Trailering RX 450h
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3
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From: MI
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 271
From: Kansas
If your boat trailer has surge brakes like my boat trailer did, it needs to be wired to release the trailer brakes when reversing, maybe that system has failed, or maybe there is a manual override. Here's a forum discussion that might be useful: https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating...k-reverse.html
Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 189
Likes: 15
From: IL
In reverse the 450h is powered only by the electric motor(s). It's just a limitation of how the hybrid drive is setup. If you are going up any kind of grade chances are it doesn't have enough power, especially if you don't have the second motor for AWD.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 289
Likes: 115
From: CA - California
What year is your RX450h? I suspect you have a 2017+ with ICS/IPA/RCTA that is applying the brakes. Turn it off using your instrument panel screen and it should all get better. If my assumptions are wrong, the limited power in reverse sounds like a good explanation too.
Last edited by N4TECguy; Aug 19, 2018 at 11:48 AM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 4,513
Likes: 345
From: In your head
If you own this generation of RX, there is no rear cross traffic prevention (braking). If you own the 4th generation, the system would be doing that. You would need to specify what Model Year you have.
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 3
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From: MI
Thanks everyone! It is indeed a 2017 AWD 450H. Will try again as I could have missed something when disabling system.
Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 189
Likes: 15
From: IL
I suppose Toyota/Lexus could figure out a way to put an idler gear on the final drive to have full power available some time in the future, but, since the original design for the drive train was for a light fuel efficient vehicle, that would not be used for towing and having to go backwards with a load, they probably believed electric only was good enough and took the simple solution.
Pit Crew
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 230
Likes: 30
From: SFV, CA
What year is your RX450h? I suspect you have a 2017+ with ICS/IPA/RCTA that is applying the brakes. Turn it off using your instrument panel screen and it should all get better. If my assumptions are wrong, the limited power in reverse sounds like a good explanation too.
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 25
Likes: 5
From: NC
RX 450h 2020 Towing & Backup (Rear) Distance Sensors
I own a 2020 RX 450h F Sport, which I custom-ordered and received delivery in November, 2019. The SUV is awesome! I installed (myself) the appropriate two hitch, and then had a professional tow/trailer business install the 7-pin tow wiring harness.
My question is regarding backing-up [in reverse] with my small camper attached (being towed behind) by RX. When I towed behind my Prius and needed to backup/in reverse, and the camper attached, the rear sensors kept braking unnecessarily, thinking the Prius was about to hit or strike an object. No matter how slow I backed-up in reverse, the Prius' rear sensors kept activating, causing the vehicle to brake (and display the STOP warning screen).
Can anyone who owns an RX (any year model) who tows, describe how to keep the sensors from braking, when in "reverse" at a slow speed and towing something behind it?
My question is regarding backing-up [in reverse] with my small camper attached (being towed behind) by RX. When I towed behind my Prius and needed to backup/in reverse, and the camper attached, the rear sensors kept braking unnecessarily, thinking the Prius was about to hit or strike an object. No matter how slow I backed-up in reverse, the Prius' rear sensors kept activating, causing the vehicle to brake (and display the STOP warning screen).
Can anyone who owns an RX (any year model) who tows, describe how to keep the sensors from braking, when in "reverse" at a slow speed and towing something behind it?
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