Tow Bar For Rav4 2013-

[MVS29f]

I am new to the forum so please excuse this posting if topic if it has been done to death already.

I cannot find any thoughts on fitting a towbar to the latest model of the Rav 4 at a reasonable cost. I only want to carry bikes so the Toyota pricing of just under £1,000 is rather a shock. Any views would be gratefully received.

[Twot]

Hi there,

I have fitted a Witter tow bar to my 4.4, as I tow and also have a Pendle-bike carrier (I needed a 'flange mount' tow bar for that, which Toyota do not do).

If you contact a Witter fitter - they usualy give a better price then Witter web site. Also note, that you MUST NOT use any 'displacement' connection as it invalidates the warrenty (stated in the manual!).

If I remember correctly, it was something around the £400 mark.

Good luck!

[MVS29f]

Thanks for the heads up on information inthe manual. It is somewhat confusing however to find a page entitled 'Trailer Towing without towing hitch' which states"Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bycycle etc. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted carriers."

There then follows 11 pages of advice on "Trailer Towing with towing hitch'. Am I missing something or is this really as abtruse as it sounds.

Was £400 inclusive of a Toyota electrical kit which seems the safest option? A pointer to your supplier would be very helpful if you don't mind.

Thanks

[152bobby]

You would be far far cheaper buying a cycle rack that sits on the tailgate and the top of the rear bumper. They are easy to fit on and off and you don't have a ugly towbar sticking out of your car, not to mention the weight which you would be carrying around all the time.

[MVS29f]

Yes I take your point on the extra weight Bobby but as for the asthetics there are removeable towbar and fold way electric points that hide the installation when not in use (price premium of course!)

eg http://www.tow-trust.co.uk/detachable-system

The rear mounted rack receives a fair number of criticisms from folk who have found that they damage the paintwork even with the protective pads. Cornering with 3 bikes on the back will put a lot of force on the door I guess.The rear spoiler on the car also presents a problem as I understand it.

Thanks for your response.

[firemac]

Yes I take your point on the extra weight Bobby but as for the asthetics there are removeable towbar and fold way electric points that hide the installation when not in use (price premium of course!)

eg http://www.tow-trust.co.uk/detachable-system

The rear mounted rack receives a fair number of criticisms from folk who have found that they damage the paintwork even with the protective pads. Cornering with 3 bikes on the back will put a lot of force on the door I guess.The rear spoiler on the car also presents a problem as I understand it.

Thanks for your response.

I did some similar research a few years ago and, like you, was gob-smacked by Mr.T's audacious pricing. Boot/rear door mounted bike racks get a bad press simply because they are not a good technical solution - strain on door hinges/locks, paint damage, bodywork damage (spoiler,etc.) - and also are questionable re rearward vision and boot access. Elegant they ain't!

I ended up with three Halfords bike racks that mount on the roof bars of our various RAVs and they have worked brilliantly over the years. They are robust, good value and easily transferable from car to car. You just need to remember that you've got about an extra metre or so of height and avoid limited access car parks, etc. (I remember seeing a Volvo estate with a couple of bikes on the Roof Rack hitting the warning board of the tunnel outside T3 at Heathrow quite a few years back, ripping off the bikes and bringing the warning sign & electrics down on his car. The resulting traffic jam lasted for a couple of hours.) We've had sidesteps on all our RAVs which have been very useful when lifting the bikes onto the racks.

It's worth a look as it will be a hell of a lot cheaper than a tow bar, electrics & a bike carrier to suit.

Good luck.

[Twot]

I think all the notices in the handbook are plain and simple Health & safty...(back side covering)

I used 'Discount Autopars' in Cambridge - but look at Witter website and phone the fitter nearest. They had a special offer exactely when I wanted to fit the bar.

As for the argument for and against...

I used to take four bikes, and there was no way I was going to put this on the rear door, as I do not think it can carry the load safly. I wouldn't even put 3 bikes there, towbar is much safer, but that is my personal opinion.

I have both roof mounted bike rack, and tow bar (and I use both, once even together :-) 8 bikes!) - the big advantage of the tow bar one is that once you have a towbar, the rack is fitted in 5sec! while the roof mounted one takes longer. Also, no need for steps to put on the roof. I use the roof one when I tow (caravan...).

Witter also has a removable flange mount (expensive). They do not use Toyota electrics, but a specially made one for the car (it has its own control box). I do not have the details with me at the moment who it is from, but can find out if you want.

[152bobby]

I only use one bike on my rear mounted cycle carrier, but have had two on there.

I have read what everyone has said about the strain of this putting on the back door etc, surely when the door is closed and the load is evenly distributed, it would do no damage whatsoever, especially on the top of the rear bumper, as these are designed to be stepped on by adults.

I certainly would not put more than two bikes on my kind of cycle carrier, but I just use it for one bike and it does the job which I require for about £50 if memory serves me !!!

I do have a towbar on my other Toyota which I do use when I take my wife's and childs bikes out and this is just one of those V shapes cycle carriers which clamp straight onto the towbar ball. Works very well and it just comes off easily and can be put in the boot.

[MVS29f]

After consultation with the better half (!) I am compromising for the moment and mounting the bikes on the roof until I can justify the expense of the towbar fit. Apart from the loss of convenient loading the effect on mpg will be the main drawback I guess.

Thanks for all thoughts.

[Pilch]

FWIW : I fitted a Towtrust detachable swan-neck towbar (£192) from Towbarman (look at eBay and you can download diagrams before buying).

It requires a bumper cut but the finished job looks neat because the socket swivels upwards when not in use.

Being a new car I didnt want to upset the electrics so I bought the genuine Toyota 7-pin electrics (plug for trailer all prewired) and using Toyota-tech.eu I used the pdf instructions for the electrics as well as for the bumper removal.These were just over £100 from the Dealer but worth the peace of mind as you can be sure it will work without upsetting the electrics. The wiring is so thin on these modern cars.

No real problems fitting except its a bit worrying pulling out the boot side trims and the upper trim around the small rear windows, but following the Toyota pdf files this is all logical once you get used to how the diagrams work. Use tape where they show to protect the trim from marking.

The exhaust rubber hanger that they show being slipped off to allow the driver's side brackets to be offered up to the chassis rail is impossible to remove....I just pushed the bracket past once the pipe was moved to the side. Otherwise buy a new rubber and cut the existing, not sure of price from dealer though.

Best thing is you dont have to install a power feed from the engine bay into the boot area....they have kindly put this in already, all you do at the end of the install is insert a new (supplied) fuse onto the fusebox as indicated. Very neat.

Keep together all parts removed (dont bin them like the diags show) in case you decide to sell the car without the towbar.

They also show a non-detachable swan-neck flange towbar with no bumper cut for about £127.

Like you, I use mainly for bike racks and trailer trips to the tip (oops, sorry, recycling facility).

I hope this helps, if its not too late, only just joined. I may be able to send some photos if someone lets me know how.