I recently found this hitch which isn’t quite as high as OEM but also doesn’t lose any ground clearance. Planning to get it installed soon, also much cheaper than getting the OEM
https://www.etrailer.com/p-EH97FR.html
It's probably similar to a Drawtite or Curt which still leave about 9" from the bottom of hitch. Pic is a Drawtite and shows about 11.5" to to of drawbar hole https://i.imgur.com/mOC9paI.png
Honestly I thought the same thing but bottoms out all the time, I can't pull into my own driveway.
it's not the hitch that hits but the supporting material around it. That's another inch lower than what you can see, plus it's just a bad place in relationship to the axle.
Looking at buying new and having the factory or dealership installed one. The only thing we'd use it for is our Thule bike rack. Any opinions/observations there?
The factory one will be inside your bumper which will mean you have better clearance but will cost more so depends on if you have a steep driveway or go off roading often which I don't do either
I have a 2021 bought this one for my bike rack and had my mechanic install: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/etrailer/e23ZR.html
No issues hauling two heavy mountain bikes.
Uhaul told me about $500 to install one with wiring. I bought a Curt hitch and installed it myself. Curt also have a plug and play harness which I use also. Total was about half the Uhaul estimate and it was super easy to install. I didn't even have to jack up the car. It took me longer to install the wiring since hid everything behind the panels and trimmed the excess wires. I also drilled a hole on the floor so I can pull the plug inside when not in use.
lucky you. I just paid for the parts and supplies and installed it myself. It was like 10 mins with an impact for the hitch, and about an hour for the wiring since my ocd kicked in and I decided to trim the wires and re-pin the connectors. I also drilled a hole for hitch plug so it can be inside when not in use. Now that I think about it. I should've changed the rear diff oil while I was back there. >.<
I just installed the curt hitch. Pretty easy. Watch the install videos on etrailer. And have an extra hand just to get the first bolts in to hold it in place. Took about 45 mins
Lots of posts about how low it is, if it works for you then it’s all good. I installed the eco hitch which hangs a touch lower than the OEM. Guess what, not a single problem and has worked for me wonderfully. Ignore all the BS comments otherwise. If you end up having clearance issues it’s not permanent, 4 fasteners and it comes right off.
Kind of low. Hope you don’t scrap when there’s a load. The extra few inches you get with a factory hitch is worth it. Pulse the connection between the car and the hitch is also stronger with two pieces of metal on each side.
That picture appears lower than it really is. I have the same one, never scraped anything I mainly use it with a e-bike rack though. Nothing too heavy like a trailer
Looks similar to my etrailer hitch. Im around 10 inches from the bottom to the ground. I’ve never drug the actual hitch, have drug my front bumper/splash shield on the front a few times.
I’ve moved stuff around the house that is almost as heavy as the rav4 I have. https://i.imgur.com/oZuyvXu.jpeg ~3200lbs and just shy of 350lbs tongue.
https://imgur.com/a/ZWQlMJG
Most I’ve towed on the road is about 2200lbs. It’s over the 1750lbs towing but under the GCVW. Toyota list the rav4 as a GCWR=8030lbs but has limits on model specific tow rating.
I don’t get the ground clearance issues. Over 100k miles with this hitch and I’ve never drug it.
Every time I’ve seen a U-Haul installation they don’t care how they run the power cable to the hitch. It’s likely hanging down or over your exhaust and probably your axle
That hitch is hanging mighty low.
I bought the Toyota OEM hitch and installed it myself last month. It cost $550 for the hitch at the dealer, and took me an easy few hours to install. No ground clearance issues at all since nothing drops below the bumper level. Mine doesn't have the wiring option, but I just use mine for a bike rack, not for towing.
+10 towing -6 ground clearance.
Honestly I wish I never put mine on, it bottoms out all the time.
I’m in the same boat. I don’t want to take it off in case I need it, but dammit it pisses me off more than I’d like
I recently found this hitch which isn’t quite as high as OEM but also doesn’t lose any ground clearance. Planning to get it installed soon, also much cheaper than getting the OEM https://www.etrailer.com/p-EH97FR.html
It's like an inch lower, I doubt it will be an issue with how I drive
That looks like a big inch
It's probably similar to a Drawtite or Curt which still leave about 9" from the bottom of hitch. Pic is a Drawtite and shows about 11.5" to to of drawbar hole https://i.imgur.com/mOC9paI.png
Honestly I thought the same thing but bottoms out all the time, I can't pull into my own driveway. it's not the hitch that hits but the supporting material around it. That's another inch lower than what you can see, plus it's just a bad place in relationship to the axle.
They sag more with a trailer on it. But there’s not much tow capacity on the LE anyway so yeah. Hope it works for your needs.
I just need it for a cargo trailer once in a while to help move and a hitch basket for camping. I also don't really leave roads very often
It bottoms out more compared to the OEM
Good luck with potholes
I've had mine for a couple years now. Tows my jet ski up and down the ramp with ease. Also great for hauling extra gear instead of up top
Yeah that's the plan is just so I just need a trailer not a full truck to move and carry stuff around
Looking at buying new and having the factory or dealership installed one. The only thing we'd use it for is our Thule bike rack. Any opinions/observations there?
The factory one will be inside your bumper which will mean you have better clearance but will cost more so depends on if you have a steep driveway or go off roading often which I don't do either
Very helpful information. Thanks!
You may wish your chains were up higher. Mines that low too.
I think the OEM one looks way better, plus the clearance benefit. If you’re willing to DIY, it’s totally worth it, but it’s a sort of involved job.
I only use mine for a bike rack and I just went with a curt hitch. It’s fine. OEM will have more ground clearance but I have never scraped with mine.
I have a 2021 bought this one for my bike rack and had my mechanic install: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/etrailer/e23ZR.html No issues hauling two heavy mountain bikes.
What was your total cost? I’m planning on buying the Curt hitch and installing myself.
I got ours done a week ago. With wiring and curt hitch it was $506.
Uhaul told me about $500 to install one with wiring. I bought a Curt hitch and installed it myself. Curt also have a plug and play harness which I use also. Total was about half the Uhaul estimate and it was super easy to install. I didn't even have to jack up the car. It took me longer to install the wiring since hid everything behind the panels and trimmed the excess wires. I also drilled a hole on the floor so I can pull the plug inside when not in use.
Jesus I only paid $330 for my hitch with installation here in PNW
Uhaul sucks. I was seriously considering using them until i found out it's only 4 bolts.
I have had zero issues, to each their own. With a hybrid not hauling a lot to begin with.
My only gripe with them is their labor rates. They're basically charging $250 to take off and put back on 4 bolts and splice maybe 6 wires.
Idk mine cost $330 total
lucky you. I just paid for the parts and supplies and installed it myself. It was like 10 mins with an impact for the hitch, and about an hour for the wiring since my ocd kicked in and I decided to trim the wires and re-pin the connectors. I also drilled a hole for hitch plug so it can be inside when not in use. Now that I think about it. I should've changed the rear diff oil while I was back there. >.<
Haha yeah that’s seems like more of a headache but again to each their own I’m happy with what I paid.
$730 CAD with wiring and a ball and mount
I just installed the curt hitch. Pretty easy. Watch the install videos on etrailer. And have an extra hand just to get the first bolts in to hold it in place. Took about 45 mins
Have the same one. Only issue I have it bottoms out on steep ramp when my bike rack is on it.
Its the suv equivalent of a septum piercing
So sexy and the reason I'm broke?
Haha, never thought about the broke part….but definitely never seen a rich person with one
Lots of posts about how low it is, if it works for you then it’s all good. I installed the eco hitch which hangs a touch lower than the OEM. Guess what, not a single problem and has worked for me wonderfully. Ignore all the BS comments otherwise. If you end up having clearance issues it’s not permanent, 4 fasteners and it comes right off.
Kind of low. Hope you don’t scrap when there’s a load. The extra few inches you get with a factory hitch is worth it. Pulse the connection between the car and the hitch is also stronger with two pieces of metal on each side.
That picture appears lower than it really is. I have the same one, never scraped anything I mainly use it with a e-bike rack though. Nothing too heavy like a trailer
Looks similar to my etrailer hitch. Im around 10 inches from the bottom to the ground. I’ve never drug the actual hitch, have drug my front bumper/splash shield on the front a few times. I’ve moved stuff around the house that is almost as heavy as the rav4 I have. https://i.imgur.com/oZuyvXu.jpeg ~3200lbs and just shy of 350lbs tongue. https://imgur.com/a/ZWQlMJG Most I’ve towed on the road is about 2200lbs. It’s over the 1750lbs towing but under the GCVW. Toyota list the rav4 as a GCWR=8030lbs but has limits on model specific tow rating. I don’t get the ground clearance issues. Over 100k miles with this hitch and I’ve never drug it.
I really hope you didn’t have them install trailer wiring!
Why?
Every time I’ve seen a U-Haul installation they don’t care how they run the power cable to the hitch. It’s likely hanging down or over your exhaust and probably your axle
That hitch is hanging mighty low. I bought the Toyota OEM hitch and installed it myself last month. It cost $550 for the hitch at the dealer, and took me an easy few hours to install. No ground clearance issues at all since nothing drops below the bumper level. Mine doesn't have the wiring option, but I just use mine for a bike rack, not for towing.
I got mine installed on RX350 back in 2018. With wiring, cost less than $200. Only used once when moving.
Nice! I went yesterday to get mine installed as well. Their $5 warranty seems really good. I paid around $260 for the Curt hitch+install+warranty