IS 250C automatic - not recommended for towing?

[Paulvallo]

Why is IS 250C AUTO not recommended for towing when camping & caravanning towmatch service gives it a good pass...any ideas would be helpful as I’m at my wits end! Just paid 600 for a tow are to be fitted on Tuesday

[madasahatter]

2 minutes ago, Paulvallo said:

Why is IS 250C AUTO not recommended for towing when camping & caravanning towmatch service gives it a good pass...any ideas would be helpful as I’m at my wits end! Just paid 600 for a tow are to be fitted on Tuesday

Could it be the suspension needs an upgrade ? I do not really know as i do not tow anything. 

[johnatg]

Possibly because it has a rather small, water-cooled transmission oil cooler.

Perhaps you could ask an auto transmission specialist if there's any possibility of fitting a larger air-cooled oil cooler.

Depends what you want to tow really. If it's a water bike or small dinghy on a trailer you shouldn't have a problem - if it's a large caravan you might.

 

 

 

 

[Britprius]

1 hour ago, Paulvallo said:

Why is IS 250C AUTO not recommended for towing when camping & caravanning towmatch service gives it a good pass...any ideas would be helpful as I’m at my wits end! Just paid 600 for a tow are to be fitted on Tuesday

What is the tow limit set at in the handbook, and door frame sticker? If it is zero it is against the law to tow a trailer within the EU. If a tow limit is given then it is ok to tow up to that weight, but possibly with the covet that extra transmission cooling is fitted.

John. 

[johnatg]

If it's the same as a hardtop IS250, it's only in Singapore that towing is not recommended. (What the hell is the difference with vehicles for Singapore?)

Otherwise the tow limit is 1500Kg with a braked trailer or 560Kg unbraked.

But note the oil cooling provisos above and the general warnings about adverse effects on the car when towing. (see handbook - in mine it's P171.)

You can only fit a type-approved towbar for towing in Europe (inc UK) and if towing was forbidden in the vehicle specs you would not be able to get a type approved towbar.

 

[Paulvallo]

Thanks for this John...in my manual - page 248 I quote “Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Lexus also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier. Your Lexus is not designed for trailer towing...

 

I don’t think any car is ‘designed’ for towing...it is that some cars eg generally 2L+ have sufficient power to undertake this task. I am also not that bothered about recommendations that might come from aesthetic considerations...I just want to know whether the car is up to the job. I will post the C&C towmatch report later (the report which made me purchase the car!)

Thanks John I really appreciate your input...

 

Paul V

[johnatg]

Hmm...I don't think it can be anything to do with power - the IS250C has the same power as IS250 and 200bhp-ish is adequate for basic towing.

Maybe the IS250C has structural characteristics which make it unsuitable (or less suitable) for towing - it will have a whole lot of underfloor reinforcement to compensate for not having a solid roof. (I know it has a tin roof but it's not the same as having a continuous roof with no joints).  It's why convertibles are a good deal heavier than the corresponding saloon and even then a lot of them are a bit flexi to say the least. (Ever driven a Saab convertible?) My MX-5 has quite a few add-on (by me) braces to make it a bit stiffer than standard, but you can still feel a good twist and shake on potholes etc.! (And you can't tow with MX-5s built after the type-approval towbar thing came in - that was about 1998.)

[Paulvallo]

Caravanning club have got back to me. They say it’s a Far East thing where caravanning isn’t that popular, so it’s to do with image + disclaimer against US market. I’m somewhat relieved...thanks for help it’s appreciated

[Shaunomercy]

Apparently you cannot tow with an Audi RS4/RS6 either so I suspect it's a suspension / exhaust issue. Although I know some BMW's need the cooling system upgraded if it's going to tow.

With the is250c I do wonder if it's a structural issue and with how much overhang behind the rear axle I'd suspect the suspension isn't suitable or you would maybe need spring assistors at the very least.

I wouldn't have thought the nose weight on the tow bar would be very high at all either.

Plus the 250c weighs something like 160kg more than the saloon I'd heard so suspension maybe the issue.

 

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