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This fully welded, corrosion-resistant Toyota RAV4 trailer hitch receiver is perfect for your light-duty towing needs. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. Drawbar sold separately.
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.
Tech Tip
No drilling required for installation , Exhaust must be temporarily lowered for installation , Trimming or removal of underbody panel required for installation , Fits Hybrid models as well
California residents: click here
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Speaker 1: Today on our 2016 Toyota RAV 4, we're going to taking a look and showing you how to install the Draw-Tite class II custom fit trailer hitch receiver, part number 36588.Here's what our hitch looks like once we have it installed on our RAV 4. It is going to sit below the bumper and the cross tube is going to be visible but it does kind of go back and sit a little further in so it's not going to be as noticeable. Our hitch it going to give some inch and a quarter by inch and quarter receiver tube opening which is going to be great for some bike racks and cargo carriers.The way we're going to mount any of our accessories to the hitch pin hole here on the side and it is going to take a half inch pin and clip. These are not included in the kit but you can pick them up here at etrailer.com as well as some locking devices to keep your accessories secure.Our stage chain connections are going to be a plate style welded to the bottom and we're not going to have too much trouble getting most sized hooks on or off but you do have rather small hooks, just keep in mind this flange here may be a problem. Now as far as the weight capacity goes, our hitch is going to have a 300 pound tongue weight which is the maximum downward force at the receiver tube. It's also going to have a 3,500 pound gross trailer weight rating, which is the amount it can pull, including the trailer and everything we have loaded on it.If you do plan on doing some light duty towing, there are specific draw bars for our hitch and you can find those here at etrailer.com.
Just be sure to always double check your Toyota's owner's manual and never exceed the manufacturers recommended weight.Like to give you a few measurements and that's going to help you whenever you're looking at accessories for your hitch such as a bike rack or a cargo carrier. From the center of the hitch pin hole to the outermost edge of the bumper, it's going to be right about three and a half inches. The measurement's going to come in handy when you're looking at folding accessories to make sure you have adequate clearance and it doesn't come in contact with the rear bumper. From the ground to inside top edge of the receiver tube opening, it's going to be right about 13 inches. At that height I would recommend a bike rack or cargo carrier with a raised shank, that way we get a little bit more ground clearance.Now that we've seen what our hitch looks and we've gone over some of the features, let's show you how to get it installed.
To begin your installation, we're going to come to rear driver side and we're going to have this appearance panel on the bottom here. We're going to have to remove it. At the very back we're going to have a couple pushpin fasteners. If we take a flat head screwdriver, we come into the notched area, we can pop out the center section and that's going to take tension off the clip, then we can pull the rest of it out.If we move forward on the panel, just right behind the rear axle, we'll have a nut that's holding it in place so we can grab a 10 millimeter socket and pull that out. Now underneath that panel we'll have our tow hook.
It'll be held in by two bolts. Grab a 17 millimeter socket and we can pull those out. On the passenger side, where our muffler is, we're going to have an exhaust hanger right toward the exhaust tip. We're going to want to slide the hanger off so you're going to get a little bit more room to work with. I'm going to take some spray lubricant, just going to spray the hanger down then I'm going to take a pry bar and using the muffler to pry against, just going to slide that isolator off.On the other side of that muffler hanger, we're going to have another exhaust rod that's going to be held in by two bolts.
We can a 12 millimeter socket and we're going to pull those out. On the bottom of frame rail here we're going to have threaded holes. Those are going to be our mounting locations. To make sure that everything's clean, we're going to take little bit of spray lubricant and a nylon brush and we're going to clean out the threads so we can make sure that our bolts don't cross thread in there.On the driver side here, we're going to have a total of three but on the passenger we're going to only have two. Once you have all your weld nuts clean on both side, it's not a bad idea to take one of the bolts from our kit and we're going to run it in to each one of the holes to make sure that there's no debris and they're not going to cross thread.With an extra set of hands we're going to lift our hitch into position. We're going to over the exhaust on the passenger side and we'll lift our hitch so that the holes line up with the weld nuts in the frame. Take one of of our bolts and a conical tooth washer and we're going to thread it in by hand just so the hitch will support itself and we can get the rest of our hardware in. We'll come back with a 19 millimeter socket and we'll snug up all of our hardware. We can come back with a torque wrench and torque all the hardware down to the specified amount in the instructions. You want to make sure prepared for any remaining hardware.Now we can lift our exhaust up and slide that rubber isolator back onto the hanger.That'll finish up your look at the Draw-Tite class II custom fit trailer hitch receiver, part number 36588 on our 2016 Toyota RAV 4.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (210 Customer Reviews)
This fully welded, corrosion-resistant vehicle trailer hitch receiver is perfect for your light-duty towing needs. Draw-Tite's Tested Tough guarantee ensures that this hitch exceeds industry standards. Drawbar sold separately.Installation of the hitch took me 20 minutes by myself. Would have been faster, but couldn't find my socket extension. I used a swivel on my socket so I didn't have to release the muffler. The hitch mounted up to the factory holes just as the "how to" video said they would. Mine were nice and clean so no extra prep was needed.
I had my mechanic do the install along with the wiring harness on my 2009 Rav 4 Limited, told him about the great How To videos that etrailer has and he said it was super easy! It looks great and I can’t wait to use it. Buying my trailer this weekend!! My only concern is did I get the correct size for the small 4X8 open bed trailer??
Heather A.
11/9/2018
This draw-tite class 2 hitch part # 36588 is rated up to 300 lbs in tongue weight. As long as you do not exceed the tongue weight rating with the small trailer you should not have any issues. If you ever decide to tow a larger trailer you will probably need a higher capacity hitch for your RAV4 such as etrailer class 3 hitch part # e98864. The etrailer class 3 part # e98864 can handle up to 525 lbs of tongue weight and is the same exact installation as the class 2.
I was nervous after having read some of the other reviews about slightly offset mounting holes, especially since I have a 2012 Rav4.
My order came with my accessories neatly wrapped to the trailer hitch, so nothing was rattling around in the box.
I pulled out the hitch and separated the accessories. I crawled under the car and removed the protective covers from the chassis mounting holes. (Adhesive paper discs) I held the hitch up to the holes and they were perfectly aligned. The hitch mounted very easily. I had to disconnect the two rubber muffler supports to mount right side, abd remove a tie down bracket from the left. The hardest part of the job was fishing the wiring harness, but that was more due to all the trim pieces that had to be opened up, and a tight spot passing over the wheel well.
Getting the positive lead through the firewall wasn't too bad, once I found a spot in the rubber grommet that I could punch a hole through. All-in-all, I'm very happy with the product.
Great hitch. Easy installation and perfect fit. Don't spend money on installation watch the video, you can do it.
Mike W.
8/25/2018
Great no complaints.
The receiver itself seems well built. But your shipper leaves alot to be desired.So much for my rust protection.
I purchased this hitch along with a Thule (TH912XT) bike rack. The install was fairly simple and quick on my 2007 RAV4, although a 2nd set of hands will greatly help you out. The only little problem I ran into was with the exhaust. It does need to be moved slightly out of the way in order to install one of the bolts. Otherwise, it was a straight forward install. Quality seems good and it appears to be well built. Only time will tell. If I had to purchase this hitch again, based on what I've seen so far, I definitely would.
Easy install thanks to a great video! I had to contact customer service to inquire about re-installing the plastic panel by the recovery hook. It wasn't mentioned in the video that it would need to be modified (trimmed) to fit and re-attach. It was noted in their database. Great customer service every step of the process. Thank you!
I'm impressed with the selection, pricing and information on the trailer site. I'm NOT impressed with the fact that they sold me a hitch that was no longer in stock, AND was never going to be in stock again! When I made the order the estimated deliver time was about 5 days later. On the designated delivery day I checked the site which stated my order was "awaiting stock." I called to find out it was out of stock, with no plans to re-order because it was a discontinued item. I didn't receive any emails informing me of this important information. As I had a pressing need for a hitch, I ordered a different model, same spec, $[XX] more. I asked the customer excuse representative to honor the original price, but she would not. I know this wasn't an intentional bait'n'switch scam, but I do not feel great about the purchase. I did receive the more expensive replacement today. Bottom line: Slick site and homey vibe NOT supported by actual purchase experience.
The hitch is exactly as described. The shipping was incredibly fast and free. Free is almost always a good price. I was afraid "free" meant slow but that was not the case. The hitch was amazingly easy to install. Thanks etrailer for a great experience.
To all you people looking for a hitch look no further best prices and installing there hitch was as simple as putting gas in your car no drilling they supply hardware all u do is bolt it up and enjoy towing your boat As I am or what ever u may
Very happy with hitch. Good prompt delivery The installation info was very helpfull. Installed the hitch myself in 30 minutes. With help could be done in 15. Have not installed the wire harness yet again your video should be helpfull. Great service great product.
RAV4 Limited hitch installationHere are some photos of my installation (including Hitch and the wire
harness.
Now, it looks good. I have 2009 RAV4 LIMITED (4-cyl)
The hitch was installed without any issues,, all holes lined up perfectly to the corresponding holes on my vehicle!!!
I have a small shop and install many of the items sold by etrailer, I find them to be excellent in product quality and customer communications. Fast action on returns and I am satisfied with the products I receive. For this Toyota Rav4, everything went well(hitch & wiring).
Suzanne C.
9/27/2013
I have a LandRover LR3. Will this hitch fit the LR3? I really like this hitch but I am afraid I will have to remove the full sized spare tire to install it? thanks! Suzanne
I purchased a raw-Tite Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class II - 1-1/4". It seems fine so far. I'm disappointed that one of the bolts shipped with the trailer hitch was different than the rest. It would not thread and I had to opt for professional installation, ultimately costing me $90. Poor quality control, if you ask me....
Dave
3/2/2014
Yea mine too. 3 bolts fit and the 4th is too big. I think someone at the factory is angry at their boss and screwing up the bolts to make trouble.
Great company to deal with. Super fast shipping. Quality product that is easy to install in 15 minutes.
A company that cares enough to follow up on your order along with additional instructions for installation of wire harness.
Thanks Patrick and etrailer,
Ken C.
1/30/2015
Still own the truck it was installed on, has proven to be a quality hitch.
INSTALL TIME WAS 45 MINUTES WORKING SOLO. AMAZING FIT AND APPEARANCE. DEFINITELY MADE FOR THIS A TOYOTA RAV4.
Product was exactly as advertised. It showed up at my front door three days after I ordered it. The install was just like the videos showed. A piece of cake to install.
A side note - The video is a great sales tool. I am not a gear head and I had some trepidation about installing a trailer hitch by myself. But after seeing how easy it looked I decided to give it a shot.
I will definitely be telling folks how easy this project was and how nice etrailer is to deal with.
Andy H.
5/5/2015
After one year the hitch and wiring are still working great. They get fairly light usage. I use them to haul my mower on a small utility trailer to a cabin. Ill be moving soon and the trailer will be getting a work out
Unit arrived before expected and without damage. All parts and procedures were intact and easy to follow.
Definitely needed to prep the existing weldnut holes and a good soak of PB and a small brush did the trick.
Needed some serious manual wrenching, but the 19mm bolts had plenty of threads to secure the hitch. Alignment was very nice, and it would have been a longer job if I did not have a helper.
Newrav
12/28/2017
So far the hitch has worked flawlessly, and provided easy access for a bike rack. We have taken many road trips with our bikes, and again, the hitch performs without worry.
Excellent product at a great price! The guys at the tire shop installed it for me and it only took them about 10 minutes. They said it fit perfectly into the predrilled holes of my 2012 RAV4 and only charged me $20 to pop it on for me. Very pleased with this product and the service from etrailer.com.
Suzanne B.
9/15/2015
Works as expected, not a single issue. Thanks for a quality product at a great price!
Product came fast and well packed- no damage. Installed myself in 45 minutes. Excellent service kept me aware of my shipment from the minute I paid for it. I would certainly recommend etrailer.com to my friends.
Bill S.
5/7/2015
Excellent! Paint is holding up well from a VERY harsh winter.No rust showing,Good product.
The hitch arrived ahead of schedule, it was packaged well and complete. This is my second time purchasing a hitch through etrailer and have been very happy with the experience.
David S.
8/7/2020
After a year of use the hitch is still working well!
Hitch arrived in a timely manner and was easily installed. On-line video was a big help in the installation. My first purchase experience with you, I'll definitely purchase other products from you and refer you as the place to go for this equipment.
Landlocked S.
7/20/2015
Thanks for getting back to me! When I originally purchased this trailer hitch from eTrailer.com, I meant it to only be used to pull a small, lightweight trailer. Earlier this year, we took delivery of a new 18 foot sailboat w trailer. To save shipping fees, we opted to drive from Texas to South Carolina to pickup the boat/trailer rig. However, before taking on this task, we checked the towing requirements for our purchase and compared that with the specs on our recently-installed hitch before making our trip. The Draw-Tight trailer hitch we purchased from you worked just fine. Since we store the boat at our residence, we regularly tow the boat to lakes near us. This trailer hitch has performed without any issue. Id highly-recommend this product and eTrailer.com to anybody in the market for a trailer hitch.Regards,
The hitch, ordering process and delivery all went well.
The reason for only 4 stars is the over priced brush that is NOT needed. After reading the installation literature I felt it was needed but I think I was gas lighted into thinking there was a need.
Sierra K.
10/19/2021
I am sorry that you feel like you wasted your money on the wire brush. Sometimes they are definitely needed to clean weld nuts, especially with vehicles over 5 years, because of all the road debris and possible rust. Here is a help article with the reasoning why we recommend that product.
Helpful Links
This trailer hitch is very well made, it fit perfectly. The estimated install time was right on, it took me about 25 minutes to install.
Jeff H.
8/20/2015
Hitch still works great, no problems
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Dave H.
3/28/2015
Works great. Will purchase again when I replace this vehicle