bweltge

Does anyone know if the part number below will allow be me have a fully functioning hitch.....or do I need to purchase a full hitch from a Uhaul type source. My 2006 GX 470 appears to have a factory installed package of some sort

chiph9

Look under the hood near the horns. If there is an auxiliary transmission cooler there, you have the tow-prep package. There should also be a seven-pin trailer connector under the rear bumper on the driver's side.

You will need to add the hitch itself - you can buy this from U-Haul, eTrailer, etc. but I will point out that if you buy it at the dealer you get free shipping which is nice, because it's a heavy/oversize box which I'm not sure UPS will ship. Lexus sells both a cross-member mount version they call the "pintle hitch" (it's not, but whatever..) and a larger one that bolts to the frame rails. You want that style.

You will also need a tow bar and a ball. You can get these at Home Depot or a 4x4 supply store - just make sure that they're rated for 6500 lbs. and will put the top of the ball at about 18" above ground. Buy the size ball that fits your trailer. Torque it to 250 ft-lbs and use Loc-Tite BLUE on the threads (not red).

Don't forget that the air suspension on the GX will prevent squat, and that moving it to the "low" position makes it easier to hook up to your trailer (don't have to raise it so far). Towing will put additional stress on the air suspension, so if you haven't changed the bags yet, you might want to think about it.

People have also said they needed a relay, but I didn't, so maybe they will chime in with a p/n and location where it goes.

If you want/need a brake controller, you should have gotten (if you have the prep package) a 1' long wiring pigtail with four wires. This plugs into a connector under the steering wheel that is taped-up to keep it out of the way. You then wire the brake controller to it, so you aren't cutting into the factory harness.

Chip H.