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Fully welded vehicle trailer hitch is strong and durable. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. The combination of an e-coat base and a powder coat finish provides excellent rust protection.
Features:
Specs:
Draw-Tite's Tested Tough program provides testing standards far superior to those outlined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the go-to source for engineering professionals.
Each Draw-Tite trailer hitch receiver undergoes extensive fatigue testing and static testing with the ball mount that is either supplied or recommended for use with that particular hitch, thus ensuring results that are applicable to real life use. Fatigue testing is also conducted on hitches rated for use with weight-distribution systems.
In addition, Draw-Tite performs static testing on a simulated automobile, as opposed to the rigid fixture used for SAE testing, resulting in a more true-to-life scenario.
At etrailer.com we're committed to the products we sell, and to our customers. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff are available via both phone and email to address your questions and concerns for the lifetime of your hitch. The technicians at etrailer perform hitch installations on a daily basis, making them a valuable resource for do-it-yourselfers. The one-on-one, personal service you'll receive comes straight from an expert in the towing and automotive field. We've installed it, we've wired it and we've towed with it, so whatever your question, we can answer it.
California residents: click here
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Speaker 1: Today in this 2012 Toyota RAV4 we'll be having a look at and showing you how to install the Draw-Tite Class III trailer hitch receiver, part number 75235.Here's what the hitch looks like installed. One of the first things you'll notice about this hitch is that we have a lot clearance around the receiver, which makes this a great hitch to use with bike racks and cargo carriers, which is what we found that many of our customers are purchasing hitches for, for the RAV4.On the side of our receiver you'll find two pin holes. The larger diameter one here, that's our industry standard 5/8th of an inch diameter hitch pin hole to secure your hitch mount accessories. You can pick up a pin and clip separately on our website as part number PC3. Closest to the rear, this smaller hole is for our J-Pin stabilization device. And what that does is take away some inaudible 00:00:45 shape play and rattle inaudible 00:00:47 what is inserted in your receiver.
We have one of those available on our website as well. On the end of our receiver here, you find this nice collar that's welded on. Not only does it give us a finished look, but it does help improve the strength of the receiver opening.Now one unique feature that this hitch has that sets it apart from others out there is that we have a bracket that's welded onto the hitch, and this serves as an attachment point for any trailer wiring that we may need. You can pick up adaptor brackets that will bolt onto this to hold your wiring options. We have several different wiring options available for you on our website as well.Welded on the bottom of our receiver are our plate style safety chain loops.
And what's nice about these is they have a really large opening. So if you have a large safety chain hook like this one on your trailer, you don't have any problem getting it on there or removing it.This hitch features a 675 pound max ton weight rating, which is the amount forcing down, and a 4500 pound max gross trailer rating, which is the amount it can pull. It does support the use of weight distribution, but when you're using that on your trailer, the numbers don't change. They stay the same. As always, you want to make sure you consult with the owners manual of your RAV4 and not exceed what the vehicle's rated for.
You want to go by which ever number's less.Now for a few measurements to better assist you in choosing any hitch mounted accessory you may need such as a ball mount, bike rack, or a cargo carrier. You're looking at about a 12-1/2" from the ground to the top of the 2" receiver opening, about 4" from the center of the hitch pin hole through most part of the back bumper, and about 8" from the center of the hitch pin hole through most part of the spare tire carrier mounted on the hatch.Now that we've gone over some features, we'll show you how to get it installed. To begin our install, we need to figure out if our vehicle has a factory appearance panel on the driver side. It'll be a plastic panel here that you'll have to remove. In our case we don't have it, so we don't need to worry about that.
If we have a panel and we have it removed, underneath that we'll find bolts for our tow hook. We need to remove these. It's a 17 millimeter socket to remove both of these bolts.Now just forward of our forward attachment hole, we'll have a sticker here that covers the frame inaudible 00:02:58. We need to remove this sticker. Now there's a couple ways you can do this. You can try peeling it off. Sometimes they come off easy. Or you can take a utility knife, poke in the middle, and then you can just tear off around a well nut and frame. Now on the passenger side of the vehicle, we need to remove the back one and the one that's closest to the front.Now we'll point out the attachment points. We'll be utilizing all three well nuts on the driver's side frame in this area here. And on our passenger side with our tape removed, we'll be utilizing these two well nuts here. Our hardware's going to work like this. We'll have a bolt and a conical tooth washer. The teeth will face away from the head of the bolt towards the hitch, and we'll secure our hitch into place with this hardware.Now I need an extra set of hands. We'll grab our hitch. We'll raise it up over our exhaust on the passenger side and we'll secure it with our hardware. Once we have one bolt started the hitch will support itself and you can get your other hardware started. With all of our hardware in place now, we use an 18 millimeter socket to tighten it. And now we'll torque all of our hardware to the amount specified in the instructions.That will complete our look at and showing you how to install the Draw-Tite Class III trailer hitch receiver, part number 75235 on this 2012 Toyota RAV4.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (1265 Customer Reviews)
Fully welded vehicle trailer hitch is strong and durable. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. The combination of an e-coat base and a powder coat finish provides excellent rust protection.This is a nice, heavy duty hitch. Probably heavier duty than the 2011 Rav4 I put it on, but I like the 2" size reciever for the flexibility. You can always adapt down, but going up can be tricky. It was about a 20 minute install with about 40 minuets of up and down looking for a tool. Mine dod not have the bolt on muffler hanger the instructions referenced, but that was just a couple of bolts I didn't have to worry about. One trick I have learned with installing hitches on the ground by yourself is to use a jack to hold it up and in place while you start the bolts. The other is to run the bolts into the holes before you get the hitch into position. If the hole wasn't use, it ca be full of grit and road grime and it is a lot easier to deal with it before you have an 80 pound hitch hovering over you head. As always, eTrailer was a great source. I think this is the seventh hitch I have bought and installed from them over the years. I still the they need to include an "I got hitched at eTrailer" bumper sticker with every purchase, but I suppose solid service and affordable pricing is good enough.
The vertical plate on the passenger side was visibly bent, maybe from weld - hard to say. This made the holes for mounting the hitch to the car frame too tight by about an 1/8". I had to auger all 4 holes out with a Dremel cutting wheel and then repaint. This made the installation quite a bit more difficult and time consuming. The hitch is on and works fine but it didn't need to be this hard.
The first image is the bent passenger's side plate (the part coming off the round tubing and running up to where the hitch bolts to the car frame). The second shows the straight driver's side plate. Two images of the resulting misaligned holes. I removed about an 1/8" of metal from the outsides of all 4 holes which juuustt barely allowed me to get all four bolts threaded.
One other note: This hitch went on a 2017 Toyota Rav 4. 3 of the 4 threaded frame holes were unusable: rust and corrosion made threading the bolts impossible. I had to purchase a 12mm x 1.25 tap and clean out the threads first. The one good set of threads had a pre-existing bolt in it which kept those threads clean. The other three were open to the elements and didn't fare so well. They were fine after using the tap to clean them out.
Just got this part in the mail today and installed it on my vehicle this afternoon. There was great care given to the entire process by the entire team at etrailer. The trailer hitch fits perfectly and install took about 30 minutes with the help of a friend. I didn’t even lift the car as I didn’t have access to jack stands and it was still relatively easy. Works perfectly for my new 1up bike rack, which is why I bought put this on in the first place.
Soooooooo disappointed. Brand new hitch out of the box and the paint/coat is flaking off.
Imagine once it is outside in the rain, mid, snow.
The product seems fine, very durable and great welding! The packaging was a bit underrated for the contents and resulted in several chips of the finish down to bare metal on the mounting flanges. Will have to prime and paint those areas. A bit more care on wrapping these areas would have helped but also know UPS isn't exactly gentle with stuff like this...or windshields. I'd give excellent to eTrailer if the packing had been planned a bit better. I have no issue with the product at all!
This is a very heavy hitch. Worked perfectly for our 2018 Toyota Rav4 Adventure. We are using it with a hitch basket for additional storage. Love it! Packaging was excellent, delivery was quick, would definitely recommend etrailer. Great price too!
The trailer hitch was a perfect fit for my RAV4. There are several videos (including the one on eTrailer's website) that made it easy to know what to do. The only drawback was that the hitch, which is very heavy, is shipped in a thin cardboard box with minimal packing. It arrived with several holes on both sides of the box where the hitch had punched holes. That's normally not a problem but everywhere the hitch was exposed, the powder coating was missing and the bare metal was already rusting.
I ordered the Draw-Tite hitch receiver primarily for a bike rack. The receiver is for a 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. I was concerned that the receiver might not fit on my vehicle because the vehicle is a new year and model, but the receiver fit perfectly. I was also concerned that the receiver would detract from the rear look of the vehicle because it is not a factory hitch receiver, but the receiver looks great - actually better than I anticipated. I am very pleased with the receiver and with etrailer in general. Etrailer's customer service is top-notch.
Darin S.
3/12/2017
Thanks for the follow up. The hitch is still great.
I haven't used it yet, so my review is based on shipping and mounting experience.
The hitch came in a torn box and the hitch doesn't have any additional packaging (like plastic wrap or whatever). Because of this the hitch got scratched during its transportation. So I had to buy paint and spray out damaged places to prevent rust.
The rack has pretty decent instructions on multiple languages, which is good and has all the necessary hardware.
During the mounting everything went pretty good, even though I was doing it alone. except for one hole. I don't know whether I did something wrong, or the geometry of the hitch wasn't perfect, or geometry of my car, but I struggled to align a mounting hole with a car hole to be able to secure with a bolt. And yes, I tried to lose other bolts to adjust the position, but it didn't help.
Also since my car is pretty old, I had to repair threads in advance, to avoid problems during the actual installation. I would recommend that everybody should try to use a bolt without the hitch to check a thread in every hole before installation.
Long story short - it is a decent hitch for the price. The steel is thick and painted very well. 4 stars just for packaging and my straggling with 1 bolt
Alex
6/30/2020
Its been a year since I installed the hitch, and I must admit that I am pretty happy with it. No rust, works like a charm!
Great product. It was as easy to install as was stated, IF, you have the proper tools and the car lift. I had to do it at ground level. It took me an additional 15 minutes to figure out how to do it right.
I had to lift the RAV4 about 6 inches to get under it with plenty of room. (See photos) I sprayed the bolt holes with WD-40 to ease the threading. I used two jack stands to steady the receiver. After inserting the first bolt, the rest went smooth. Glad I did it instead of paying the rv place to install it. I did have to trim the plastic cover on the driver's side before putting it back on.
Greg
2/27/2022
I have an Intech Chase and pulled it up and down mountains without any issues to the receiver. I will check the torque on the bolts before headed out this years just fire pace of mind. Otherwise, still a great buy.
Whatever I need a trailer product. My only choice is e-trailer. Whether hitching or wiring. I've used them many years and their products have always been easy to install and an exact fit. Have recommended them to many others who say the same thing. Thanks everyone at e-trailer great job!
Instructions and video are very good.
I installed it by myself. Went smoothly and easily. The directions say the bolts are 19mm but they were actually 18mm which was great because I didn’t have a 19mm socket. The main reasons I bought this brand/model was because of the maximum tongue weight , where the tow chains connect to (not right under hitch pin) and it reuses the tow hook attachment.
Dc
1/13/2019
It has been one year since I installed the hitch. I use it on my 2013 Toyota RAV4 for a cargo hitch to haul my snow blower to my parents and in-laws house when it snows. It works as it should and still looks great!
The receiver will be great now that I have it installed. However…the two easy to get to bolts went in like they were supposed to, the second set(toward front of car) were a different story. I would recommend running a tap into the threaded hole to clean the threads before attempting to insert and tighten the bolts. I can’t believe I didn’t break them, had to use a 24” cheater on my ratchet. Yikes! If everything went smoothly you might get it installed in 20 minutes, mine took an hour and 20 minutes. I’d rather have a couple bloody knuckles than pay someone to do it for me though…
All I can say, is WOW. This hitch is outstanding quality for a more than reasonable price. Very solid and easy to install. Total install time was less than 30mins. I used a strong cardboard box to help leverage the hitch while i secured the bolts in place. +1 for having online video to help facilitate in quick and easy install.
Brandon
9/11/2019
Still awesome, no problems at!!! Wouldnt buy from anyone else.
The slotted mounting holes that are suppose to provide some tolerance did not quite line up with the holes in the vehicles frame.
Jenny N.
5/24/2024
Gregory, it could be that the hitch side brackets are flexed out of alignment. If the holes are only a half an inch off then they can be moved back into alignment. We have an article that gives tips on how to do so. I have linked it below. If this does not help please let me know.
Helpful Links
Fit perfectly! Installed in less than 1hour and that included looking at the video 4 times!
It came with free shipping through UPS without a scratch!
My wife and I can now use our old bike rack and take the bikes to trails across town (ATL).
Highly recommend!
Matt M.
9/17/2018
Still love it! Works as expected! Thanks for the follow up!
I originally bought this product for my move cross country but decided to just load up the essentials in my car and ship the rest out later instead of hauling a trailer. Pros I can definitely say about this hitch: Easy assembly!
I did this all by myself after watching the installation video and referencing it a few times after. Same with the wiring system. I would recommend if you have someone to help you, it goes faster. I was under the SUV holding one end up with my legs and hips while my arms fastened the other end because I was by myself. It's definitely easier if you have someone else to hold up the other side while you work. Honestly I think the hardest or most time consuming part was tearing apart the inside of my car in order to access the hook ups by my brake lights for the wiring system to hook up.
The few times I tested it and practiced driving and parking with it with one of my dad's trailers, it's definitely sturdy and handles weight well although I did notice that the heavier the trailer when it hits pot holes or uneven places in roads it jerks the car quite a bit. Then again I wasn't on the freeway with it at the time, but more back roads and less well kept than a main freeway or highway. Even on the curves of the roads though, not much sway side to side which was nice to notice, especially with a long trailer.
I would love to get more opportunities to use it especially for moving or trip purposes.
Like many other reviews state, the holes did not all line up with my vehicle. (see photo) I had to attempt to install and remove the hitch three times, using a hydraulic jack and some 2x4’s to spread attachment points apart about half an inch to get all the holes to finally line up. It would seem they just slap these together and throw them out the door with zero quality control.
Victoria B.
12/6/2019
Trailer hitch manufacturers construct hitch arms out of a mild steel, which allows the hitch to flex. This is important so that the hitch can move with the rest of your vehicle without the steel cracking and compromising the integrity of the hitch. Because of the design, the hitch arms can also flex a bit in shipping and warehousing. Using a jack and some wood pieces is a great way to correct the flex in a trailer hitch. I have linked a help article with some additional tips.
Helpful Links
Fit perfectly on our 2015 Rav4. It was easy to install and barely noticeable on the vehicle after it was installed. I use it to tow a small trailer and for a hitch mounted bike rack. Works great for both applications. The instructions were also written very well and easy to follow. I will be back to etrailer for future purchases.
Great product with a great price! The 675 lbs tongue weight is a blessing. Much beefier then the other Class 3 hitch offerings offered here. I used to have a U-Haul class 3 hitch but it wasn’t up to the task with my set up. I upgraded to this one for the extra tongue weight rating to carry my spare tire and Wilco rack, and to also tow occasionally. This hitch is very strong, does not flex and has lasted two winters now with no rust or corrosion around the bolts. Easy to install and looks great when done :)
Very nice 2" trailer hitch. Was easy to install this hitch on my 2017 Toyota RAV4 with another set of hands to assist installation. My RAV had more than enough ground clearance for me to install this hitch without having to lift the rear end of my vehicle. I was a little concerned about post-installation ground clearance before installing this hitch as it appears to hang low, but as you can see in the picture, the bottom of the hitch still sits higher than my exhaust pipe; so no hitch rubbing as I back out of the driveway and off my steeply sloped curb.
INSTALL TIP: the plastic cover on the left side of the vehicle gets removed as part of the installation instructions; you CAN reinstall the plastic cover by trimming off the piece that comes in contact with the left side of the hitch. I included some pictures of my installation for reference. The plastic cover was easily trimmed with a simple hand hacksaw. I felt much better putting this plastic cover back on, rather than leaving off. I would recommend this be a part of the installation instructions so people buying this hitch can see how simple and quick this trimming actually is. My guess is that most people would reinstall. All-in, just 40 minutes to complete the full installation! Very happy and I would recommend this hitch without any reservations!
I am pleased with our Draw-Tite MaxFrame 75235 trailer hitch, as of current we are only using it for the bike rack and hitch rack. Plans for a small tent trailer in the works and confident it will meet expectations. Install was very easy and instructions were straight forward. 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Great service. Solid product. Fit and installation went as expected. No unpleasant surprises.
My etrailer.com DrawTite hitch arrived early 9/6/2018. The box and hitch were fine. I am a senior citizen and usually attempt DIY installations but I know that a lift would be the easiest method for installation. I took my RAV4 and hitch to my local tire / auto maintenance shop for the install. A Youtube video for the 2018 Toyota RAV4 was very helpful and easy to follow. It took less than 15 minutes with a little help from me installing the bolts while the auto mechanic held the hitch in place. Everything went well. For product … I rate it a 5 (great quality) … price also a 5 (excellent price) … We’ll be using the hitch for our bicycle rack.
Chuck S.
I purchased this for my 2017 Rav4 Hybrid. I watched the video, very clear instructions, but be warned it's not QUITE as easy to install as in the video, especially if you don't have some of the specialized tools. That said, I was able to knock it out successfully in about 2 hours, including finding the 3 bolts the dog carried off while I was under the Rav4... Watch the video and do what they say and you'll be fine. Here are a few things I found that weren't clear in the video. First, when removing that plastic cover on the driver's side (first step), the plastic clips are pretty cheap. I broke the head off of one and had to man-handle the thing to get it off. Be careful not to break the heads and it will go quicker. Next, those bolts holding the tie-down hook are in REALLY tight, and there's not much room to get leverage using a standard size socket wrench. I was able to break them free eventually but it was tough. The right tool would help here... My biggest snag was getting the exhaust off of the rubber support. I thought I had some WD40 but turns out I didn't, so it would probably be easier if you use that like the video says. Also the rod that the rubber sits on has a knob on the end that is larger than the hole (so it doesn't come off of course), but this makes it hard to get the rubber off the metal rod. I was sure I was going to tear it but just push hard it will make it over the knob. I actually used a weeding tool to push it off. Once I got the exhaust free it was smooth sailing. When positioning the hitch and getting the first bolts in don't even try to do it yourself (I did...); an extra set of hands is definitely needed. Also the instructions say to use a 19mm socket for the mounting bolts, but the bolts I got were actually 18mm. Don't think that matters. All in all installation was not too bad!
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Condition: Like New
Notes: May have damaged packaging or minor cosmetic blemishes.
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Gwendolyn Y.
11/26/2024
I love your bumper sticker idea! I'm going to see if I can get some made.