Towing with a 2015 RX450h
05-16-22, 11:57 PM
#1
2nd gear
Thread Starter
Towing with a 2015 RX450h
Recently bought this vehicle, used- through CarMax. It has the 19" wheels, and I'd love to hear from others who "know" this car. I was the third owner of an RX400h, but at 235,000 miles, it was becoming more than I could afford to keep repairing. It towed a small camper for a couple of years and served me well. I was hoping to use the 2015 the same way, but it doesn't seem to be wired for adding a trailer brake- despite the window sticker describing a "Towing Prep Package." Does anyone have some suggestions or experience with such a set up? Thank you, in advance!
05-18-22, 02:15 PM
#2
Moderator
Welcome to CL. You can go to the Lexus Drivers Site, join for free, then enter your VIN to find out if it really has the tow package and see the dealer service history. Plus the owners manual is available online there. You should also figure out if it is AWD or FWD. That info will be on the build data.
https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers
https://www.etrailer.com/?gclid=Cj0K...IaAtCzEALw_wcB
Is a great place to research a hitch and wiring for your RX, most folks get the Curt hitch. It has many useful instruction videos.
Finally, try the search feature as you are not the first person to want to tow with their hybrid. Use the term "hitch" as there are many older threads that should answer most of your questions.
If you want to use a search phrase put quotes around it so the system will look for the phrase and not the individual words.
https://drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrivers
https://www.etrailer.com/?gclid=Cj0K...IaAtCzEALw_wcB
Is a great place to research a hitch and wiring for your RX, most folks get the Curt hitch. It has many useful instruction videos.
Finally, try the search feature as you are not the first person to want to tow with their hybrid. Use the term "hitch" as there are many older threads that should answer most of your questions.
If you want to use a search phrase put quotes around it so the system will look for the phrase and not the individual words.
Last edited by Clutchless; 05-18-22 at 02:20 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Dziondziak (05-23-22)
05-23-22, 08:43 AM
#3
As another has said, do go to the Lexus Owners site, enter your VIN#, and verify that you have the towing package.
My understanding from previous towing with other vehicles is that the wiring harness is an add-on to a hitch purchase (not all hitch use requires wiring; e.g., bike racks). What our cars typically have is a recepticle, somewhere, for the end of that harness.
I have a 2015 RX450h and an aftermarket hitch, for bike rack. When I bought that in 2020 I learned that there's a substantial difference between OE and aftermarket hitches for our RXs…the OE has twice the number of mounting holes and bolts, for a stronger attachment. If you're towing an RV I'd get an OE hitch. However, you can probably obtain one, and for less money, at a Toyota dealer rather than a Lexus dealer.
My understanding from previous towing with other vehicles is that the wiring harness is an add-on to a hitch purchase (not all hitch use requires wiring; e.g., bike racks). What our cars typically have is a recepticle, somewhere, for the end of that harness.
I have a 2015 RX450h and an aftermarket hitch, for bike rack. When I bought that in 2020 I learned that there's a substantial difference between OE and aftermarket hitches for our RXs…the OE has twice the number of mounting holes and bolts, for a stronger attachment. If you're towing an RV I'd get an OE hitch. However, you can probably obtain one, and for less money, at a Toyota dealer rather than a Lexus dealer.
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