Towing with the LX700h OT - Toyota apologists move along (21 Viewers)

[Jetboy]

Thanks for the great imo @Oakleyguy and yes I have this WDH pictured below.

Totally agree that towing heavy with any midsize SUV isn’t ideal, but I do still feel that Toyota completely phoned it in here.

Sequoia is not a fit for me, unfortunately, as I wheel on the ragged edge of capability. The LX is fantastic in that regard.

The engine kicks on when it feels like it, depending on conditions, so hooking up the trailer is a roll of the dice as to whether ICE is running.

I’m going to try: -Ball closer to the hitch receiver, -Tires 5psi over OEM (so 38 psi). -Crank WDH a little higher.

Those changes alone will make it tolerable, but they won’t fix the absence of cruise control, any tow/haul transmission mapping (ironically when you’re in cruise without a trailer the transmission reacts proactively to maintain speed).

https://a.co/d/iO5W6AQ

I've never used that type of WDH so I can't really compare to what I've used. The one I have is like this:

Toyota really needs a Sequoia TrailHunter with 35s and the 3" lift. Toyota should be putting AHC in the Sequoia also as an option. I think it would make it much more popular. GM offers its version (not as good as AHC, but it does do variable height and damping ) in multiple trims of the Tahoe around $70k. Toyota should seriously consider it.

It's pretty frustrating that the transmission software isn't ready for towing. There's no reason for it not to be ready to go for it in a vehicle with nearly 10k lb tow rating.

Tire pressure will probably help some. I would consider maxing them out at 44psi or whatever it is on your tires. I don't think it would hurt anything and might firm up a bit. With my 4Runner I would usually bump up to either max psi on the XL rated tires or about 60psi on E rated ones. I'm not sure it made a huge difference, but it's necessary for higher load carrying anyway. The combo of airbags and KDSS really worked well for chassis dynamics, but power was severely lacking. The LX should be a lot better.

Toyota always does weird stuff. In my Tundra that's otherwise pretty good towing - the cruise control will turn off if it downshifts. The FSM says to tow in S4 (it's the old 6 speed AT). So, towing in 4th is fine with heavy trailers - but it also will drop cruise control automatically if it ever downshifts to 3rd. So, basically anytime you hit a hill it just drops cruise control. I have no idea why. It's particularly annoying when towing somewhere with a lot of hills and lower speeds. On a 55mph or even worse a 45mph road in the hills it often needs to drop down to 3rd get just because you're going slow and it needs the power up the hills and it'll constantly drop the cruise and once it shift back to 4th it'll re-engage cruise and try to speed up again. Makes no sense. How did Toyota every let that pass out of the design phase?

 

[Canyonero]

Quick update after more towing.

As a reminder, I’m specifically talking about towing heavy (just over 7k lbs), with a box-shaped travel trailer. Other trailers, such as boats or cargo trailers, will undoubtedly tow much better (with any vehicle including the LX) as they are less prone to being affected by wind and “tail wagging the dog” characteristics.

-I added 5 psi to the tires (so 38 psi).
-I confirmed the ball is as close to the body of the vehicle as possible based on my WDH.
-I cranked up the WDH as tight as reasonably possible.
-I confirmed the manual was followed regarding the AHC in “L” and AHC turned off when hooking up the trailer.

The outcome has been mostly the same, perhaps slightly improved, although it’s also difficult to account for wind as a variable between experiences.

Also, regular cruise does work, so I updated the first post. The manual says not to use cruise when towing, along with all sorts of other Toyota CYA language. I suspect they could have disabled both cruise control systems if they didn’t want you to use “regular cruise”.

The rest of my observations are unchanged, and still pretty annoying tbh. I would add to my original post that you can’t tell what gear you’re in unless you’re in manual mode. More weirdness. You can’t
see visually what the transmission is doing.

I ordered some BFG K03 tires (35s) E load rating and when those are on the rig I will post up any notable changes.

 

[Docyota]

Just did my 5000lb boat towing experience. No problems, not squirrely at all, in fact it's one of the better tow rigs I've used (experience includes 1st and 2nd gen tundras, Yukon XL's, F250's) notwithstanding Canyonero's experience. Highway speeds (72) were maintained with non-adaptive cruise control in regular automatic drive, up and down fairly steep hills, and here in rural Mississippi the road quality is not great, but still had no trouble with bumps and jumpiness.

I used the custom drive mode, with steering and suspension set to sport, and transmission set to normal, and used the normal drive height.

Torque was excellent, had no trouble at all. I found the lack of an official tow mode to not be problematic at all with the custom drive mode settings, the tranny held on long enough and maintained lower gearing for an excellent experience.

I suspect canyonero's experience is a combination of a trailer that isn't tuned and/or balanced as well as it could be, as well as the extra weight near the official limits of the vehicle.

(This is my older 22 LX600, photo of the same boat set up).

 

[Canyonero]

Just did my 5000lb boat towing experience. No problems, not squirrely at all, in fact it's one of the better tow rigs I've used (experience includes 1st and 2nd gen tundras, Yukon XL's, F250's) notwithstanding Canyonero's experience. Highway speeds (72) were maintained with non-adaptive cruise control in regular automatic drive, up and down fairly steep hills, and here in rural Mississippi the road quality is not great, but still had no trouble with bumps and jumpiness.

I used the custom drive mode, with steering and suspension set to sport, and transmission set to normal, and used the normal drive height.

Torque was excellent, had no trouble at all. I found the lack of an official tow mode to not be problematic at all with the custom drive mode settings, the tranny held on long enough and maintained lower gearing for an excellent experience.

I suspect canyonero's experience is a combination of a trailer that isn't tuned and/or balanced as well as it could be, as well as the extra weight near the official limits of the vehicle.
View attachment 3948176
(This is my older 22 LX600, photo of the same boat set up).

I think the profile of a boat is far better for towing.

I’m glad your experience has been good!

The giant lunchbox I’m using in my testing for reference.

 

[Docyota]

I think the profile of a boat is far better for towing.

I’m glad your experience has been good!

The giant lunchbox I’m using in my testing for reference.
View attachment 3948181

Yeah, you're super top heavy, and trying to tow a sailboat down the road is um...challenging to say the least nice rig, though, I'm sure it's nice to have the ground clearance on your camper.

 

[Joe T]

Yeah that doesn’t look fun to tow even with a longer wheelbase F150.

If the GVWR is 7,000 you are probably 800 to 1,000 (12.5% of 8,000) lbs on the tongue.

I would scale it. You may be overloaded on the rear axle or gvwr.

I would also highly recommend staying away from the big and heavy tires. I definitely wouldn’t go over a 275/70/18, maybe even a 285/65/18.

For every lb of wheel and tire weight you multiple it by 10 against your payload capability. Its not dangerous its the performance loss.

For every percent you go up in height you are loosing that performance in the gearing ratio as well.

Also if you go to a stiffer sidewall it may not work in harmony with the suspension, but that is less of an issue.

 

[Joe T]

Its also going to probably sway if you crank the wd hitch up to max.

Going to emphasize you should find a CAT scale and weight it with and without the trailer. Calculate your interior cargo/passenger weight too.

Post that up before you complain too much. That trailer doesn’t look like an easy pull.

 

[Canyonero]

Its also going to probably sway if you crank the wd hitch up to max.

Going to emphasize you should find a CAT scale and weight it with and without the trailer. Calculate your interior cargo/passenger weight too.

Post that up before you complain too much. That trailer doesn’t look like an easy pull.

I certainly appreciate the feedback.

But for reference, my F150 Raptor on 37” tires pulls it just fine. This is a very important point to fully process.

The Raptor should ostensibly have only a single advantage: wheelbase.

Raptor has more much more sidewall, much more suspension travel.

Both vehicle manufacturers claim 8k tow ratings for each vehicle (Raptor and LX).

The LX is “fine.” I can tow with it, I do tow with it. It’s fine.

One of the points of my original post was to highlight all the ancillary towing features Toyota does not make available (or does poorly) vs something like a Raptor.

Recap: transmission tuning (absent), gauge readouts, placement of trailer brake controller, indications of trailer lights are working, placement of 7 pin connector, etc.

I’m not overly concerned about sway or stability. Yeah those things are not as good with the LX, but again, “fine.”

I’m complaining less for me (I have other tow vehicles if needed) and more for someone who might buy a LX to tow similar weight and who may find these omissions by Toyota eye opening (as I do.)

 

[Joe T]

Yeah the transmission tuning and lack of gear display sucks. My major gripe with this vehicle and i apparently am not the only one.

 

[eNx]

I certainly appreciate the feedback.

But for reference, my F150 Raptor on 37” tires pulls it just fine. This is a very important point to fully process.

The Raptor should ostensibly have only a single advantage: wheelbase.

Raptor has more much more sidewall, much more suspension travel.

Both vehicle manufacturers claim 8k tow ratings for each vehicle (Raptor and LX).

The LX is “fine.” I can tow with it, I do tow with it. It’s fine.

One of the points of my original post was to highlight all the ancillary towing features Toyota does not make available (or does poorly) vs something like a Raptor.

Recap: transmission tuning (absent), gauge readouts, placement of trailer brake controller, indications of trailer lights are working, placement of 7 pin connector, etc.

I’m not overly concerned about sway or stability. Yeah those things are not as good with the LX, but again, “fine.”

I’m complaining less for me (I have other tow vehicles if needed) and more for someone who might buy a LX to tow similar weight and who may find these omissions by Toyota eye opening (as I do.)

I actually appreciated your first post. As someone who doesn't have another tow vehicle, it was a really good info, even though, i most likely will not tow what you towed. Haha.

Same with Docyota, since my next bigger tow will prob a boat and knowing it did great, I'm still happy with the LXOT.

 

[Docyota]

tranny temps are visible in a custom dash set up, (see left screen inside the tachometer). No specific numbers, but hot or cold.

And I find the back up camera quite adequate for aligning my balls...(pun fully intended)

 

[Canyonero]

tranny temps are visible in a custom dash set up, (see left screen inside the tachometer). No specific numbers, but hot or cold.
View attachment 3950133

And I find the back up camera quite adequate for aligning my balls...(pun fully intended)View attachment 3950134

Totally agree, both are “fine.” Not good, not industry leading or even industry competitive in the realm of towing.

Exact temps are very important to know IMO. Relative temps/ranges are basically worthless.

Backup cameras are what I would call “better than nothing” but if you’ve backed up to a hitch using other vehicles that prioritize towing capability you would soon see how bad the Lexus cams are.

I’m not here to s*** on Lexus. I adore my LX700.

But…my love is not blind. Stuff like this is unacceptable in my view at any price point given currently available tech; and especially unacceptable at $120k.

 

[LostInTranslation]

Anytime towing comes up, I love to sit back with popcorn and watch the s***show.

But don't worry, my camper will be here in a month or so, and I am going to push every limit... and probably exceed a few, LOL.

 

[doktorno]

I wonder if the aerodynamics of the Raptor might work better with that tall trailer, with the Raptor making a bigger hole in the air for the trailer.

My LX600 seems under dampened in back, and too softly sprung. Seems to race through the rear suspension travel with any weight in the back. Would rather tow with our old GX460 with the self-leveling.

 

[Joe T]

Similar rear gawr, similar hitch ratings (i think the lx hitch is better), and similar enough power.

Its the wheelbase, tires, and transmission tuning.

I do think they need to firm up the suspension a touch.

Still curious about OP’s weight distribution hitch set up and scale weights.

 

[stiffarm]

So I’ve been towing with my LX. I don’t have a lot of nice things to say about the experience.

My towing experience: I’ve towed light (Jeep Wrangler Rubicon towing a 3500lb travel trailer), I’ve towed heavy (F250 Diesel towing a 42ft toy hauler weighing over 10k lbs), and I’ve towed many things in between with many vehicles.

I’m familiar with WDH (Weight Distribution Hitches), and I’m familiar with paying attention to payload capacities, percentages of weight in front of the trailer axle, tongue weights, tire pressures, etc.

The LX is a s***ty tow vehicle. Here’s my pros and cons list, related specifically to towing my 5500lb (dry), 7100 lb (loaded) trailer.

PROS:
-Good power and torque available.
-It’s heavy, so there’s an inherent stability that comes with this heft.
-Cooling seems solid. Fans are loud, but Toyota clearly engineered this thing not to have its hood up on the side of the road.

That said, here are CONS:
-No tow/haul mode.
-Transmission on inclines keeps you in too low of a gear (losing speed) or downshifts into too high of a gear (acceleration, but way too much of it). It’s never happy on an incline unless you take over manual control.
-Transmission on descents, effectively it will let you turn into a misssile being launched into the apex of the next corner. Zero downshifting, zero GAF about maintaining your speed. It’s manual downshifting and heavy brake applications only.
-There is no indication ANYWHERE on your 3 screens, that you’re even towing. Nothing. No info telling you anything about the status of your lights, your trailer. Nothing.
-Even with a solid WDH, exceed 65mph only if you have a death wish. The combination of tires and suspension and a 112.2” wheelbase all conspire against you living very long at 70mph. Floatiness is an understatement. You will die.
-Edit, regular (not ACC) cruise works fine.
-Cameras are a joke for trailer hookup. Literally, laugh out loud bad. None of the angles are worth a s***. You will get out and get back in at least 3 times to check where the ball is in relation to the trailer.
-7 pin connector is right by the exhaust tip. Not lit up by the license plate, but instead underneath your bumper and at a 45 degree angle pointed downwards. So dumb, I don’t know what else to say. Usually your tow rig is running when you hook it up… it would be nice to not be knocked unconscious from C0, but Toyota DGAF.
-Trailer brake control is by your left knee. Better memorize that, because you sure as s*** won’t see it when towing.
-The gauges tell you nothing. Oil temp? Somewhere between the middle and hot. Trans temp? Take a guess, Toyota isn’t telling. This information matters and needs to be communicated in exact temp readouts. I’m towing in 90+ degree temps at 8,000’ elevation. I’d rather not wait until it’s too late to know something. Infuriating.
-Just throwing this out here for reference: Ford trucks that tow a similar figure (8k lbs) not only have none of these issues, they have truly ground breaking innovations that are built around safe towing. As soon as you plug in a trailer to the 7 pin, Ford asks you about your trailer, gives you a safety checklist, updates the UI to a towing interface, has a tow/haul setting, updates transmission shift points, updates blind spot distances, updates cruise control, and in short tries to make sure you live long enough to buy another Ford.

Toyota truly doesn’t want you to tow with the LX or has done zero homework on the topic. Yet they advertise the LX’s towing capabilities. They should be ashamed, it’s downright dangerous with some of these oversights.

Sorry if this is overly negative. Towing can be done with the LX, but it’s a huge compromise vs other vehicles in 2025 and certainly at this price point.

View attachment 3940453

Great stuff--even though disappointing. Helpful to all of us--which is what this forum is for!

 

[eNx]

I'm wondering how the GX550 will do on towing the same boxy rig, since it has over 9k towing capacity but it also has the same wheel base, at the same time it has tow haul mode.

 

[Jetboy]

Anytime towing comes up, I love to sit back with popcorn and watch the s***show.

But don't worry, my camper will be here in a month or so, and I am going to push every limit... and probably exceed a few, LOL. View attachment 3951343

I emailed back and forth about 6 or 7 years ago with the manufacturer in China for the black series about having one custom built. Was about 1/4 the price of the landed version, but I couldn't get the wife onboard with the smaller trailer. The Pause trailers are really heavy. I'd love to know why they're so heavy - functionally that kinda limits you to going from RV park to RV park with an impractical trailer.

 

[LostInTranslation]

I emailed back and forth about 6 or 7 years ago with the manufacturer in China for the black series about having one custom built. Was about 1/4 the price of the landed version, but I couldn't get the wife onboard with the smaller trailer. The Pause trailers are really heavy. I'd love to know why they're so heavy - functionally that kinda limits you to going from RV park to RV park with an impractical trailer.

Why do you think it limits you? I plan on taking it on the Smokey Mountain 500 thanksgiving week. I took a smaller teardrop last year, and see no issues with this one. All off grid camping.

 

[Jetboy]

Why do you think it limits you? I plan on taking it on the Smokey Mountain 500 thanksgiving week. I took a smaller teardrop last year, and see no issues with this one. All off grid camping.

The weight. I can't imagine you'd take it across a beach or any sort of soft terrain at nearly 10k lbs. Even a steep dirt hill might be a show stopper with that kind of weight. Being mostly confined to hard surfaces or well compacted dirt and gravel seems like it's mostly intended for established campgrounds or rv parks. Not really something I'd plan to take out to hit the fire roads and beaches with.

Any idea why they're so heavy?