Karlbar2k

OK so end to end the roof line on the new one is 2cm longer but without removing the rail and checking the bolt positions its hard to tell.  hoping the 400h sells today so no time to check.

thanks for the updates guys.  I have found the instruction manual and also trawled through toyodiy and cant find definitive answer if the rails from a gen 2 will fit.  both cars parked side by side they look really similar on the roof line but not measured the gaps yet 😄  Have had part numbers checked with Lexus Leeds and they are not cheap.  But they are a necessity due to surfboards not going in on top of the ivory leather..

15 hours ago, Ken Crawley said:

I have a 63 reg Premier with air suspension and I would confirm it makes a superb tow car, I tow a 1600kg Caravan effortless.

P F Jones fitted mine , a Westfalia detachable with dedicated 13 pin elecrics for £ 642 this time last year. Yes the bumper has to be cut but almost acceptable. one gripe is where the eye for the breakaway cable is fitted, it's a lie on the floor to connect it. You could ask them for the piece they cut out and try and find some way of attaching it when towbar is not in use. I didn't think of that at the time.

Incidently Wesrfalia make the towbar for Lexus, all Lexus do is put a Lexus sticker on it and charge £200 more.  

thanks for the vote of confidence for the RX as a tow car.  talking to Lexus Leeds the other day and was told lexus dont recommend towing with hybrid, honestly some of their staff know less tan nothing 😄

I have it booked in at Armitages as they have great reviews and are literally a 10 minute walk away so support moving forward will be easy, they also do habitation checks so be good to have them look after van as well when I get one.  Is yours single or twin axle and how difficult is it to get nose weight right?

1 hour ago, Gliderpilot said:

PF Jones are in Manchester, They did mine on my drive in Morecambe. I got a Westfalia detachable.

did it involve cut on bumper as well and did you have 13pin or twin?

did you go for universal or dedicated electrics kit? and do you mind sharing how much you got quoted?

17 minutes ago, Herbie said:

People like me, who have back injuries or other ailments or joint problems that make getting in and out of saloon cars difficult, find it far, far easier in an SUV-type car.

Usually more luggage space in an SUV and the tailgate opens wider than a boot, allowing easier loading.

Higher seating position allows for better view.

only ended up going SUV route after wifes back got that bad she cant get into a low car anymore, and im not talking mcclaren low either even the Octavia scout didnt help

we did try small upright cars so looked at things like Meriva etc and then settled on and had an Audi A2 for a few years but biggest issue was no Auto box which LED to the line of RXs we have had for her since.  

also we are now looking at caravan so the weight and size matters  more.  But I do understand that a lot of SUVs are just Chelsea tractors 😄

11 minutes ago, Linas.P said:

Fiat making 500L is just cashing in on the trend... that however doesn't mean Fiat 500 isn't a successful car in it's own right. As well you are free to give a better example if you think mine is bad 🙂 

sadly all cars have gotten bigger over time.  new polo is bigger than mk1 golf, Weirdly the one car I have had that seems to have stayed the same size over 4 versions is the Lexus RX (not counting the 450h L as thats added 2 seats)

if cars had remained at the same size but carried on developing, then a new golf would be capable of over 100MPG now and that wouldnt have suited certain large corporations 😄

don't think fiat 500 is the best example you could have used 😄

original 500 was a great little car

relaunch 500 was a great "small" car

500L is a great little no wait, small no wait medi??? no wait scrap that bigger than an RX450

On 6/26/2021 at 12:20 AM, RonsonSJohnson said:

I just bought a thule setup, wing bars and the correct feet, hard to get but , not a bad setup, there is a lexus non rail roof rack available also lexus parts direct have one listed.

out of curiosity what were the part numbers?  not bars so much as the foot pack and adapters?  is that the type that clips around the lip of the door opening or does it attach in to the position of the roof bar cover plates?

I have just bought RX450h Premier without roof rails thinking that it will be fine - just need a new set of footpack adapters for my Thule rack system and off we go.   

how wrong was I, so far I have found that there should be an option for the 1298kit? which clamps on the door edges much like I had on an old Octavia for years, downside with these is they can mark the paint over time so looking for alternatives.

is it straightforward enough to get a set of roof bars off a breaker and add them to the car so I can use set of crossbars (already had them on the previous RX300 and RX400h)  or does anyone have part numbers to compare if the fittings are the same on the 300/350/400h/450h?  as if the fittings are the same we havent sold the 400h yet 😄

Having just purchased a 2013 RX450h Premier I am now looking for a high quality towbar fitter for a detachable with caravan electrics

I have already spoken to Armitages in Ferrybridge as they are just down the road from me (Knottingley) but looking for price comparisons as they have a month waiting list at the moment.