During the summer months I trailer a boat and jet skis that I launch on weekends. This weekend was the first time I used my RX to tow anything. I was very disappointed when you back up with the RX you cannot see the tow hitch in the camera screen. In my previous MDX and Q7 I could back up and connect all by myself because with the camera I could get the hitch perfectly in place. On the lexus screen you have the lawyer gibberish on the bottom of the screen and it affects the view. The camera also just isn't as sharp or detailed as the acura or audi. I wish I had reseached that more before I bought it. The RX pulls and handles fine for what I need as tow vehicle but the camera makes for a huge annoyance.

 

yeah, seeing as how the RX isnt a real tow vehicle, the backup camera is just used as a parking aid.

 

Not even a good parking aid, it doesnt even have the guidance lines and in canada you have to pay so much for the sensors!

 

For about $25 you can buy a DIY kit on Ebay which is simple to install and does the job:

Parking Sensors

For me anyway, the camera is good enough...

 

I can never buy another car without a backup camera, lines or not. I just need it to see how much space I have left back there to get maximum clearance.

 

you should know aproxx how much is how close from the camera to real life, test it out, put a bucket on the floor and see how much and how close you are in the camera, then get out and look at the actual real life distance.

 

I think the back-up camera is actually a big improvement over previous gens. The angle is wider and everything looks much closer than it is. Took a while to get over the feeling I would hit something on the side when backing up. And the light when backing up is very bright.

 

I just took a closer look at mine and the "lawyer gibberish" is on the screen where the top of the rear bumper shows up. Thus it does not interfere with any of my rear view.

I have the lines in my Audi A6 and I have to admit I miss them. With the Audi I can park in a tight spot using just the camera, not so in my Lexus. The angle of the view is slightly scued (sp?) in the Lexus so I am not totally comfortable using just the camera.

Having said all of that, I have gotten use to it and am happy with the vehicle, it is just one of those small things that I would put on a list of "I would take it if I could get it" items. It would not be a deal breaker for me.

 

spelling is skewed. haha

 

What lawyer gibberish?

 

^^ The "check surroundings" before backing up. On my 04, the sentence actually blink 5 times and then stays on.

 

Thanks!! It did not look or feel right when I typed it but I guess I was just too lazy to look it up. As an engineer I use to say I can be bad at spelling as long as I get the numbers right!!!!!

 

I find the camera very good, but I dont have the tow, I would want to see it I had it on my car

 

I was just surprised that the lexus camera is not better. I guess i was spoiled by the audi camera. I use to be able to hook everything up by myself and now it is a two person job again.

 

Strange, while I cant see my hitch I can see the ball and ball mount when I have it in. I have a curt hitch and a silent hitch ball mount, length seems standard to me.