manual),
indicates
(With an automatic transmission, be
sure to keep the brake pedal de-
pressed.)
2. Shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake (also foot
brake on automatic transmission ve-
hicles) and slowly pull or back away
from the wheel blocks. Stop and apply
your brakes.
4. Have someone retrieve the blocks.
CAUTION
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Do not exceed 72 km/h (45 mph) or
the posted towing
whichever is lower. Because insta-
bility (swaying) of a towing vehicle−
trailer combination
creases as the speed increases, ex-
ceeding 72 km/h
cause loss of control.
2003 RAV4 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM42517U)
start the engine.
speed limit,
usually in-
(45 mph) may