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I installed the Curt hitch over the weekend. $88 and a 20 minute installation from start to finish. I only need the hitch for my bike carrier and nothing more.
can u post pictures , i need hitch for bike not for 'real' town
I installed a class III hitch (max tow is 5k) over the weekend on my 2011 GX 460 since my frame already has all the drill-outs for a quick and easy install. Took me about 20 minutes. Your 2014 may or may not be compatible with my setup. I never knew having a hitch on my GX can be soo sexy. It certainly ups the capability factor. The hitch weighs about 7.6 pounds. Including the bolts, it adds about 8 pounds to the vehicle. It cost me about $100 on Amazon. And since the 2011 already comes pre-wired for towing, I just thought it'd be nice to have since I have towed at least once in my life with another vehicle (98 4Runner Limited 4x4). Also, I don't own a 20' AirStream trailer; therefore, no need for a class IV hitch.
Close-up after install
Protrudes very slightly from the rear bumper
Underneath bumper of my 2011 GX 460
Some tools you'll need
From the rear bumper's top view looking down
Perfect for bike racks.
Curt's hitch is engineered so well; barely touches the spear tire.
The hitch receiver in this picture is for illustration purposes only. I did not secure it with the pin yet.
The hitch, without the receiver, does not appear on camera in reverse.
You're welcome, Eppieguy. I am just glad that it's much easier to post pictures, along with a quick caption on this site, it was very cumbersome prior to the upgrade.
Here are some pics from behind the vehicle at various height levels and with/without the hitch receiver. Again, the hitch receiver was placed on for illustration purposes only. Enjoy.
I like this hitch....for $90 and 20 minutes I can do that...I don't tow anything except some dirt/mulch/paver blocks...but then I use my Taco for that job. Thanks.
I recently purchased a 2015 GX 460 and I asked the dealer to install a hitch receiver so that I can tow at maximum capacity (6500#).
The label on the hitch receiver (driver's side) says that max capacity is 5,000 if used as a load bearing hitch and 6,500 if used as a weight distributing hitch.
Do I need a weight distributing hitch to tow 6500?
Can anybody provide insight? Am I reading the label correctly? Is this the correct hitch receiver or is there one made by Lexus that can tow 6500 without a weight distributing hitch?
Further, the owner's manual says that if the gross trailer weight is over 5000 a weight distributing hitch is required. Is this typical CYA language or are bad things going to happen if not used? Any experiences towing 6500 without weight distributing hitch?
I plan to tow around marina, launch/retrieve, tow 5 miles.
After researching on the internet and reading the posts here.. I decided to go with the curt hitch (part no. 13043). My 2015 gx ( as all the others before ) has already pre drilled holes and the curt hitch was a 15 min. job to tighten the hitch to the predrilled holes with the bolts provided.
I was planning on going with the lexus hitch but then esthetically it doesn't look good as it juts out of the back a lot. The curt hitch is low profile.
After researching on the internet and reading the posts here.. I decided to go with the curt hitch (part no. 13043). My 2015 gx ( as all the others before ) has already pre drilled holes and the curt hitch was a 15 min. job to tighten the hitch to the predrilled holes with the bolts provided.
I was planning on going with the lexus hitch but then esthetically it doesn't look good as it juts out of the back a lot. The curt hitch is low profile.
Shyleshn , I agree with you 100% .... I just ordered and installed on my 2015 Draw-tite model 75685
very easy install and has all the capacity I'll need to tow my boat and motorcycle trailer. The hitch is identical to your curt. I purchased on Amazon for $93 shipped.
Was nice of Lexus to install the trailer light plugs even though I did not order a factory hitch. Personally I think the factory hitch is over kill and looks bulky .
UPTHECREEK - I absolutely agree. All the 3 bolt on hitches 1. curt 2. hidden hitch 3. draw-tie are similar and installs pretty much the same way. to anyone looking to get a hitch on GX460 upto the year 2015 these 3 will work. Bike rack carrier, towing small (upto 5000 lbs) trailer/boat this will do. The Lexus hitch for $700+ is an overkill. I only wanted to carry my bike rack with 4 bikes and this will do the job.
09-08-14, 04:45 PM
