Hitch, Ball Mount, Wiring and Bike Rack Recommendation for a 2010 Toyota RAV4

Question:

Hello I am thinking of buying a trailer hitch and tow ball for my Rav4. I would also like to buy a 2 bike rack. This one seems simple and is cheap but do you think it will clear the spare tyre and rear door when rotated down? Thank you very much

asked by: Thomas Z

Expert Reply:

Your 2010 Toyota RAV4 can be fitted with 2 different sizes/classes of trailer hitch, either 1-1/4-inch Class II or a 2-inch Class III. All options are shown on the linked page. I suggest you go for the 2-inch hitch since it offers a higher weight capacity and better compatibility with a range of hitch-mount products like bike and cargo carriers. Curt hitch # C13149 is my recommendation for these reasons and because it is the lowest-cost option in a Class III hitch. Please refer to the linked installation video.

Towing requires a ball mount, hitch ball and wiring harness for your trailer's lights. Ball mounts should be selected based on what is required to keep your hitched trailer level. The linked article tells you how to determine this. The most popular ball mount with this hitch is part # C45030 and with this you can use either 1-7/8-inch hitch ball # 19260, 2-inch ball # 63845 or 2-5/16-inch ball # 63847. Choose the ball size based on your trailer's coupler. For a wiring harness use part # C56165. A video is linked to help you with the installation of the harness.

With your 2-inch hitch you can use a Class III hitch-mount bike carrier. A link is provided to all. You will want to select one that offer 5-inches or more of clearance from the hitch pin hole to allow it to clear your rear-mounted spare tire. I recommend the Thule Doubletrack # TH990XT. This carrier includes locks for the rack itself and for your 2 bikes; it will clear your bumper and spare tire and when unloaded it folds up to allow cargo area access. The linked video shows this rack in use on a RAV4.