August 2014 - My Lexus hybrid is rated to tow 3500 lb. I drove from Indiana to Minnesota with a 3500 lb trailer (Coachmen hybrid - 20 ft). I have a brake controller, sway bars, and equalizer hitch. For 600 miles I felt like I was dragging the trailer along. The engine was working at 75,000 kw. Averaged 10 miles to the gallon. Drove mostly 48 mph...sometimes 55mph.

Without the trailer I averaged 30 miles to the gallon. Can anyone tell me why the trailer seemed to drag so bad? It weights exactly 3500 lb. I pulled it with empty tanks and no additional weight. Now I feel I have to sell the car for something bigger. That would be disappointing. Thanks!

 

I'm sure the moderators will move your thread to a specific RX forum.... https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...eneration-164/

 

I am sorry, but I would never advise people who have a 3500lbs towing capacity car/suv/truck to tow exactly that. You were towing the upper limit of the towing capacity. Did you have any people on board, any luggages? Whenever I had customer come in to tow something more than 3000lbs, I would always point them to something that could tow AT LEAST 5000. Otherwise, you'll be stuck in a car that wiggles constantly and dangerously and the car will cost you just as much in repairs/gaz than you would have spent on a much bigger/more towing truck/CUV.

 

Thank you for the re-direction. I will switch over to the other forum.

 

Towing at the max with a car that really is not that towing friendly is going to yield these results.

I recall towing the upper limit with my FJ before and ended up with like 6MPG, it was so bad it was almost funny.

Also, was your brakes dragging on the trailer? I seen that happen before as well.

 

I have towed close to 10k miles with our 400 but never with the full 3500 lbs. If I were to tow 3500 lbs it would only be short distances on non highway. Most of our towing was with a 1200 lb cargo trailer. At highway speed we dropped to 15 mpg. We normally get 25. We also towed a 2800 lb boat. While it could tow well on Florida's flat highway, hills were no fun and I felt I was pushing the limits.

Were the RX 400h really did best was on the boat ramp. It could easily yank out a huge boat with out feeling like it was damaging itself.

A full size RV is a lot more wind drag than my 17' boat or 4x6 cargo trailer. That is a double hit to the mileage.