2020 LEXUS NX300 trailer

1584-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
■GCWR (Gross Combination
Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross combi-
nation weight. The gross combination
weight is the sum of the total vehicle
weight (including the occupants, cargo
and any optional equipment installed
on the vehicle) and the weight of the
trailer being towed (including the
cargo in the trailer).
■GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
The maximum allowable gross vehicle
weight. The gross vehicle weight is the
total weight of the vehicle. When tow-
ing a trailer, it is the sum of the vehicle
weight (including the occupants, cargo
and any optional equipment installed
on the vehicle) and the tongue weight.
■GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rat-
ing)
The maximum allowable gross axle
weight. The gross axle weight is the
load placed on each axle (front and
rear).
Front GAWR
Rear GAWR
WARNING
●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 wan-
dering 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.
Directly splicing trailer lights may dam-
age your vehicle’s electrical system and
cause a malfunction.
Towing related terms
A
B

1594-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
4
Driving
■TWR (Trailer Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross trailer
weight. The gross trailer weight is the
sum of the trailer weight and the weight
of the cargo in the trailer.
TWR is calculated assuming base vehi-
cle with one driver, one front passen-
ger, towing package (if available), hitch
and hitch systems (if required).
Additional optional equipment, passengers
and cargo in the vehicle will reduce the
trailer weight rating so as not to exceed
GCWR, GVWR and GAWR.
With brakes
■Unbraked TWR (Unbraked Trailer
Weight Rating)
The trailer weight rating for towing a
trailer without a trailer service brake
system.
Without brakes
■Tongue Weight
The load placed on the trailer hitch ball.
( P.160)
 The gross trailer weight must never
exceed 2000 lb. (910 kg).
 The gross combination weight must
never exceed the following:
2WD models: 6306 lb. (2860 kg)
AWD models: 6416 lb. (2910 kg)
 The gross vehicle weight must never
exceed the GVWR indicated on the
Certification Label.
 The gross axle weight on each axle
must never exceed the GAWR indi-
cated on the Certification Label.
 If the gross trailer weight is over the
unbraked TWR, trailer service
brakes are required.
A
A
Weight limits

1604-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
Confirm that the gross trailer weight,
gross combination weight, gross vehi-
cle weight, gross axle weight and
tongue weight are all within the limits.
■GCWR*
2WD models: 6306 lb. (2860 kg)
AWD models: 6416 lb. (2910 kg)
■TWR*
2000 lb. (910 kg)
■Unbraked TWR*
1000 lb. (450 kg)
*: These models meet the tow-vehicle trail-
ering requirement of SAE International
per SAE J2807.
 A recommended tongue weight
varies in accordance with the types
of trailers or towing as described
below.
 To ensure the recommended values
shown below, the trailer must be
loaded by referring to the following
instructions.
• Tongue Weight
The gross trailer weight should be distrib-
uted so that the tongue weight is 9% to
11%.
(Tongue weight /Gross trailer weight x 100
= 9% to 11%)
The gross trailer weight , gross axle weight
and tongue weight can be measured with
platform scales found at a highway weigh-
ing station, building supply company, trucking company, junk yard, etc.
Gross trailer weight
Tongue weight
Trailer hitch assemblies have different
weight capacities. Lexus recommends
the use of Lexus hitch/bracket for your
vehicle. For details, contact your Lexus
dealer.
If you wish to install a trailer hitch,
contact your Lexus dealer.
 Use only a hitch that conforms to
the gross trailer weight requirement
of your vehicle.
 Follow the directions supplied by the
hitch manufacturer.
 Lubricate the hitch ball with a light
coating of grease.
 Remove the hitch ball whenever you
are not towing a trailer. Remove the
trailer hitch if you do not need it.
After removing the hitch, seal any
mounting hole in the vehicle body to
prevent entry of any substances into
the vehicle.
GCWR, TWR and Unbraked
TWR
Trailer Tongue Weight
Hitch
A
B

1614-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
4
Driving
Weight carrying ball position:
42.1 in. (1069.9 mm)
Hitch receiver pin hole position:
33.7 in. (855.6 mm)
Please consult your dealer when
installing trailer lights, as incorrect
installation may cause damage to the
vehicle’s lights. Please take care to
comply with your state’s laws when
installing trailer lights. 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 vary
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 vehi-
cle-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 the trailer attached in
an area away from traffic until you
become 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
your hand to the right to move the
trailer to right. (This is generally
opposite to reversing without a
trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or
WARNING
■Hitch
Trailer hitch assemb lies 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 deter-
mine the maximum weight rating of the
particular hitch assembly and never
exceed the maximum weight rating
specified for the trailer-hitch. Exceeding
the maximum weight rating set by the
trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause an
accident resulting in death or serious
personal injuries.
Positions for towing hitch
receiver and hitch ball
Connecting trailer lights
A
B
Trailer towing tips

1624-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
prolonged turning. Have someone
guide you when reversing to reduce
the risk of an accident.
 As stopping distance is increased
when towing a trailer, vehicle-to
vehicle distance should be
increased. 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. This
is especially true on wet or slippery
surfaces.
 Avoid jerky starts or sudden accel-
eration.
 Avoid jerky steering and sharp
turns, and slow down before making
turn.
 Note that when making a turn, the
trailer wheels will be closer than the
vehicle wheels to the inside of the
turn. Compensate by making a
wider than normal turning radius.
 Slow down before making a turn, in
cross winds, on wet or slippery sur-
faces, etc.
Increasing vehicle speed can desta-
bilize the trailer.
 Take care when passing other vehi-
cles. Passing requires considerable
distance. After passing a vehicle, do
not forget the length of your trailer,
and be sure you have plenty of room
before changing lanes.
 To maintain engine braking effi-
ciency and charging system perfor-
mance when using engine braking, do not put the transmission in D. If in
the M mode, the transmission shift
range position must be in 4 or lower.
(
P.168)
 Instability happens more frequently
when descending steep or long
downhill grades. Before descend-
ing, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts while
descending steep or long 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.
 Due to the added load of the trailer,
your vehicle’s engine may overheat
on hot days (at temperatures over
85°F [30°C]) when driving up a
long or steep grade. If the engine
coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates overheating, immediately turn
off the air conditioning (if in use),
pull your vehicle off the road and
stop in a safe spot. ( P.403)
 Always place wheel blocks under
both the vehicle’s and the trailer’s
wheels when parking. Put the trans-
mission in P and apply the parking
brake. Avoid parking on a slope, but
if unavoidable, do so only after per-
forming the following:
1 Apply the brakes and keep them
applied.
2 Have someone place wheel blocks
under both the vehicle’s and trailer’s
wheels.

1634-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
4
Driving
3When the wheel blocks are in
place, release the brakes slowly
until the blocks absorb the load.
4 Shift into P and apply the parking
brake.
5 Turn off the engine.
 When restarting after parking on a
slope:
1 With the transmission in P, start the
engine. Be sure to keep the brake
pedal depressed.
2 Shift into a forward gear. If revers-
ing, shift into R.
3 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, release the parking brake.
(P.173)
4 Release the brake pedal, and slowly
pull or back away from the wheel
blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
5 Have someone retrieve the blocks.Trailer towing (vehicles with-
out 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 wheel-
chair, scooter, bicycle, etc. Your
vehicle is not desi gned for trailer
towing or for the use of tow hitch
mounted carriers.

1824-3. Operating the lights and wipers
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
are hidden from sight due to repeated
curves, road dividers or roadside trees
●High beam may be turned off if an
oncoming vehicle that is using fog lights
without using the head
lights is detected.
●House lights, street lights, red traffic sig-
nals, and illuminated billboards or signs
may cause the high beam to turn off.
●The following factors may affect the
amount of time taken to turn high beam
on or off:
• The brightness of headlights, fog lights,
and tail lights of oncoming and preceding
vehicles
• The movement and direction of oncom-
ing and preceding vehicles
• When a oncoming or preceding vehicle only has operational lights on one side
• When a oncoming or preceding vehicle is a two-wheeled vehicle
• The condition of the road (gradient,
curve, condition of th e road surface, etc.)
• The number of passengers and amount of luggage
●High beam may be turned on or off when
unexpected by the driver.
●In the situations below, the system may
not be able to correctly detect the sur-
rounding brightness levels, and may flash
or expose nearby pedestrians to the high
beam. Therefore, you should consider
turning the high beams on or off manually
rather than relying on the Automatic
High Beam system.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sand- storms, etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist,
ice, dirt, etc.
• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The camera sensor is deformed or dirty.
• The camera sensor temperature is
extremely high.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal
to those of headlights, tail lights or fog
lights.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail lights that are either switched off, dirty,
are changing color, or are not aimed
properly.
• When driving through an area of inter-
mittently changing brightness and dark-
ness. • When frequently and repeatedly driving
ascending/descending roads, or roads
with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces
(such as stone-paved roads, gravel
tracks, etc.).
• When frequently and repeatedly taking
curves or driving on a winding road.
• There is a highly re flective object ahead
of the vehicle, such as a sign or a mirror.
• The back of a vehicle ahead is highly reflective, such as a container on a truck.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or
dirty.
• The vehicle is listing or titling, due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed, etc.
• The driver believes that the high beam may be causing problems or distress to
other drivers or pedestrians nearby.
NOTICE
■Notes when using the Automatic
High Beam system
Observe the following to ensure that the
Automatic High Beam functions cor-
rectly.
●Do not touch the camera sensor.
●Do not subject the camera sensor to a
strong impact.
●Do not disassemble the camera sen-
sor.
●Do not spill liquids onto the camera
sensor.
●Do not apply window tinting or stickers
to the camera sensor or the area of
windshield near the camera sensor.

2044-5. Using the driving support systems
LEXUS NX300 Owners Manual_USA_M78389_en
• When approaching an electric toll gate
barrier, parking area barrier, or other
barrier that opens and closes
• When using an automatic car wash
• When driving through or under objects that may contact your vehicle, such as
thick grass, tree branches, or a banner
• When driving through steam or smoke
• When driving near an object that reflects
radio waves, such as a large truck or
guardrail
• When driving near a TV tower, broad- casting station, electric power plant, or
other location where strong radio waves
or electrical noise may be present
■Situations in which the system may not
operate properly
●In some situations such as the following,
an object may not be detected by the
radar sensor and front camera, prevent-
ing the system from operating properly:
• When a detectable object is approaching your vehicle
• When your vehicle or a detectable object
is wobbling
• If a detectable object makes an abrupt
maneuver (such as sudden swerving,
acceleration or deceleration)
• When your vehicle approaches a detect- able object rapidly
• When a detectable object is not directly in front of your vehicle • When a detectable object is near a wall,
fence, guardrail, manhole cover, vehicle,
steel plate on the road, etc.
• When a detectable object is under a structure
• When part of a detect able object is hid-
den by an object, such as large baggage,
an umbrella, or guardrail
• When multiple dete ctable objects are
close together
• If the sun or other light is shining directly on a detectable object
• When a detectable object is a shade of white and looks extremely bright
• When a detectable ob ject appears to be
nearly the same color or brightness as its
surroundings
• If a detectable object cuts or suddenly
emerges in front of your vehicle
• When the front of your vehicle is hit by water, snow, dust, etc.
• When a very bright light ahead, such as the sun or the head lights of oncoming
traffic, shines direct ly into the front cam-
era
• When approaching the side or front of a vehicle ahead
• If a vehicle ahead is a motorcycle
• If a vehicle ahead is narrow, such as a per- sonal mobility vehicle
• If a preceding vehicle has a small rear end, such as an unloaded truck
• If a preceding vehicle has a low rear end,
such as a low bed trailer
• If a vehicle ahead has extremely high