Trailer Hitch affecting resale?
 

Wondering when purchasing a new GX 460 if having (or not having) a trailer hitch affects resale/trade in value?

Im not anticipating having to tow and think that it has a cleaner look without.

The next buyer may want it, or may wonder if the truck was over worked hauling heavy loads.

Any thoughts???

If I see a hitch on a GX, I would think the previous owner used it for light towing, a bike rack, or a bumper step/guard, especially those with the Curt hitch, like myself. Also, look at the condition of the hitch. Is it rusty and all beat up or still like new?

Personally, I would think a hitch on the GX would increase the value since it's a rarely used accessory.

I will say Lexus did a very poor job implementing it in the GX, it looks very aftermarket.

If you can tailor the package and don't see yourself using it, I would not pay the extra $800 or so dollars for it.

I'm the opposite in that if I found out someone used the GX for towing, I would probably not buy it.

It's the hardest thing on a transmission, I actually knew a guy that blew out a transmission on his Lexus when he did some light towing with a U Haul trailer.

I know these things are set up for towing, but it's still the equivalent of putting thousands and thousands of extra miles on a vehicle when you do it.

Lexus did a poor cosmetic design on the trailer hitch. It just looks bad. That said, many people buy with the possibility of using a utility vehicle in a utilitarian way. That means versatility. "I might use it, someday, would be nice if it was already there." For me, I figure that I will need it at some point, so either it has it, or I'm going to need to put it on. So either you paid for it, already, or I pay for it later. In witch case, I will make my offer to buy accordingly. Towing doesn't need to be hard on a vehicle, but most drivers are pretty lame, as far as knowledge on what they are doing, especially towing. therefore they abuse the vehicle towing. Ignorance may be bliss, but it can also be costly. And most ( American) drivers at a minium ignorant.

For me, it's like off roading.

These vehicles can comfortably handle serious offroading, but all things being equal, I'd rather not have one where the previous owner like to take it mud bogging on the weekends.

I look at towing the same way. If a guy likes to tow his boat with the GX, I'm looking at other ones as I don't want to deal with that potential headache on my watch.

The trailer hitch being on there wouldn't matter, I'm sure most are not ordered that way, but if it was regularly used for serious towing, I don't want the vehicle.

Different strokes.

Just a quick note of thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts with me on this thread. I think I will pursue one without a hitch. I don't foresee the need for me to tow anything myself, I won't have to worry about whether or not it was abused or have the next buyer wonder if I had abused it, and will save me money upfront by not paying for something that I don't need.

Thanks again!

I also never plan to tow anything and I agree it is not attractive looking on the GX.

Previous owner of mine installed it a couple years back but it is obvious it has never been used for anything. The paint is spotless and electrical connectors are untouched.

I do plan to tow with mine.

Trade-in these sort of little options make zero difference on what you are offered. Save your money.

As far as the next guy, people who want it will add it.

I just bought a used GX and only wanted one with a hitch. Previous owner rarely used it. I plan to tow my 5000 lb boat 10 miles to service 1-2 times a year.

You can buy the hitch system from Toyota for 315$..including the wiring harness. I tow a 23 pathfinder quite often and it pulls it like a champ