Towing a 17' boston whaler with an rx350? Feasable?
#16
Lexus Champion
Feasible? Yes.
Ideal? No.
I spent a Sunday afternoon pulling a lightly loaded 5'x8' Uhaul with our '10 RX450h for about 200 miles. It pulled OK. Maintained speed OK. Mileage took a real hit, though. Overall, I'd prefer to not do it again and stick with my F250 diesel for all my towing needs.
Ideal? No.
I spent a Sunday afternoon pulling a lightly loaded 5'x8' Uhaul with our '10 RX450h for about 200 miles. It pulled OK. Maintained speed OK. Mileage took a real hit, though. Overall, I'd prefer to not do it again and stick with my F250 diesel for all my towing needs.
with Ford F250HD, Super cab towing special when kids were young. Never had trouble living near the Rockies. Never had an overheating problem on the truck on the
winding high altitude roads. Usual MPG was like 6-7. With dual fuel tank could cover barely 300 miles, LOL! After kids grew up, I sold the rig, built a small 4 season
cabin in the foothills. Lots of wild life, wild horses, fishing...
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vlad_a (05-05-17)
#18
There is pragmatic engineering behind every vehicle sold today, and Lexus is probably better-engineered than most. There is absolutely nothing wrong with towing a ton of trailer behind a vehicle rated for it. Nothing is going to explode. Because of the additional weight but also because of the horrible drag your mileage will be much worse. But as long as the temperature gauge sits in the middle of the scale, the mechanicals are happy. Don't expect 200,000 miles of life before overhaul, but the car will do just fine meanwhile.
Would I pull that 5'x8' Uhaul trailer again with my RXh.... yes, if I really need to and my truck is not available. However, I'm going to do everything in my power to NOT be placed in that situation because the truck was designed for much more than that 5'x8' trailer and is perfectly happy and completely unhindered for pulling it throughout it's 500,000 mile lifespan. At the same time, if my wife and I are taking a long weekend to somewhere within 12 hours or so... that drive will be made with the Lexus, and not with my truck! Vehicles are designed for a purpose, and perform best when operated as designed (assuming the folks who made the design also built it to really run that way).
#19
Pole Position
Enter the LX570. ("ENTER THE DRAGON", from Bruce Lee)
The LX570 should be able to do it with style and ease!!!
But the mpg will nowhere be as good as the RX450H. It is a trade off. But for medium to long trips (more then 6 hours), we usually take the LX570.
The LX570 should be able to do it with style and ease!!!
But the mpg will nowhere be as good as the RX450H. It is a trade off. But for medium to long trips (more then 6 hours), we usually take the LX570.
It's not, and you already know that. However.... there is a difference between "can" and "should". The first refers only to capability, while the latter is more related to design purpose. I'm sure that you already know that, too, because....
See... you're already addressing the issue yourself with your last sentence!
Would I pull that 5'x8' Uhaul trailer again with my RXh.... yes, if I really need to and my truck is not available. However, I'm going to do everything in my power to NOT be placed in that situation because the truck was designed for much more than that 5'x8' trailer and is perfectly happy and completely unhindered for pulling it throughout it's 500,000 mile lifespan. At the same time, if my wife and I are taking a long weekend to somewhere within 12 hours or so... that drive will be made with the Lexus, and not with my truck! Vehicles are designed for a purpose, and perform best when operated as designed (assuming the folks who made the design also built it to really run that way).
See... you're already addressing the issue yourself with your last sentence!
Would I pull that 5'x8' Uhaul trailer again with my RXh.... yes, if I really need to and my truck is not available. However, I'm going to do everything in my power to NOT be placed in that situation because the truck was designed for much more than that 5'x8' trailer and is perfectly happy and completely unhindered for pulling it throughout it's 500,000 mile lifespan. At the same time, if my wife and I are taking a long weekend to somewhere within 12 hours or so... that drive will be made with the Lexus, and not with my truck! Vehicles are designed for a purpose, and perform best when operated as designed (assuming the folks who made the design also built it to really run that way).
#20
This forum is funny at times, everyone thinks the vehicle is so delicate and incapable. (The amount of people on here who think 100,000 miles is high mileage always gets me)
With the tow package you are fine on both fronts. Lexus wouldn't give that weight (that number is decided on by engineers and most importantly LAWYERS) if it wasn't capable of towing it.
With the tow package you are fine on both fronts. Lexus wouldn't give that weight (that number is decided on by engineers and most importantly LAWYERS) if it wasn't capable of towing it.
#21
Lexus Champion
Tow rating has little to do with lawyers or legislation. There's a steep climb road somewhere in Nevada, where a vehicle with a tow payload has to sustain a specific constant speed.
It doesn't mean it will be a great experience, but the vehicle will be capable.
It doesn't mean it will be a great experience, but the vehicle will be capable.
#22
Lexus Champion
behind. Backing the vehicle with something hitched behind, etc. Specs. are based under ideal condition like MPG rating.
#23
On something related but different, as a 450h owner, I guess there is no standard for backing up with a load hooked up, or if there is Toyota/Lexus didn't remember to factor it in.
#24
Pole Position
Consider this:. Towing at "capacity" up a sustained climb of some 6% grade in 115+ F degrees hot weather for any length of time is no fun where you CAN NOT keep up with traffic and EVERYONE is passing you AND LOOKING AT YOU (I hope you have real dark tinted windows!!!). Then you start a sustained downhill decent where you are hitting the brakes constantly (the CVT transmission/regenerative braking not slowing the RX450h down enough) to the point of possible overheating something?
So after you complete your towing expedition.......do you soon change your engine oil and transmission fluid? Many don't do it.
Sure it is capable, but not ideal. Personally I would not do it with the RX450h/RX350.
So after you complete your towing expedition.......do you soon change your engine oil and transmission fluid? Many don't do it.
Sure it is capable, but not ideal. Personally I would not do it with the RX450h/RX350.
#26
Lexus Champion
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Kansas (05-12-17)
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Kansas (05-12-17)
#30
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: ca
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2000 RX300 has been towing this 3000lbs trailer with no issues @256,178 miles
Road trip from Southern CA to Yukon Territory.
I've been towing this 3000 lb travel trailer with no issues. I am able to maintain 55mph comfortably. It may not pull as strong as a truck going uphill but it does the job done.
Original engine/transmission
I've been towing this 3000 lb travel trailer with no issues. I am able to maintain 55mph comfortably. It may not pull as strong as a truck going uphill but it does the job done.
Original engine/transmission
Last edited by RX300IM; 08-28-17 at 09:46 PM.