Tow Hitch

Not surprising since the aftermarket doesn't get advanced "copies."

bigbird1 said:

FYI: The current hitches available for 4.3 and earlier model RAV's will NOT fit the '13 RAV. I have a Hidden Hitch Class 1 model 60808 on my '11 LTD. I was hoping to transfer it to my new RAV. Hidden Hitch did not have a model listed for the '13 RAV on their website, so I contacted them.
Here's their reply, verbatim:

"The 2013 RAV4 is a new build. The hitch and wiring are completely different. A hitch and wiring are being designed but are not available at this time. I do not have a projected date yet"

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The size of the chassis (body) didn't changed much, I wonder if someone could try to install one from the 4.3 Gen to the new body style and report. I just installed a step/tubes from the previous version and it worked.

silverboy said:

The size of the chassis (body) didn't changed much, I wonder if someone could try to install one from the 4.3 Gen to the new body style and report.

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I looked under the 4.3 and 4.4 rear bumpers. They are indeed very different. The 4.3 has hitch holes predrilled in the outer flanges of the frame. The 4.4 has no such flanges attached to its frame. From the picture of the Toyota OEM 2013 hitch on the RAV4 Accessories page of Toyota's website, the hitch for the '13 is very complicated with its own bolt-on external flanges and mounting tabs. The 4.3 hitch was a 15 minute installation with just a few nuts, bolts, and washers. This new hitch has 10 metal brackets that need separate attachment to the frame and 75 pieces of nuts, bolts, and washers. Ouch!
Looks like a Thule roof bike rack for me.

bigbird1 said:

I looked under the 4.3 and 4.4 rear bumpers. They are indeed very different. The 4.3 has hitch holes predrilled in the outer flanges of the frame. The 4.4 has no such flanges attached to its frame. From the picture of the Toyota OEM 2013 hitch on the RAV4 Accessories page of Toyota's website, the hitch for the '13 is very complicated with its own bolt-on external flanges and mounting tabs. The 4.3 hitch was a 15 minute installation with just a few nuts, bolts, and washers. This new hitch has 10 metal brackets that need separate attachment to the frame and 75 pieces of nuts, bolts, and washers. Ouch!
Looks like a Thule roof bike rack for me.

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Big, you got the link for that info, I'll love to take a look at it. Or upload pictures of it please. I searched for ten minutes and couldn't find it. Thanks

silverboy said:

Big, you got the link for that info, I'll love to take a look at it. Or upload pictures of it please. I searched for ten minutes and couldn't find it. Thanks

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Coming right up. Click on the picture of the tow hitch in the "Exterior Accessories" area.

http://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/vehicles/rav4/options-accessory-pricing/accessories

And the price for the hitch and installation as well - another Ouch! It will be interesting to see what the aftermarket contingent come up with, if anything. The Toyota hitch electrical connection situation is much improved, but the hitch and installation plus the lack of a V6 . . ..now even more I have no plans to replace my '11 with a '13!

On the Toyota USA web site, if you go to actually "build" a RAV4 they only show options for paint protection, roof rack cross bars, body side moldings, mud guards and running boards.

They don't mention the trailer hitch anywhere.

However, they do allow you to submit a "chat" request and I asked the representative what the regular, MSRP price was to have a dealer add an OEM trailer hitch to a 2013 RAV4 and they said you have to call your dealer and ask because "each dealer is independently owned & operated, so pricing may vary."

I read that as: I don't know.

So apparently you have to call your dealer to find out at least what the OEM pricing would be.

One would think if it's $1,385.00 in Canada it'll be at least around $1,000.00 in the US for the OEM hitch.

The $1248.60 price quoted on Toyota Canada's website is an MSRP for the installed hitch. It is certainly negotiable, like any other installed Toyota accessory. Labor rates are different all over your and my countries. I'm sure in New York City or downtown Toronto, one would pay more for an installed hitch than in, say, Fort Stockton, Texas or Climax, Saskatchewan. (There really is such a place)

silverboy said:

I'm guessing it would be good to tow either 1500 or 2000 Lbs.

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The 2013 RAV4 itself is only rated to tow 1500 lbs maximum.

The OEM hitch for the 4.3 was much more complex than the aftermarket ones for the 4.3, with many more bolts and brackets to mount it to the vehicle than the aftermarket ones.

Certainly liability reasons probably came into play, but also I think to distribute the forces on the vehicle as evenly as possible. After all, Toyota designed the vehicle, so they would know how best to mount a hitch to it for maximum effectiveness and safety.

silverboy said:

The only issue I see is that in the middle under the bumper, it is a part for the Rav4 to be jack up. I seen that part last night while reading the manual.

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My aftermarket Hidden Hitch on the '11 LTD also covered up the rear jack point that you describe. I never had to jack the '11 from the rear, so it wasn't an issue for me. I don't think one would want to slide the lifting pad of a floor jack under the hitch and use the bottom of the hitch as your jack point. Most Class 1 hitches have a tongue weight of 200 lbs. I wouldn't want to put a force of more than 200 lbs pushing up, as that would likely collapse the hitch mounts.

I'll be adding a hitch on the Spring, just to carry three bikes, not to pull anything else.

silverboy said:

I'll be adding a hitch on the Spring, just to carry three bikes, not to pull anything else.

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Keep us informed. That's what I use my hitch for as well, a bike carrier.

Aftermarket hitches

Hopefully there will be options soon, I'm looking too for using the hitch as a bike mount, not for towing really. U-haul lists hitch# 78432 as fitting the 2013...BUT a quick search on a 2012 rav4 produces the same part number. SO I'm assuming its wrong. I don't have my Rav yet, I will in about a month or so and I'm hoping by summer Hidden Hitch, DrawTite, U-haul...anybody, has something figured out by then. That post about the Canadian hitch option makes me want to cry...that is the most convoluted and insane hitch kit I've ever seen. Not sure the Canadian version would change that much vs the US but if that's the kit then my stuff is going on the roof for sure.

Rossi158 said:

U-haul lists hitch# 78432 as fitting the 2013...BUT a quick search on a 2012 rav4 produces the same part number. SO I'm assuming its wrong.

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Unless the hitch from the 4.3 Gen will work on it. Somebody please try one and let us know! Or I may just try one from Cragslist (4.3 Gen) and post results.

The hitch is still not available in US. Since I'm only use the hitch as bike mount, I wonder if can buy the hitch from Toyota Canada and install on a US model?
Any other concerns?

Belly Monkey said:

The hitch is still not available in US. Since I'm only use the hitch as bike mount, I wonder if can buy the hitch from Toyota Canada and install on a US model?
Any other concerns?

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Have you checked with any other manufacturers regarding when their aftermarket hitches will be ready?
Reese, U-Haul, Curt, Quadratec, etc? You can be sure that Toyota does not manufacture their own hitches.

bigbird1 said:

Have you checked with any other manufacturers regarding when their aftermarket hitches will be ready?
Reese, U-Haul, Curt, Quadratec, etc? You can be sure that Toyota does not manufacture their own hitches.

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I checked U-Haul, Curt and they don't know when it will be available.
I already paid deposit to buy the RAV4 and just now the dealer told me there is no tow hitch available in the market. But I need it to put the bike rack.
I read your post earlier that Toyota Canada do have the tow hitch but I'm not sure and no one can tell me if it fits the RAV4 in US.

Belly Monkey said:

I read your post earlier that Toyota Canada do have the tow hitch but I'm not sure and no one can tell me if it fits the RAV4 in US.

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The Canadian accessory tow hitch from Toyota will absolutely fit the US spec RAV4. There is no physical difference in the body or frame structure of any RAV4's built for the N. American market. The bumpers are also identical.
I don't know if the accessory tow hitch is available yet at Canadian dealers. i didn't ask, as I have no interest in spending over $1200 for a wired hitch that will only carry a bike rack. All you need to do is phone any Canadian Toyota dealer's parts dep't and ask for a price on the hitch uninstalled, in a box.