Caravan / Touring

leddy · August 22, 2007

Hi Guys has anyone here had a tow bar fitted and got any experience of pulling a caravan with the 220D.

The wife wants to start tourning the country and any info would help.

Just been onto Lexus and it's about £600 to have a tow bar fitted OMG

Cheers Leddy

Exiled · August 22, 2007

Hi Guys has anyone here had a tow bar fitted and got any experience of pulling a caravan with the 220D.
The wife wants to start tourning the country and any info would help.

Just been onto Lexus and it's about £600 to have a tow bar fitted OMG

Cheers Leddy

Sorry Leddy can't help. Can't you change her mind, from what I hear they spend most of there time in ditches. Tell her dealer says it's impossible to fit one on that model.

How's about a pair of knitting needles, lot less than £600.

Scarlet Pimpernell · August 22, 2007

I've seen 2 towing a 'van, so assume it is easy...loads of torque - would be a sinch!

Exiled · August 22, 2007

Apologise to Mrs Leddy,

I've lumped all sorts ot trailers about. The IS diesel has bags of torque 400Nm@2000-2600 rpm. and should be ideal for towing. The car will have a maximum permissable noseweight possibly 75kgs (don't know it), don't exceed it.

Also, very important, van fully loaded must not weigh more than car. Ideally 85% wouldn't exceed 90%, and needs loading evenly. Modern cars with loads of power can lug anything around at speeds well over the 60mph limit, we've all seen them. Your problems start when you do this and it gets windy or you get sucked in by an artic. lorry, or you have to take some sort of avoiding action. Weightwise the car must be on top of the job. There are lots of do's and dont's.

Seriously Leddy, if you haven't towed before and want to start caravanning look at the website of the caravan club or the camping and caravanning club. Finally, be wary of caravan salesmen.

DieselDriver · August 23, 2007

Hi Guys has anyone here had a tow bar fitted and got any experience of pulling a caravan with the 220D.
The wife wants to start tourning the country and any info would help.

Just been onto Lexus and it's about £600 to have a tow bar fitted OMG

Cheers Leddy

I towed a caravan with my IS 220d and never had any problems. I had the Lexus towbar fitted before I picked the car up. As Exiled said "the IS diesel has bags of torque 400Nm@2000-2600 rpm" and it pulls a caravan easily. Our Caravan (now sold) was a 2006 Sterling Eccels Jewel and seemed a good match. I would agree with Exiled other advice too. We started caravaning over 5 years ago and would recomend it to anyone, but read up on towing and loading advice, it will keep you safe.

leddy · August 30, 2007

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I towed a caravan with my IS 220d and never had any problems. I had the Lexus towbar fitted before I picked the car up. As Exiled said "the IS diesel has bags of torque 400Nm@2000-2600 rpm" and it pulls a caravan easily. Our Caravan (now sold) was a 2006 Sterling Eccels Jewel and seemed a good match. I would agree with Exiled other advice too. We started caravaning over 5 years ago and would recomend it to anyone, but read up on towing and loading advice, it will keep you safe.

DieselDriver Thanks for the Information ,

Do you or any one else have a photo or know of a link so that i can see a picture of the towbar on the car so that it give's me an idea what one looks .

i've heard they have to cut away at part of the bumper ? Can anyone help

Cheers Leddy

Exiled · August 30, 2007

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I towed a caravan with my IS 220d and never had any problems. I had the Lexus towbar fitted before I picked the car up. As Exiled said "the IS diesel has bags of torque 400Nm@2000-2600 rpm" and it pulls a caravan easily. Our Caravan (now sold) was a 2006 Sterling Eccels Jewel and seemed a good match. I would agree with Exiled other advice too. We started caravaning over 5 years ago and would recomend it to anyone, but read up on towing and loading advice, it will keep you safe.

DieselDriver Thanks for the Information ,

Do you or any one else have a photo or know of a link so that i can see a picture of the towbar on the car so that it give's me an idea what one looks .

i've heard they have to cut away at part of the bumper ? Can anyone help

Leddy, I thought there was a picture in the brochure but was mistaken. If you go to Lexus GB website then to IS then IS 250 then Colours and Accessories then Exterior Equipment you will see a picture of a towbar which you can enlarge.

DieselDriver · August 30, 2007

DieselDriver Thanks for the Information ,
Do you or any one else have a photo or know of a link so that i can see a picture of the towbar on the car so that it give's me an idea what one looks .

i've heard they have to cut away at part of the bumper ? Can anyone help

I have posted a photo of my detachable towbar: