Trailer Hitch, Ball Mount, Ball, Locking Hitch Pin, and Trailer Wiring for a 2004 Toyota RAV4

Question:

What type of hitch, ball mount, and wiring accessories do I need for my 2004 Toyota Rav4 to pull my new 13 Scamp travel trailer? The salesman said I need a 2 ball and the height of the hitch should be 16 off the ground. My new Scamp weighs approximately 1200lbs without my gear. My Rav4 can tow 1500lbs. My neighbor said he can install my hitch after I buy it. It looks easy enough or, should I have a professional install it?

asked by: ann s

Expert Reply:

For your 2004 Toyota RAV4, I recommend the Curt Trailer Hitch, # C13524. This is a Class III trailer hitch that has a 2 inch receiver opening. A Class III hitch is rated for higher capacity, in this case 400 pounds tongue weight capacity and 4,000 pounds gross trailer weight, than the other available Class I hitches. Even if you never plan on towing that much weight, you will have a stronger hitch with a 2 inch receiver opening that will accept more accessories than a Class I, 1-1/4 inch hitch. I have included a link to the installation instructions and a video install below.

This is a fairly simple and straight forward installation that you can do yourself or your neighbor. This will save you money over a professional installer. One tip I will mention is to use a lubricant, like WD-40, and a wire brush like # DW00254, to clean out the grime and corrosion in the weldnuts on the vehicle so the hitch hardware will fit properly.

For a ball mount, the recommended item is Ball Mount # C45010. For a 2 inch diameter ball use Hitch Ball, # 19247. I also recommend adding a locking hitch pin, # e98880, to deter theft of your ball mount and accessories.

The wiring for your RAV4 is the Tow Ready Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring, # 118389. This is a T-one style harness that plugs in line with your vehicle taillights and provides a 4-Way trailer connector at the rear of the vehicle. I have included installation details and an installation video below.