www.iFourWinns.com

I have a (new to me) 1993 180 Freedom and I will be pulling it with my Rav4 4WD V6. I'm not sure if i should go to my local Toyota dealer or another shop to purchase/install a trailer hitch for me. I would appreciate any of your thoughts. THX

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

If you plan to install it yourself, etrailer.com, chapiontrailers.com, etc. Before you do that, you might check for a local trailer shop. If you have one, it might not cost much more to just buy it from them and have them install it.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I installed the one on my 98 Jeep myself, and installed the skid plate for the gas tank at the same time (they use the same mounts). Both were heavy, I held up the skid with a floor jack and the hitch with a scissors jack. Used anti-seize in case I ever had to take em off (not yet, 12 years later!)

Another thing to keep in mind is the trailer wiring, you may be able to get this after market as well but with my Jeep I heard the OE stuff worked better so that's what I used (no problem in 12 years).....

One reason I picked the 07 Grand we bought last summer is that it had the tow package standard on it....the other reason was the HEMI....375 ft lbs of torque......

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Go to U-Haul. I would get mine with a nationwide warranty that covers the wiring to the plug also, that way wherever I am, I can get it serviced or replaced. Just good piece of mind and they do good work installing the hitch!

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2011 Horizon SS210
Mercruiser 377 MAG MPIC/Bravo l DTS 320 h.p.
PowerTech! OFS4 16-pitch SS 4 blade Propeller
2012 Ford King Ranch V6 eco-boost-Tow Vehicle

I think anyone BUT Toyota would be a good choice as they would probably stick it to you... that or tell your RAV4 isn't capable and you need to buy something bigger

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2008 FW F204 - 5.0 VP "Stand On It"
Former Boat: Larson 186 LXI - 4.3 VP

Since I work for a dealer, let me offer this...

Some vehicles (take our Acura MDX for instance)....its NOT just a trailer hitch. It also includes a transmission cooler. Yep...our setup is about $850.00 installed, but if could mean the difference in you getting warranty work done on your car or not by NOT using a factory installed/dealer installed OEM type part. If you are out of warranty, I suppose it may not matter...but you NEED to find out if Toyota is selling you JUST a hitch, or if its an HD cooling package as part of it. I say if its JUST a hitch...etrailer.com, perhaps your local U-Haul center are all viable options.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

My Rav is rated to pull up to 3500 lbs and my Freedom with trailer is about 3000. Probably much lighter than the newer FourWinns boats. I likely don't require any special towing packages, just a good hitch.
I did like the idea about Toyota charging a high price, just because they can/will.

Is that 3000lbs including gas, life jackets, water toys etc? At 3000lbs you are getting real close to your weight limit...

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2008 FW F204 - 5.0 VP "Stand On It"
Former Boat: Larson 186 LXI - 4.3 VP

[/quote]Is that 3000lbs including gas, life jackets, water toys etc? At 3000lbs you are getting real close to your weight limit...[/quote]
Yes, it does include the extras like battery, engine, fuel etc...

Goto your local trailer shop. My honda dealer subs out to one of the local shops as I would suspect most dealers do. You should look at getting a tranny cooler too. You can probably get the hitch for ~250 installed with wiring. The tranny cooler is probably another 150-200.

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'99 Horizon 200

Hi I have a Highlander and my local toyota dealer ( WEST HERR) told me to go to U Haul, I had the tranny cooler HD put in too, I was getting a service the other day at toyota's and a guy commented how good the set up looked, far better that the dealers, I am really pleased with mine cost bout $450-500 all in.Thats for the 5000lb rating (my Limit).Good luck

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