2019 Toyota RAV4 Towing Capacity and Trailer Connector Needed

Question:

What is the most weight a 2019 Toyota Rav 4 pull? Is an electric brake needed? And how many pins for the connection would be needed on average for a trailer that a RAV 4 needs?

asked by: Dan

Expert Reply:

You will need to consult your owner's manual for confirmation on the towing capacity of your 2019 Toyota RAV4 but the trim package on your vehicle and the engine/transmission will determine the capacity. From what I was able to find with my resources, the RAV4 has a capacity of 1500-lbs for some trims and up to 3500-lbs for others. The Draw-Tite # DT82QR you were looking at is a good choice, but it will not increase the towing capacity of your vehicle even though it has a 675-lb tongue weight/4500-lb towing capacity because you are always limited by your lowest rated components; in this case, your vehicle would be the lowest rated component.

When it comes to trailer connectors, the style of trailer connector you will use depends on the trailers you will be towing and what type of trailer connector they have attached. Trailers with electric brakes will most often have a 7 way connector, where trailers that only have lights that need to function will mostly only use a 4 or 5 way connector.

Whether or not you need a trailer brake controller depends on whether the trailer you're towing has brakes or not. In most cases, because of the limited capacity of your vehicle, you're likely only going to need a 4 way like the one that comes on the Curt # C56434. The Curt C56434 can be installed on your RAV4 to add a 4 way connector on the back of your vehicle that will allow you to power the lights on a trailer with a 4 way connector.

Your best bet is to first figure out which trim package you have and what the towing capacity for that package comes in at. From there, you'll be able to determine what type of trailer that you're going to be able to tow. A lightweight pop-up camper will likely be something that is ok to tow with any trim package because of their low weights, but if you're looking at a boat or travel trailer, you may not have enough pulling power. Once you know what you're towing, you can determine if you need to add a brake controller like the Curt Echo # C51180 and 7 way connector like the one included in the # ETBC7L.

I've linked some of our installation videos on the hitch and wiring that you may want to have a look at to help you through the installation process.