I’m seriously thinking about lifting my RAV4 Hybrid because the hitch is too low, especially when I’m towing my little camper. It leans down quite a bit, and I’d love to even it out. Any good lift kit recommendations? Will it mess up my warranty? Also, how many inches would be ideal? Thanks!
Honestly, the OEM hitch is probably your best bet for leveling things out and getting better clearance. Airbags are pricey and might not be what you need here. The hitch you’ve got sits really low, so you’re using a huge riser to compensate. Switching to the OEM hitch will give you around 2 more inches of clearance.
Also, watch the tongue weight. You might want to weigh everything over the axles to make sure you’re not overloading anything. Adding trailer brakes could also make longer trips a lot safer.
@blaisefinly
Completely agree with this 
@Bliss
Looks awesome!
Are you sure your camper isn’t over the towing limit?
Verne said:
Are you sure your camper isn’t over the towing limit?
Towing limits in the U.S. are based on some odd standards. If you’re planning to add trailer brakes, you could probably tow a bit more. Look at what’s allowed in Europe for comparison.
Verne said:
Are you sure your camper isn’t over the towing limit?
The limit is 1750 lbs, but I feel comfortable towing 2000. My camper’s dry weight is 1300, and fully loaded, it’s about 2000.
You could try using a weight distribution hitch. You might need a different riser for it, though. Some say it’s fine for unibody vehicles, but I haven’t seen anything official from Toyota about it.
Did you get a Curt hitch that sits below the bumper? I returned mine because it was too low. The OEM one is pricey and requires cutting the bumper, but the Eco hitch sits in between. I’ve got a 2023 Adventure Trim with TRD Red rear springs and Airlift1000 airbags. They help a lot. Your camper’s front is sitting way too low right now.
@DavidDaniel1
Yeah, I know it’s low. I either need to lift the car or find smaller wheels for the camper. By the way, I didn’t have to cut anything for my hitch installation.
Montana said:
@DavidDaniel1
Yeah, I know it’s low. I either need to lift the car or find smaller wheels for the camper. By the way, I didn’t have to cut anything for my hitch installation.
You might want to visit a trailer shop and ask them for advice. They could suggest a hitch with a higher rise or even stack another coupler under the trailer. It could be way cheaper than suspension work.
This is why I went with the Northwoods Performance Stage 3 springs for my Woodland edition. They’re rated at 250 lbs for the rear, which handles tongue weight better than the TRD OR springs rated at 212 lbs. I’ve been really happy with it, and I use the OEM hitch as well. Fixing the sag helps level the trailer.
@Haven
Did you need to cut the bumper for the hitch, or was it already installed? How did it turn out?
Marlowe said:
@Haven
Did you need to cut the bumper for the hitch, or was it already installed? How did it turn out?
Here’s how it looks
If you move the spare tire off the tongue, it’ll take about 25-30 lbs off the weight.
DavidDaniel1 said:
If you move the spare tire off the tongue, it’ll take about 25-30 lbs off the weight.
The hitch is already low, even when I’m not towing. I’d still like to lift the car.
I went with Dendoff springs from Canada. 255 in the rear and 222 in the front. No sagging at all.
I’ve got the same RAV4 as you!