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Old 06-17-2015, 02:51 PM   #1
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RAV4 and WDH -The Answer

Finally, after some six years I got to speak to somebody at Toyota Canada and they explained why Toyota does not recommend a weight distribution hitch.
He said, it is because they do not have a manufacturing partnership with a WDH supplier and so they cannot offer any guarantee or take any responsibility. If they did, the manuals for the RAV and from the hitch maker would contain instructions and information for its set-up and use.
Simple as that. They are not saying you can't use one, just that they can't recommend that you do.
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Old 06-17-2015, 02:53 PM   #2
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Is that for the RAV4 only or the whole line up of towable Toyotas?
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Old 06-17-2015, 02:55 PM   #3
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I didn't ask.
I would guess it is the same, unless you're talking about a Matrix.
BTW, the RAV is currently at the dealer for service, including new rotors and brake pads, front and rear. Figure I'll be out over $1,000 this afternoon.
Thinking I'm gonna turn up the Prodigy brake controller.
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Old 06-17-2015, 03:04 PM   #4
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I'll ask. I'll get back to you on this in 6 years.
I never think of the Matrix as a tow rated vehicle.
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Old 06-17-2015, 03:04 PM   #5
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I didn't ask.
I would guess it is the same, unless you're talking about a Matrix.
BTW, the RAV is currently at the dealer for service, including new rotors and brake pads, front and rear. Figure I'll be out over $1,000 this afternoon.
Thinking I'm gonna turn up the Prodigy brake controller.
Yeah, and folks are constantly asking if they should have brakes on all molded towables, even the 13-15' sizes. 'EL YES! Tug brakes are expensive to replace, trailer brakes dang cheap in comparison.
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Old 06-17-2015, 03:43 PM   #6
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We are 4000 miles or so into towing our 17b with a 2011 RAV4 equiped with the Anderson WDH without issues. Needed some brake work a while back but at 50000 that is reasonable.
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Old 06-17-2015, 10:25 PM   #7
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Thinking I'm gonna turn up the Prodigy brake controller.
I did that with mine, I like feeling the trailer brakes doing their job.
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Old 06-17-2015, 11:42 PM   #8
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I hate to spoil the feeling of closure, but the explanation doesn't work for me. If the lack of relationship with a WDH manufacturer - and resulting lack of coordinated directions for use - is the reason, then the same reason would apply to every Toyota model. The Sienna (at least in my year) doesn't just allow WDH, it requires WDH use with tongue weights over 350 pounds.

The Matrix tows trailers just fine - it used by members of other forums - but its rating is not sufficient for any but the very lightest of Escapes. In that case, most people wouldn't consider adding a huge pile of steel for WD so it might not matter what Toyota recommends.
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Old 06-17-2015, 11:47 PM   #9
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I'm happy ( or I'm exhausted ). The explanation is that we covered our butts with that sentence in the RAV4 manual. And, it seems reasonable to me that Toyota wouldn't recommend a WDH that their engineering hadn't approved.
The problem is how people interpret the sentence "Toyota does not recommend". Some think it means you can't use one, but it really means they don't recommend one, as in endorse using one.
In any event, I asked the service department to inspect it when it was in for brakes today and they report all is good, no rust.
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Old 06-18-2015, 06:20 AM   #10
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I'm happy ( or I'm exhausted ). The explanation is that we covered our butts with that sentence in the RAV4 manual. And, it seems reasonable to me that Toyota wouldn't recommend a WDH that their engineering hadn't approved.
The problem is how people interpret the sentence "Toyota does not recommend". Some think it means you can't use one, but it really means they don't recommend one, as in endorse using one.
In any event, I asked the service department to inspect it when it was in for brakes today and they report all is good, no rust.
Hi: baglo...Even 6yr. old questions need answers. In a political sense you got a definite "Maybe". Alf
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