Homer742

I've searched about tow hitches and I still am not sure what to get. I plan to tow a couple of Jet skis with my 2004 AWD RX330. The car was previously own so I have no idea if it came with the "tow package". I looked under the front left bumper/wheel well and did see an oil cooler (Transmission?) but I have no idea if the radiator is the one for the tow package.

Anyway, I can't decide whether to get the OEM hitch or an aftermarket one. Which of the tow hitches available is the least noticable? I'd like to maintain the sleek look and not have the hitch stick out so much. Anyone has pictures? Please post them. . .

curtm

I bought a hitch from Curt Manufacturing. Several online places carried that brand. I think it looks pretty good and is not to noticeable.

Homer742

Hi Curtm! Could you post a picture?

Tammy

Don't forget to address the lights controller and pigtail.

Har

Curtm, It would be great if you could post a picture as i am thinking about adding a hitch to my 2005 RX330. Just to pull a ulitlity traier to pull some mulch, lumber and the occasional couch to my kids. I miss my 2000 Tundra for this reason but love my RX330.

Did you hardwire the lights to a connector on the hitch or do wires dangle as pigitail?

A local rental shop quoted me $297.53 for hitch, wiring and installation. He may have quoted me a HidenHitch brand. Lexus quoted me $700 and claim they outsource thehitch installations. Claims the hitch is the same as Lexus without the L. I have yet to go visit to talk to them face-to-face or see a RX330 with hitch that hey have installed.

Thanks for posting a phot when you can.

tfischer

Many RXs come with the "towing prep" package. My understanding is that this package includes 4 things, none of which are readily visible. A larger radiator, a transmission oil cooler, a larger alternator, and a plug somewhere way in the back to connect the brake lights to the trailer. I hear the plug is hard to find at first because it's in an out of the way location because most people never use it, so you have to hunt for it the first time.

My car has this package (I bought it used, but I have the window sticker -- in '04 it cost $160.00) but I have not looked for the plug or the transmission cooler. My salesman did not know what the package included -- I searched for it on this forum.

Anyway, if you have this package on your car, you may already have the brake light connection installed, so check this out, as it would save you a lot of time and trouble.

curtm

I don't have any pictures that I can post. If I get some I will post them. As for the lights, I got me RX330 with the tow prep package. Then I bought the light pigtail from my Lexus dealer. There is an earlier thread on this forum that has some pretty good pictures about where the plug is located but the short answer is it is under the rear bins on the left side. Removing the bins was not too hard. I then used plastic zip ties to fasten the wiring to the hitch frame and the plug is right by the hitch receiver.

Har

I just found my spec sheet (from window) and I don't see any indication that my 2005 RX330 "has been prepped for the towing package" but I do see that I have the Transmission Cooler, Heavy Duty Alternator and Radiator $160.00.

Is this the tow prep package?

tfischer

That sounds like it to me, since it's the same price as on my '04 window sticker and that's the 3 big elements of the "package." My sticker says "towing prep" but they may have changed that designation since nobody knows what that means anyway.

Besides, many people who want those items, like me, don't intend to tow anything; it's just nice insurance to have the larger radiator and alternator, and the cooler will give the transmission a longer life even if extra stress from towing or from mountain roads is never encountered.