Towing a car can be super helpful in many positive and negative situations.
However, not every car can be towed the same way, and there are many things you must consider before towing a vehicle, such as its drivetrain and similar.
In this article, find out about the RAV4’s towing abilities and what exactly you need to watch out for. Let’s go!
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What Cars Can be Towed on a Tow Dolly?
Before jumping to the answer about towing a RAV4 on a tow dolly, let’s first review the components you must check before buying a dolly.
So, as said, there are a few crucial factors to consider regarding your tow dolly. Always think about this before buying a dolly.
A tow dolly is generally intended for the front (and rear)-wheel-drive vehicles with a curb weight of 5000 pounds or less.
Although front-wheel and rear-wheel drive are pretty standard in many automobile models, verifying your vehicle’s owner’s handbook or with your dealer to find out what kind of power train it has is recommended.
Making an assumption and maybe injuring your automobile because you believe it has, for example, front-wheel drive when it doesn’t is the last thing you want to do.
But after you’ve established if your automobile can be hauled on a Car Tow Dolly, it’s simple to operate and effectively moves your car from one location to another because of the secure method it’s fastened to your vehicle.
An extra benefit? Your car’s rear wheels are separate from the mileage sensor, so you won’t accrue any more miles when moving it.
Why Is Having a Tow Dolly Good?
A tow dolly is excellent for various journeys and activities you want to do.
It may serve as the additional insurance you require for your automobile and will shield it from various outside forces that could harm it while it is being driven.
Hydraulic Disc Brakes on the Car Tow Dolly eliminate the need for wiring and brake controllers.
Most dollys are hot-dipped galvanized to prevent corrosion for a very long time.
Now let’s see if you can use a tow dolly on your one and only – RAV4.
Can You Tow a RAV4 on a Tow Dolly?
Okay, the first thing is to understand how the tow dolly works.
Your automobile is being towed by a tow dolly, which has the front wheels on it and the back wheels on the ground. It can work the other way around for the RWD RAV4 vehicles, but there is more to that later.
Because of that, you must ensure that your RAV4 is not AWD (all-wheel-drive) or 4WD (four-wheel-drive) because you can seriously damage the car’s drivetrain.
So, in the case of the AWD/4WD RAV4, you should consider other options, like a flatbed tow truck or a tow truck with a flatbed trailer.
In that case, the wheels would not spin while the automobile is being hauled if they were raised. This is the easiest and safest way to transfer an AWD without damaging the drivetrain in this manner.
But can you use a tow dolly with the 2WD (which can be FWD – front-wheel drive or RWD – rear-wheel drive),
Putting a RAV4 2WD on a Tow Dolly: Step-By-Step
Some vehicles have an FWD (front-wheel drive) and an RWD (rear-wheel drive).
First, let’s talk about how to put the FWD on a tow dolly, and then we can speak of the RWD.
How to Connect Tow Dolly to an FWD RAV4?
We must first comprehend how front-wheel-drive cars function to understand the towing procedure.
Only when power is provided to the front wheels are front-wheel drive vehicles supposed to be moving.
To prevent further harm to your automobile, it is crucial to ensure the front wheels of any front-wheel-drive vehicle you need to tow are high above the ground.
So, the front two wheels of an automobile are lifted off the ground by a tow dolly, a two-wheel trailer.
Unlike a car carrier, the automobile’s rear wheels stay on the ground while being towed.
The usage of a tow dolly is explained in the steps that follow.
Step 1. is to align the dolly with the automobile that must be pulled, ensuring that both objects stand on level ground.
Step 2 is to lift the front of the immovable vehicle with a car jack.
Always ensure the jack is on a secure lifting point to avoid harm to your automobile. You can almost always find the location of a car’s jack points in the owner’s manual.
Step 3 is to put the car in neutral, place the dolly’s ramps in front of each wheel, and slowly push the vehicle forward until the front wheels touch the dolly’s lip.
Step 4 says that after securing the wheels using the tow dolly’s included wheel straps, check that all safety harnesses are securely fastened to the frame of the stationary vehicle.
And the last one, step 5, says that before you start towing, ensure that all straps and harnesses are securely fastened to the recovery points described in your user handbook.
A successful and secure tow depends on all recovery points being securely fastened.
That’s it!
Now let’s see about the RWD RAV4!
How to Connect Tow Dolly to an RWD RAV4?
Pulling an RWD vehicle with a dolly differs slightly from towing an FWD vehicle.
Since the driving wheels are at the back, you can’t just put the front wheels on a dolly and head out on the road.
When the back wheels rotate without the engine running, the gearbox will burn up in 2WD cars because the machine needs to be running to lubricate the transmission.
With the back wheels on the dolly and the front wheels on the ground, you can pull some RWD automobiles using a dolly. But, again, see your owner’s handbook to confirm that this is an option for your specific car model.
Additionally, remember that some cars may have issues with ground clearance at the front of the vehicle.
If you’re determined to use a dolly but can’t pull in reverse, you can also tow with the front wheels up by disconnecting the drive shaft.
Your wheels and axle will be able to spin, as a result, bypassing the transmission.
Noting that this isn’t a straightforward DIY project, you should leave it to the professionals if you’re not a mechanic or use a drive shaft coupler, making it simpler to separate and rejoin the drive shaft.
But once more, this raises the cost of setup.
That should be it. Now you know how to tow the 2WD RAV4 vehicles perfectly.
But make sure to check the Frequently Asked Questions section to find out more about towing Toyota vehicles with a flat towable and much more!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
As said previously, we will provide additional information about specific situations, such as towing a Hybrid RAV4, etc.
Can a 2019 Toyota RAV4 be Towed Behind an RV?
The 2019 Toyota Rav4 can’t be pulled behind a trailer if it has all-wheel drive (AWD).
The vehicle cannot be modified to be flat-towed with all four wheels down, and no one manufactures the required components.
On the other hand, you can tow 2WD vehicles behind an RV, but you must use extreme caution and confirm that the power trains are in the air.
Can You Tow a RAV4 Hybrid?
With hybrids, it is all the same. If you have an AWD, do not tow it on a tow dolly.
Be careful that all the power train wheels are in the air. Also, check with your dealer or the manual of the specific vehicle for the towing abilities.
Are Any Toyotas Flat Towable?
The kinds of automobiles that can be flat hauled depend on a few distinct parameters.
It depends on whether they have certain manufacturer-installed features like a steering lockout override or a transmission disconnect.
AWD and 4×4 cars are generally more common and recommended for flat towing.
Luna Meschiari is a full-blooded car nut who is well known to local garages, as each article is meticulously researched and peppered with the latest piece of information. Guess what car she’s driving right now? A RAV4 2021 Hybrid. But her heart also sleeps for pickups like the F-150. Get to know Luna better on the about us page.
Advertising links are marked with *. We receive a small commission on sales, nothing changes for you.
