New Owner - First Question - Towbar Related

[rouseslane]

Hello everyone - I am the very proud owner of a 2008 RX400h and this is my first post so please be gentle !

I tried the search engine, but could not find what I was looking for.

I want to fit a detachable tow bar to my car to tow a caravan. Have no issues with the mechanical bit, but need to know if there is a plug in the wiring loom that you can just plug the towbar electrics into, and is such an electrical cable with the correct loom plug available from a Lexus dealer (anyone know the part number?)

Also another question but not Lexus related. Do you have to have twin electrics to tow a caravan, or can you get away with a single electics setup.

Thanks very much to anyone who replies.

Regards

Ed

[MartyCee]

Hello everyone - I am the very proud owner of a 2008 RX400h and this is my first post so please be gentle !

I tried the search engine, but could not find what I was looking for.

I want to fit a detachable tow bar to my car to tow a caravan. Have no issues with the mechanical bit, but need to know if there is a plug in the wiring loom that you can just plug the towbar electrics into, and is such an electrical cable with the correct loom plug available from a Lexus dealer (anyone know the part number?)

Also another question but not Lexus related. Do you have to have twin electrics to tow a caravan, or can you get away with a single electics setup.

Thanks very much to anyone who replies.

Regards

Ed

Hi Ed, I went through a similar set of questions when I bought my 2008 400h.

I don't think there is a seperate plug for the electrics, I did get very clear advice that fitting a bar to this model is very much a specialist job though, in part due to this very point. All to do with multiplex wiring & ensuring the power stays up when the engine switches off - & remeber this car doesn't have an alternator, it controls things in a different way.

As you will no doubt know, the Lexus bar has a fixed ball, well placed for shins! There is a removable ball option from Witter & this can be sourced through them or Towtal who can do the fit as well.

All types require a cutaway in the bottom of the bumper.

Be aware though, if your caravan is an older model with a blade type stabaliser you'll find this may be a problem with the removable ball type bar. If that isn't a problem make sure the ball is cleaned of the customary black paint befire using it with a friction (pads in the hitch) type stabiliser or you'll have other problems.

Check the nose weight applicable, I think the removable type has a higher rating.

In theory you can get away with a single socket for the electircs. However you probably wouldn't be wise to to do do, as the second socket provides power to the fridge & charges the caravan Battery (which keeps loads of stuff happy that are a pig to reset if the Battery voltage drops.

If it's the sight of 2 sockets that's the issues (even if it isn't really!) I'd go for a single Euro multipin socket which covers all bases in one, is becoming the standard (already standard on all new caravans) as this is less likey to drop connections & if your caravan has the old twin plug setup there's adaptors on the shelf if you don't convert that end.

Anyway, enough rambling ....... I'd get the plastic cards out, bite the bullet & have a pro job done, at least you'll have someone to blame & pay for any issues later! ;-)

Marty

[rouseslane]

Thanks Marty

That is really useful advice. I am happy to pay for a professional fit as that seems the ensible thing to do.

Did you use Towtal to fit yours ? do they do it at your home or at their location....

I have seen Towequipe have some kind of fitting network of mobile engineers, but was wary about getting an engineer that had never done one before etc !

thanks again

ed

[ACLex]

Hello everyone - I am the very proud owner of a 2008 RX400h and this is my first post so please be gentle !

I tried the search engine, but could not find what I was looking for.

I want to fit a detachable tow bar to my car to tow a caravan. Have no issues with the mechanical bit, but need to know if there is a plug in the wiring loom that you can just plug the towbar electrics into, and is such an electrical cable with the correct loom plug available from a Lexus dealer (anyone know the part number?)

Also another question but not Lexus related. Do you have to have twin electrics to tow a caravan, or can you get away with a single electics setup.

Thanks very much to anyone who replies.

Regards

Ed

Hi Ed,

you might find these useful....

Detachable tow bar PZ401-K2550-00 £561.12 + vat

Tow bar (fixed) PZ408-K2552-00 £259.11 + vat

Tow Bar Wiring 7 pole PZ457-K2563-00 £90.83 + vat

Accessory Wiring Kit 12S PZ457-K2562-00 £46.00 + vat

All Lexus parts :)

Andy

[Lydiamight]

Can anybody advise me if there is a removable "swan neck" type of tow bar fitment that does not involve cutting the bumper?

[indy727]

I had mine fitted by towequippe.

Pretty sure they have done quite a few now.

Its a swan neck detachable, they can fit exactly the same as the lexus one for less than half the price.

And if you talk to the fitter they will fit it without any cut out whatsoever.

The plastic skirt at the bottom of the bumper just has to flex round a little, but you cannot notice unless you knew i had a towbar fitted.