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SUVs Toyota RAV4 Toyota RAV4 Towing
58 messages, Last post on May 25, 2009 at 6:04 AM
You are in the Toyota RAV4 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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I have an 07 RAV4 LTD V6 4WD with a Reese tow bar that was installed before vehicle delivery. My first thought after seeing the installed hitch was that it was very LOW to the ground and I was concerned about trailering my boat, which probably weighs about 2800 lbs fully loaded. 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?
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Replying to: rstibbetts (Aug 27, 2007 8:26 pm) |
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I have a 2007 Toyota Rav4, 6cyl., Ltd. w/ tow prep pkg. 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! |
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Replying to: rcarmi (Apr 10, 2007 6:46 am) 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.
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Replying to: dollyt (Dec 02, 2007 10:38 am) Thanks anyway for your input. |
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I have a 1999 4-door, 2WD, standard trans rav4. Would like to get 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
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Replying to: danpcfl (Jan 08, 2008 4:55 am)
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Replying to: sdc2 (Jan 09, 2008 5:39 am)
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Replying to: danpcfl (Jan 10, 2008 7:59 am)
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Replying to: sdc2 (Jan 10, 2008 11:31 am) 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
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