Towing with the RAV4 EV
- Thread starter TonyWilliams
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TonyWilliams
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TonyWilliams
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We loaded up over 3000 Girl Scout cookies:
mikegerard
Well-known member
Need TonyWilliams to chime in here.
It's definitely been done....look here.
*** Moderator Edit: I moved the pictures to the beginning of this thread. Tony ***
My guess is that light towing is fine. I've seen a camry towing a sunfish sailboat (trailer + sailboat = 300-400 pounds) out of our boat club (and up a very steep hill).
Mike
It's definitely been done....look here.
*** Moderator Edit: I moved the pictures to the beginning of this thread. Tony ***
My guess is that light towing is fine. I've seen a camry towing a sunfish sailboat (trailer + sailboat = 300-400 pounds) out of our boat club (and up a very steep hill).
Mike
TonyWilliams
Well-known member
Click here for how to install the trailer hitch and trailer wiring
Yes, you can easily add the towing hitch and trailer wiring. Obviously, this 4000 pound car with 273 foot/pounds of torque will tow just fine. I recommend trailer brakes for safety.
Now, will the inverter or motor or batteries overheat pulling a long hill in 120 degree heat? I don't know. Will it stop on a long downhill with no compression breaking from a gasoline or diesel motor? Maybe not, particularly as the battery gets fully charged and regenerative breaking reduces causing the brakes to OVERHEAT and fail.
Of course, it can do the same thing without a trailer going downhill with a load of nuns inside.
Yes, you can easily add the towing hitch and trailer wiring. Obviously, this 4000 pound car with 273 foot/pounds of torque will tow just fine. I recommend trailer brakes for safety.
Now, will the inverter or motor or batteries overheat pulling a long hill in 120 degree heat? I don't know. Will it stop on a long downhill with no compression breaking from a gasoline or diesel motor? Maybe not, particularly as the battery gets fully charged and regenerative breaking reduces causing the brakes to OVERHEAT and fail.
Of course, it can do the same thing without a trailer going downhill with a load of nuns inside.
santamonicarav4
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Does a great job launching and retrieving my Macgregor 26M at approximately 4,000 lbs.
TonyWilliams
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Aren't front drive cars difficult when the ramp gets wet?
jimbo69ny
Well-known member
Wow you were able to pull a Leaf Tony? Whats that weigh, around 3500lbs?
I am also curious about launching boats. Those ramps get slippery.
I am also curious about launching boats. Those ramps get slippery.
TonyWilliams
Well-known member
jimbo69ny said:
Front wheel drive will be tough launching a boat. I'd recommend a hitch on the front for boat launches.
DevinL
Well-known member
No problem! Just use the boat to assist! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S05gcNDij6ATonyWilliams said:
jimbo69ny
Well-known member
Have any of you tried launching boats? I'd like to get a boat and I'm wondering how the Rav performs towing and on a boat launch ramp.
Thanks!
Thanks!
dstjohn99
Well-known member
I do a lot of power boating. Luanching is easy, it's retrieval that's difficult. The Rav4 EV has plenty of power but depending on the ramp and boat, front wheel drive is a problem. The boat assisst can be risky. I would never do it with my outboard with a $300 prop and $10k motor it's just not worth the risk - if the tilt is just a little too low the prop is gone and maybe gearbox/engine damage. With my inboard I will do that if needed, but the prop is protected by a trailer cage under the boat so there's no way for it to get damaged.
With a shallow ramp retrieval is easier, but then you need to back way into the water to float the boat. With a steep ramp it's better for the process, but more difficult to get traction with the vehicle. Then the ramp surface vary so much from corrugated to moss covered smooth cement, etc. I would never tr to retrieve my 26' Hurricane (3500#?) without rear or 4wd and not using a pickup as no weight oin the rear wheels. I use my Yukon or a Jeep. My 19' Ski brendella (2300#?) I can launch / retrieve with a pickup truck. The Brendella would definitely be okay that with the RAV on a good boat ramp as it is pretty light. So it just depends on the boat, the ramps you normally use, length of trailer, etc.
With a shallow ramp retrieval is easier, but then you need to back way into the water to float the boat. With a steep ramp it's better for the process, but more difficult to get traction with the vehicle. Then the ramp surface vary so much from corrugated to moss covered smooth cement, etc. I would never tr to retrieve my 26' Hurricane (3500#?) without rear or 4wd and not using a pickup as no weight oin the rear wheels. I use my Yukon or a Jeep. My 19' Ski brendella (2300#?) I can launch / retrieve with a pickup truck. The Brendella would definitely be okay that with the RAV on a good boat ramp as it is pretty light. So it just depends on the boat, the ramps you normally use, length of trailer, etc.
jimbo69ny
Well-known member
So your 19' Ski brendella 2300 # boat is about the largest one you think you could move safely?
Thank you for the info. I fear that the boat I'd want is larger than the Rav could handle.
Thank you for the info. I fear that the boat I'd want is larger than the Rav could handle.
dstjohn99
Well-known member
jimbo69ny said:
Yeah probably. I'm guessing at the weight too. I think the Rav will do well towing, especially with electric or surge brakes on the trailer but I would be very concerned about retrieveing a larger boat.
- Holy $#*%!, I just looked up the weight for the Brendella and it is 2200#, so with gear 2300 is a pretty good guess.
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