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Discussion starter · #1 ·
This is probably a stupid question, but for those of you who have RAVs, I am considering one, but there is one thing that concerns me, so thanks in advance.

I am not a fan of the side opening rear door, but particularly because it opens from left to right. I would think that if you are parked at a sidewalk and the sidewalk is on the right side, and you are loading or unloading things from the sidewalk, that the door would function better if it opened from right to left.

Have any of you had a problem with this? or am I missing something?

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
ottomatic said:
This is probably a stupid question, but for those of you who have RAVs, I am considering one, but there is one thing that concerns me, so thanks in advance.

I am not a fan of the side opening rear door, but particularly because it opens from left to right. I would think that if you are parked at a sidewalk and the sidewalk is on the right side, and you are loading or unloading things from the sidewalk, that the door would function better if it opened from right to left.

Have any of you had a problem with this? or am I missing something?

Thanks.
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Been discussed a million times. I say it's correct because the road is cambered. Would you rather have the door have the tendency to slam shut or stay open?
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Couldn't they have built some kind of spring tension in there so that it would stay open?

I guess you need the side opening door with the spare tire on the back. And I guess the idea of the spare on the door is to give you more cargo area. So I guess considering those things, there is no perfect solution.
 
#4 ·
I was bothered by the same question before I bought mine. But I am sure glad I didn't let it stop me! There are several ways to look at it.

1. That issue with the sidewalk only happens when parallel parking. With driving to work,home,malls of any size, I probably only parallel park about once a week. And if it is a small item, you don't open the door that far anyway. Unless you park on the curb at home (and someone is parked behind you) it is rarely an issue.

2. If it was on the other side as you think it should be, and you as the driver are the lone occupant of the RAV, you have extra distance to walk to reach the handle (shorter from the passenger side). That would get annoying.

3. I have had comments from those who have had liftgates on vans etc and if you are light or vertically challenged, it takes some effort to get those things closed. (And you probably still need some room if you are parallel parked and someone is parked behind you).

4. A good solution might be a power window at the back or a mini liftgate, but I think that the spare tire mount is preventing that. (I like the spare tire mount, cleaner than being up underneath and leaves plenty of room inside where it would be tucked in the floor)

I found it is just your perspective on it. Hope these thoughts help you in your decision to get a RAV. Your gonna love it!
 
#5 ·
I too was thinking about the merits of side hinge vs. top hinged and thought I preferred top hinged like my last Volvo wagon. But after I put my first long load on the roof rack I was delighted to notice I can still open the tailgate, all resistance was gone.

I also found that when the cargo area is overstuffed with loose objects it's easier to catch them as the fall out when I open a side door. With a top hinged unit you can't catch the stuff as it falls out = too wide an area and awkwardly low.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
2. If it was on the other side as you think it should be, and you as the driver are the lone occupant of the RAV, you have extra distance to walk to reach the handle (shorter from the passenger side). That would get annoying.
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I did think about that. Makes sense.

Thank you all for the benefit of your experience. To be honest, I really want a Highlander, but my wife warned me not to get anything that big (I don't think its that big. A Sequoia is big... But that's for another post...).
 
#7 ·
For me the direction in which the door opens is kind of a moot point, because regardless of which side it's hinged on, it'll still be blocking you from unloading to or loading from one side or the other, even when you're not parallel parked. Plus, since it needs more room behind the vehicle to open fully than a hatch would, you have to make sure there's clearance behind the vehicle if you plan to open the door.

So my experience has been that you sometimes have to think about how you're going to park it in order to get the access you need to the cargo area.
 
#8 ·
ottomatic said:
This is probably a stupid question, but for those of you who have RAVs, I am considering one, but there is one thing that concerns me, so thanks in advance.

I am not a fan of the side opening rear door, but particularly because it opens from left to right. I would think that if you are parked at a sidewalk and the sidewalk is on the right side, and you are loading or unloading things from the sidewalk, that the door would function better if it opened from right to left.

Have any of you had a problem with this? or am I missing something?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Check out this thread:

http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14393&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
 
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#9 ·
If you're tall like me you have practically killed yourself knocking your head on the corner of open liftgates...no such problem here 8)
 
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#11 ·
The first problem I had with the door was when I parked "face out" or "pulled through" or whatever you want to call it. When I came back to my RAV4, someone had pulled in behind me. I quickly realized I wasn't going to get the door open very far. Fortunately, it was something I could throw in the back seat.

I didn't really think about it at the time, but I don't think I could have opened it if it were a lift gate either. (this is my first SUV/crossover/non-car, so it never occurred to me this might happen)
 
#12 ·
I like how Ford's SUV rear door open up, half top glass lifted up and the other bottom half going down. Toyota should start designing the rear gate something like that.
 
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#13 ·
Our second RAV and no problems with the side swinging rear door. My wife really likes it over the top hinged doors on some of our previous vehicles.
 
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#14 ·
This topic gets discussed frequently. I am on my second RAV and I am very happy with the design of the rear door opening. The only problem I have is the lack of activation of the interior cabin light, like when one opens a side door. This is a minor issue that could be easily addressed.

But I sure hope Toyota does not change the side opening door. I love it. I'd go as far as to say that I dislike wifey's Lexus RX300 upswing rear door. But to each his own opinion.
 
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#16 ·
The door I thought was retarded to but after owning it for a month I think I have opened it only a few times to throw stuff under the floor in the hidden compartment. I basically open throw stuff in and close so really it doesn't seem to affect much. Most stuff I toss in the back seat.
 
#17 ·
I love the cargo space available under the rear floor and don't mind the side opening door at all. When i am picking up something larger I just have to remember not to pull through in the lot or paralall park where someone could pull up behind me. I like being albe to open the door in my low garage.

The only thing that concerns me about the side door is that it takes away options when moving something extra large. With my old van I could slide a full sized couch in the back, but it would hang out a bit. I'd just throw a tarp over it, close the gate as far as I could and tie the gate under the bumper. This is impossible with the side opening gate, so If I ever have to transport anything longer than the interior I'm out of luck. Haven't had to yet, but you never know!
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
Door

I wonder which direction the door opens on Japanese RAV4's, considering they drive on the left side of the road.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
rav4ian said:
I like how Ford's SUV rear door open up, half top glass lifted up and the other bottom half going down. Toyota should start designing the rear gate something like that.
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I think the Highlander does that too. I never really understood what the value of that would be until I started reading all the posts here. There's more to consider than I thought.

Thanks again, folks.
 
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The G Man
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