I bought a new 2026 Lexus TX 550h+ and wanted to get the OEM tow hitch installed on it. However, the dealerships around me are telling me that it does not have a tow package from the factory, so they can only install the activity mount on it.

Is that really a thing? I don't see any tow package when configuring the TX online. I also have a NX 450h+ and for that I know you have to get the factory installed tow package (and I have it), but I don't see that anywhere for the TX.

Are the dealerships around me clueless, or is this truly the case?

I'm curious about this as well. I actually have a 2025 TX 550h+ with factory tow hitch. But I keep seeing people refer to a tow package. But as you've noted, there is no option to select a tow package in a 2026 build. there wasn't for the 2025 build either. My window sticker says "5000 lb Towing Capacity (additional items rec'd)." Are these "additional items" just the tow hitch, or other things?

I know on some vehicles, a tow package can mean it has a larger transmission cooler, perhaps differential, perhaps some suspension differences. Essentially beefed up to handle the load from towing. Of course, a TX isn't meant to tow anything really large and heavy, but 5,000 lbs isn't trivial either.

Also, aside from the tow hitch, it's my understanding the rear bumper is different. Something has to be different as the factory tow hitch doesn't just hang down from under the rear of the bumper. It looks more integrated into the bumper. But I don't know if it is really a bumper difference or just some molding around an opening that exists in all rear bumpers.

Oddly going online, I don't see either the tow hitch or even the activity mount showing up as a build option on a 550h+, but is on the 350. So, I don't know if it's just a website bug not showing this option, or something else. What I can say is when I was first talking with my dealer about a tow hitch well before purchase, that adding the factory tow hitch after delivery wasn't really an option. Maybe not impossible to do, but not the norm and certainly not something they seemed willing to consider.

I'm not really that concerned about towing as my only reason for getting the tow hitch was to have a 2" receiver to hold an expensive bike rack I already own. But I'd like to know I could perhaps tow a U-Haul trailer sometime without issue.

I think it's safe to assume that if there was indeed a "tow package" for the TX with the beefed up radiator, cooler, etc, given that you had the tow hitch receiver factory installed, you should have had that installed as well. The dealers are telling me they can't install the tow hitch receiver because I don't have this "tow package", and that if they install it, the warranty of the car would be voided. Which makes sense for the other cars that require the beefed up components for towing the maximum supported load. Otherwise, if you needed these beefed up components but you still towed 5k pounds without them, I can see how Lexus could refuse to cover you under warranty if any issues come up.

Yes, there is a different cover for the rear bumper, it's just an insert for the middle section of the bumper. I figured out all the other different parts needed from info on the Grand Highlander (which the TX is build on top):
- lower bumper cover insert (for kick sensor option): PT938-48241-11
- kick sensor: PT83P-48240-AA
- kick sensor bracket: PT413-48240-AA
- convertor (this needs to be plugged under the third row armrest, for the GH is on the driver side): PT725-48241
- tow hitch receiver itself: PT974-48240

After searching this forum more, it looks like the parts for the TX (non F-Sport trims) are slightly different than the Grand Highlander:
- lower bumper cover insert (for kick sensor option): PT938-48242
- kick sensor: PT83P-48240-AB
- kick sensor bracket: PT413-48240-AB
- convertor (this needs to be plugged under the third row armrest, for the GH is on the driver side): PT725-48241
- tow hitch receiver itself: PT974-48240

Do you have a source for this information?

I think you might be correct. I just looked at other 2026 TX trims, and they have "5,000-lb Towing Capacity (Additional Items Req'd.)" on the sticker, but my sticker does NOT have that. I looked at other 2026 TX 550h+ stickers and none of them have it. I was able to find some stickers for some 2025 TX 550h+, and those had this towing capacity item listed in there.

Well, that sucks. I checked my car and I still have the mounting points for the tow hitch receiver and the connector for the wiring harness on my car.

I wonder if Lexus would still void my warranty if I install the OEM tow hitch receiver, but NOT use it to actually tow things (only use it for my e-bikes). I don't know if I can get a dealership to install it though, so I might need to do it myself. But if I do it, I don't know how I could prove I did not tow anything, if something does happen to break.

I guess I'll take a closer look at the CURT tow hitch, my concern with that is the kick sensor not working anymore, plus the receiver being too low.

Source was my sales advisor as we needed one w/ a hitch for trailer towing and our 2025 order was the last one they received in the color and options we were looking for before 2026 models hit the showroom floor. If it hadn’t arrived we would have had to get our deposit back and find a different SUV.

I don't see why installing a hitch receiver would void a warranty as long as the installation of the receiver itself didn't specifically cause a problem.

If the car developed a drive train problem, like anything, there comes a point where they can legitimately claim abuse outside of normal use. But it seems to me, if the warranty doesn't specifically say towing ANYTHING voids some part of the warranty, I don't see how they can just make up rules after the fact.

While I agree the 2026 models don't seem to be claiming the 5,000 lb towing capacity. I doubt it's directly due to the sunroof. I think that adds 60 lbs. Now, maybe it weakens the roof in some way but hard to see how that would affect towing ability. I wonder if maybe they did remove or downsize a transmission cooler or similar to save weight, and this really did reduce the towing capacity.

I recently bought a '25. The tow "package" was a must for me. During my due diligence I was told by more than one dealership that the tow package is merely a hitch and associated rear bumper hardware. No additional cooling or transmission goodies.

^ this is correct. There is nothing in the TX repair manual that references a tow package except the tow hitch install instructions which as of the 2026 version says all TX 2024+ are eligible

This sounds very likely to me. But it begs the question of why the 2026 TX 550h+ no longer shows it has any towing capacity?
The sun roof adds 60lbs (big deal) and I think the total car weight is spec'ed the same. Though, maybe the sunroof is considered an option and not part of that weight. In any case, the weight of the sun roof wouldn't explain this. It has me wondering if the 550h+ drive train really isn't up to it, and while there is no change from previous years, they no longer want to claim it will do that. Basically rolling the dice that 99% of existing 550h+ owners would never tow anyway and those that do only a few would do it enough to be a problem.

While I got my 550h+ with a factory installed hitch receiver, wiring, and relocated kick sensor, I only wanted the 2" receiver for my bike rack. But would like to think I could pull a U-haul trainer if needed. No intention of pulling anything like a small camper or boat trailer.

I think it’s less about the engine and more about being a weak unibody vehicle and relatively low vehicle cargo capacity.

With the empty vehicle cargo capacity at about 1,000 lbs, a tow of 5,000 pounds could add 750 pounds of tongue weight. That leaves about 250 pounds for the driver and whatever stuff. (Which is like one adult and one teenager and nothing else).

towing is possible but this is not ideal.

Get a F150 or tougher if you want serious towing capacity. Agree this is not an ideal tow vehicle. Lexus tow package doesn't include a 7 pin hookup. That tells you right there!