Will the Kuat Transfer V2 # KU84FR Clear My Spare Tire and Trunk on My 2011 Toyota RAV4?  

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Expert Reply:

With the Kuat Transfer V2 # KU84FR, it truly depends on what hitch you have on your vehicle. If you have a great hitch like the etrailer Hitch - 2" # e98864 on your 2011 Toyota RAV4, you most likely need a hitch extender in order for the rack to clear the rear tire. This is because the shank length of the Transfer V2 measures 6-1/2" from the center of the pinhole to closest part of the rack. Since the # e98864 installs 4 inches from the center of the pinhole to the outside face of the rear bumper, you need additional length to accommodate for the width of your spare tire. Our shortest hitch extender available is the Brophy # HE06. This extender will provide you the extra length you need with the # e98864. It is important to note that whenever you use a hitch extender, you decrease the overall capacity of your hitch by 50%.

If you already have a hitch installed, I recommend measuring from the center of your hitch's pinhole to the outside surface of your spare bumper. From that length, once you subtract 6-1/2", that is the length of the extender you need to clear that tire. I went ahead and attached a product listing of all our available 2" hitch extenders for you to check out.

Another question you might have is whether you can fully open your trunk with the Transfer V2 attached. While we cannot confirm with absolute certainty if you can open the trunk with the tilting mechanism, we do have a 100% guaranteed solution. The reason for the uncertainty is because it truly depends on the angle of the trunk opening, the length of the trunk, and the length of your bike's handlebars.

With that being said, the sure bet is the Kuat Pivot 2 Swing Away Hitch Extender for Bike Racks # PVD20B (driver's side) or # PVP20B (passenger's side). With the Pivot 2, you gain the ability to swing the rack away from the trunk to a full 90 or 120 degrees. This is a great option whether you have a side-to-side opening trunk or a top-to-bottom opening trunk. Although, if you have a side-to-side opening trunk, I always recommend to purchase the Pivot 2 that swings opposite that the trunk opens for ultimate functionality. With the Pivot 2, it adds 12-3/16" of length to your hitch, so you do not need a hitch adapter to clear the rear tire. Like the adapter, the Pivot 2 decreases your overall hitch capacity by 50%.

I went ahead and attached some helpful videos for you to check out.

expert reply by: Bob C

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