Recommendation on a Roof Rack and a Trailer Hitch for a 2017 Toyota RAV4

Question:

1. I have a toyota rav4 xle hybrid. Will the roof racks I have the rails for the rav 4 fit it? 2. What trailer hitch would be appropriate? I have a small 13ft whaler that I want to tow. I have side rails. I want to be able to carry kayaks or a roof top hard sided baggage carrier Thanks

asked by: Lori W

Expert Reply:

I have a solution to your questions. For a roof rack, I recommend the Inno Aero Crossbars, # INXB100-108 in black, and the Inno Flush Feet, # INXS100. This rack is a confirmed fit on your 2017 Toyota RAV4 with factory installed side rails.

The Aero Crossbars will provide a sleek low profile look on your RAV4's roof while having an aerodynamic design that will reduce wind noise when in transit.

For a kayak carrier, I like the Inno Kayak Carrier, # INA446. This carrier will mount to the Inno aero crossbars and will allow you to carry 1 kayak. The carrier is a locking carrier that will help deter theft as well as securing the kayak to the roof of your car.

The etrailer Class III Trailer Hitch, # e98864, is the hitch I like for your RAV4. The hitch is a custom-fit hitch that will bolt to the frame of your RAV4 with no drilling required.

You will also need a trailer wiring harness and ball mount to if you want to tow a trailer. The T-One Vehicle Harness, # 118578, will plug into your RAV4's existing wiring with no cutting or splicing. The harness allows you to have a 4-flrat pole connecter to plug into your trailer lights.

The etrailer.com Ball Mount Kit, # 989900, is a kit that includes two ball mounts, one with a 3/4 inch rise or a 2 inch drop and the other has a 2-3/4 inch rise or a 4 inch drop. The kit will also have two trailer balls, one that fits a 1-7/8 inch coupler and the other that will fit 2 inch trailer coupler.

With the many different tow vehicles and trailers out there, it's rare that any vehicle and trailer line up perfectly for towing. To help match up tow vehicles with trailers, ball mounts are made in a variety of sizes. They come with different amounts of rise and drop to compensate for differences in height, and they come in different lengths to position a trailer closer to or farther from the tow vehicle.

To find a ball mount with the proper dimensions, please refer to the attached help article to see how to determine is you need a different rise or drop ball mount than what is included in the kit. I also attached an installation video and a product video for you to review.