Hate to revive such an old thread, but I'm driving to Florida in the next few weeks and am hoping to get this tow package all figured out in time (got a dealer quote for $580 installed and am hoping to bypass the screwing )

I have checked my AWD 03 RX300 and I do have the white/blue converter box near the spare + the necessary wiring under the car in the black box. From reading the above I gather that all I need is the hitch (HiddenHitch 70777 HERE) and the $13 Wiring Harness with 4 Pole Flat Trailer Connector (HERE).

I am planning on renting the trailer from uHaul, is there anything else that I should consider buying beforehand or will I be able to rent all the other necessary components?

Thanks

-Axel

 

I'd buy the ball mount (the shortest they have with 1.5/2'' drop/3/4 rise), lock and ball (2'') at Wal-Mart. uHaul will have all those but they don't rent them as far as I know and they will be much more expensive there. Other than that you are set!

Don't forget the fuse for trailer lights and I would test the harness with a voltmeter just to be sure.

 

Sweet. Thanks a lot for the info!

Order total (with ball mount): <$200

Where the dealer got almost $600 is beyond me...this site is awesome

 

4 hours labor to install at $100 per hour. This is if you don't have the box and wiring. Depending on what you have to do it can be a bit of a tedious install, especially if you've never ripped out the rear trim and seat of your RX300 before.

 

Thanks for the great write up and excellent info! My 02 AWD came with the "brain" from the factory, and all that is needed is this part from etrailer:

Trailer Wiring Harness - 2001-2003 Lexus RX300
for Lexus RX300 with Factory Tow Package

Part: 118245

I installed this wiring harness to the four prong connector under the car in the black plastic box and plugged in the supplied fuse in the "tow" slot and everything worked! Installed the Hidden Hitch (#70777) and install was super easy.



Thanks again for all your inputs!

 

I have a 2002 RX300 AWD - just want to make sure that all I need is the cheap trailer wiring harness if I already have these things (see photo - little blue box to the left of the spare, and the capped harness inside the black box under the car).

Is that it?

Alex

 

(continued from title) have the gray plug...then it isn't the wiring harness and 20 amp fuse? I looked in the spare wheel well....I saw the studs, no box.
I have 99 rx300

 

I have the '99 with the 'towing package' but on mine it seems all it included is the transmission oil cooler by the front passenger side wheel well. I didn't see any harness connector. I bought an aftermarket module with power isolation and wired it to the tail lights. I added a cigarette lighter plug for power. I store all the wiring under the spare tire cover. When needed I plug in the power connector, extend the trailer harness outside the trunk, and close the trunk lid.

 

I have a 99 AWD RX and I believe it came with the towing package, which I recall was only a transmission oil cooler and perhaps a bigger alternator. I installed an OE hitch and an OE wiring harness - the harness was a real ***** to install.

 

"I bought an aftermarket module with power isolation and wired it to the tail lights." maxSteel....is it the power isolation what keeps from tripping the bulb out error message? I have read about this in the forum. Do you remember where you got the module( etrailer)? Looking now

 

I found my order from Pep Boys: https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/303686/00034.
I wanted power isolation because I didn't know how much current the trailer might draw.
I buried the module by the driver side quarter panel, with the wiring extended by the spare tire.
I was going to hard wire it to the power outlet wire but I was damaging the outlet trying to remove it. I gave up and just wired in a plug.

 

My 2002 RX300 did not come with the towing package. However, under the rear cover, next to the spare tire, I found a white connector wrapped up in the corner, not connected to anything. I also found the pigtail under the bumper in the plastic box area, also not connected to anything. So, after checking the window sticker and confirming that there is no towing package on this car, I determined that Lexus prewired it (at least in 2002). Parts needed: the "brain" to connect to the white connector (Denso part, 08940-48010, called a "converter"), the trailer wiring kit (I purchased Tekonsha part 118245, which came with the fuse), and a bracket. See the photos below.

I can also confirm that the lights will not work if you just connect the trailer wiring kit to the pigtail under the trunk. You have to add the "brain" although I'm not sure if it needs to be a Toyota part or if you can use an aftermarket.

 

I will be one wire a $5 dollar multimeter will relp resolve issue. There are only a handul of wires you got for your $1200 spend.

 

The towing package includes more than just the wiring harness. If yours is AWD you might have all of it.
Check out this post: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ml#post8551453

 

As stated before, the first gen RX has had many different configurations related to tow/tow_plugs.

I did a self install and bought the Lexus hitch from the dealer. The whole kit (without the cooler) was less than $500 in '99] My purpose was for light load infrequent pulls. I would strongly suggest that either go OEM [may not be available now] or make sure the seller confirms that it will work with your VIN. There are generic solutions too, but then you end up splicing and if you intend to use taps [imho - you don't know what you are doing] or if you know how to make water tight connections [you don't need any advice from anyone].

Salim