Will Hitch Adapter Keep Bike Rack From Scraping On 2020 Toyota RAV4

Updated 05/12/2026 | Published 05/11/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Patriot Hitches 2" Adjustable Drop Hitch Adapter - 11in Rise/Drop - 7K - Gloss - Silver Accent

(28)

$209.00

etrailer Anti-Rattle Hitch Collar for 2" Hitch Receivers

(1019)

$49.99

etrailer Hitch Receiver Lock - 2", 2-1/2", & 3" Hitches - Chrome

(3706)

$26.63

Question:

I just purchased 2 e-bikes and a bike rack for a trailer hitch i just installed on my 2020 Toyota rav4. First day of using it i already scraped the tail end of my bike rack on a drive way. The bike rack and 2 e-bikes together weight roughly 245 lbs and the hitch installed is a 2 inch class 3. Would a hitch raiser help me in this situation? And if so what hitch adaptor will help? I dont understand much about trailer hitch weight, mostly driving on freeways, city streets, and the occasional dirt roads but not off roading. The fear i have is something breaking off and causing harm on the road way all because I didn’t understand what i was doing wrong.

asked by: Joseph

Expert Reply:

Hey Joseph! Yes, adding in a hitch adapter to raise up the bike rack will get you that extra clearance so you aren't scraping on a drive or other similar transitions.

The Patriot Hitches 2" Adjustable Drop Hitch Adapter # PH38PR you looked at is going to be the best option for this application. This is one of the few adapters that doesn't reduce your tongue capacity by 50% so your hitch and the adapter will be able to handle the weight of your e-bikes and bike rack.

I also recommend adding the etrailer Anti-Rattle Hitch Collar # e38FV. This will help cut down on the additional movement that comes with adding an adapter into the setup.

What kind of bikes are you carrying?

expert reply by: Robin H

Patriot Hitches Adjustable Adapter
(click to enlarge)

Joseph

5/12/2026

We have Aventon brand bikes, Adventure M, Abound LR. There not the heaviest ebikes but they have some weight to them. Also would you recommend locking pins if so witch ones would you recommend for the patriot hitch adapter?

Robin H.

5/12/2026

@Joseph does your bike rack have a locking hitch pin? Those are typically threaded and bike rack specific. You can pick up a pair of # e98881 keyed alike and stick one through the receiver on your RAV4 hitch and then one through the adapter where it adjusts. A regular pin can stay in that other adjustment hole unless you want them to look the same. Then your bike rack hitch pin will fit in the adapter receiver.

Joseph

5/12/2026

@RobinH so if i where to purches 2 lock pins they both would be using the same keys? So in turn i would only need to carry around 1 key for both locking pins? And yes the bike rack comes with a threaded lock pin and a anit-rattel hitch collar.