Travlingypsy

Hello All, Just bought 2013 RXH and going to put a hitch on for towing a small teardrop trailer. I've read conflicting tow weights for this car.
Also, went to U-Haul to price a hitch and the first words out of the guys mouth: "Go to the dealer. We'll do it but we suggest you go to the dealer". The reason, might have to create a tool or jerry-rig one to get the hitch on. Then I am reading other posts and many of you are putting the hitches on in your garage. SO...what's the deal, anyone?

Anyone know why U-Haul might say that and everyone else, including my mechanic, is telling me it is easy peasy, no big deal.

AND...does anyone know the towing weight? UHaul said it could tow 4,500 lbs. but that seems extreme. Please...any advice, especially if you've already done it.
Planning a spring/summer cross country and want to be set up for the trip.
Thanks guys.

salimshah

Is your RX FWD or AWD? 450H comes in both flavors and towing is not recommended for FWD. If not sure call dealership with your vin number.

UHaul would turn away business for liability reasons. If you DIY, you cant hold any one else responsible. Search will give you info on what other members have pulled.

Salim

Travlingypsy

It is a AWD. So I am good there. I will check with others. I would have thought U-Haul had insurance to cover itself, since they do so many hitches.
TX for the response. Ria

salimshah

You are correct that large/corporate shops have insurance, but they also have to keep the claims as little as possible. Larger establishments also have lot of data points and may have info as to which vehicles to refuse.

If you check the posts here in CL you may find claims by some members that they have been successfully pulling loads. Exceptions alway are there, but a general consensus is there are better vehicles to pull trailers on regular basis.

Salim

tom93r1

I'm not sure why uhaul would say it's too complicated to install a hitch. I bought one from etrailer.com and installed it myself in I think about an hour. If you buy from etrailer it comes with an exhaust hanger to lower the muffler about an inch, and you need to cut a notch out of the bottom of your rear plastic diffuser thing under the bumper.
My 450h had some pre-wired towing package where I had to buy a harness that connects in the passenger side behind the trailer light then you route it out under the rear of the car. If you don't have the towing package (I believe all the AWD hybrid have it) then the wiring is a little more complicated but still pretty easy as I've done it on other cars.

I think the towing capacity was 3500, there are other threads here discussing that.

Finalist0946

Tom - I have an RX450h (FWD) and have been told numerous times towing anything is out of the question. Is this what you have and if so, what are you towing with it? I only wanted mine to let me drop and retrieve a boat in the water - no highway stuff.

tom93r1

I have AWD, as does the OP. I have no idea if the FWD is rated to tow at all.
Tow ratings are mostly going to be based on weight of vehicle, engine power, brakes, and transmission cooling. If you're just moving a boat a few hundred feet you're probably not going to overheat the transmission, but I'd be concerned about getting stuck with only front wheels spinning on a wet boat ramp.
I've towed the uhaul enclosed 6'x12' trailer loaded up probably close to the 3500lb limit, that's probably the heaviest I've towed with the RX.

Finalist0946

Yeah, the LAST thing I need is not be able to get my boat up the ramp while half a dozen other boats are waiting in line.