wgregt

Hey gang. Apparently I'm getting a one owner (mother in law bought it new) 2010 RX350 soon. I've never owned a Lexus. In fact, I'm a bit of an oddball. In 1988 I bought my 3rd vehicle (all the same brand: Jeep), a new Jeep cherokee limited 4WD.

I then proceeded to drive it for the last 32 years. Have a bit over 400K miles on it. Same engine. Never been in the engine at all. No issues. Love that vehicle. Solid as a rock. I'm in SoCal and a year round motorcyclist out here, so I don't drive it as much any more except when it (rarely) rains here or to go to play in the snow every year.

Anyhow, I know next to nothing about the brand, or the vehicle. I've ridden in it a few times. It is flawless. She takes it to the dealer for wiper blades, if that tells you anything. Not sure I'm a "Lexus" guy. I'm more of a "Jeep" guy to be honest. I don't mind getting my hands dirty and doing it myself. Apparently, those days are over for me. I now appear to be a "turn the key and drive it" guy.

Oh...75k on the one I'm getting. How long do they go?

Anyhow, just wanted to say hi and get some insight on it. Cheers and jeers...that sort of thing. I've been on the Jeep forums for decades so I know the layout well. I'll start the ball rolling by asking a few questions:

1) anyone have a bike roof rack they like? I'll keep my Yakima twin bike rack and try to apply it to the new RX maybe. But then again there's that sunroof thing. Might need some new parts.
2) RX has a "tow pkg" but no hitch ball etc? I'll pull mine off the cherokee. Easy to put one on the RX, I'm hoping?
3) I also have the "nerf" bars/step bars on my cherokee. Got them on your RX? Fotos? Like 'em? brands to get/avoid?
4) I'm betting that a front end guard/bull guard doesn't look good on such an um...cough cough ..."aquired brand"? Or maybe you have an RX with a gnarly off-road/non-genteel look to it? Love to see it! Thanks guys/gals. Look forward to the insanity.

-greg

salimshah

Welcome to Club Lexus.

It is not going to be insanity but i hope it will be serenity.

I would suggest a change in tempo from real 4 wheeling to predominately road driving and once in a while on snow/powder to gravel. You are switching over from jeans to suit and although the RX won't let you down, but it is a different vehicle. With care it should last you a long time.

Salim

RX in NC

We owned and daily-drove multiple 4x4 Jeeps from 1985 until 2003. Trust me, the RX does not have the same off-road, snow, or towing capabilities. If you expect it to handle everything your Jeep can, you will be very disappointed.

heshamos

... but, while it's not meant to be a serious off-roader, it handles everything else so well including slippery, snowy and steepy roads if you do.
It definitely gives you a finer ride compared to many rivals and no trouble for many miles/years ..

For questions 1 & 2, we use the rear bike rake from Thule similar to
.

Congratulations!

Clutchless

Welcome to CL and your new ride. Regarding your questions, I can answer a few and some of them have been asked before. So if you do some searching you may learn a bit more. Also, since it appears you may want to do some work on it yourself, the Toyota Highlander 2nd gen (2008-2013) is a mechanical twin and the folks at the ToyotaNation forum have a lot of maintenance and repair information. https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...ion-2008-2013/

1. Do you have the factory cross bars on your roof rack? They were optional. If not, you may find used ones on eBay or aftermarket elsewhere.
2. You can move the hitch ball, but Your Jeep hitch will not fit. You need a Curt hitch. That is what I have. 4 bolts. You do need to trim the underbody plastic trim a bit. The wire plug connection is up under the plastic trim on the driver side. Again, there are several threads about hitches. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sea...rchid=20682750 and this https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...tow-hitch.html
You can get a Curt here https://www.etrailer.com/fitguide.ht...CVc8QAvD_BwE#/
See this also https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...d-threads.html

3. & 4. Bull bars have also been covered. Start looking here https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...the-lexus.html and here https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-a-2010-a.html' and here https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...for-rx350.html

lexusrus

We have 2013 RX450h and love it. Very smooth.

I don't know about if the 2010 RX model year got the "metal oil lines" coming out of the oil filter area? Prior years RX suffered from the sudden rubber oil lines rupturing and subsequent catastrophic engine damage due to dumping all the engine oil out in literally just a few minutes. By the time the warning lights come on the dash it is too late. There is a TSB out for a free fix from Lexus if I remember correctly.

So you want to look and see if you got the metal oil lines. There are multiple threads talking about this issue.

Clutchless

Here is a link regarding the oil cooler lines. If you still have the rubber ones, get them replaced ASAP. When they fail all your oil pumps out so fast the by the time oil pressure warning light comes on, it is too late for the engine. The Lexus TSB only covers free replacement if the lines are cracked or leaking. Do not wait that long. The repair is a couple of hundred bucks and any Toyota shop can do it as the Venza, Highlander and Sienna have the same engine and problem. The part itself is under $100.

Look at this https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-recall-3.html

wgregt

wgregt

wgregt

Raoul

Take a look at Curt Model #13143
It is jacked up on the right side to accommodate the exhaust.
Hitch holes match frame holes.
45 minute install.

Anything else may bring you grief.

coachz

Got a 2010 AWD and love it. Wife uses it as her DD having the short commute to work and its the family car on weekends. 49K miles, easy to work on. I second the Curt. Lots of videos online for install. Plenty of threads here as well. Best forum I have been a part of. Also in SoCal

takeshi74

It's not the brand but the model. The RX is a unibody CUV, sharing a platform with the Camry (and other models), and even with AWD it's no offroader so guards don't really serve much purpose unless you live someplace like New York and want to protect your bumpers while parallel parking on the street.

That said, Lexus does have off road capable vehicles but we're talking GX or LX which are body on frame SUV's.

ronmaiden

the GX and LX are Lexified 4Runners and Landcruisers so they are very capable.