Thanks for the detailed step-by-step instruction. You didn’t show a closeup of the installed hitch, though. I’d like to have seen how it looked.

Great video, thank you! All the key points I was looking for included in your awesome video.

Excellent video - very clear and easy to follow. Thanks you!

Thank you for the great help!!!

Thanks! Best video.

Thanks for taking your time with this to make a great instructional video. Will be a little nervous to take off the whole rear bumper of my first brand new car, but this breakdown gave me a lot of confidence.

@smitheys

Жыл бұрын

Haha, yeah that’s actually the only part I was nervous about but it’s very forgiving. It’s just REALLY loud. Good luck!

@chasehelmick6025

Жыл бұрын

@@smitheys no broken clips or anything?

Great video.

Great video, thanks for the info...

Good stuff

Thanks!

VERY Well done thanks a lot for this. I just finished and your work really helped !! 🎉🎉

@smitheys

2 ай бұрын

So glad I could help! I really appreciate the kind words!

Thanks for the video. I just checked with a local dealer . The part is now listed with an MSRP of $555. They quoted five hours of labor for another $1100. I have a 2019 RAV Hybrid. (UPDATE: checked with a second dealer and they quoted $500 for the install) it's possible that the first guy was assuming I needed all the wiring too, which I do not.

@smitheys

3 ай бұрын

Wow, it’s crazy how much the price is going up for this hitch. I thought it was high when I bought it, even with the 10% I saved by searching local dealers. And $1100???! $500 is still steep, but manageable. If you’re able, the job really isn’t too bad. The only part I didn’t like is taking off the plastic bumper. My luck I always break something but it was surprisingly strong. If you can’t, you can also check other mechanic shops near you, might be cheaper than the stealerships. Thanks for watching and I hope this video helped in some way.

Wow you dismantled that back part of your car. I’m glad you know what you’re doing. How did you learn how to do this? It’s amazing to me.

What is your floor - looks awesome.

A quick question, what are the wheels and rims specs you have on your RAV4? I love the look of the rims aggressive Wildpeak tire.

I love the information and the way that you provided it. I’d like to see the hitch through the cut out? Was that entire hole needed? Seems a square would do? What am I missing?

@smitheys

10 ай бұрын

Hey! Thank you so much and Great questions. So the entire cutout is for the hitch and the wiring… it has a spot to mount a 5 pin or 3 pin. if you don’t plan on towing, you can just cut the hole for the hitch and not the wiring bracket. You can still secure the harness, just backwards (well most will fit backwards depending on the harness).

Nice video, thank you. Do you know what would be the added wight to the car from installing the hitch?

@smitheys

11 ай бұрын

To be honest I don't know specific numbers but I'm pretty sure it's pretty similar in weight. That aluminum crash bar has some weight to it, but if I had to guess the hitch is probably 20ish pounds heavier? Barely noticeable and again, just a guesstimate. Hope this helps!

Any differences in installation for Rav4 hybrid?

lol I could never get used to someone saying warsher.. you must be from Pennsylvania or around there.. good video man!

@smitheys

5 ай бұрын

Haha, I’m saying it right though! Wash-er. I’m not saying war-sure (sher sounds like sure in my head). How do you say it? And thanks! I appreciate it.

@Tomnician

19 күн бұрын

@@smitheys I'm Maryland, I say wor-sure but if plural wash-ers lol

Nice video, and great price too, by the way which dealership did you got it from.? I looked all over the sites and nothing below four fifty. Thx

@smitheys

11 ай бұрын

Thank you, I really appreciate that. Woooow! $450???!?!!? When I was looking for one I was searching dealers in a 100 mile radius. The regular prices at the time were between $299-$350. Inflation is REAL! Haha, but also not funny. I only got a 15% discount because the dealer had a special being if you buy online and pickup at the dealer it was 15%off. Im sorry it's so high!

Nice movie, well explained. What frightens me is the amount rust on the bolts of a car that is only a few years old! 😬 (At for example 5:39). What will those bolts and bracket look like then the car is 10 or 15 years old? This is another example of Toyota's bad reputation with regard to rust prevention...

@smitheys

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, unfortunately that's what happens with Toyota's. They have gotten better over the years but it's still a problem. And thank you, I really appreciate it!

@burnx45

8 ай бұрын

That's way too much rust on those bolts. They should have used zinc plated bolts or some other kind of rust preventative coating. Some Rustoleum spray paint would neutralize the current rust problem.

Where did you get the wood platform that makes your backseat flush?

@smitheys

2 ай бұрын

I made them. I filmed most of it too: kzread.info/dash/bejne/rH9qpcNwkqvIfJM.html I made it for camping/living, but i use it for everything really.

thanks for vid, middle of process now, hope bumper removal is worse part, fuckin push clips....

Hi, thanks for the video. What about turn lights? I need to tow u-haul trailer.

@smitheys

2 ай бұрын

Sorry, I don’t have a video with the wiring. They have kits that are pretty simple, the hardest part is just running the wire up to the battery (if you don’t have a hybrid. The hybrids have a battery in the back already). I got my wiring kit from U-Haul. www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Miscellaneous/Tekonsha-118801-T-One%C2%AE-Connector-Assembly-W/Upgraded-Circuit-Protected-Modulite%C2%AE-Hd-Module/?id=21946

@Erwin_Anderson

2 ай бұрын

@@smitheys cool thanks for reply)

thats a great price where did you buy it, lowest i found iis $400 instead of $900

@smitheys

7 ай бұрын

Thanks! Yeah at the time I thought THAT price was high. Inflation really took over this year. I got it from a Toyota dealership about 55 miles away. When I was looking, I just googled Toyota dealerships within a 50 mile radius (I might’ve even looked as far as 100 miles, can’t remember). I think the retail was $299 at the time I made that video in February. I just hate paying retail, makes me feel like I did something when I get it cheaper. Haha.

Does this also apply if you have a hybrid or plug in hybrid version?

@smitheys

2 ай бұрын

Yeah, it pretty much works with all models. Just type in the part number (in my description) and verify your model. I did see hybrids up there but couldn’t tell you which trim because I don’t have a hybrid.

really wish it was easier to add a hitch. Also, that is a lot of rust for 4 years old. Please tell me this has been in lots of snow or something.

@smitheys

10 ай бұрын

Yeah it can be challenging but I tried to break it down so anyone can do it. There is an easier solution with an aftermarket hitch but it hangs a lot closer to the street. It’s also a lot cheaper! If you do mostly street driving, it’s a great option. I go off-road often so I wanted more ground clearance. As for the rust, it’s not as bad in person.

Where on earth did u find that kit for 260? My local dealer wants 1400....

@smitheys

8 ай бұрын

Wow! Where are you located??! I’m in the states but that’s extremely high! I just googled it and it’s saying $450? At the time I purchased it the retail price was $299. Are you sure you didn’t get quoted install and parts? One other thing is I only bought the hitch kit, not the hitch and wiring kit. With wiring, it was $399 I think or $420. I didn’t need the wiring and I found a better kit at U-Haul for wiring, $42.

is this LE trim?

@smitheys

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, it's the LE.

@Haroold127

11 ай бұрын

@@smitheys how much is the measurement from ground to the hitch?

damn I was following the paper directions and fucked up the cut out bc I measure exactly how it said to measure from the top of the start of the bend. Like 30 mm or something. That was completely wrong, I should have watched this first

@smitheys

6 ай бұрын

Wow, yeah I read and reread those instructions a few times before I did anything. Hopefully you didn’t mess it up too bad or it’s not COMPLETELY noticeable.

@martazoll5925

Ай бұрын

Just found this after I got quoted $810 for labor/install in CA! They said it’s a 3 hour job. Curious if you know how long it took you?

@smitheys

Ай бұрын

@martazoll5925 if thats parts and labor that’s actually not bad for California. It took me between 2-3 hours but I was taking my time, filming, moving the camera, etc. The job isn’t hard but if you have the funds and not enough time, do it.

@martazoll5925

Ай бұрын

@@smitheys no that quote is for labor only. I found the hitch for $444 (it’s $555 now). Another dealerships said $1040 for install. U-Haul on the other hand said $62.50 for 30min of work 🤯

@smitheys

Ай бұрын

@martazoll5925 yeah U-Hauls trailer hitch goes under the bumper, so it’s really a quick job with 4 bolts. The oem hitch you have to take the bumper off and it mounts behind it. And 1040??? Dang. It’s really not that hard if you have any skills. The hardest part to me, which wasn’t even hard, was taking off the bumper. When I say it’s not hard, I mean I was more nervous about pulling too hard and breaking the bumper but it’s got a lot of play and would take a lot to break it. That was my first time taking off the bumper on this car. But like I said, if your time is more valuable than money, I’d say do it or get a few more quotes. Actual dealerships cost more anyways, so ask a few local mechanics. I’d say that would cut the bill by at least half. I’m always broke or close to it, so I find a way to do it myself to save money.