2015 LEXUS RX450h towing

3142-5. Driving information
Positions for towing hitch receiver and hitch ball
Weight carrying ball position:
45.1 in. (1145 mm)
Connecting trailer lights
Use the wire harness stored in the
rear end under body.

3162-5. Driving information
Trailer towing tips
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. Help to avoid an
accident, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind when towing:
● Speed limits for towing a trailer va ry by state or province. Do not
exceed the posted towing speed limit.
● Lexus recommends that the vehicle-trailer speed limit is 65 mph (104
km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exceed this limit, the posted
towing speed limit or the speed limit for your trailer as set forth in your
trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Instability of the towing
vehicle-trailer combination (trailer sway) increases as speed increases.
Exceeding speed limits may cause loss of control.
● Before starting out, check the trailer lights, tires and the vehicle-trailer
connections. Recheck after driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and reversing with th e trailer attached in an
area away from traffic until you be come accustomed to the feel of the
vehicle-trailer combination.
● Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires practice. Grip
the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to
move the trailer to the left. Move yo ur hand to the right to move the
trailer to the right. (This is gene rally opposite to reversing without a
trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or prolonged turning. Have someone
guide you when reversing to redu ce the risk of an accident.
● As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-
vehicle distance should be increas ed. For each 10 mph (16 km/h) of
speed, allow at least one vehicle and trailer length.
● Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, resulting in the trailer jackknif-
ing and a loss of vehicle control. Th is is especially true on wet or slip-
pery surfaces.
● Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration.

3192-5. Driving information
2
When driving ■
Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■
Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met: ●
Ensure that your vehicle’s ti res are properly inflated. (  P. 8 0 7 )●
Trailer tires are inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s recommenda-
tion.●
All trailer lights work as required by law.●
All lights work each time you connect them.●
The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on the trailer.●
The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and check for improper tongue weight,
overloading, worn suspension , or other possible causes.
●
The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
●
The rear view mirrors conform to all applicable federal, state/provincial or local
regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for towing pur-
poses. No matter which class of tow hitch applies,
for a more safe trailer hookup, the trailer ball
setup must be the proper height for the cou-
pler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball

3202-5. Driving information
■
Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components (such as
an engine, transmission, differential or wheel bearing), Lexus recommends that you
do not tow a trailer until the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can start tow-
ing. However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a speed of less
than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full throttle acceleration.■
Maintenance ●
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance due to
the additional load. (See “Warranty and Services Guide”, “Owner's Manual
Supplement” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.)●
Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approximately
600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.■
If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can adversely
affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability. ●
If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer sway ing by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator peda l immediately but very gradually to
reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer should stabilize. ●
After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is not ov erloaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred is
beyond the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination.
Drive at a lower speed to prevent instability. Remember that swaying of the towing
vehicle-trailer increases as speed increases.

3212-5. Driving information
2
When driving CAUTION■
Trailer towing precautions
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care an d drive the vehicle in accordance with the
trailer’s characteristics and operating conditions. Failure to do so could cause an
accident resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle stability and braking perfor-
mance are affected by trailer stability, brake setting and performance, and the hitch.
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer.■
To avoid accident or injury ●
Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.●
If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device with
sufficient capacity is required.●
Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate range. Place heavier loads as
close to the trailer axle as possible.●
Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h), the posted towing speed limit or the speed
limit for your trailer as set forth in your trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest.
Slow down sufficiently before making a turn, in cross winds, on wet or slippery
surface, etc. to help avoid an accident. If you experience a vehicle-trailer instabil-
ity from reducing a certain speed, slow down and make sure you keep your vehi-
cle speed under the speed of which you experience the instability.●
Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.●
Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing and
loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery surfaces.●
Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.●
Do not use cruise control when towing.●
Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do
not make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long downhill grades.
●
Vehicle-trailer instability is more likely on steep long downhills. Before descend-
ing steep or long downhill grades, slow down and downshift. Do not make sudden
downshifts when descending steep or lo ng downhill grades. Avoid holding the
brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too frequently. This could
cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.
●
Do not tow a trailer when the compact spare tire is installed on your vehicle.

3222-5. Driving information
CAUTION■
Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the hitch
manufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of towing a
higher weight, the operator must determin e the maximum weight rating of the par-
ticular hitch assembly and never exceed the maximum weight rating specified for
the trailer-hitch. Exceeding the maximum weight rating se t by the trailer-hitch man-
ufacturer can cause an accident resulting in death or serious personal injuries.■
When towing a trailer
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable federal and
state/provincial regulations. ●
If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are required.
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable federal and
state/provincial regulations.●
Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle’s brak-
ing effectiveness.●
Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the
trailer and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, there is
danger of the trailer wand ering into another lane.
NOTICE■
When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install the trailer
hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.■
Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Direct ly splicing trailer li ghts may damage your
vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.

3232-5. Driving information
2
When driving Trailer towing (without towing package) Lexus does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle. Lexus also
does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch
carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycl e, etc. Your vehicle is not designed
for trailer towing or for the us e of tow hitch mounted carriers.

3242-5. Driving information
Dinghy towing
NOTICE■
To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with 4 wheels on the ground.■
To prevent causing serious damage to the hybrid transmission and AWD system
(AWD models)Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on the
ground) behind a motor home.
2WD models: Never tow this vehicle from
the rear with the front wheels on the ground.
This may cause serious damage to the hybrid
transmission.
AW D m o d e l s : N e v e r t o w this vehicle with
any of the wheels on the ground. This may
cause serious damage to the hybrid transmis-
sion and AWD system.