Rav4 Trailer Hitch Wiring.

[Radke]

By any chance has anyone installed a wiring harness on a Rav-4?

I just recently purchased an '08 Rav4 with the towing prep package, which includes wiring, but apparently not back all the way to the hitch. I think they provided a stub to plug a harness into. I ordered and received a hitch receiver and a wiring harness, and plan on doing the install this weekend, but I was wondering if anyone has already done this work and can give me a tip or two on the wiring piece. I haven't yet even crawled under this thing, so it may be apparent once I do, but I thought I'd ask the question anyway in the event it isn't.

thanks in advance.

[chucks electric]

hello, if i might recommend replacing the trailer lamps to LED's the wiring on the vehicle is small and doesn't tolerate much of an increase in current load. the multifunction switch i.e. the turn signal switch melt real easy.
if the wiring kit is from toyota it should plug and play. if not reply back and give the wire colors and we can get it figured out.

[R Jackson]

If you go to reese-hitchesdotcom and input your make, model, and year into their site, I think you'll find some info. It's in pdf form and I couldn't cut 'n paste both the pics and text here.

[Radke]

Originally Posted by R Jackson

If you go to reese-hitchesdotcom and input your make, model, and year into their site, I think you'll find some info. It's in pdf form and I couldn't cut 'n paste both the pics and text here.

thanks for the replies.

I ordered the hitch and wiring harness from a company called etrailer.com. They provided a series of dropdown's that allow you to select components specific to your vehicle. Even showed a picture of a Rav4 with the hitch installed. The wiring harness, like I mentioned, is advertised to just plug into an existing port on the vehicle, so I think I'll be okay, I just need to crawl under it and look around.

I'm really hoping the wiring in the vehicle from the factory isn't underrated for the job. Like I said, it came with a tow prep package which included upgraded components. If I end up with wiring issues as a result of hooking up a trailer, I'll be more than a little disappointed in Toyota.

[1pump]

If current draw is an issue, you can use relays. It gets a bit more involved, though.

[Radke]

Well, I did the install of the hitch and wiring over the weekend. The hitch took all of 20 minutes. There was four pre-drilled holes in the frame with welded nuts behind them, it was a piece of cake.

The wiring, not quite as easy. Getting the trim panels off the back so I could route the wiring was the most difficult. I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to break anything, and I almost succeeded. managed to break two little tabs, but nothing that would ever be noticed.

pretty happy with the kit and instructions.

[Fsh2Max]

I just read your post. I did the same install about two months ago. I pull a 16' Hewescraft Sportsman. Remember to take low spots slowly or the bottom of the hitch will drag