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Topic ClosedNew Tow Vehicle - Lexus GX470
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Ben Herman View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Apr 2018
Location: Gr Junction, CO
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Posts: 355 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: New Tow Vehicle - Lexus GX470
    Posted: 30 Aug 2018 at 2:05pm
We have been searching for the right vehicle to replace our Honda Ridgeline, which was under-powered and not well suited to my vertically challenged wife for day-to-day driving. This ruled out the usual suspects - mid-size and large pickups, big SUV's - since she has a hard time seeing over the hood. 

After lots of searching we narrowed it down to the Lexus GX470. Extremely capable tow vehicle with Toyota's legendary 4.7 L V8, and very comfortable to drive. We found a 2003 locally with fairly high miles (170K) that was in showroom-mint condition with full service records. Just got back from our first trip and it was a great choice for a tow vehicle, mileage not too bad considering that its a big V8 (about 14 mpg, 1/2 into a strong headwind and crosswind).

GX470s are not too hard to find on the used market, but like everything choose carefully. We don't plan on driving it much when not camping, so hoping for many years of happy towing. Here's a photo, to ensure compliance with the "no photo or it didnt happen" rule:
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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3216 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2018 at 7:24pm
Sweet.  Actually 170K isn't that high for mileage on vehicles today.  My 94 F-150 has 319K with a 5.0 V-8 with 5 speed stick shift, still runs great.  A bit rusty but is still quite dependable.  You should get many more miles and trips with your Lexus.
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cmoya View Drop Down
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Posts: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug 2019 at 11:40am
Hey Ben I have a few questions about his post and your tow vehicle, I’m the new guy on here but your the only one that seems to have the information I may need. My wife and I are looking into purchasing a Lexus GX 470 as well to pull our very similar style of camper and we also live in Colorado. Just wondering what passes have you done and how far you’ve taken you camper and if seems to have enough power and if you have any issues with wind sway ect. Any info and knowledge would be appreciate.
Thanks the new guy Chris.
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Ben Herman View Drop Down
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Posts: 355 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug 2019 at 12:43pm
Originally posted by cmoya

Hey Ben I have a few questions about his post and your tow vehicle, I’m the new guy on here but your the only one that seems to have the information I may need. My wife and I are looking into purchasing a Lexus GX 470 as well to pull our very similar style of camper and we also live in Colorado. Just wondering what passes have you done and how far you’ve taken you camper and if seems to have enough power and if you have any issues with wind sway ect. Any info and knowledge would be appreciate.
Thanks the new guy Chris.

Hi Chris - I’ll post a reply here publicly in case anyone else is looking at this vehicle as a TV. We’ve taken it on a number a trips throughout Colorado and up into Utah and it does just fine. Not sure I’d use it with a bigger, heavier trailer even though its rated for more weight than we are pulling. Power is adequate but not the same  as people pulling an RPod with a big pickup.

It’s an extremely comfortable vehicle and makes traveling very comfortable. We’ve ended up using it a lot even when not camping. We do use a weight distribution hitch w/ sway bars (Equalizer) and highly recommend it with this vehicle. Makes for a very smooth and safe-feeling tow. Very stable at highway cruising speeds. 

Short answer - I’d buy this vehicle again in a heartbeat. Not sure where you live, we are fortunate to have a very high quality independent mechanic in our town (Grand Junction) who specializes in Toyota 4WD vehicles . If we had to rely on a Lexus dealer I’m sure that it would be much more costly to maintain.

Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.
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cmoya View Drop Down
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Posts: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug 2019 at 1:40pm
Perfect! We live in Denver so similar travel goals I would assume. We have a 2016 Venture Sonic Lite 169VBH, I feel it’s relatively similar to the R-pods as we were looking at those as well. Our current TV is a 2007 Toyota FJ (4.0 V6) 6 speed manual with a factory TRD supercharger so power isn’t a huge problem most of the time, but I think a bit more is needed for what we might want to do in travel as for right now I wouldn’t even think about heading up I-70 to Glenwood Springs or Dillon reservoir. We do have the Weight distribution hitch with the sway bars I just feel I get a lot of trailer sway on the highway not sure if it’s the wheelbase (I know the Lexus IS only 4in longer and about 600lb heavier) or the weight of the TV and trailer ratio that throws me around. So I’ll keeping looking for my dream GX 470 and get the FJ up for sale and see what happens.
Thanks a ton for your insight and making me feel welcomed
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug 2019 at 4:22pm
Originally posted by cmoya

We do have the Weight distribution hitch with the sway bars I just feel I get a lot of trailer sway on the highway not sure if it’s the wheelbase (I know the Lexus IS only 4in longer and about 600lb heavier) or the weight of the TV and trailer ratio that throws me around. 

Have you checked your actual tongue to trailer weight ratio? That should be at least 10-12%.  If you're getting sway that ratio being too low is the most common problem. If you have too much weight aft you can get sway even with a heavier tow vehicle. A properly balanced trailer should not tend to sway even without an antisway setup. The antisway system just gives you an additional safety factor.  
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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Aug 2019 at 4:26pm
Originally posted by offgrid

Originally posted by cmoya

We do have the Weight distribution hitch with the sway bars I just feel I get a lot of trailer sway on the highway not sure if it’s the wheelbase (I know the Lexus IS only 4in longer and about 600lb heavier) or the weight of the TV and trailer ratio that throws me around. 

Have you checked your actual tongue to trailer weight ratio? That should be at least 10-12%.  If you're getting sway that ratio being too low is the most common problem. If you have too much weight aft you can get sway even with a heavier tow vehicle. A properly balanced trailer should not tend to sway even without an antisway setup. The antisway system just gives you an additional safety factor.  


And make sure that when hooked up, your tongue is level, to a little nose down. Even if you have perfect tongue weight, improper angle will cause sway..
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