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We're looking at getting a travel trailer for some family adventures this Summer, and wondering about your experiences towing with a GX 460. My questions:
1. What have you towed, especially interested if you've used this for campers?
2. How'd it go? What additional precautions did you take to help ensure a successful towing?
3. Should I be too strict with the vehicle rating at 6,500 lbs?
Here's what I'm considering: Wolf Pup 17JGBL (the lightest and smallest, so no likely issues) and the Grand Design Transcend Explor 247BH (base weight is under capacity, but might get heavy fast). Wolf Pup 17JGBL – 23' 4" length x 7' wide, 3,879 lbs UVW (base), 430 lbs hitch weight, 4,999 lbs GVWR (full tanks) Explor 247BH – 29' 11" length x 8' wide, 5,392 lbs UVW (base), 546 lbs hitch weight, 6,995 lbs GVWR (full tanks)
Talking with a mechanic, he mentioned that as long as I was under 8,000 lbs the 460 should be fine. So, what's everyone else's experience?
I've tried skimming other threads about towing, but nothing seemed to get at this. Please post a link if there's something that I missed. Thanks!
We have a 2017 T@B 320CS (nu Camp) that we tow w/ or 2016 GX460 premium. The T@B is not as large as the campers you are looking at but has some advantages over larger campers. The T@B weighs approximately 1800 #’ unloaded and about 2300 to 2500 #’s when loaded. The GX towed it like it is not there for the most part but not quite that easily in the mountains. I would not push the maximum weight limit with it though and would not recommend exceeding roughly 3500 #’s especially if your travels will take you through the mountains. We used our 2013 RX350 originally which has a 3200 # or 3500# limit but I did not like how it towed on anything but fairly flat roads (bad MPG). On a camping trip this past October that took us thru Pa, VA, WV and Ky, the GX did great! My wife and I were both very happy w/ how the GX worked for us while camping. If you would like, contact me if you have any questions.
Here is the website: https://teardropshop.com/collections/t-b-320
Expensive but the tent works great w/ the T@B to create more usable space. Especially usefull for fall camping, we use the awning in the summer. We also have a gally tent but not sure if still avaliable.
I am wondering how a Lexus gx 460 with a 4.6 liter tows a 25' 6300 pound camper trailer. With a 550 pound tounge weight. Im sure I would have to buy a different hitch and sway control. However I'm concerned about power and suspension. If anyone out there has experience please reply.
Thank you.
I would shy away from that much weight. If it was twenty minutes across town on relatively flat roads I'd say go for it, but for longer road trips and bigger elevation changes the GX will struggle. I tow close to 5k pounds four or five times a year (race car on open trailer, a camper trailer will have more wind resistance drag) and there's a couple canyons where I wish I had more power but it has always towed stable with a sway control/weight distribution hitch.
I would shy away from that much weight. If it was twenty minutes across town on relatively flat roads I'd say go for it, but for longer road trips and bigger elevation changes the GX will struggle. I tow close to 5k pounds four or five times a year (race car on open trailer, a camper trailer will have more wind resistance drag) and there's a couple canyons where I wish I had more power but it has always towed stable with a sway control/weight distribution hitch.
Does the factory hitch come with sway control? I presume it is distributes the weight just fine?
Keep in mind once you start adding luggage, gear, people, etc you are going to be over 6500 pretty easily.
I tow ~4000-4500 (racecar on open trailer) regularly. I am ~sea level and no real hills or mountains. No weight distributing hitch and I find that the air springs in the rear help manage the weight pretty well but you know its back there. 6th gear is useless with a trailer so I keep the transmission at 5s. No way I would want to tow 6300+ lbs with the GX.
We pulled a 16 foot enclosed trailer with a 1500 pound race car inside from Michigan to Washington in 2019. Max speed was 60-65 MPH. It's supposed to stay in 4th for pulling like that. We got 7-8 MPG for the trip. It's really unfortunate that Toyota/Lexus doesn't offer the LX/Sequoia V8 in the 4Runner/GX. As-is, if you want real towing power in a non-gargatuan SUV, a Durango seems to be the only choice.
I previously had the first gen GX, but replaced with RX. We’re now contemplating a 5000 pound Airstream. According to the truck specs, the GX should pull it, but not sure if I should opt for the airbag package or coil springs. I liked the air springs in my old GX, but when the truck got old they were a costly repair.
Maybe the right answer is no GX at all, but something else. What do you all think?
I previously had the first gen GX, but replaced with RX. We’re now contemplating a 5000 pound Airstream. According to the truck specs, the GX should pull it, but not sure if I should opt for the airbag package or coil springs. I liked the air springs in my old GX, but when the truck got old they were a costly repair.
Maybe the right answer is no GX at all, but something else. What do you all think?
For a 5,000 pound trailer, I might look at other models than a GX. To be clear the GX will pull it, just not comfortably (in my opinion). I pulled a roughly 3,000-pound trailer this month and the truck was very lethargic especially above 50 mph. If towing a 5,000-pound trailer is a serious criterion for you, I would look at the LX or even at other manufacturers.
I wanted to post some feedback on towing with a GX. We have a 2017 luxury trim GX.
We were towing a 2020 Mission 2 Place V-Nose snowmobile trailer. Trailer has a 6' foot interior height, is 12 feet + vnose in length. In the trailer we had two sleds, and not much more than a few quarts of oil. I would estimate about ~3000lbs loaded weight. We towed it ~1000 miles round trip, on nokian winter tires, from central mass to northern maine. During the trip we did mostly highway travel, targeting 75mph and ranging from 70-80 mph as we climbed and descended hills. Off highway travel on side roads was ~100 miles, where we averaged 40-50 mph. Overall fuel economy was 6-10mpg depending on drafting conditions (increased when following other trailers and decreased when leading). For reference we average 19-20 mpg combined, mostly city driving, when not trailering and just towing. We also tow a pop up camper during the summer, ~3500 lbs fully loaded, and average 16mpg on the highway. I suspect the SIGNIFICANT reduction in fuel economy was mostly due to increased roof height. The trailer protrudes ~ 1.5 feet from the top of the GX. I wanted to throw this out there for others to reference if interested. Besides the GX's thirst, it showed no issues or hesitation towing. Very competent and barely noticed the trailer behind me (hill climbs, cross wind, stopping). I would add that the airbags and adjustable suspension were very helpful.
12-07-20, 07:16 AM
Hauling Travel Trailers with the GX 460
Re: GX Camper Towing
