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Some tips from my 2015 RAV4:

Replace the internal bulbs whenever you get a chance. It's a very simple job, and makes a huge difference in my opinion. I couldn't see anything at night with the stock done/cabin lights. I can't find exactly what I used, but here's something similar: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0186P1MUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2fk.Bb4B8Y7FB

All weather floor mats are a great idea, mine came installed already and are Lifesavers. I love camping, hiking, and biking, and I can only imagine what my trunk would look like without my mats.

A hitch (can be $$$) is also a great addition. If that's something you're interested in, try to take into consideration what you'd like to use it for. If youre hoping to haul something or fit two+ adult bikes on it, you'll want a 2" hitch receiver. If you think you'll only need it for smaller things, you'd be fine with a 1.25". You'll definitely want some help installing this, not to mention you'll want a torque wrench (auto stores might be able to loan or rent one out to you).

Side rails + cross rails (typically expensive). If you're going to be taking trips up to the snow, but still want to load up the trunk with your other cargo, you definitely need to look into getting some rails for the top of your car. I bought to lowest trim RAV since I knew I could buy after market stuff like this that comes on the higher end trims, but at a fraction of the cost. Again I can't speak for your RAV, but installing this on a 2015 was easy.

As others have been saying, if you're driving an AWD model, try to get familiar with how Toyotas AWD system works. If you're going to be driving in snow conditions, 2WD w/ snow tires can beat an AWD w/ normal tires any day of the week, so be careful :)

Congrats on the purchase and the baby!

No one's commented and I couldn't find any other postings concerning this topic, I'll just share some things I learned on my way to installing the Eiseng Leather steering wheel cover.

Conclusion
- I love the finished product, and the process wasn't painful. The process took around 4 hours but it wasn't unbearable as the stitching process can be quite meditative. You can also listen to your favorite music or netflix special.


Few things I would do differently next time.

1. The same type of steering wheel cover seems to be available from multiple vendors at varying prices. I might just go with the cheapest one next time
   - $29 : lowest price. Can't tell if there's any difference in quality from visual inspection
   - $43 : The product I installed
   - $62 : Premium option with more choices for leather colors
   
   
2. Take more time aligning the leather pieces around the spokes.
   - These covers use two-sided tapes to hold the cover in place. This gives it a really clean look, but makes adjusting the position of the leather more difficult.
   - I would spend more time making sure all the edges of the leather pieces are aligned perfectly after wrapping the pieces around the steering wheel. This was mentioned on the instructions but I could not understand what it meant. What this means is that the edges of the leather flaps that wrap around the spokes should line up perfectly.
   
   
3. Do it in a well lit area.
   - Having a kid, it's hard to do these things during the day, but the process would have been much easier if there was more light. It's not impossible, but you might have to adjust the flashlight constantly.
   
   
4. Remove all the tapes before sewing! I forgot to do this, so part of the wheel still has tape in it.
   
   hope this helps anyone who decides to do this. Despite all the mistakes and rough edges, I am extremely happy with the result. It feels much better than the stock plastic steering wheels.

So, I have the 2019, but these speakers are compatible with anything that supports a 3.5" speaker on the dashboard.

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That said, the stock tweeters are shite. I got a pair of JBL CLUB 3020 to fill in some of the missing mid-high. It's like a night and day difference.

The stock speakers accepts a proprietary audio plug that's a white box with 4 cables going back into the dash. The new JBLs are just bare connectors because they are universal. I didn't want to cut the wires, so I found an adapter here.

It was very easy to install:

• Pop off the speaker grill with a credit card.
  
• Unscrew the stock speaker
  
• Unplug the stock speaker
  
• Plug the adapter into the wires coming from the car
  
• Plug the wires from the adapter into the new speakers
  
• Screw in the new speakers
  
• Replace the speaker grill
  
  Took about 10 minutes each speaker.
  
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  I intend to rip off the doors are replace those 6.5" speakers with 4 JBL CLUB 6520 speakers.
  
  Even without an amp the better quality speaker makes a world of difference.
  
  I will probably add an amp and a sub at some point, but that's down the road. I'll post again when I replace the door speakers and I'd be happy to assist if you are doing the same with a 2019.

Turn signals (front and back): https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0774HQC8Q/
I was hesitant to spend $110 on bulbs, but these things are beasts! plus they have the resistors built into them, so no splicing wires or anything. Totally recommend them
The front bulbs were the easiest to replace, just pop the hood, locate the bulb, twist the housing out and pop the bulbs in. The ones in the back were a bit of a pain. Pop the hatch, and where the door is normally closed, to the inner side of the light houses there's a small plastic panel, that just pops off. Behind it is a set of #10 (I believe) bolts. Undo those. The housing assembly takes some loving to get out, but it just pulls straight back -- I broke a tab off trying to go side to side... It goes back in and latches fine, but, learn from me: it goes straight back... Even though it doesn't seem like it does. Then once it's out, replace the bulbs as usual, reverse the process to put it back in.

Backup Lamps: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01LX4FMD1/
The backup lamps are just covered by a plastic panel on the hatch door that pops out with a pocket knife or small flat head screwdriver, then the bulb twists out as usual.

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Most of this was figured out first hand, or from the owner's manual.

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As for my internal lights so far, I've only replaced the one above the back seats and the ones above the front seats. The back seat ones pop out with a knife super easily, whereas the front ones were more complicated. I took some pictures of that process and uploaded them here: https://imgur.com/a/YJItuhz -- Basically, the whole module (lights, buttons, sunglasses holder, etc) all comes out, then you replace the bulbs from the back side. The bulbs themselves I picked up from Canadian Tire, which was just a run of the mill off the shelf LED bulbs

Yeah, in addition to the vinyl I got from Amazon (link in another comment), I got this vinyl application kit also from Amazon. It's always nice to have an Exacto knife on hand if you need to trim anything by hand.

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I watched some YouTube videos on how to install vinyl wrap before, this guy does a pretty good job explaining how to do a wrap and has some other great videos related to using the correct tools and techniques for a vinyl wrap application.

Nothing LED, for starters, as they only create the illusion of better lighting.

So, if you want an actual improvement over stock, and not an illusion, I would buy some new 9012 "+30" bulbs. The "+30" means they put out 30% more light in the beam pattern. The 2017 RAV4 came stock with 9012LL bulbs, which are long-life 9012 bulbs. Long-life means they put out the bare minimum amount of light so they can last past the warranty period.

Here are the only good 9012+30 bulbs. You can also find these in your local parts store.

There is another option, a 9012+120 bulb, which means the beam has 120% more light. These don't last very long, though, but fortunately, changing the bulb on a 2017 RAV4 is pretty easy, unlike other cars which require bumper removal and sacrificing your first child. I would just get the 9012+30s and you'll probably like them enough not to worry about anything else.

I bought the XSE last week and I have 3 corgis (SO MUCH FUR). I haven't had them in the back of my car yet but I already bought a seat cover/hammock. I bought this one because it goes up the sides and my dogs love to stand on their hind legs and watch through the window. This will protect the sides.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075MCHYZV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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I previously had a 2008 Rav4 with fabric seats and they were grey. The dog hair wasn't noticeable but it was a bitch to get it out of the fabric. There was dog hair everywhere and the car just smelled like straight dog. The softex will make it so much easier to clean up. Plus I got all weather floor mats.

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I might buy a better one later once the XSE has been around long enough that they've made more covers specific to the seats.

Yep. I was surprised but the Skybox 21 fits quite nicely on my 2019. The hatch even opens fully by just a hair.

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I went with OEM crossbars due to the price, these CargoLoc crossbars are great except for the wind noise while driving:

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https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00GA2HKAU/

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Hope this helps.

We just bought a 2018 XLE. Can’t say enough good things about the weathertech mats. They are expensive but I find they make the interior so much easier to clean. Ours was a rental car so it didn’t even come with the OEM mats. They have been a standard item on all my vehicles for awhile now.

Also bought these cheapo crossbars. BRIGHTLINES 2013-2018 Toyota Rav4 Cross Bars Roof Racks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IQF636Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_j-60CbR125CDG

They are fairly sturdy if you get everything tightened down but I wouldn’t trust a ton of weight on them (just needs to carry a surfboard or two for me). Indistinguishable from the Toyota bars in look.

But the best accessory has to be this silly little thing
Vehicle OCD - Center Console Organizer for Toyota RAV4 (LE, XLE, Adventure ONLY) (2013-2018) - Made in USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XB82MI6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_Ua70Cb5XJ858W

Keeps that center console from becoming a mess.

Budget aftermarket stereo retrofit for 6 speaker RAV4 (Pioneer head unit)


At the thread linked above are the Mosuch 6.5" Plastic Black Speaker Adapter. Fitted For Toyota 4Runner, Avalon, Celica, Corolla, Echo, Highlander, Matrix, Prius, RAV, Sequoia, Sienna, Solara, Tacoma, Tundra, Venza, Yaris I used successfully in my 2019 RAV4.

Keep in mind the three rivets holding each stock door speaker can be fairly easily snapped out using a proper trim tool as to not destroy the original speaker during removal (optionally you could also drill out these 3 rivets but they are easy enough to remove)

Use a Hand Rivet Nut Setter and install 3 rivet nuts into the door to be able to easily screw in aftermarket speakers w/speaker adapter into the door... rinse and repeat other 3 doors...

I've had two of these organizers strapped against the back seats since August and really like them. Easy to load and unload using the included handles and they have lots of pockets and several different possible configurations.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01F9IS2Y8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also added a cargo cover: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F697D4T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And cargo mat: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G2KOG8Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought these cheapo ones on Amazon and they're great so far!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GA2HKAU

Hi, thank you for the tutorial. I would like change speaker but I can't find adapter in amazon Italy. They have specific technical name because in your amazon link I didn't found?

I bought one of these. Included straps and clips lock into RAVs cargo bed d-rings and keep it and load from sliding around. Bonus that grey /black color combination combination birch interior well.


https://www.amazon.com/Car-Trunk-Organizer-SUV-Stainless/dp/B07CB15NY5/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=Durabenz&qid=1569008443&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Something like this can tie down so it doesn’t slide around using the cargo hooks. Since you want to keep those things in your vehicle all the time, it’s better to have something you can just move around in one when you need to have extra cargo area. There’s different options, some smaller.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CB15NY5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_GdiWDbQG81ER4

Since everyone is already saying floormats, I will suggest this horn. When you go to honk your horn for the first time it is so pathetic it will make you chuckle. There is other stuff like a console organizer, LED lights for the interior, removing/plastidip the badging, tint, mudflaps, etc.

Hello OP, I have your same car, and these worked fine for me:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MQFYMY5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Have posted a few XLE related threads here on reddit that might assist you with other things. Enjoy the car.

Just in case anyone is interested in getting a harness so you don’t have to cut the wiring, it’s the 2019 Camry harness from tacotunes. The mount i used is from amazon and is asymmetrical so take that into account if you add a notch for the wiring to come out.

Install pics

link to purchase

Mosuch 6.5" Plastic Black Speaker... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZQGZWO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Yup, my thought exactly when I used the horn for the first time. Got on Amazon and bought a Hella horn and replaced it right away.

https://www.amazon.com/HELLA-012010901-Black-Trumpet-Toyota/dp/B01EG18SFM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3J41MWWL9RFGP&keywords=hella+horn+toyota&qid=1562869474&s=gateway&sprefix=hella+%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-3

(Ignore the not compatible with 2019 RAV4 warning, it hasn't been updated).

I did a little write-up on RAV4World as well:

https://www.rav4world.com/threads/horn-replacement-for-5th-gen-rav4.299516