panamabob

Hello Club. i was wondering if anyone has hooked up a trailer hitch to their gs400 and what they have towed with it. i have a 5' x 7 small utility trailer and a honda atv that weight 650 lbs or 272 kilos. can i tow this? do the hitches available from curt mfg work well? thanks for your help!

Gunnut

Lexus does not recommend towing with the GS. Gotta think they know best.

Measured

iTrader: (1)

I have to agree with Gunnut. Even with the power, Lexus states in the owners manual that you should not be towing.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

Lexus manual also states that we shouldn't play with modifications, but we all know how that went


There are quite a few people who have towed with their GS before. 650lbs isn't a lot of stress on the car, especially if there is a trailer involved. Get most of the weight over the trailer's axle and watch out for the tongue weight. Drive carefully and you shouldn't have a problem at all.

Gunnut

I don't think it is a power issue as much of a transmission issue. The tranny's in these cars are bulletproof. Provided you don't abuse them too much. Trailering is pretty extreme for a tranny that is not designed to do so.

TomLee

iTrader: (3)

I did research on this a while back, most people recommended a oil cooler for the tranny and you should be good to go.

Kansas

You don't need a transmission cooler or any special equipment to tow a light weight trailer. I've got a trailer hitch on my 00 LS400 - same drive train as your GS - and it is a wonderful tow vehicle. I also had a hitch on the LS400 I bought new in 1990 and used it to haul a 6x8' utility trailer countless times before I sold the old LS in 2003.

Trailer hitches have always been sold for the GS by Lexus dealers in Europe and other countries outside North America. Why have they not been sold by U.S. Lexus dealers? Good question. Attached is the cover page from the European installation instructions for the current generation GS.

Trust me. Your GS will make an effortless tow vehicle and you will find yourself checking your rear view mirror to verify that your trailer is still attached.

panamabob

okay, contrary to those of you who live in the lexus manual world., i got the right answer.

thank you mr. lexus test driver for your comprehensive response about towing lexus and the lex corp position in europe.

yes you can tow with gs, and Ls 4's.

i buy cars at auction for lexus stores....have bought about 5000 to date...the service mgrs at my stores all say that yes you can, easily, tow a 1500 trailer with a gs4 or Ls4.

thanks for your response to all!

Gunnut

My concern wasn't so much of a 'live in the manual' response as much it was a concern that there is no obvious way to turn off the overdrive. My 94 LS had a button that disabled the overdrive. Most vehicle manufacturers recommend turning off the over drive when trailering. My 98 doesn't have this option.

hey, it's your car, do what you want.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

Gunnut, to get out of overdrive, pull the shift lever into "4" or any gear smaller than that.

cloead

i sold my truck to buy my gs.. and then had nothing to get my bikes to & from the track with.,.



tows just fine. usually tow two crf250s and gear. prolly around 800lbs total (ish)

Chin

iTrader: (34)

Anyone have up close pics of the tow hitch?

vwynn

iTrader: (4)

i have always been curious to know how much my car could tow boosted :] haahaha

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

i do from when i bought mine, the guy used to tow a snowmobile....it was a bolt on affair.


heres a link where i sold it

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/2ge...ilor-ball.html

and some pics of it

when i took it off to sell it

Chin

iTrader: (34)

What is that a class 2 receiver?