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Tow hitch wiring

11K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  MikeWhite  
#1 ·
How do I install trailer wiring to the Rav4 electrical system?
Is there a plug and play harness or is this something that should be done by the dealer?
Completely clueless on this matter, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Eddie S.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Nothing plug and play yet, last I checked for OEM there was nothing available, but they said it was coming, dealer was nstalling aftermarket kits until then.
https://www.etrailer.com/t1-2019_Toyota_RAV4.htm

The Tekonsha wouldn't be my first choice, the Amazon reviews aren't great.
[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-Bargman-Company-119251-Modulite/dp/B01CKQJCBY[/ame]
 
#4 ·
From what I have seen, you need to disassemble much of the rear plastic parts in the trunk to get to both wiring sides by the brake/directionals. Not something easy. I saw a different item that only need to be clipped over the wire and it using the magnetic pulse from the wire to control the trailer lights. So no cutting and possibly attaching them from underneath the car (no plastic removal). My Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was a 10 min job, right from the bottom of the car. Pull out a plug from connector and plug in the adapter, done ! For a Rav4, considered more "off road", you would think it would be an easy job to add trailer lights.

Plus, just for fun, it seems that all the rear hatch plastics has to be removed to get to the license plate lights. You have to be kidding, did Ford design this ? Hopefully it should be easy to get to that bulb, especially that's why cops like to pull you over at night.
 
#6 ·
From what I have seen, you need to disassemble much of the rear plastic parts in the trunk to get to both wiring sides by the brake/directionals. Not something easy. I saw a different item that only need to be clipped over the wire and it using the magnetic pulse from the wire to control the trailer lights. So no cutting and possibly attaching them from underneath the car (no plastic removal). My Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was a 10 min job, right from the bottom of the car. Pull out a plug from connector and plug in the adapter, done ! For a Rav4, considered more "off road", you would think it would be an easy job to add trailer lights.

Plus, just for fun, it seems that all the rear hatch plastics has to be removed to get to the license plate lights. You have to be kidding, did Ford design this ? Hopefully it should be easy to get to that bulb, especially that's why cops like to pull you over at night.

The HV's 12 volt battery is on the right side of the cargo area which greatly simplifies the 12V power wire connection.
 
#5 ·
Rigid lists the Tekonsha 118801 as a T-One plug and play kit for the '19 Rav4, apparently not quite available yet, but soon, it plugs right into existing wiriing connectors and is vehicle specific unlike those listed so far which are universal, once etrailer has it they'll do an installation video as they have done in the past.

https://www.rigidhitch.com/products/,118801


https://www.etrailer.com/t1-2019_Toyota_RAV4.htm



The '19 will be similar to the 4th gen I expect, the hardest part is running the 12V line to the battery in front of the vehicle, aftermarket instructions run it under the vehicle, which Toyota doesn't do and I didn't either.