Toyota RAV4 Towing
I've contacted numerous dealership around my aread in California, but can't seem to find a 06 Rav4 either in the sport or limited that has the tow prep option, which comes with a bigger alternator, radiator, and the tow wiring. Has anyone added this after they purchased a Rav4 and if so, how much did it run? Does it also increase the max. tow capacity listed by toyota as well??
0
Comments
tidester, host
It may not be offered your region. Got to Toyota buld and price, enter your zip and you will see all options for the model you want in your region. The Regional districs seem to decide what to bring in and what you get. You can see what regions near you may be it by using other zip codes. In NY and MD, all V6 seem to have it.
Help!
Dave
The 2006 RAV4 uses all LED taillights, unlike previous RAV4s. So the voltages & current are different, and all previous wiring harnesses will not work. The first local who contracted with a mechanic to have the new harness installed was quoted $200, and it took several WEEKS of labor & many phone consultations before they finally got it to work.
Since I didn't need to tow immediately, he recommended waiting a year until the after-market companies could study & duplicate the new harness, since the Toyota one costs $150, not counting labor.
I specifically asked if the towing package wiring harness extended at least to the back storage compartment of the vehicle, and he said yes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=26000451677- - 4&ih=016&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
I have their instructons but do not know how to post a pdf file here.
The harness kit looks similar to the concept sold as "modulite" by net trailer sites such as etrailer.
The also sell a complete hitch and harness combo for $239. And lots of other Toyota RAV4 accessories at less than list.
Lots of info on all of this stuff on other RAV4 sites on the web. Untill recently even my dealer thought the tow prep included the wiring to the rear of the truck. Suprise!
You can also buy the Toyota harness on the net for $112 and people have installed it in two hours. The Toyota detailed instructions for that are available on the net. Don't be scared away by the fact that one dealer install was a mess.
tia
3500lb hitch
Anyone have any experience?
Thanks!!!
Now I am now very concerned that I did not get the upgraded alternator and radiator. But how can I tell?
My window sticker says that they are in there. But if they are not, it would seem that my dealer or Toyota has committed fraud.
I am rather confused by this discussion. I want to buy a used RAV4, and I want to tow a 2000 lb. trailer. I am unclear on adding a hitch and wiring, although I have read these messages three times.
Also, I don't know whether I can buy a 2.0 liter, or have to have the 2.4 L. I will be buying an automatic transmission, by the way.
Thanks for your help.
Towhee
I have two problems while trailering this rig. First, it is nearly impossible to maintain the vehicle in overdrive when trailering against a headwind or up a moderate incline. My old Siena had an overdrive cancel feature, which the Rav4 apparently lacks. I have trailered in 4th gear, but the high RPM kills my MPG on the HWY. I try to baby the vehicle to keep it from constantly shifting, but this is a losing proposition.
The second more pressing concern is that the boat/trailer pushes the Rav4 suspension darn near to the ground. As a result the wires and linkage are tickling the ground, the hitch often scrapes going up and down driveways, and there is a serious cantor to the rig. I cannot imagine loading a 3500 lb rig to the vehicle and am seeking some solution to this problem. Has anyone tried installing helper springs to deal with heavier loads? How can the Highlander have so much more towing capacity than the Rav4 given identical engines?
I currently have 10K on this vehicle, problems have been nil. Current gas mileage is 23/29 MPG, in town & hwy respectively. This is where my problem began: I decided to purchase a wiring harness from my local dealer, they wanted about $160 (incl. tax) I thought I could do better by going on the Internet. I found a dealer in N.C. that shipped it to me for $93.00. I checked the prices at the dealer for installation, including a trailer. hitch, too much! I then approached UHaul for purchase of a trailer hitch plus installation of both my wiring harness and the hitch, they wouldn't touch the wiring harness, they advised me to have the dealer do it. After they installed my hitch (a better choice then what the dealer offers) I returned to the dealer to have my harness installed. I arrived at the dealer at 7:00 AM, I finally got out of there at 5:00PM, because of an incompetent service tech, spent more time reading the instructions then he did working. The premise that the tow prep pkg. takes care of the necessary prewire hook ups is a misnomer and a rip off! After completion of the final installation by 2 other competent techs I finally left that facility. Also, it is a good idea to have a prearranged price for this installation, it cost me $120.00. Advise, don't do it yourself, its a nightmare!
of 1500 lbs so if you are towing 1500 it should work. I am trying to find out
if my 2004 RAV4 can safely tow 285 lbs more without causing any damage
to my self or my vehicle.
Thanks anyway for your input.
a jetski (about 1000 lbs) but am concerned about getting it out of
the water once it's in. Not sure how well it will pull up a wet incline with
1000 extra lbs ... has anyone done something similar ?
Thanks for any info in advance,
danpcfl
just want to be sure that after i install a hitch and
buy a jetski, that i will be able to get it in, and
more importantly, out of the water
He does have a few issues sometimes when pulling his boat out of the water especially if the conditions are sandy (like when sand is lightly dusted on the pavement). When its wet he *sometimes* has issues too... keep in mind 2000lbs too.
But to fix the wheels from spinning be sure you have someone with you, look at the wheel that is spinning, and have that person lean on your car over that wheel (feet off the ground for safety) if you can call that safe but it works great.
thanks, darren
Toyota's web site says that the V-6 models can tow 2000 Lbs. without the tow prep package.
Has anyone any experience towing a boat without the tow prep package. Although my
trailer load is about 1750 lbs. I like to have a comfortable margin when launching and recovering.
I appreciate your responses. I definitely would get the tow prep package if available. My problem with the tow prep package is that it's currently unavailable on the Limited models.
My question concerns the Toyota spec of 2000 pounds for the Rav4 without
the tow prep. I wonder if anyone has had any experience towing a boat with a Rav4
not equipped with tow prep. Does it overheat or affect the transmission ?
My trailer load is between 1750 and 2000 lbs. and I only tow about about 10 miles
from storage yard to launch ramp, three or four times a year. Once I launch the boat it's tied up at my dock for several months before I need to tow again.
As for the tow hitch, Toyota MSRP for the tow hitch installed is $395 which includes wiring to rear of vehicle. This is tough to beat aftermarket.
I'm not sure where you're purchasing, but I'm sorry to hear you cannot find a Limited w/ towing prep package-- mine was able to have it installed.
Unfortunately I cannot offer any advice on towing w/out prep package, however, I can suggest an aftermarket hitch, with wiring, for much cheaper than toyota charges. Hitchsource.com offers the hitch for less than 100, and wiring for around 70 (toyota wiring is expensive!!). I'm looking at Hitchsource. You do have to install it yourself, but it takes around 15 minutes and appears to be quite simple.
Good luck!
I can tell how to attach the reciever , I cant tell how to install the wire harness for the hitch . The Rav4 has a tow prep package Can you Help?
The tricky part is connecting the battery directly to the unit.
The Rav4 has LED rear lights and these require a direct connection to the battery. You can't splice to the existing wiring.
There are connectors in the rear side panels to the controls but you also need that direct battery connection for the power.
Overriding overdrive and shifting to 4th gear on a 5 speed transmission are the same thing.
Has anyone tried installing helper springs to deal with heavier loads?
You should look into getting some AirLift Air Ride 2000 airbags to back up the suspension. I had them installed on my Wrangler for towing a similar load with a similarly limited vehicle. Then later installed them on my Yukon XL just to keep it level with heavy loads, either in the cargo area or trailer. With the Jeep I went so far as to install the driver-controlled compressor to pump them up on the go. With the Yukon, I got lazy and just routed a shrader valve into the gas fill cap compartment. When I want a little more firmness, I just give it a shot with a tire inflator.
Get the harness from E-Trailer (www.etrailer.com) that only requires a connection on each side at the tail lights - a direct plug between - and, a fused hot feed from the battery that the kit comes with.
Took me 15 minutes, including hiding the hot wire under the panel molding etc. It took about the same amount of time to put on the Class III hitch that I bought with the harness. The hot feed can pass through one of the wire bundle grommets about 4" wide, through the firewall behind the shock towers. The grommet and wire bundle on the passenger side is easier to find from the hood end.