How to Put a Hitch on a 2006 Toyota RAV4
- 1). Slide under the rear of the RAV4 and locate the tie-down hook mounted to the end of the driver's side frame rail. Remove the retaining bolts from the hook with a socket and ratchet wrench. Save the hook and bolts for future installation if you decide to remove the hitch at a later date.
- 2). Insert each of the four hitch mounting bolts through the conical -- or star-shaped -- washers. Clean the underside of the rear frame rails of any debris that would hinder a solid mount of the hitch with a wire brush or scraper.
- 3). Raise the hitch into position under the rear of the vehicle with the draw-bar tube on the hitch facing the rear. Line up the two bolt holes in the mounting flanges of each side of the hitch with the welded-in nuts in each frame rail. Note that the nuts on the driver's side of the frame were used to secure the tie down hook removed previously.
- 4). Have a helper hold the hitch in place. Thread each of the four hitch mounting bolts and washers through the hitch mounting holes and into the welded-in nuts on the frame rails. Tighten the bolts finger-tight. Have the helper release the hitch.
- 5). Tighten each of the four bolt heads with a socket and torque wrench to the tightness specified by the hitch manufacturer -- probably around 65 foot-pounds.
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