Toyota Tundra Owners Manual: If your vehicle needs to be towed

Toyota Tundra Owners Manual / When trouble arises / Steps to take in an emergency / If your vehicle needs to be towed

If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service, using a wheel-lift type truck or flatbed truck.

Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/ provincial and local laws.

Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing

The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service before towing.

The engine is running but the vehicle does not move.
The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.

Towing with a sling-type truck

Do not tow with a sling-type truck to prevent body damage.

Steps to take in an emergency

Towing with a wheel-lift type truck

From the front

Use a towing dolly under the rear wheels.

Steps to take in an emergency

From the rear

Use a towing dolly under the front wheels.

Steps to take in an emergency

Using a flatbed truck

If your vehicle is transported by a flatbed truck, it should be tied down at the locations shown in the illustration.

Steps to take in an emergency

If you use chains or cables to tie down your vehicle, the angles shaded in black must be 45º.

Do not overly tighten the tie downs or the vehicle may be damaged.

Steps to take in an emergency

Emergency towing

If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be temporarily towed using cables or chains secured to the emergency towing hooks. This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads for at most 50 miles (80 km) at under 18 mph (30km/h).

A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The vehicle's wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in good condition.

Emergency towing procedure

1. Securely attach cables or chains to the towing hooks.

Take care not to damage the vehicle body.

Type A

Steps to take in an emergency

Type B

Steps to take in an emergency

2. Enter the vehicle being towed and start the engine.

If the engine does not start, turn the engine switch to the "ON" position.

3. 4WD models: Put the front-wheel drive control switch in "2WD".

4. Shift the shift lever to N and release the parking brake.

When the shift lever cannot be shifted

WARNING

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■When towing the vehicle 2WD models: Be sure to transport the vehicle with all four wheels raised off the ground. If the vehicle is towed with the tires contacting the ground, the drivetrain and related parts may be damaged or an accident may occur due to a change in direction of the vehicle.

4WD models: Be sure to transport the vehicle with all four wheels raised off the ground. If the vehicle is towed with the tires contacting the ground, the drivetrain or related parts may be damaged, the vehicle may fly off the truck.

■While towing

When towing using cables or chains, avoid sudden starts, etc. which place excessive stress on the towing hooks, cables or chains. The towing hooks, cables or chains may become damaged, broken debris may hit people, and cause serious damage.
Do not turn the engine switch to the "LOCK" position.

There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and cannot be operated.

NOTICE

■To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing using a wheel-lift type truck

Do not tow the vehicle from the rear when the engine switch is in the "LOCK" position or the key is removed.

The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheels straight.
When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the vehicle could be damaged while being towed.

■To prevent damage to the vehicle when towing with a sling-type truck Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.

■To prevent damage to the vehicle during emergency towing Do not secure cables or chains to the suspension components.

Steps to take in an emergency

If you think something is wrong

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