Lexus-supplied tow hitch receiver rating?
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Lexus-supplied tow hitch receiver rating?
We took delivery of our 2004 RX330 a week ago, and I immediately set about to get a tow hitch receiver installed.
Our RX330 came with the factory-installed "tow prep package", so I need to add the actual frame hitch receiver and final wiring harness.
The clerk in the parts department of my local Lexus dealership found the Lexus-specified hitch receiver in his catalog of parts, but it says that it's only rated for 2000 lbs. I need to be able to pull around 3200 lbs once a year, so this won't cut it.
The literature and all the spec' for the RX330 say that the RX' is rated for 2000 lbs without the tow prep package, 3500 lbs with the tow prep package.
Does anything know whether Lexus even has a tow hitch receiver rated to the maximum specified 3500 lbs? I'd like to stick with a factory-spec'ed hitch, as I want the installation to look nice and clean and not like a chunk of hardware slapped on the back of the rig.
Our RX330 came with the factory-installed "tow prep package", so I need to add the actual frame hitch receiver and final wiring harness.
The clerk in the parts department of my local Lexus dealership found the Lexus-specified hitch receiver in his catalog of parts, but it says that it's only rated for 2000 lbs. I need to be able to pull around 3200 lbs once a year, so this won't cut it.
The literature and all the spec' for the RX330 say that the RX' is rated for 2000 lbs without the tow prep package, 3500 lbs with the tow prep package.
Does anything know whether Lexus even has a tow hitch receiver rated to the maximum specified 3500 lbs? I'd like to stick with a factory-spec'ed hitch, as I want the installation to look nice and clean and not like a chunk of hardware slapped on the back of the rig.
#3
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Join Date: Apr 2003
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Re: Lexus-supplied tow hitch receiver rating?
Originally posted by redgs400
We took delivery of our 2004 RX330 a week ago, and I immediately set about to get a tow hitch receiver installed.
Our RX330 came with the factory-installed "tow prep package", so I need to add the actual frame hitch receiver and final wiring harness.
The clerk in the parts department of my local Lexus dealership found the Lexus-specified hitch receiver in his catalog of parts, but it says that it's only rated for 2000 lbs. I need to be able to pull around 3200 lbs once a year, so this won't cut it.
The literature and all the spec' for the RX330 say that the RX' is rated for 2000 lbs without the tow prep package, 3500 lbs with the tow prep package.
Does anything know whether Lexus even has a tow hitch receiver rated to the maximum specified 3500 lbs? I'd like to stick with a factory-spec'ed hitch, as I want the installation to look nice and clean and not like a chunk of hardware slapped on the back of the rig.
We took delivery of our 2004 RX330 a week ago, and I immediately set about to get a tow hitch receiver installed.
Our RX330 came with the factory-installed "tow prep package", so I need to add the actual frame hitch receiver and final wiring harness.
The clerk in the parts department of my local Lexus dealership found the Lexus-specified hitch receiver in his catalog of parts, but it says that it's only rated for 2000 lbs. I need to be able to pull around 3200 lbs once a year, so this won't cut it.
The literature and all the spec' for the RX330 say that the RX' is rated for 2000 lbs without the tow prep package, 3500 lbs with the tow prep package.
Does anything know whether Lexus even has a tow hitch receiver rated to the maximum specified 3500 lbs? I'd like to stick with a factory-spec'ed hitch, as I want the installation to look nice and clean and not like a chunk of hardware slapped on the back of the rig.
Please report back here if you're able to get some answers on this, as I am in a similar situation.
Thanks,
Joel
#4
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Illinois
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You can buy the curt hitch at drophitch.com for $111. The curt hitch is rated at 3500lbs.
Word is that curt is putting together a wiring harness for the 330 but there's no date on when its going to be available. Their number is (877)287-8634. Maybe you can get more up to date info or get on their notification list.
You can then buy the lexus wiring harness part no: 08942-48870-BB which is supposed to sell for about $48 that will match your trailer tow prep package connector. This connector is located under the cargo trays in the back. You'll need to remove them to access this, as well as the knockout in the floor of the car.
I haven't tried yet. I've been researching options for the last few weeks and in the next month or two I'll probably buy this same solution.
Word is that curt is putting together a wiring harness for the 330 but there's no date on when its going to be available. Their number is (877)287-8634. Maybe you can get more up to date info or get on their notification list.
You can then buy the lexus wiring harness part no: 08942-48870-BB which is supposed to sell for about $48 that will match your trailer tow prep package connector. This connector is located under the cargo trays in the back. You'll need to remove them to access this, as well as the knockout in the floor of the car.
I haven't tried yet. I've been researching options for the last few weeks and in the next month or two I'll probably buy this same solution.
#5
Driver
Thread Starter
Update: Lexus has no 3500 lb hitch receiver
I emailed Lexus directly through the Owners section of the www.lexus.com website, and received a reply back in about a day.
Bottom line: the only Lexus-supplied hitch receiver available at this time is the 2000 lb version.
So I will probably end up getting a third-party hitch receiver and try to get the wiring harness that trs23 mentioned above. I just don't care to get one that says "U-HAUL" on it, as that seems to cheapen the vehicle soooo much.
There are a number of other local trailer shops around town that I can get one from locally, though, so I'm far from out of luck. I just want the hitch receiver and installation to look decent.
Bottom line: the only Lexus-supplied hitch receiver available at this time is the 2000 lb version.
So I will probably end up getting a third-party hitch receiver and try to get the wiring harness that trs23 mentioned above. I just don't care to get one that says "U-HAUL" on it, as that seems to cheapen the vehicle soooo much.
There are a number of other local trailer shops around town that I can get one from locally, though, so I'm far from out of luck. I just want the hitch receiver and installation to look decent.
#6
Driver
Thread Starter
Follow-up on this thread
This subject has been going on in parallel in the following thread:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=113706
Please check there for the conclusion of: The Quest for a 3500 lb Hitch Receiver: RX330
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...hreadid=113706
Please check there for the conclusion of: The Quest for a 3500 lb Hitch Receiver: RX330
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