Hello Folks,

I have a 2014 Lexus RX350 FWD With towing package @ 101,000 miles. I really want to get a boat this year. Im looking to get something with a total weight of trailer and boat at 3000-4000 pounds. How well do these boats pull in the mountains? I have read many forums about a weak RX transmission, is this true? Will my SUV be able to pull a boat up and down a boat ramp without any problems and the mountains?

 

Mid-sized SUVs do not make good (and safe) towing rigs. That is one reason I keep my 1999 Dodge Ram around.

 

I doubt your answer can be found here at CL, but the Highlander is a mechanical twin and there is a huge thread over at Toyota Nation about towing, so read on:
https://www.toyotanation.com/threads...ander.1690707/

If you plan to tow you should change your transmission fluid if it has not been done before. I think of it as a 50,000 mile service.

 

I have a 2010 with the towing package and 105k miles. I just bought it last year. It did not have the hitch installed. I installed an after market hitch. I was very concerned about the max tow capacity. There are many different numbers to consider I don't remember them all. It's been over a year since I looked at the numbers but I want to say the vehicle tow weight maxed out at 2000 lbs. This is separate from the hitch assembly rating. Things to consider.... there is the gross vehicle weight and the combined vehicle weight and I think the most important for me is the tongue weight. This weight seems to have the most effect on the ride quality. I tested out a small single axle box trailer and it worked but I had to be very careful with how I positioned my load in the trailer. Too much gear towards the front and my rear struts were not happy. My hitch tongue weight maxed out at 500 lbs and I think was rated for more than 2000 lbs towing capacity. Either way I pulled a 17' fiberglass v-hull Bayliner boat (~1900 lbs) all summer and fall (thanks covid!). It was a single axle trailer that was extremely well balanced. I never had any problems getting in or our of the ramps. Was sure to lock the diff and run in snow mode and was always cautious. Now that's a small boat compared to some. My buddy's 18" fiberglass tri-hull with a terribly unbalanced trailer was pushing around his Silverado all over the road. I wasn't gonna dare try and tow that. So a balanced load is really important. I also towed a pop up camper with considerably more tongue weight. They handled both really well. I was very happy with it. Now towing in the mountains is a whole other thing.....

 

Bad idea for transmission. Worse idea for brakes.
I would not do this more than once per year and even then, under very well-planned conditions.

 

Your plan is to tow something near the max limit for this vehicle. Going up and down mountains in addition to that. These are not really tow vehicles per se. At least from a routine use standpoint. Weight balance is extremely important and also realize that the wheelbase is about 2 inches shorter than the equivalent Highlander and that can make a difference. If You do decide to tow a load of that weight, recommend getting an OBD2 reader that can monitor transmission temps.