[bobgore]

I now have an integrated hitch on my GX 470 as opposed to a add-on (Hidden Hitch, etc.) which mounts to the frame rails and hangs below the bumper and thereby reduces the departure angle. Here's what I did:

1) I bought the light duty (4Runner 6-cyl) hitch from Toyota ($200). Fine for me because of my light load. Six-cyl 4Runners come with these hitches. The V8s (also 470 engines) do not. Same problem with the V8 for Toyota as for Lexus.
2) I went to a body shop and asked if they would install it. (Lexus said no to the same question)
3) They looked into their manual. It said 1 hr. labor to remove and replace the bumper and .1 hr. to remove the hitch mount and replace it with the hitch ($50). The hitch uses the same bolts as the mount.
4) The body shop ordered the lower bumper knockout with the notch ($80) to replace the one without the notch that came on my car. It should arrive in a day or two. I will then have my body shop guy snap it in place.
4) Done.
5) Whew!

If you have the right tools to pry at some of the plastic snaps that hold your bumber together, you can do this job yourself and save $50. If you already have a notch in your lower bumper, save another $80.

For those who tow big loads, all I know to do is buy an OEM hitch. ETrailer.com is excellent.

Oh...I wrote "almost". The body shop guys says the blizzard pearl is the hardest paint to match, so I shouldn't be surprised if the new notch does not match the bumper If it's too apparent, I'll order a black one.

And, yes, my car came with the hitch mount and trailer towing package but no hitch and no notch in the lower bumper. Worse, it came with no answers and no help from Lexus.