Towing with Sienna/Rav4/Highlander?

[Glenn Baglo]

Joseph,

Are you aware that the tongue weight limit for the RAV4 V6 is 350 lbs.??

[JungleJim]

Joseph A.,

I don't know what hitch you have, but the robust OEM hitch is only class II, which cannot be used with a WD set-up.
The after market hitches only bolt to 4 places, while the OEM hitch has 20 or more bolts securing it to the vehicle. But even with those extra bolts, it is only a class II weight carrying hitch.

So it does sag without the WDH. Would you ever drive anywhere without the WDH hooked up, or does it sag too much?

I wish you had experience with your trailer mounted before and after the new rear springs. Without that comparison, we don't really know if the rear springs actually make any difference.

I was excited at first when you talked about the rear springs. But now that you've said that you did not do a before/after comparison, I'm not convinced that they would be of any positive help.

Thanks for sharing.
-Jim

[Joseph A.]

Originally Posted by JungleJim

Joseph A.,

I don't know what hitch you have, but the robust OEM hitch is only class II, which cannot be used with a WD set-up.
The after market hitches only bolt to 4 places, while the OEM hitch has 20 or more bolts securing it to the vehicle. But even with those extra bolts, it is only a class II weight carrying hitch.

So it does sag without the WDH. Would you ever drive anywhere without the WDH hooked up, or does it sag too much?

I wish you had experience with your trailer mounted before and after the new rear springs. Without that comparison, we don't really know if the rear springs actually make any difference.

I was excited at first when you talked about the rear springs. But now that you've said that you did not do a before/after comparison, I'm not convinced that they would be of any positive help.

Thanks for sharing.
-Jim

Jim,

The OEM receiver I have is a 2" class III. Class I/II are 1.25" usually.

Their is some minor rear squat with 350-400 lbs of tongue weight, which the WD hitch sorts out. I could drive without the weight bars, but there would be no point.

The fact is that the 3rd row springs have a firmer spring rate than the stock limited/sport/base 2 row springs. It is enough of a difference that Toyota rates them for ~330 lbs more payload, which is something like 30% more payload than 2 row models.

They do work, plain and simple. I am not the first to do this either, they have been documented by a few Rav4 forum frequenters.. They are an OEM option for those with 2 row Rav4 models, that wish to comfortably tow at/near the max tongue weight limit set by Toyota.

Happy to help!

[JungleJim]

Originally Posted by Joseph A.

Jim,

The OEM receiver I have is a 2" class III. Class I/II are 1.25" usually.

I do not want to come across as argumentative, but I want everyone to know what the hitch is and what it is not. The Toyota OEM reciever is not class III. (I agree that "most" class II receivers are 1.25", but not all.)

Here is a quote about your hitch directly from Toyota...

Notes:

• Engineer: FOR RAV4 WITH TOW PACKAGE PT228-42060
  • Fits V6 with factory tow package (option code TO)
  • Tow Rating 3500 lbs (Class II)
  • Kit does not fit 4 cylinder models
  • This has a 2" hitch receiver opening
• 4 pin wire harness, 08921-42900 needs to be ordered separately

With all of the bolts used to secure the hitch, you might end up not doing any damage. But please be aware that it is indeed a Class II hitch not designed to be used as a WDH.

The fact is that the 3rd row springs have a firmer spring rate than the stock limited/sport/base 2 row springs.!

These have been researched by people over on the RAV4 forum. The 3rd row springs have an identification number that is also shared with some Limited non-3rd row RAV4's. These springs are not exclusive to 3rd row RAV's.
A lot of 3rd row version owners have complained about rear end sag and end up getting helper air bags like every else. No owners have used weight distribution systems with the OEM hitch because it's not a Class III.

Glad that they seem to work for you. (But you never compared them with your original springs.)

Good luck with your setup. Please keep an eye on things with your weight distribution setup. Watch how high you set the tension.

Thank you again for sharing your experience.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by JungleJim

The Toyota OEM reciever is not class III.
...
But please be aware that it is indeed a Class II hitch not designed to be used as a WDH.

On my OEM Toyota hitch, there is no indication of capacity. Since it is supplied by Toyota they report the vehicle's capacity when using that hitch (as with the RAV4 material quoted above); we don't know what the hitch manufacturer thinks the rating class should be. The only information is that the hitch is at least Class 2, and the combination with the RAV4 does not exceed Class 2.

Similarly, since Toyota as both vehicle manufacturer and hitch supplier does not endorse WD use for the OEM RAV4 receiver, the hitch is not to be used with WD. That doesn't mean that the hitch itself is unsuitable, or that the aftermarket hitches are suitable... we just don't know, so the best information we have is Toyota's rating (Class 2, 350 lb tongue weight, weight-carrying only).

The SAE standard for hitches (J684) does not define the receiver box size; indeed, it doesn't even mention the concept of a receiver-style configuration. One could build a Class 3 hitch meeting the standard with a 1.25" box, or any other size, or without a receiver at all; similarly, one could build a receiver hitch with the 2.5" square box that is now available, and meet only Class 1 capacity if there were some other weak link in the design.

Similarly, SAE J684 doesn't define the use of weight distribution systems. Class 2 does not mean no WD; Class 3 doesn't mean WD is allowed... WD is just irrelevant to the standard and the classes. Of course, there is a common industry practice of offering WD only in 2" and larger receivers, and using 2" receivers for Class 3 and 4, while using 1.25 receivers for Class 1 and 2, but it is not governed by any standard.

[JungleJim]

When the previous generation of 4Runner first came out in 2003, it had a 5000 lbs towing capacity. But it came with a weight carrying only hitch. No WD capable hitch was available from Toyota until the second year of production. A few 2003 owners had to change out their weight carrying hitches in order to use WD when Toyota finally released a WD capable hitch.

I agree with Brian that hitch capacity is not directly related to whether a receiver hitch is WD capable or not.