Rx450h gen4 tow bar

[goody]

Hi,

i want a tow bar fitted to my gen4 RX 450h, have been to my local tow bar fitting company's and none of them have a tow bar kit even listed on the systems.

i can get one from Lexus for £1200 but that's a lot of money for what normally is about £300-£400 I paid on my old rx400h.

does anyone have a supplier I can get one from??

did try the search function on here but was useless, so sorry if it's already been mentioned before, apologies 

many thanks

 

[Barry7]

I had a Witter tow bar fitted to my 2012 RX450h, I don't know if this is totally different to your model but it may be worth giving Witter a call direct, as they may have one on the way or may even use your car to design and make one for the later model. I did this with a replacement brake line manufacturer for a motorcycle. When I spoke to Witter technical a few years back, they were very helpful. Good luck.

[2ddesign]

Hi 

I had a tow bar fitted for my RX 450 2010 model at westfalia in Bristol in 2016, cost £896 .40. The exact tow bar that Lexus fit to their vehicles, with a removable tow bar!

 

2ddesign

[granadaman]

P f jones Manchester fitted one to my 2010, diy £450 took about 6 hours 

[goody]

Thanks for replys everyone, but the gen 3 tow bars do not fit the new model, I need someone who has a GEN 4 car to come forward unfortunately and tell me what type of tow bar is fitted.

its very disappointing that no tow bar companies so far as I can find list one to fit the GEN 4 RX450h.

someone must have one fitted?

[luckyduck]

Hi - I searched very hard for a gen 4 towbar from anyone other than Lexus - as you say £1200 approx - Gen 4 is a totally different towbar to gen 3 and earlier - my local man also searched for me, and no-one makes one other than Lexus - so I bit the bullet, but with Gold member discount that made a decent saving. The other thing Lexus told me was that if I have it fitted by anyone other than themselves it will invalidate the warranty - and presumably your Gen 4 is still in warranty?

[Dewillia]

Had one fitted to my gen3 yesterday but I've had to wait nearly 5 weeks due to delay in manufacturing, try PF Jones website and put your reg in, if Lexus do it Westfillia will also have an option

 

[goody]

Westfillia has no tow bar to fit GEN4 SUV, tried them weeks ago.

😞

[rayaans]

On 9/27/2018 at 3:27 PM, luckyduck said:

Hi - I searched very hard for a gen 4 towbar from anyone other than Lexus - as you say £1200 approx - Gen 4 is a totally different towbar to gen 3 and earlier - my local man also searched for me, and no-one makes one other than Lexus - so I bit the bullet, but with Gold member discount that made a decent saving. The other thing Lexus told me was that if I have it fitted by anyone other than themselves it will invalidate the warranty - and presumably your Gen 4 is still in warranty?

Yep thats correct. Aftermarket parts in warranty period will invalidate the warranty, especially if there is hybrid failure as these aren't designed to tow very much at all.

[Barry7]

2000kg ain't that small, its the 90kg nose weight you have to be careful of!

 

[Rutlandlex]

On 9/27/2018 at 3:27 PM, luckyduck said:

The other thing Lexus told me was that if I have it fitted by anyone other than themselves it will invalidate the warranty - and presumably your Gen 4 is still in warranty?

Well they would say that wouldn't they because they want your money 🤣

A towbar fitter may be able to buy it from Lexus with trade discount and fit it for you which will reduce the cost of the kit slightly and the labour significantly so you might be able to save a few quid that way if Lexus are prepared to sell the towbar and wiring kit alone.  If it's a genuine kit and fitted by a competent person then it won't invalidate the warranty.

[mikesands]

I'm glad I found this thread.  Looks like I wont be trading my 400H in any time soon as the tow bar is essential for me to transport my electric bike.

BTW - I got an independent to fit the bar to my 400h -about £500 if I recall correctly.  My car was on Lexus extended warranty and they have honoured a couple of claims without quibbling about who fitted the towbar.

Mike

[DRB050752]

I had a O.E kit fitted to my new RX450h - by the selling dealer - not impressed. Left with warning light on which did rest itself after short journey. Trim clip left on seat,

Where cut was made in rear trim to make way for the detachable bar, looked very poor as cut out not symmetrical. The cut was very rough, no attempt to smooth off edges. No blanking plate for when bar it not in use . Looks rubbish.

Very poor and expensive.

[mikesands]

Still can't find an indpenedent maker doing one but this (in the USA) looks interesting.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Lexus/RX+450h/2018/C13282.html

Mike

[Dewillia]

Looks good, the only thing I would say is there are no pictures or reference to a tow ball that fits

[mikesands]

Does anyone know of any independents making a towbar for the gen 4 yet?

Mike

[RgrWynne]

I think the point about invalidating the Warranty, and particularly where Lexus give extended warranty that most owners take, would reduce the demand, and therefore any manufacturer would be more likely to look at more mainstream models. From my experience with other makes, the electrical side is where it is now tricky, because if you subsequently have electrical issues the warranty is invalid.

[mikesands]

3 hours ago, RgrWynne said:

I think the point about invalidating the Warranty, and particularly where Lexus give extended warranty that most owners take, would reduce the demand, and therefore any manufacturer would be more likely to look at more mainstream models. From my experience with other makes, the electrical side is where it is now tricky, because if you subsequently have electrical issues the warranty is invalid.

which is tricky because even if you decide to carry bikes on a tailgate rack you are supposed to use a tailboard strapped to the bikes and for that you need an electrical socket on the car. (My bike is electric and too heavy to go on a roof rack - and too awkward to try and slide into the boot area horizontally even if I took both wheels off.

Mike

[David Cawson]

I have given up trying to find an aftermarket towbar for my 2017 RX450H. I am not happy about paying £1200+ just to tow a trailer occasionally.So I have bought a Jeep Wrangler Sahara Sport Convertible  with a towbar. Much more expensive solution but great fun. I still have the Lexus for day to day transport.

[Barry14UK]

Mike, that USA jobbie looked interesting.  The potential warranty issue aside, I would have thought electrical specialists in the UK could sort out the electrics.  However, it's fitted to a left hand drive vehicle, so before anybody buys one it would be prudent to establish there are no differences that would pose problems in fitting to a right hand drive car. 

[flookyk]

I was at the Caravan and Camping Show last year and asked about the Gen4 RX450h when there.

From the information the towbar dealer there had the Gen3 RX450h was no problem with them and others supplying towbars for them

The Gen4 was a different matter and, according to their info, not all Gen4 RX450h's are able to tow (just certain levels) and those that are were Lexus dealer supply and fit only.

[luckyduck]

I have a Gen 4 with dealer fitted towbar, bought as part of the negotiated second hand car package. Checked all suppliers for a Gen 4 towbar before purchase, and even Witter do not do one, so it has to be Lexus part and Lexus fitted. Also saves warranty issues. It is a removable towbar, and the electric socket hinges up into a space underneath out of the way very neatly. Yes it can be pricey, but if you get the Owners Club Gold Card and use the discount on that, it makes it more feasible. The Gen 4 is a dream caravan towcar, despite most of the caravan pundits espousing diesel. I average about 25 mpg towing 29 cwt single axle.

[ron1953]

Like some of you i have paid the extortionate price to Lexus to have a manufacturers tow bar and 13 pin electrics fitted to my 2016 RX 450H  , some of you may recall the trouble i had with the dealership in Kent over buying the car and fitting of the tow bar .

Finally sorted the matter but still not fully satisfied and not happy with the dealership and there service.

My question today is i have now got a caravan and when connecting the lighting cable to the van everything works o/k  ?  but friends tell me i should have by law some kind of warning lights on the dash to show the lights are working or there is a fault with a  bulb not working, but there is nothing i have even taken a bulb out of the caravan to see if a waning light come on in the car to show a fault , BUT NO NOTHING.

Does anyone know  

[Brian26]

I think (but I may be wrong) that the law requires a visual or an audible warning. For example when the indicator lights come on there is a beep from the towing relay. However as Lexus bury them somewhere in the back of the car near the rear light clusters it is very difficult to hear them (especially if like me you are deaf ! ). If you want to check this you should be able to hear the beep but you may need to have a pretty quiet car, no radio on for example to do it. I have my wife do a 'lights check ' whenever we go away so I know everything works at least up to the point of departure. I haven't  had a visual warning for more years than I care to remember other than an occasional canbus bulb alarm that I had on both Mercedes cars I towed with that always turned out to be spurious.

Hope this helps put your'e mind at ease as these vehicles make very capable tow cars.

Bri

[Jeff Roscoe]

I know this thread is quite old but just had towbar fitted today Lexus are only people who supply.Good deal from Lexus parts direct full towbar and 13 pin electrics£550 delivered Lexus cost of fitting £647.Must say very neat job