2006 Toyota RAV4 Limited from North America - Comments

I was specific in wanting a vehicle with the Tow Prep Package, which is said to include heavy-duty radiator, alternator and fan clutch, and pre-wiring.

The dealer quoted a price of $450 for a hitch, plus labor. I was able to get one installed for less than $200 but was told I'd have to get the wiring adapter from the dealer. Okay, it's already pre-wired, all I need is a pigtail to plug in and hook up the trailer, right?

The Toyota parts dept ordered it and I went to pick it up and plug it in, but I was presented with a box of pieces and parts and a wiring harness with four or five plugs - and a pigtail- service tech says thats all I need, plug and go - except no one can find what it plugs into.

Bottom line: the interior of the PRE-WIRED vehicle has to be pulled apart to install this wiring harnass that they didn't have sense enough to put into a tow vehicle while things were still apart. This means another trip to the dealer and several hours of labor and fingers crossed that all of the interior panels of my new vehicle still fit tightly when they're through ripping them out and reinstalling them. This is expense and inconvenience that I thought had been eliminated when I insisted on the optional tow prep package. Bad enough that I didn't know about this, but shame on Toyota for the service people being in the dark, too.

I agree with this evaluation. I went and bought a new harness from the dealer for the 2006 RAV4 Sport, now I'm facing having to figure out how to install the stupid thing. It does not come with any instructions.

I purchased the 2007 llimited rav4 and also paid for the prewiring package. after installing the aftermarket towbar I found that there was no tiny box to hook up the four wire connector to as on the other vehicles I have owned in past such as chevy blazer, chevy pickup and ford explorer..

I purchased a wiring harness with a black box to isolate the vehicle computer by connecting the black box directly to the battery.

Still disappointed about not finding the easy connection connector under the back of the vehicle near the tow bar connection holes, etc, I worked for two days (about 7 hours) to route the wires from back to front for battery connection and used you haul type press on connectors to make the connections.

I finally got everything hooked up, but am still disgrunteled that for the 650 dollars I paid for the PREWIRE KIT I did not get the whole wiring package.

I installed my tow hitch and wiring harness in about four hours. It was all plug and play, bolt on. True, I had to run a wire all the way to the battery, but anyone who can install a car stereo or change their own oil could do this in just a few hours. Toyota should offer it as a dealer option for a more realistic price ($250-350. I ordered my hitch and harness from hiddenhitch.com.