Rav4 Towbar

[kavo]

Anyone had a quote on getting a genuine Toyota Towbar fitted?

Why is a genuine bar better than say a Hayman Reece Towbar?

Toyota quoted me $1000 to supply and fit a towbar to a 11/2006 Rav4 CV. Has anyone else out there had one fitted lately and if so how much was it?

Toyota tells me that you have to pull have the car apart as the towbar needs to be wired in to the ECU. Does this mean that a non genuine bar will not have this done.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Kavo

[WellsieTRD]

Depends on the bar, but yes the rear of the car (and some of the left had side) has to come apart to fit the bar and wiring loom and you have to cut the bumper for the tounge section if you use the genuine towbar and wiring loom. Can't say for sure about aftermarket stuff though.

[SmellyTofu]

The geninue bar reinforces the back end of the car whereas the 4 bolt jobs won't.

[rolla02]

The geninue bar reinforces the back end of the car whereas the 4 bolt jobs won't.

Corolla Genuine bars only have 4 bolts, same for Camry.

In fact you will find that all Toyota Genuine Bars are made by Queensland Towbars (QTB Automotive) Linkwhich is a sister company of Hayman Reese.

The parent company (Trimas) LINKis based in the US and they also own Rola Roof Racks.

Edited July 27, 2008 by rolla02

[pinzvidz]

In this case, ACA/GSA33 RAV genuine bars have about 30 different mounting points, so not as simple as a 4 bolt job.

[SmellyTofu]

Corolla Genuine bars only have 4 bolts, same for Camry.

In fact you will find that all Toyota Genuine Bars are made by Queensland Towbars (QTB Automotive) Linkwhich is a sister company of Hayman Reese.

The parent company (Trimas) LINKis based in the US and they also own Rola Roof Racks.

That's because the back end of the Corolla & Camry can support the towing forces and the RAV4 cannot.

Who makes it does not matter because they would contravene intellectual property and future business if their aftermarket side of the business copies the genuine product. If you were in business, you'd be pretty silly to risk your future income for the sake of a quick fix right now. Ever heard of the saying "never bite the hand that feeds you"?

Btw, Front line also do bars for Toyota....

Edited July 29, 2008 by SmellyTofu

[nerdygirl]

Anyone had a quote on getting a genuine Toyota Towbar fitted?

Why is a genuine bar better than say a Hayman Reece Towbar?

Toyota quoted me $1000 to supply and fit a towbar to a 11/2006 Rav4 CV. Has anyone else out there had one fitted lately and if so how much was it?

Toyota tells me that you have to pull have the car apart as the towbar needs to be wired in to the ECU. Does this mean that a non genuine bar will not have this done.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Kavo

greetings kavo

i've been wanting a genuine towbar too, and have found them to be seriously expensive. it is good to know that there is a genuine reason for this --- i.e. it is a lot of hard work!

a while back i found this document on the net which gives the estimated fitting times for the rav4 accessories for production nov05 vehicles. i think this means the current version of the rav and not the previous one, but can't be completely sure of that. but anyway, it gives 90 mins for the wiring harness, 90 mins for the towbar, and 5 mins for the towball. (i like how they throw on 5 minutes for the towball!)

the best quote i managed to get was $781.70 after A LOT of hunting around. that is at southside toyota in brisbane. not sure where you are but i hunted for prices on the net and obviously stuff came up for other states too. so let me know what city you're in and i'll see if there's anything useful among all the stuff i found.

jacki.

[kavo]

Anyone had a quote on getting a genuine Toyota Towbar fitted?

Why is a genuine bar better than say a Hayman Reece Towbar?

Toyota quoted me $1000 to supply and fit a towbar to a 11/2006 Rav4 CV. Has anyone else out there had one fitted lately and if so how much was it?

Toyota tells me that you have to pull have the car apart as the towbar needs to be wired in to the ECU. Does this mean that a non genuine bar will not have this done.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Kavo

greetings kavo

i've been wanting a genuine towbar too, and have found them to be seriously expensive. it is good to know that there is a genuine reason for this --- i.e. it is a lot of hard work!

a while back i found this document on the net which gives the estimated fitting times for the rav4 accessories for production nov05 vehicles. i think this means the current version of the rav and not the previous one, but can't be completely sure of that. but anyway, it gives 90 mins for the wiring harness, 90 mins for the towbar, and 5 mins for the towball. (i like how they throw on 5 minutes for the towball!)

the best quote i managed to get was $781.70 after A LOT of hunting around. that is at southside toyota in brisbane. not sure where you are but i hunted for prices on the net and obviously stuff came up for other states too. so let me know what city you're in and i'll see if there's anything useful among all the stuff i found.

jacki.

Jacki,

I am in Brisbane and gave southside a call as they are near my work. So was 781 a fitted price or just for the btowbar and wiring harness? I also found the fitting times guide but wasnt sure how much fat the dealers have in that sort of thing.

Have you had your towbar fitted yet?

thanks for the info.

kavo

[nerdygirl]

Jacki,

I am in Brisbane and gave southside a call as they are near my work. So was 781 a fitted price or just for the btowbar and wiring harness? I also found the fitting times guide but wasnt sure how much fat the dealers have in that sort of thing.

Have you had your towbar fitted yet?

thanks for the info.

kavo

hi kavo. i wrote southside toyota but what i actually meant was motorama toyota, sorry about that. they gave me that price which included fitting and i had it done on monday. it looks fantastic, i really recommend the genuine one. and it works with my parking sensors too, which surprised me! obviously they'll have to be turned off when actually towing....

southside quoted me i think $821 fitted. if you go into the waiting room in their service department they have price lists for the accessories for each toyota model. interestingly, when i asked for a quote at the counter, before i saw the acc price list, they quoted me $1000 fitted. then when i was sitting around waiting for them to finish off installing my parking sensors, i noticed the price list and pointed out the discrepancy to them. they were genuinely surprised and said there was some kind of problem with all their pricing...

so it is a bit hard to say exactly what price they do the job for!

so anyway motorama did it for $781, but that had some kind of (i believe fairly modest) discount built in because i bought the vehicle from them.

i have to say they did a great job and are very professional.

another good price is from hinterland toyota (nerang) who supply&fit for $765, which is definitely the cheapest price i've heard of.

the most expensive was sci fleet which is just down the road at taringa. they quoted me $1300 fitted which is completely outrageous. they were also very unyielding on price when i bought my rav. i really don't know how those guys are the biggest sellers in australia.

good luck kavo!

Edit: Photos added!

Edited August 8, 2008 by nerdygirl

[kiwis rose]

Hi Jacki, How much did the reverse sensors cost? And what sort of monitor goes with it - distance, beeping, indicates which side?????

Thinking of getting some as well as a tow bar. Thanks.

[nerdygirl]

Hi Jacki, How much did the reverse sensors cost? And what sort of monitor goes with it - distance, beeping, indicates which side?????

Thinking of getting some as well as a tow bar. Thanks.

Hi! The sensors cost me $442.50 supply and fit at Southside Toyota. I think I remember though that they made a mistake with that quote, or at least that was what they said to me when I paid. They don't seem to know what prices they charge! I do like them there though, they are good people, and I would go back to them.

I got quoted $577.50 supply and fit by motorama.

Also, Castle Hill Toyota (in NSW but never mind) will do it for $456.50. They have a full accessories price list on the web, and I think their prices provide a benchmark of what a good price is: accessories price list rav4.

The toyota parking sensors for the rav give a beeping sound which has different beep rates depending on how close the object is. So it is basic, no visual, no indication of which side. I've gotten quite used to them now and find them quite valuable for example when reverse parking. They give you more confidence in knowing how far you are from the vehicle behind you when parking. I think they are a great aid and all cars, especially larger ones, ought to have them as standard.

I also want to get the reversing mirror. You might notice if you look at the back of your car up near the high brake light a recess. Toyota make a mirror that attaches there and is sold in Japan. I know people think reversing mirrors are really daggy, and they are right! but I think it would be really useful...

Good luck with getting your accessories! Let me know how you go,

Jacki.

[kiwis rose]

I do believe there is a reversing mirror 'from Japan' on eBay at the moment. Good luck.

[nerdygirl]

I do believe there is a reversing mirror 'from Japan' on eBay at the moment. Good luck.

I've got my eye on that ;)

[Bernice]

Hi,

1st post for me,

Only joined up as i was searching this particular topic and found this thread ;)

I was quoted around the $250 for supply and fitted on the Central Coast, Narara i think.

They specialise in towbars/trailers for cars and 4x4, horse trailers etc.

Seriously, how hard can it be to install a tow bar.

These prices are rediulous!

I'm buying a 2nd hand (probably 4 bolter) towbar without the wiring.

I will definately be putting it on myself.

If i can figure it out and the wiring, i'll try to remember to take some snaps and you can 'sticky' it as am install tutorial if you like.

(Done em before on other forums)

I have no issues cutting in to the wiring but could someone direct me to where exactly i can tap into these wires?

I see no reason to head all the way to the ECU up front??

All the required lighting heads to the back (obviously) so there msut be a panel or something i can get into? Hmmm

Haven't looked yet but should be interesting.

Cheers guys/gals.

Bernice

Edited August 28, 2008 by Bernice

[Bernice]

OK, picked up the bar n bolts for $70 in Parramatta.

Rang Castle Hill Toyota for a price on the wiring harness......$43.00, nowhere near as bad as i thought.

So if this works out, i'll be set for $113, done and dusted ;)

I asked the dude to quickly show me where the wiring goes.

Under and through the rear floor area (5 door) and into the right removable panel (i think)

It's starting to sound easier than expected.....

[Bernice]

Towbar is on.

4 bolts for the bar which was easy as, just tricky as it's heavy and with 1 person doing all the work, a bit fiddley.

(10mins)

Wiring harness was a thing of beauty and worth the $43.

Undo 1 plug on the left and insert the wiring harness in between with 2 plugs

1 wire to be soldered on the right hand side.

(1hr, next time will be 20mins)

That's it!

Well, a bit more fiddling getting the covers off etc to get to the wires, but easy none the less.

I'll install em for ya for $50 ;)

I've taken photos and will upload later.

[nerdygirl]

Towbar is on.

4 bolts for the bar which was easy as, just tricky as it's heavy and with 1 person doing all the work, a bit fiddley.

(10mins)

Wiring harness was a thing of beauty and worth the $43.

Undo 1 plug on the left and insert the wiring harness in between with 2 plugs

1 wire to be soldered on the right hand side.

(1hr, next time will be 20mins)

That's it!

Well, a bit more fiddling getting the covers off etc to get to the wires, but easy none the less.

I'll install em for ya for $50 ;)

I've taken photos and will upload later.

oh my *** you're a legend well done! i guess the only diff with the toyota branded towbar is that it attaches in quite a few places and so perhaps you can tow more in that case? i don't really know...

[Bernice]

Hey peeps, pics as promised.

Car - RAV4 Cruiser 2002

Before shot 1 - Under the car, left.

Before shot 2 - Under the car, right.

Lift some carpet and the tool storage area, and there's some easily, removable grommits

The Toyota harness.. oh yeah, bring it baby!

[Bernice]

Pic of the grommit out and my arm showing where the wires are eventually going...

Cut a hole in the origianl grommit (smaller than the new grommits diametre) and insert.

The new grommit has a grove where the oldie slots into, like a tyre going inside a rim, sorta, but on a smaller scale.

It's in, soooo easy.

same but underneath,,,,

[Bernice]

After you have pulled the plastic away (only 4 screws and some force), you'll reveal the rear lights plug.

You unplug it, insert the 2 plugs from the harness (there's only 1 way this works so you can't get it wrong)

1 side COMPLETED ! Geeze that was hard ;)

Getting there..

with 1 side done, another to go which is only 1 wire but slightly trickier

(this one does your right blinker, the left side controls the rest)

Ok, pulled the plastic walls back to get some better access.

Unplug.

Cut back some black covering to reveal the wires.

you need the GREEN/YELLOW wire (ontop of my finger)

Cut back some insulation to get to the wire...

Wrap around the new wire, and solder, and re-insulate with electrical tape.

(not all pictured but i'm sure you can imagine)

Put it back together and the inside wiring is done.

And that's the hardest bit.

[Bernice]

Well the bar itself is only 4 bolts...seriously.

I'll show what i have but i didn't do the completed shot! Doh....

Bit hard with the weight and 1 body, so you can see my levelling technique too.

Sooo clever ;)

You need to drill 2 tiny holes for the plug to be secured, but it came with 2 plastic ties, and i just used that for now.

Holding well.

Cheers guys/gals.

Jump on ebay and get 1.

Order your harness.

Grab a 6 pack and get to it!

[nerdygirl]

well done bernice that is completely brilliant! you explained it really well. i don't know how to but we should pin this.

Jacki.

[dakodamemphis]

I have just found this site it is great. I am looking around for a Towbar for my Rav4 2007. I have been quote from toyota $970 for theres. I have spoken to a Hayman Reece fitter and they have quoted me $510. Now Hayman has been making them for how long and they are the best in the world. Why is toyotas so expecive and what makes it so good. I am planning to tow a caravan over to Perth a Jayco Expander tow weight 1310. Has anyone done any towing. If so any advie.

[Bernice]

I'd ring both suppliers again and tell them what you want to do.

The cheapest tow bars i think are rated at 1200kgs so that's obviously a no goer.

I 'thought' the better ones were only 1400kg?? and being at 1310, that's getting you close to the limit and considering the distance, i would be ringing around and asking advice from more than 2 people.

Might need a brake booster? don't know.

Ask ask and ask again.

[dakodamemphis]

Thanks Berneic I have been told the toyota tow bar is rated to 1550kg and the hayman reece 1900kgs. So I think I have decided on the Hayman. For price and they are the best. Caravan only weighs 1310 so even fully loaded should be fine. Will just suck the fuel witch i am prepared for.

Edited September 15, 2008 by dakodamemphis