I'm adding a hitch and T-One wiring to my new-to-me RAV4.

I'm trying to discern the best place to pick up the 12v for the trailer wiring harness. Some of the options I have are:

- run a wire outside, under the body (yuck)
- run a wire under from the battery (or a fusebox/junction box), under all the trim panels inside the cabin (labor intensive and risky to the plastic panels)
- tap the line that supplies the 12 v. outlet at the driver's side read of the cargo compartment (great solution, except outlets are dead when vehicle is off -- no chance to use parking lights or 4-ways with key in OFF position)
- tap the line that supplies the 12 v. outlet at the driver's side rear of the cargo compartment after making that circuit always 'hot' (very attractive idea to me, but don't have schematic of vehicle. Hoping to avoid frying any expensive parts during the first week of ownership...)
- tap into the 'courtesy lamp' supply on the tailgate (I'm going to guess that it is fed by a small wire that might be inadequate for the entire load of the trailer lights)

I want to do this well, and I don't want it to be any more difficult or time-sonsuming that necessary! How did YOU do it?

Paul in East Troy WI

I had mine done by the dealer and I'm pretty sure they had to order a wiring harness that just plugs into the system somewhere. I remember the installed the hitch but then said they had the wrong wiring. I brought it back 2 days later and they installed the wiring and had me out the door in 20 minutes.

Hey, that might help! Go check out what the dealer did and tell us about it! Mostly look at the battery, see if they installed the fuse and look where they fed the power supply wire. Then pop the cover on the left rear panel where the tool kit is and see if the T-connector is plugged into the back-up wiring connector there (at least that's where it is on my 09).

Rob

OK, I looked in both the rear access panels and nothing seems out of the ordinary there. At the battery I found some odd looking stuff.

Here is the overview of the battery. Positive is clearly marked on the left.


(IMG:http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/TheRealYoda/P1000762.jpg)

Over at the negative terminal there is a bunch of odd looking stuff that's been attached but i suspect it all has to do with my H.I.D. lights.


(IMG:http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/TheRealYoda/P1000766.jpg)


However, over here on the positive side there appear to be two extra leads. I tugged on them to try to get an idea of where they were leading and I do not believe they are part of the H.I.D. system because they seem to lead back somewhere under the master brake cylinder. Still it's hard to say. There are two modules for the headlights and two extra leads so it's entirely possible they are part of that system.


(IMG:http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg70/TheRealYoda/P1000767.jpg)

Other than that equipment I can find no evidence of how they might have done it.

I'm not much of a hands on guy with these newer vehicles. Put me to work on my sweet old Cutlass and I'll strip her down to the last nut and bolt but those were much simpler times and simpler cars and I am just not inclined to rip my Rav4 apart without having the foggiest notion how to fix it if I screw something up. Especially since it's under warranty and so is the trailer hitch installation.