Hitch Receiver Location on 2012 Toyota RAV4 for Use with Thule 4-Bike Hitch Carrier # TH982XT  

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Expert Reply:

There are two classes of trailer hitch offered for your 2012 Toyota RAV4, 1-1/4-inch Class II and 2-Inch Class III types. You will be better off with the higher-capacity 2-inch Class III hitch for use with a 4-bike hitch-mount carrier. I suggest Curt hitch # C13149 for its substantial 525-lb tongue weight rating. The combined weight of your choice of carrier plus your 4 loaded bikes must remain within this 525-lb maximum.

The linked video shows this hitch installed on your exact year/make/model vehicle. As noted in the video at the 20-second mark the receiver tube will sit below the rear bumper such that its hitch pin hole will be 5-1/2 inches from the back of the spare tire. This is the measurement you need to keep in mind when selecting a hitch-mount bike rack: you will want to choose one that provides at least 6-inches of clearance from the hitch pin hole to the nearest part of the carrier. We offer many such carriers and the linked article includes (at the bottom left) a table of all our racks and the clearance offered by each.

The Thule Hitching Post Pro Folding Tilting 4 Bike Rack # TH934XTR that you referenced would be an excellent choice since it provides 13-1/2-inches from center of hitch pin hole to upright bar of the carrier. If you will be transporting women's or kid's bikes (or any that lacks a horizontal top frame tube typical of a standard man's bike) you might consider a bike adapter bar like Thule's # TH982XT. Both the rack and the adapter bar are shown in the linked videos.

When loading your bikes you will want to place the heaviest bikes on the rack first to position them closest to the vehicle; this will help to minimize stresses on the hitch and random motion of the rack while you're underway.

expert reply by: Adam R

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