TonyWilliams
Well-known member
Here's my trailer hitch install:
First, I removed the rear bumper cover:
Seven screws and a bunch of those pop-out thingies:
Next, I removed the rear bumper and right bracket, but you don't have to. I thought I might have to install some hardware for the hitch, but the Rav4 comes with four M12x1.25 thread pitch nuts in the frame rails just for a hitch. Thank you Toyota!
If you do take off the bumper, I recommend marking its location on the bolts with a marker.
The hitch just bolts on after you remove the tape over the bolt holes on the frame rails. Torque to 65 foot pounds.
First, I removed the rear bumper cover:
![CA76462D-CC54-4E21-995E-C5C9E1A35608-7837-0000040400B12CB0.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/eef/eef6b9c75d2d817dc59a0d8f4588d729.jpg)
Seven screws and a bunch of those pop-out thingies:
![2D0D7AA2-D35C-4357-BBC2-F0F58F8A9AC4-7837-00000403F05E835D.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/993/9937b5015eb52c6438144e0cd091c047.jpg)
Next, I removed the rear bumper and right bracket, but you don't have to. I thought I might have to install some hardware for the hitch, but the Rav4 comes with four M12x1.25 thread pitch nuts in the frame rails just for a hitch. Thank you Toyota!
![DFFA6EB0-0D5F-4CC7-9C43-4D3A2444AA23-7837-000004040743A8F6.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/81f/81f1ae1707c440d4216e180bd297c544.jpg)
If you do take off the bumper, I recommend marking its location on the bolts with a marker.
![1D041B87-CBFE-46C6-8E4D-08AE5AE70E26-7837-00000404036BD7C6.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/0a2/0a2e60ddb55a45ce57afaea1904c3a3d.jpg)
The hitch just bolts on after you remove the tape over the bolt holes on the frame rails. Torque to 65 foot pounds.
![F2510268-1BF2-4227-9C0B-743E00766BAD-7837-00000404153C6550.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/43a/43af5b25495c12e035f2f0904754b214.jpg)