Community Forums

Wingrydr57 · 09-10-2014, 07:59 PM

Hello, I have a 2012 rave4 basic. I have read I can tow it four wheels down with a remco oil pump kit. Has anyone tryed this? We love our rav but not sure if we want to take the plunge.

Thanks to all, Steve W.

TinMan Trvlr · 09-11-2014, 02:05 PM

We have been wrestling with this same question, without finding any "early adopters" to let us know the pro's and con's of their actual experience.

We have been quoted 10 hours @ $150.00/hour to mount the Remco pump, and another 10 hours to mount and wire in the base plate to attach the tow bar to.

The install of the SMI Air Force One braking actuator is quoted at another 6 to 10 hours.

Projected labour costs, $4500 on top of the parts, which are worth about $3000.00 before we purchase the Aventa LX tow bar, cover kit, and any protective shield. We expect those parts to be in the order of another $1600.
So, ignoring the tow bar itself which can easily be used on any subsequent vehicle, we have a minimum towing set up cost of $8100 to $8500. on the RAV4.

As happy as we are for many reasons with our RAV4, we don't want to proceed to spend all this to equip it if there are known good reasons to avoid the Remco pump solution. It saves $3000 and any possible gripes about whether the Remco transmission lube pump is reliable to just buy a vehicle with a disconnectable transfer case, such as a Ford Pick up, Ram pick up, Honda CRV, or a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The other set up costs don't change, and we do end up buying an additional vehicle to use while our low mileage RAV4 sits at home depreciating, but at least we are not faced with spending 3X to accomplish a reliable towing set up. By three times I mean once to set up the RAV4, once to remove all the towing equipment if we have a transmission failure issue, and once again to re-mount the braking system and (different new) base brackets on a repacement tow vehicle.

There is a 2006 RAV4 for sale in the iRV2 classifieds that the owner shows a lot of miles on that they have towed, but that only the second RAV4 I am aware of that has been set up for towing. I have not had any input from either owner on their experiences. I hope that in the hundreds of users of this forum there are experienced users who can provide info on their successful RAV4 towing experiences.

macantic · 09-11-2014, 02:51 PM

wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to get a tow dolly?

BFlinn181 · 09-11-2014, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macantic

wouldn't it be a lot cheaper to get a tow dolly?

Or buy a car that can be towed 4 down without all the expense. My issues with the Remco pump is that if it fails, you have to replace the transmission or even the whole car if it overheats until it catches fire. Search the forum for stories of Remco pump failures. It does happen.

Selah · 09-11-2014, 03:14 PM

Can't use a tow dolly because it is an AWD. We went through the same process. I read a bunch of posts concerning the pump. Most like them but I read a few where the pump failed either damaging the transmission or delayed a trip.
I traded my V6 RAV 4 on a CRV. I felt that the added cost of of the pump and installation, and the eventual cost of removing it for trade in, did not out weigh the cost of just trading the Rav4 on a car that could be towed four down without mods.

lllkrob · 09-11-2014, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinMan Trvlr

We have been wrestling with this same question, without finding any "early adopters" to let us know the pro's and con's of their actual experience.

We have been quoted 10 hours @ $150.00/hour to mount the Remco pump, and another 10 hours to mount and wire in the base plate to attach the tow bar to.

The install of the SMI Air Force One braking actuator is quoted at another 6 to 10 hours.

Projected labour costs, $4500 on top of the parts, which are worth about $3000.00 before we purchase the Aventa LX tow bar, cover kit, and any protective shield. We expect those parts to be in the order of another $1600.
So, ignoring the tow bar itself which can easily be used on any subsequent vehicle, we have a minimum towing set up cost of $8100 to $8500. on the RAV4.

As happy as we are for many reasons with our RAV4, we don't want to proceed to spend all this to equip it if there are known good reasons to avoid the Remco pump solution. It saves $3000 and any possible gripes about whether the Remco transmission lube pump is reliable to just buy a vehicle with a disconnectable transfer case, such as a Ford Pick up, Ram pick up, Honda CRV, or a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. The other set up costs don't change, and we do end up buying an additional vehicle to use while our low mileage RAV4 sits at home depreciating, but at least we are not faced with spending 3X to accomplish a reliable towing set up. By three times I mean once to set up the RAV4, once to remove all the towing equipment if we have a transmission failure issue, and once again to re-mount the braking system and (different new) base brackets on a repacement tow vehicle.

There is a 2006 RAV4 for sale in the iRV2 classifieds that the owner shows a lot of miles on that they have towed, but that only the second RAV4 I am aware of that has been set up for towing. I have not had any input from either owner on their experiences. I hope that in the hundreds of users of this forum there are experienced users who can provide info on their successful RAV4 towing experiences.

The prices you were quoted are ridiculous, The total installed cost of everything should be only 50% of the prices you listed. Find another installer, the one your dealing with is a crook.

Wingrydr57 · 09-11-2014, 06:51 PM

Well looks like I might get a flat bed trailer and bring my goldwing trike instead !

bearaboo · 09-11-2014, 07:31 PM

Traded my 2007 RAV4 for a Honda CRV after using a dolly for 6 years. The RAV4 would have been a great toad, but the lube pump and labor to install it was too expensive. Not to mention the concern about the reliability of the pump.

2fairs · 09-16-2014, 10:54 AM

We had nothing but trouble when we tried the Remco pump on our Lexus. If you do it I hope you have a good result. We finally gave up & went back to a different vehicle on a dolly. Eventually will trade the Lexus for something designed to pull 4 down.

MrHwy17 · 09-20-2014, 10:42 PM

I have a Remco on an '09 RAV in case anyone wants to continue this conversation.

TinMan Trvlr · 09-21-2014, 02:06 PM

We would be quite interested to hear of your experience with the Remco Pump on a RAV4. Could you comment on your Installed costs, the shop who did the install, the distance you have towed using the Remco pump, and whether you have had any failures or extra maintenance issues because of adding the pump to your vehicle? As it appears that towing a pump equipped RAV4 is not common, your information will be quite appreciated. Thanks in advance.