Emily1928

I did some research on towing an ultra light trailer for my 1999 400GS... the research noted a 250 pound tongue weight max and a 2500 pound max towing. If you take out the spare tire from the trunk and take out everything out of the trunk and into the trailer at the trailer wheel line or back from that, you can increase your tongue weight. I have a 2008 350GS... and towing is no recommended.... but the heck with that.... I would guess it would be about the same. However, there is nothing like that 8 CYLINDER 400GS. In anycase, make sure you downshift up a hill using the manual settings to get high torque... like 2500 rpm min, when the normal untowing load would but you at 2000 rpm doing 60 mph. You don't want to ruin the transmission.
ALSO.... the best place to have a towing set up installed is at Uhaul.

bruceb58

You don't take things out of the trunk and throw it in the trailer and think it can increase your towing capacity!

The trailer tongue weight needs to be between 10% and 15% of the towed weight. If the trailer is 2500#, the tongue weight needs to be 250# minimum.

BTW, I wouldn't have U-Haul put a trailer hitch on my car if it was the last place on earth.

Emily1928

Bruce, where do you suggest that I get a trailer hitch system installed?

firelizard

iTrader: (1)

On a truck.

Emily1928

Yeah, a truck is the best, but just don't want to go buy a truck as well as a small travel trailer. Any suggestion on a a trailer hitch for my 400 GS?

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Emily, this has been covered many times. You can get instant answers to you questions using the forum search feature, here are just some of them

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ighlight=Hitch
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ighlight=Hitch
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...hlight=Trailer
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ighlight=Hitch
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ghlight=Towing
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ghlight=Towing
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ighlight=Hitch
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ighlight=Hitch
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ighlight=Hitch

Gdwrench35

The transmissions in these cars were not designed to tolerate towing a trailer. Your transmission fluid temps will get too high, even with a lightweight trailer, and drastically shorten the life of the transmission. The engine can take it, the rest of the car cannot. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Just my 2 cents.

Gdwrench35

And I second the notion about not letting U haul touch your vehicle. Bad Idea. Any other option is better. Renting a truck capable of pulling a trailer is a better option.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

I have to disagree. The transmission will be fine as long as you're not gunning it from a stop. I've installed a transmission cooler to aid with heavy loads but it hasn't complained even though she has almost 200k miles on her. Europeans have towed trailers in cars much smaller and weaker for decades with no issues. It may just be in America where we're too cautious about towing anything other than a bike rack. Most of the time, the limiting factor in cars will be the chassis or suspensions. Load up the trailer correctly and you should minimize stress.

Emily1928

thanks... you're right.

Emily1928

Ok, I'll check into that. I do assume that the posted Lexus Towing maximums are conservative to not cause lawsuits.

Emily1928

I'm like you... my car has 240k on it... I'm going to drive it until it dies... hopefully, 400k

bruceb58

If you are in socal, I would use Eckharts
http://www.eckharts.com/

Of course I would likely only use said trailer hitch for a bike rack. I would never want to tow anything with a GS.

Alainis300

iTrader: (4)

You'll be just fine towing a small trailer, I've been towing small items with my GS for a very long time.

Emily1928

Thanks.... I'll check their website out. I appreciate your effort.