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This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your Toyota RAV4's frame with no welding required. Matte black, powder coated steel is durable and corrosion resistant and creates a rugged look.
Features:
Specs:
The sturdy steel construction is protected with a matte black finish for added durability. This unique powder coating gives etrailer hitches a carbide-like appearance and a rugged look that sets them apart from traditional glossy hitches. In addition to being rust and corrosion resistant, the tough matte coating hides dirt, scuffs, and dings better than a glossy finish.
At etrailer 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 , Underbody trim panel must be modified or trimmed if present , Exhaust must be temporarily lowered for installation , Fits Hybrid models as well
Complete Towing Package for 2016 Toyota RAV4
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Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (1400 Customer Reviews)
This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your vehicle's frame with no welding required. Matte black, powder coated steel is durable and corrosion resistant and creates a rugged look.Very happy with the construction of the hitch, unfortunately the right bracket was bent on arrival. I will attempt to straighten it with help from email sent to me. I wish the packaging would be better so this problem wouldn’t exist. Hopefully I can straighten it and it will work.
Timothy
9/9/2024
I was able to straighten it, and it works great.
I purchased the Hitch Receiver primarily to use with a VelociRAX bike transporter rack (see photo). It was easy to install (once I got my nephew to come over to help - I needed an extra set of hands). It is plenty robust and solid to suit my needs. The only thing that I need to be careful with, because it sets fairly low, is to take care when pulling into a driveway of parking area that has a dramatic change of slope, otherwise the bottom of the bike rack will scape on the concrete.
Perfect fit and an easy do it yourself installation project on a 2009 RAV4
Recommend using a 12mm x 1.25 tap if bolt holes need threads cleaned out like mine did.
17mm impact socket to take off the tow plate and a 19mm socket to install the hitch, plus a Torque wrench and an impact driver.
Rubber isolation bushing easily comes off to drop the exhaust out of the way, I used bungees to support the exhaust instead of a strap as shown in the video.
I installed by myself simply lifting and bolting one side on at a time starting with the exhaust side laying on my garage floor. Easy peasy!
The mount holes were about a half inch too narrow to easily bolt right up to the chassis. I was able to force it out and get one factory bolt started - I could not start the ones provided with the hitch since I had to pull the holes into alignment.
David
10/4/2024
After a year of use the hitch works great. Nothing has loosened up and the black finish has been very durable with no rust starting. I had actually forgotten the minor difficulty I had installing it. As I recall the factory bolt has an unthreaded pilot section at the end which allows it to start easier.
After learning that you have to bend the arms to get it to fit. Installing was easy, fit was great and hitch is well constructed and have no issues in past year of use. Would recommend the installation instructions include the possibility of having to bend the arms rather than having to chase the issue through customer service, would have saved time for me and the company. Very solid product and highly recommend.
Shipping box was damaged and the arms of the hitch receiver are visually bent inward. Because of this the hitch does not line up with the weld nuts in the frame.
Looking at reviews this seems to be a common this with e-hitch. If you have the time and patience to deal with customer support or roll the dice on getting an undamaged product you should buy this hitch. I would not recommend it from my experience though.
Note:have reached out to support but waiting to hear back.
Like everything else I’ve purchased at etrailer the hitch bolted right into place. I wanted it primarily for hauling my ebike and it works great.
Dave
6/19/2024
I still use the reciver hitch I purchased at etrailer all the time. I bought a heavy e-bike and actually take it with me where we winter on south Texas which is a 1400+ mile trip. Occasionally I also pull a small utility trailer too. I have had ZERO issues any time when using my hitch. etrailer is the only website I go to when looking for something hitch related. it’s a easy website to navigate in and usually has a video available to help with installation.
Poor handling. Box arrived with two large holes punched thru by the mounting base plate of the hitch receiver. Fortunately no parts missing.
Package was wrongly delivered to the neighbor's house across the street. My neighbor carried it across the street to deliver it to me. Both houses have its own driveway and mail boxes at the end of drive way with house number on it. Dont know how this could happen ? First time happen in 20 years here..
Hitch is excellent, although it did require "adjusting" the width as many purchasers report. I used a hydraulic jack and a length of 4"x4" to force the arms apart so the mounting holes would line up. Responses from etrailer say that they are shifted as a result of being shipped, but that would be almost impossible in my opinion. They are made like that. I know there are several folks who returned these for replacement, which would be a giant pain. If it was shipping damage on so many hitches then they should be shipped with a wood brace to prevent damage. They are simply improperly made.
Quality product at a fair price. The installation instructions were clear, although the print was small and the photo a little hard to see.
The actual installation went smoothly and took about an hour. I was able to complete the install without assistance.
Jim
5/6/2024
The hitch has worked out great for my bicycle rack. I havent had any problems with the hitch performance or how it has held up.
No issues so far. Installation was super easy as well. It is starting to rust though and it's only been a year.
Benjamin
7/16/2024
Another year past they sent me an email asking me to update my review. It has saved my bumpertail pipe from big dipssidewalks many times. No complaints!
Trailer hitch was bent and once one side was mounted the holes in other side did not match up. Box looked like it had been through a horrible experience when received so it was hard to tell if it was bent from factory or was somehow bent in transit. Either way good luck getting one that fits as specified. A lot of the reviews mentioned that it would be bent and they were right.
I had already hired a mechanic to do the job so he just welded the other side. The hitch itself works fine and hasn’t had any issues other then the holes not lining up.
Like other reviewers, my hitch receiver had been bent in delivery and was a bit too narrow to fit my '06 Rav4. I understand that etrailer has no control over the delivery, but I find myself wishing the manufacturer would put a bit more pride into their work and package the product in a way that prevented damage. Nonetheless, with a little support from my wife (both physical and emotional), we installed the hitch and it's rock solid.
One bolt hole did not line up but was able to get it on anyway with a little muscle. Looks good and works great. The video was very helpful for ease of installation. We backed up on two planks to give us extra clearance to install the receiver on the ground. Thx
GREAT PRODUCT! HIGH QUALITY WELDS AND COATING. INSTALLATION IS EASY BECAUSE THEY HAVE STEP BY STEP VIDEOS. VERY PLEASED AND WAS SHIPPED FAST!!!
The hitch fit perfectly and was mounted in 30 minutes. Looks nice with the matte finish, as it is more camouflaged and does not stand out as much as the high gloss.
Richard
6/4/2024
Been using it for my bike carrier and it works great.
Trailer hitch for my RAV4 arrived promptly and fit perfectly. I would order from the trailer again!
The hitch looked perfect out of the box. The cardboard box was busted and it did some scratches on the hitch. That was not a problem for me. The hitch installed pretty easy. For the last bolt I had to push the hitch over with a screw driver. I torqued the 4 bolts to 76 pounds as needed. Not bad. It looks good and heavy duty.
Very satisfied. Nice finish. Came undamaged. Perfect fit for my 2011 RAV4. Good instructions. No cutting or alterations required, other than unbolting and removing left rear tow hook, which is to be replaced by left mounting point of receiver. Was able to do alone, with help of a cooler to support opposite side as I secured first bolt. Be sure you have an 8” plus extension for your socket to give room for ratchet and torque wrench. Also, a ratchet strap should be used to support exhaust, which must be slipped off of hanger to gain access to right side bolts.
David
9/22/2021
Hitch still works great. The finish still looks good after one year in Minnesota.
Excellent product. I am a 68 year old woman with no jack and I installed the hitch by myself. So don't be scared, you can do this. Took me a few minutes, blocked it up and then installed with a torque wrench and also installed the bracket for the wiring connector. The wiring was pretty easy also. I did watch videos. They were great.
Debby
6/2/2022
Great quality and price
The hitch was perfect for my car. My nephew installed it for me today and had absolutely no problems. It's exactly what I need to be able to add a bicycle carrier and securely carry multiple bikes.
It's on the car, I like it, and I'm not sending it back. That's the good part. The not so good? Like so many people say, the holes didn't line up, and I had to work through it. etrailer says if it's bent, and the holes don't match, you can bend it to fit. I needed only about 4mm. I was willing to try. I started with boards and a jack. Sure enough, I could push the arms apart pretty easily. But as soon as I relaxed the jack, they went back to their un-fitting shape. I tried again, pushing further. Still the same. That steel is dang strong. Next I tried the angled-boards-and-sledge technique. Same result: I could spread the arms, but they wouldn't stay spread. I tried wedging in an open stairway, but quickly realized the hitch was stronger than the stairs. I tried prying it under the car, but my pry bar couldn't find anything solid to push against. The gas tank? Not on your Nelly. I tried other things, trying to stay patient, no success.
So how did I get it on? If I couldn't move the hitch to make it the right shape, I needed to move the holes. Chainsaw round-file to the rescue. It took only about 10 minutes to make each of the two rear-most holes a few millimeters longer. Then under the car once more and -click- onto the frame. Done. Only three hours. Success... I guess.
Note: once I started filing I realized the back two holes are farther from the edge of the steel than the front two holes. 10mm vs 7mm to be precise. When I finished filing, they were more like 8mm vs 7mm. That made all the difference. I assume etrailer has a reason for spacing the holes this way but in my case it would have been better if they had just made all four holes 7mm from the edge.
It's done. I ain't complaining. Just glad I had round files and my brain didn't take more than a couple hours to figure out a workable solution.
Sierra K.
7/21/2022
I really enjoyed reading your review. I am sorry that you went through so much trouble for what is called, flexed hitch. Here is a whole help article about it:
Helpful Links
Unfortunately did not fit my 2016 Toyota Rav4 hybrid. Wasted too much time and ruined my plans for the weekend.
Hitch was overall too narrow (by 1/2 inch) for vehicle frame.
Perhaps faulty product or slightly bent? Regardless, the bolt holes on both sides didn’t have adequate room, see photos.
Will return for refund.
I have experience working on USAF aircraft, so it would have been an easy install had the hitch fit properly.
Tyler M.
4/19/2021
Hi Nathan, Thank you for your feedback! This hitch is a confirmed fit for your vehicle. Trailer hitch receivers can flex during shipping due to the ears of the hitch being made out of mild steel. The mild steel is used to help absorb vibrations from the trailer to the tow vehicle. The ears can be flexed back into shape without compromising the hitch. I have attached a helpful article that goes into detail of how to flex the hitch back into shape.
Helpful Links
Sierra K.
7/6/2021
Thank you for your review. It sounds like your hitch receiver was slightly flexed. Here is more info about it:
Helpful Links
I'm 5'1" and semi-strong but I was worried about lifting my 60 lb. e-bike onto the rack. Now I have it down pat, 1) tilt the platform, 2) put the front tire in the holder, 3) clamp it snug but not too tight, 4) lift the rear tire into the channel, 5) ratchet the tire tight making sure it doesn't touch the spokes, 5) check the front tire clamp and retighten on the tire if needed, 6) lock the cable. Then I'm off, I love it. The locks are a bit tight & tricky. My driveway is 700 ft of gravel so I'm a bit concerned that dust could make the lower lock difficult. Suggestion anyone?
Heather A.
7/9/2020
Thank you for your review. It is common for the Thule locks to be sticky when they are new. lightly tap the key all the way into place in the lock core the very first time you use it so that it seats fully. You can use a rubber mallet or small hammer to gently coax the key into its fully-ed position. That usually loosens it up. Please let me know if you need more help.
Timely delivery. Almost lined up perfectly with the factory mounting holes. However, I had to remove about 1/16 in of metal with a power reamer from the right rear bolt hole to allow the bolt to engage the threads properly. The hitch is very robust and it's capacity exceeds the weight and towing limits of my vehicle (2012 Rav 4). Overall I am pleased with the unit and will continue purchasing products from this company
Sierra K.
6/16/2021
Thank you for your review. It sounds like your hitch was a little flexed. I am glad it worked out but here is more info about flex:
Helpful Links
John
6/15/2022
The only thing Ive done with the hitch so for is to mount my bicycle rack. I did wire up the harness for the lights found that it took longer than installing the hitch.
Do you have a question about this Trailer Hitch?
Condition: Like New
Notes: May have damaged packaging or minor cosmetic blemishes.
Info for this part was:
At etrailer.com we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Jenny N.
9/12/2023
Sometimes the hitch side brackets do get knocked out of alignment in transit to you or to us from the manufacturer. I am hopeful the FAQ link we sent will help. If not please let us know.
Helpful Links
faq-my-trailer-hitch-doesnt-fit.aspx