Availability of Trailer Wiring Harness for 2008 Toyota RAV4 That Does Not Require 12V Power Wire

Updated 07/24/2015 | Published 07/23/2015

Question:

I have a 2008 RAV4 and Id like to tow a small pop top camper. Do you sell a wiring harness that doesnt have a brake module? I cant get under the car to run a wire to the battery.

asked by: Alana L

Expert Reply:

If your pop-up camper trailer does not have electric brakes or require a 12V power feed from the RAV4 then it will likely have a 4-pole flat type trailer connector. If so you can use a 4-pole type wiring harness that provides only lighting signals for brake lights, turn lights and running lights.

Both of the available 4-pole wiring harnesses for your 2008 RAV4 are powered types, Curt # C56165 and TowReady # 118412, that do require a 12V power wire be run up to the battery's positive terminal. This wire is what provides the actual power for the trailer's lights, so that the car's own wiring does not risk overload. The engineers at these companies determined the RAV4 wiring is not heavy enough to handle the power for the trailer lights, so they designed their harnesses with a separate 12V power feed to protect the vehicle. A wiring harness is much cheaper to replace than fried wiring in your RAV4.

The harness power wire is usually run under the car but if that process, which is shown in the linked video and article, is not possible in your application you could run the wire through the interior of the car and through an existing wiring grommet in the firewall and on to the battery.

expert reply by: Adam R