Trailer Hitch on LS430
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 430
Likes: 11
From: CA
That is not bad at all. I need a hitch to carry my bike rack and that Curt looks just fine. $94 on Amazon now. BTW, I think you can get Curt hitches custom painted (by Curt) for some extra money to match your bumper but, personally, I prefer the black. I would also get rid of any stickers.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 271
From: Kansas
Since this thread has been revived still again, here for your amusement/reading enjoyment is a link to installation manual for the LS430 trailer hitch sold and installed by Lexus dealers in Europe and some other areas of the world: http://www.lexus-tech.eu/aimuploads/...8-F1550-00.pdf
The European LS430 hitch is beefier and has substantially more weight capacitiy than any of the aftermarket hitches sold for the LS430 in North America. Here also is an image of page one of the install manual.
The European LS430 hitch is beefier and has substantially more weight capacitiy than any of the aftermarket hitches sold for the LS430 in North America. Here also is an image of page one of the install manual.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 235
Likes: 10
From: FL
It must look very similar to the one pictures above. It needs to clear the bumper plastic and spare tire well. JC Whitney sells a class II and III with square and tube construction respectively. The III has a 2" receiver and the tube looks wider in diameter so it would be more noticeable than the II. The Euromount pin and clip would be a more unusual look than the more common receiver and ball. All that is usually removed when not in use.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 248
From: AZ
I know I would run in the other direction if an LS I was looking at purchasing had been used to tow or had a trailer hitch installed.
Towing is "murder" on transmissions, even with vehicles like full size trucks that are made to tow.
I knew a guy that used his Lexus RX300 to tow a small Uhaul just a few times when moving, it blew out his transmission in short order.
Towing is "murder" on transmissions, even with vehicles like full size trucks that are made to tow.
I knew a guy that used his Lexus RX300 to tow a small Uhaul just a few times when moving, it blew out his transmission in short order.
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 275
Likes: 3
From: Florida
I wonder if four or five people in the car with luggage affects the tranny as much as a 1000 lb trailer on wheels Car is rated at 2000 lbs for trailering. If I remember correctly a Rx can tow 3500 lbs with a v6 and front wheel drive
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I know I would run in the other direction if an LS I was looking at purchasing had been used to tow or had a trailer hitch installed.
Towing is "murder" on transmissions, even with vehicles like full size trucks that are made to tow.
I knew a guy that used his Lexus RX300 to tow a small Uhaul just a few times when moving, it blew out his transmission in short order.
Towing is "murder" on transmissions, even with vehicles like full size trucks that are made to tow.
I knew a guy that used his Lexus RX300 to tow a small Uhaul just a few times when moving, it blew out his transmission in short order.
what would be the difference if there were 5 people in the car weighing avg. 180lbs + luggage oppose to towing 1000lbs with only a driver?
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 275
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Exactly correct. You do not tow the trailer 24/7 nor do you have 5 people in the car 24/7. Five people and luggage is all dead weight. A traller is much easier on the car because its rolling weight. Not only that the holes for the trailer hitch are pre drilled at the factory. It's no problem for the car to tow 1000 lbs. Put a 1000 lbs of weight in a container and try and move it. You can easily push a 1000 lb trailer because it rolls
Last edited by honeygee2; Jul 10, 2013 at 03:22 PM.
I just replaced the front ML Dash tweeters and rear speakers, 6 speakers total. The car audio is amazing. I have 120k miles on my car and It's so comfortable. I recently picked up a bike and found out that this car can do more than just haul 4 people around.
I'm glad I picked up the 430 instead of the 460, apparently there is no tow rating on the new LS's anymore.
It looks like Curt is the only hitch I can use, I wish I could get the European hitch because it looks to be more robust.
I'm going to be blasted for this, but whatever, I bought the car to use, not keep as a garage queen. I could easily tow two crotch rockets to the track in comfort and back and any extra gear I need in the cargo box that won't fit in the trunk.
My car is the silver one, the gray LS is my GF's ride which we took to CO for snowboarding/skiing in the pictures below. We had the Thule cargo box on it with all our gear and 4 people in the car. It's so comfortable. the more I use this car, the more I like it. I don't need a minivan, SUV or truck. It's too comfortable not to use to tow a small trailer. I would never be able to ride in comfort in any other vehicle IMO.
I'm glad I picked up the 430 instead of the 460, apparently there is no tow rating on the new LS's anymore.
It looks like Curt is the only hitch I can use, I wish I could get the European hitch because it looks to be more robust.
I'm going to be blasted for this, but whatever, I bought the car to use, not keep as a garage queen. I could easily tow two crotch rockets to the track in comfort and back and any extra gear I need in the cargo box that won't fit in the trunk.
My car is the silver one, the gray LS is my GF's ride which we took to CO for snowboarding/skiing in the pictures below. We had the Thule cargo box on it with all our gear and 4 people in the car. It's so comfortable. the more I use this car, the more I like it. I don't need a minivan, SUV or truck. It's too comfortable not to use to tow a small trailer. I would never be able to ride in comfort in any other vehicle IMO.
Last edited by mk4umha; Jul 10, 2013 at 11:33 PM.
all over your silver LS. 
Driver
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 152
Likes: 7
From: Quebec
I also have a Curt like cyclehead's... Just took a pic for you and boosted the brightness around the hitch. $95 is a good deal. I paid around 150 for mine.
I use it mainly to hook a bike rack.
I use it mainly to hook a bike rack.
That is not bad at all. I need a hitch to carry my bike rack and that Curt looks just fine. $94 on Amazon now. BTW, I think you can get Curt hitches custom painted (by Curt) for some extra money to match your bumper but, personally, I prefer the black. I would also get rid of any stickers.
Last edited by Yaff; Jul 14, 2013 at 04:59 PM.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 30
Likes: 2
Nice job with the pics. This was too complicated for me so I got it done at the local U-Haul store. I bouth the CURT hitch on Amazon for about a hundred bucks, wiring was done at U-Haul for 75 bucks ( including whatever parts they needed) - very neat job done it I may say.
I ended up towing about 1200 pounds in a U-Haul trailer ( 5 x 8) from NYC to Houston, TX - approximately 1900 miles in the route I took - not an issue at all. Gas mileage was approximately 18 to 19 mpg for the entire trip - speed was averaging around 60 to 70 miles per hour. It was a breeze - did not feel at any time that the engine was struggling to keep up. My car is a 2004 with 162,000 miles and I did not have to think twice about the ability of the LS.
An excellent way to add to the abilities of the LS - this has real muscle behind the smooth exterior!!
I ended up towing about 1200 pounds in a U-Haul trailer ( 5 x 8) from NYC to Houston, TX - approximately 1900 miles in the route I took - not an issue at all. Gas mileage was approximately 18 to 19 mpg for the entire trip - speed was averaging around 60 to 70 miles per hour. It was a breeze - did not feel at any time that the engine was struggling to keep up. My car is a 2004 with 162,000 miles and I did not have to think twice about the ability of the LS.
An excellent way to add to the abilities of the LS - this has real muscle behind the smooth exterior!!
Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 73
Likes: 11
From: British Columbia
The Canadian Brochure for the 2002 LS 430 shows a tow capacity of 7000 pounds
TOWING CAPACITY 3175 kg/ 7000 lbs
[url]https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/ls430/295424d1377371431-help-me-make-a-decision-pls-02-ls-430-2002-canadian-ls430-brochure.pdf[/url
Installation guide for European hitch
http://www.lexus-tech.eu/aimuploads/%7BA0197C27-E26B-4FF3-9F6D-0B71F649DD9B%7D/Tow%20Bar%20PZ408-F1550-00.pdf
A second thread on this topic, Mods please merge
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls430/724784-looking-for-a-ls340-trailer-hitch-tow-bar.html
TOWING CAPACITY 3175 kg/ 7000 lbs
[url]https://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/ls430/295424d1377371431-help-me-make-a-decision-pls-02-ls-430-2002-canadian-ls430-brochure.pdf[/url
Installation guide for European hitch
http://www.lexus-tech.eu/aimuploads/%7BA0197C27-E26B-4FF3-9F6D-0B71F649DD9B%7D/Tow%20Bar%20PZ408-F1550-00.pdf
A second thread on this topic, Mods please merge
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls430/724784-looking-for-a-ls340-trailer-hitch-tow-bar.html
Last edited by PHOUND5; May 31, 2014 at 09:01 AM.