Toyota Highlander (2018 year). Manual - part 49

208

4-1. Before driving

Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities. Toyota rec-
ommends the use of Toyota hitch/bracket for your vehicle. For details,
contact your Toyota dealer.
● If you wish to install a trailer hitch, contact your Toyota dealer.
● Use only a hitch that conforms to the gross trailer weight require-

ment of your vehicle.

● Follow the directions supplied by the hitch manufacturer.
● Lubricate the hitch ball with a light coating of grease.
● Remove the trailer hitch whenever you are not towing a trailer. After

removing the hitch, seal any mounting hole in the vehicle body to
prevent entry of any substances into the vehicle.

When removing the hitch cover,
contact your Toyota dealer.

Hitch

Hitch cover

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4-1. Before driving

4

Drivin

g

Use the correct trailer ball for your application.

Trailer ball load rating

Matches or exceeds the gross
trailer weight rating of the trailer.

Ball diameter

Matches the size of the trailer cou-
pler. Most couplers are stamped
with the required trailer ball size.

Shank length

Protrudes beyond the bottom of the lock washer and nut by at least 2
threads.

Shank diameter

Matches the ball mount hole diameter size.

Weight carrying ball position: 
49.73 in. (1263.1 mm)

Selecting trailer ball

1

2

Trailer class

Typical trailer ball size

IV

2 5/16 in.

II and III

2 in.

I

1 7/8 in.

Position for towing hitch ball

3

4

1

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4-1. Before driving

Use the wire harness stored in the
rear end under body.

Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. Help to avoid
an accident, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind when
towing:
● Speed limits for towing a trailer vary by state or province. Do not

exceed the posted towing speed limit.

● Toyota recommends that the vehicle-trailer speed limit is 65 mph

(104 km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exceed this limit, the
posted towing speed limit or the speed limit for your trailer as set
forth in your trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Instability
of the towing vehicle-trailer combination (trailer sway) increases as
speed increases. Exceeding speed limits may cause loss of control.

● Before starting out, check the trailer lights, tires and the vehicle-

trailer connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.

● Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attached in

an area away from traffic until you become accustomed to the feel
of the vehicle-trailer combination.

● Reversing with a trailer attached 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 right. (This is generally opposite to reversing
without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have
someone guide you when reversing to reduce the risk of an acci-
dent.

Connecting trailer lights

Trailer towing tips

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4-1. Before driving

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● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to

vehicle distance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h)
of speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length.

● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in the trailer jack-

knifing and a loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or
slippery surfaces.

● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.
● Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, and slow down before making

turn.

● Note that when making a turn, the trailer wheels will be closer than

the vehicle wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making
a wider than normal turning radius.

● Slow down before making a turn, in cross winds, on wet or slippery

surfaces, etc.
Increasing vehicle speed can destabilize the trailer.

● Take care when passing other vehicles. Passing requires consider-

able distance. After passing a vehicle, do not forget the length of
your trailer, and be sure you have plenty of room before changing
lanes.

● To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system perfor-

mance when using engine braking, do not put the transmission in
D. If in the S mode, the transmission shift range position must be in
6 (8-speed models) or 4 (6-speed models) or lower.

● Instability happens more frequently when descending steep or long

downhill grades. Before descending, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long down-
hill 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.