I'm buying my wife another Lexus. She is currently driving a 2014 Lexus RX350 with leather, heated/cooled seats, roof rack, lots of other features. It's in mint condition, new tires, 110k miles. I can get 10-11k on a trade in. I work from home and my EV leased ended at the start of COVID. I spent the COVID years restoring an 89 4x4 Toyota pickup. I'm comfortable taking it 100 miles from home and baby it on 4 wheel drive roads when camping/fishing. If my truck dies in the next 2-5 years it would be nice have the old Lexus as my fishing rig, but that means it sits around with insurance and CA DMV fees. Has anybody lifted an RX350 and used it as a utility truck?

 

That is not a good idea on the RX as there are very limited options to raise it up. See these 2 threads. They both have links to aftermarket products that raise it up a little bit. You should just get rid of it and get a proper off road SUV.
​​​​​​https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...d-options.html
​​​​​​https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...rail-rx-s.html

 

likewise!

Even the unmodified clearance of 350 is not based on terrain it should be driven so adding a bit more is only going to be for the visual effect. One can drive it over snow and mud but as long as there is firm flat surface underneath. Yes on can go off-roading, but very limited. Its sister 450H has expensive exposed components underneath.

Salim

 

I understand your plight. For 10K I'd drive it into the ground to and do what I want with it! I've seen guys turn all kinds of cars into off road machines. anything is possible given enough $$. Try selling it on Ebay and set a minimum of what you think it is worth. don't buy her new car until then just in case you have to come crawling back to the dealer. meanwhile, maybe they will give you a better offer.

 

Thanks for that. I don’t plan to climb rocks or explore destination wilderness. Most roads I need to navigate have 6-8” rocks protruding and I want a little height as I move at near idle speeds. Getting in and out is not part of the fun. I added thinner and hardener to Raptor bed liner and coated my truck, I plan to do the same to the Lexus and add larger wheels.

 

She’s already shopping the car malls. I’ve agreed to buy a pre-owned(last year’s model) every 10 years. I’m sure I can get 100k+ miles and 10 years out of the old one. I feel I can get more than $10k of value from it instead of trading it in. It’s old enough where DMV fees and minimal insurance is California works in my favor too. I’m close to retirement and planned to buy a trunk but can’t justify it having this Lexus to tinker with along with my 89 Toyota V6. I’ll get the reliability of the Lexus and the utility of the old truck for dump runs and Home Depot trips. I’m having a difficult time stepping back to see if its practical or me being cheap.