trailer LEXUS LX570 2018 User Guide

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LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-1. Before driving
●
A recommended tongue weight varies in accordance with the types of trailers
or towing as described below. ●
To ensure the recommended values show n below, the trailer must be loaded
by referring to the following instructions.
• Tongue Weight
The gross trailer weight should be dist ributed so that the tongue weight is
9 % to 11 %. (Tongue weig ht/Gross trailer weight × 100 = 9 % to 11 %)
Gross trailer weight
Tongue weight
If using a weight distributing hitch when towing, return the front axle to the
same weight as before the trailer connection.
If front axle weight cannot be meas ured directly, measure the front fender
height above the front axle before co nnection. Adjust weight distributing
hitch torque until front fender is return ed to the same height as before con-
nection.
The gross trailer weight, gross axle weight and tongue weight can be mea-
sured with platform scales found at a highway weighing station, building
supply company, trucking company, junk yard, etc.Trailer Tongue Weight 1
2

LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 1934-1. Before driving
4
Driving Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities. Lexus recommends the
use of Lexus hitch/bracket for your ve hicle. 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 trailer hitch whenever you ar e not towing a trailer. After removing
the hitch, seal any mounting hole in th e vehicle body to prevent entry of any
substances into the vehicle.
Remove the clip.
Grasp the lower edge of the hitch
cover and raise the cover. When reattaching the cover, reverse the
steps listed.Hitch
Removing hitch cover 1
2

194
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-1. Before driving
Use the correct trailer ball for your application.
Trailer ball load rating Matches or exceeds the gross trailer
weight rating of the trailer.
Ball diameter Matches the size of the trailer coupler.
Most couplers are stamped with the
required trailer ball size.
Shank length Protrudes beyond the bottom of the lock washer and nut by at least 2 threads.
Shank diameter Matches the ball mount hole diameter size.Selecting trailer ball
Trailer class Typical trailer ball size
IV 2 5/16 in.
II and III 2 in.
I 1 7/8 in.1
2
3
4

LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 1954-1. Before driving
4
Driving Hitch receiver pin hole position:
45.3 in. (1151 mm)
Use the wire harness stored in the rear
end under the vehicle body.
Please consult your dealer when installin g 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. ■
Service connector for towing brake controller
Your vehicle is equipped with a service conne ctor for the trailer brake controller. Please
consult your dealer when installing trailer brake systems to the vehicle.Positions for towing hitch receiver 1
Connecting trailer lights

196
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-1. Before driving
Stop your vehicle and a trailer in line and perform the following:●
Connecting a trailer
Put the 4-Wheel AHC in the “LO” (low) mode.
Turn off the engine switch or the 4-Wheel AHC.
Connect a trailer.
Turn on the engine switch or the 4-Wheel AHC.
Select the N (normal) mode with the height select switch. When a vehicle loaded with four occupants tows a trailer of about 4000 lb.
(1800 kg) with more than about 400 lb. (180 kg) tongue load, the normal mode
may not be selected. However, there is no problem to continue normal driving.
Drive with sufficient care because of large load.●
Disconnecting a trailer
Put the 4-Wheel AHC in the “LO” (low) mode. (Make sure the vehicle
height is in the “LO” mode by pulling the switch to “ ∨ ” on the height select
switch.)
Turn off the engine switch or the 4-Wheel AHC.
Set the supporting leg of a trailer on the ground and raise the hitch by 4 in.
(100 mm).
Turn on the engine switch or the 4-Wheel AHC.
Wait for about 20 seconds until the re ar vehicle height is lowered by the
automatic leveling function.
Make sure the hitch is disconnected. If not, raise the hitch higher and
repeat steps 2 through 5.
Move the vehicle forward in the “LO” mode where the hitch does not touch
anything in the N (normal) mode.
Put the 4-Wheel AHC in the N mode.Connecting and disconnecting a trailer 1
2
3
4
5
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8

LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 1974-1. Before driving
4
Driving Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. Help to avoid an acci-
dent, death or serious injury, keep the following in mind when towing:●
Speed limits for towing a tr ailer vary by state or province. Do not exceed the
posted towing speed limit. ●
Lexus recommends that the vehicle-traile r speed limit is 65 mph (104 km/h)
on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exce ed this limit, the posted towing speed
limit or the speed limit for your trailer as set forth in your trailer owner’s man-
ual, whichever is lowest. Instability of the towing vehicle-trailer combination
(trailer sway) increases as speed incr eases. Exceeding speed limits may cause
loss of control. ●
Before starting out, check the trailer lights, tires and the vehicle-trailer con-
nections. Recheck after driving a short distance. ●
Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attached in an area
away from traffic until you become acc ustomed to the feel of the vehicle-
trailer combination. ●
Reversing with a trailer attached is di fficult 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 the right.
(This is generally opposite to reversing without a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp
or prolonged turning. Have someone gu ide you when reversing to reduce the
risk of an accident. ●
As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance 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, re sulting in the trailer jackknifing and
loss of vehicle control. This is especi ally true on wet or slippery surfaces.Trailer towing tips

198
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-1. Before driving●
Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration. ●
Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, an d slow down before making a 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 cr osswinds, on wet or slippery surfaces,
etc.
Increasing vehicle speed can destabilize the trailer. ●
Take care when passing other vehicles . Passing requires considerable dis-
tance. After passing a vehicle, do not fo rget the length of your trailer, and be
sure you have plenty of room before changing lanes. ●
To maintain engine braking efficien cy and charging system performance
when using engine braking, do not put the transmission in D.
If in the S mode, the transmission shift range position must be in 6 or lower.
( → P. 210)●
Instability happens more fr equently when descending steep or long downhill
grades. Before descending, slow down and downshift. Do not make sudden
downshifts while descending st eep or long downhill grades.●
Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long or applying the brakes too fre-
quently. This could cause the brakes to overheat and result in reduced braking
efficiency. ●
Due to the added load of the trailer, yo ur 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 temperat ure gauge indicates overheating, imme-
diately turn off the air conditioning (if in use), pull your vehicle off the road and
stop in a safe spot. ( → P. 552)

LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 1994-1. Before driving
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Driving ●
Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the trailer’s wheels
when parking. Apply the parking brake firmly, and put the transmission in P.
Avoid parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do so only after performing the
following:
Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and trailer’s
wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in place, release the brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
Shift into P and apply the parking brake.
Turn off the engine.●
When restarting afte r parking on a slope:
With the transmission in P, start the en gine. Be sure to keep the brake pedal
pressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.
If the parking brake is in manual mode, release the parking brake.
( → P. 219)
Release the brake pedal, and slowly pull or back away from the wheel
blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks. 1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5

200
LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 4-1. Before driving■
Matching trailer ball height to trailer coupler height
■
Before towing
Check that the followin g conditions are met:●
Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. ( → P. 565)●
Trailer tires are inflated a ccording to the trailer manufacturer’s recommendation.●
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 to ngue weight, overload-
ing, 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 regula-
tions. If they do not, install rear view mirrors appropriate for towing purposes.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 coupler on the
trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball 1
2

LX570_OM_OM60Q78U_(U) 2014-1. Before driving
4
Driving ■
Driving mode select switch
The suspension can be switched fo r improvement in driveability. ( → P. 284)■
Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components (such as an
engine, transmission, differen tial 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 towing.
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 requir e more frequent maintenance due to the addi-
tional load. (See “Owner’s Guide”, “Warranty and Services Guide”, “Owner’s Manual
Supplement” or “Warranty Booklet”.) ●
Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ba ll and bracket after approximately 600 miles
(1000 km) of trailer towing. ■
If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing ve hicles, rough roads, etc.) can adversely
affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability. ●
If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wh eel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer sway ing by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal im mediately but very gradually to reduce
speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the st eering or brakes, your vehicle and trailer
should stabilize. ●
After the trailer sw aying 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 vehi-
cle-trailer increases as speed increases.