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Towing With My Rx 300


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Further to previous posts I have had a towbar fitted to my 2001 RX 300. Price quoted by Lexus Worcester, where I bought the car, was £750, Lexus Cardiff closer to £800. Went for the Worcester option where mention of LOC got a 10% reduction. The job was done for £675 for a detachable with the electric sockets swinging up out of sight when not in use.

I asked where the fuse was for the reversing sensors so that I could disable them when towing, Dale in service told me that as it would be more convenient for me to use a switch they had fitted one in the system at no extra charge.

After 7 months of ownership I am still very pleased with the RX and delighted with the sales and aftercare at Lexus Worcester.

BTW got 17 - 18 mpg with a caravan with a gross weight of 1330 kg, 26 cwt, car towed like a dream.

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Sounds good, i have just picked up a 56 plate RX350, but my local dealer wants 1100 to fit a towbar :(

Would be interested to know what MPG you get without the van on the back (i.e how much of a difference it makes)

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Lexus Hedge end fitted a Detachable towbar to my Mk 2 RX 300 for £650, a good quality bar too.

I too get about 18 mpg towing compared with 22 mpg solo. It does much better on longer runs at steady speeds of course.

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Lexus Hedge end fitted a Detachable towbar to my Mk 2 RX 300 for £650, a good quality bar too.

I too get about 18 mpg towing compared with 22 mpg solo. It does much better on longer runs at steady speeds of course.

This is going to sound like a stupid question, but what is the difference between the Mk2 RX300 and the RX350 (apart form the engine obviously)

I dont understand the price difference in the towbar quote

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I couldn't say for sure but I would not have thought there was any difference.

My dealings at Hedge End were with Julie Adams if that's any help. Actual price all in was £689.

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Sounds good, i have just picked up a 56 plate RX350, but my local dealer wants 1100 to fit a towbar :(

Would be interested to know what MPG you get without the van on the back (i.e how much of a difference it makes)

"22 -24 round town, 26 - 28 on a run.

The advice I got from an RX owner with some experience of towing with one was to let the vehicle get up to speed gradually, ie gentle acceleration, this seems to work.

Will post again after I have towed my van from Barry to Dover then Calais through France, over the Pyrenees into Spain and back.

Will consider writing a guide on petrol stations along the way as i'll probably visit most of them! :crying:

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Will post again after I have towed my van from Barry to Dover then Calais through France, over the Pyrenees into Spain and back.

That sounds very adventuress, we'll be staying in good old blighty for a bit i think

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  • 1 month later...
Further to previous posts I have had a towbar fitted to my 2001 RX 300. Price quoted by Lexus Worcester, where I bought the car, was £750, Lexus Cardiff closer to £800. Went for the Worcester option where mention of LOC got a 10% reduction. The job was done for £675 for a detachable with the electric sockets swinging up out of sight when not in use.

I asked where the fuse was for the reversing sensors so that I could disable them when towing, Dale in service told me that as it would be more convenient for me to use a switch they had fitted one in the system at no extra charge.

After 7 months of ownership I am still very pleased with the RX and delighted with the sales and aftercare at Lexus Worcester.

BTW got 17 - 18 mpg with a caravan with a gross weight of 1330 kg, 26 cwt, car towed like a dream.

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Further to previous posts I have had a towbar fitted to my 2001 RX 300. Price quoted by Lexus Worcester, where I bought the car, was £750, Lexus Cardiff closer to £800. Went for the Worcester option where mention of LOC got a 10% reduction. The job was done for £675 for a detachable with the electric sockets swinging up out of sight when not in use.

I asked where the fuse was for the reversing sensors so that I could disable them when towing, Dale in service told me that as it would be more convenient for me to use a switch they had fitted one in the system at no extra charge.

After 7 months of ownership I am still very pleased with the RX and delighted with the sales and aftercare at Lexus Worcester.

BTW got 17 - 18 mpg with a caravan with a gross weight of 1330 kg, 26 cwt, car towed like a dream.

Hi

Read your last comment with interest, I have just eneterd the world of the caravan. Just bout the van and wife has an RX300, thought we might have to trade it in and get something more suited to towing. From you note looks like I could just get a towbar fitted. I am also new to towing, is it easy to tow with an automatic....interested in any comments ref. this. Kepp the RX300 or look for alternat tow vehicle.......

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Hi, I am hoping to buy a tow bar for my rx300, am happy to have the sensors go off whilst reversing but can any one tell me if i kneed a removable or swan neck tow ball

Cheers

Hi, if you are interested I have a new tow bar supplied from Lexus but the car was smashed before I could get it fitted, If interested I can get you the part number and cost.

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Sorry for the delay in replying to some of the queries, been away.

Anyway, I've fitted a K&N lifetime filter, this has had a measurable effect on fuel economy giving me 2 - 3 more MPG (when towing) than previously, the best figure being 22mpg on the run from Cardiff to Folkstone. This was all motorway driving.

Overall in in nearly 1800 miles of towing with a caravan of 1400kg gross I achieved 20mpg.

The RX 300 is a superb towcar and pulled our van up the Bielsa Pass in the Pyrenees with no drama.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thought I would add to this thread, as its appropriate. Have just taken delivery of a new 400h - and a fine piece of kit it is too. However, the shock came when I enquired with my local Lex dealer about the cost of a detachable tow bar with twin electrics....wait for it....£1,552.33!! The dealer assures me it is expensive because they use only approved Lexus parts and have well qualified fitters!! Surprise surprise I went for the option of a respected and well established local fitting company who charged me a shade under £500 for the identical set up! Let the buyer beware!

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Hi, I am hoping to buy a tow bar for my rx300, am happy to have the sensors go off whilst reversing but can any one tell me if i kneed a removable or swan neck tow ball

Cheers

Hi, I have a Rx300 and am intending to tow with it, what sort of tow bar did you finally fit, and does the car tow well, any help would be appreciated Thanks

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Hi, I am hoping to buy a tow bar for my rx300, am happy to have the sensors go off whilst reversing but can any one tell me if i kneed a removable or swan neck tow ball

Cheers

Hi, I have a Rx300 and am intending to tow with it, what sort of tow bar did you finally fit, and does the car tow well, any help would be appreciated Thanks

The Mk 1 RX has only one type of towbar available, buy from Lexus in a Lexus box or from an independent towbar specialist, either way the bar is made by Brink.

I went for Lexus (Worcester) as the independent in Cardiff was a bit twitchy about working on Lexus electrics.

Also the removable has the same clearance as a swan neck and is fine with the Alko stabiliser.

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