■ Practicing driving with a coupled trailer
● Get the feel for turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer coupled by
practicing in an area with no or light traffic.
● When reversing with a coupled trailer, hold the section of the steering wheel
nearest to you and rotate clockwise to turn the trailer left or counterclockwise
to turn it right. Always rotate a little at a time to prevent steering error. Have
someone guide you when reversing to lessen the risk of an accident.
■ Increasing vehicle-to-vehicle distance
At a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph), the distance to the vehicle running ahead of you
should be equivalent to or greater than the combined length of your vehicle and
trailer. Avoid sudden braking that may cause skidding. Otherwise, the vehicle may
spin out of control. This is especially true when driving on wet or slippery road
surfaces.
■ Sudden acceleration/steering input/cornering
Executing sharp turns when towing may result in the trailer colliding with your
vehicle. Decelerate well in advance when approaching turns and take them slowly
and carefully to avoid sudden braking.
■ 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
normally 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. Frequently 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 executing lane changes.
■ Transmission information
To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system performance when
using engine braking, do not put the transmission in D. If in the S mode, the hybrid
transmission shift range position must be in 5 or lower.
1-5. Entering/exiting the vehicle and loading luggage
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