Is the Lexus GX 460 the Perfect Tow Vehicle for Your Camping Trailer?
So, you're eyeing a Lexus GX 460. You love the idea of that legendary Toyota reliability wrapped in a luxurious, comfortable package. It’s a beast off-road, it’s got three rows of seats for the family, & it just looks the part. But there's one BIG question looming in your mind, especially as you picture hitting the open road with a camping trailer in tow: is the GX 460 really up to the task?
It's a valid question, and honestly, the answer isn't a simple yes or no. It's more of a "yes, BUT..." kind of situation. As someone who has spent a ton of time around these vehicles & seen them in action, I'm here to give you the real, unvarnished truth. We're going to dive deep into the nitty-gritty of what makes the GX 460 a surprisingly capable tow rig for some, & a potential headache for others.
The Raw Numbers: Towing Capacity & Power
Let's get the basics out of the way first. Lexus has been pretty consistent with the GX 460. For pretty much its entire run from 2010 to 2023, the GX 460 has a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds. This number holds true across all the trim levels, whether you've got the base model, the Premium, or the top-of-the-line Luxury.
That 6,500-pound rating comes courtesy of its heart: a brawny 4.6L V8 engine. This isn't one of those newfangled turbocharged V6s; it's a naturally aspirated, old-school V8 that churns out a respectable 301 horsepower & 329 lb-ft of torque. That power is sent through a smooth 6-speed automatic transmission & a full-time four-wheel-drive system.
On paper, 6,500 pounds sounds pretty good, right? It's enough to handle a wide variety of camping trailers. Many popular models, especially those in the 20-25 foot range, fall comfortably within this limit. You can easily tow a small boat, a couple of jet skis, or a decent-sized travel trailer without blinking an eye. But here's the thing about towing... the advertised towing capacity is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.
The Hidden Killer: Payload Capacity
This, my friends, is where so many people get into trouble. You could write a book on the importance of payload capacity, & it's arguably MORE important than the max tow rating. So, what is it? Payload is the total weight your vehicle can carry, including you, your passengers, all your cargo in the vehicle, &—this is the crucial part—the tongue weight of your trailer.
You can find your vehicle's specific payload capacity on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb. For the Lexus GX 460, the payload capacity is generally somewhere between 1,140 & 1,411 pounds. That might sound like a lot, but watch how fast it disappears.
Let's do some quick, real-world math. A trailer's tongue weight should be about 10-15% of its total weight for stable towing. So, for a 5,000-pound camping trailer, you're looking at a tongue weight of 500-750 pounds pressing down on your hitch.
- Tongue Weight: 600 lbs (let's take a middle ground)
- You & your partner: 350 lbs
- Two kids in the back: 150 lbs
- Cooler, snacks, & gear in the cargo area: 100 lbs
- Weight distribution hitch (a MUST, we'll get to that): 100 lbs
Add that all up, & you're at 1,300 pounds.
Suddenly, that 1,411-pound payload capacity is looking pretty slim. And that's with a relatively light trailer & not a ton of gear. If you have a heavier trailer, or you like to bring along a generator, firewood, or extra water, you could easily exceed your vehicle's payload capacity.
Exceeding your payload can lead to all sorts of problems: it puts a massive strain on your suspension & brakes, can cause your rear tires to overheat, & makes for a generally unstable & unsafe towing experience. So, before you even think about trailer weight, you need to be brutally honest about how much weight you'll be putting inside the GX 460 itself.
The Real-World Towing Experience: What Owners Say
Okay, let's move beyond the numbers. What's it actually like to tow with a GX 460? I've spent a lot of time on forums & talking to owners, & a pretty clear picture emerges.
The good news is that the GX's body-on-frame construction—the same type used in full-size trucks—gives it a solid, planted feel. It doesn't get pushed around as much as a unibody crossover might. Owners frequently report that for trailers in the 3,500-4,500 pound range, the GX handles it like a champ. One owner on the IH8MUD forums mentioned towing a 4,300-pound race car & trailer with "no drama."
However, as you get closer to that 6,500-pound limit, things start to change. The V8 engine, while reliable, has to work HARD. You'll find yourself using the transmission's manual shift mode (the "S" mode) a lot, especially on hills. One owner on ClubLexus described needing to keep the revs around 3,400 RPM in 4th gear to maintain highway speed with a tall, wind-resistant trailer. Forget about cruising in 6th gear; the engine just doesn't have the low-end grunt for that with a heavy load.
And then there's the fuel economy. Or, I should say, the lack thereof. The GX 460 isn't exactly a fuel sipper to begin with, but when you hitch up a trailer, be prepared to get VERY friendly with your local gas station attendants. Owners report mileage dropping to anywhere between 9 & 13 miles per gallon while towing. Some have squeezed out 14 or 15 mpg with smaller trailers & a light foot, but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
Common Problems & MUST-HAVE Upgrades
If you're serious about towing regularly with a GX 460, you need to budget for some upgrades. Treating it like a simple "hitch up & go" vehicle, especially with a heavier camper, is a recipe for trouble.
1. Brakes: The Achilles' Heel
The most common complaint by far from GX owners who tow is the inadequacy of the stock brakes. They're perfectly fine for daily driving, but add 5,000+ pounds behind you, & they can feel overwhelmed & fade quickly on long descents. As one YouTuber put it after a towing trip, "the brakes aren't that great, you got to do a lot of coasting."
- The Solution: At a minimum, upgrade to high-performance brake pads from a brand like EBC or Powerbrake. For those doing serious towing, a full big brake kit is a popular, albeit expensive, upgrade that provides a massive improvement in stopping power & confidence.
2. Transmission Cooler: Cheap Insurance
That 6-speed automatic transmission is robust, but towing, especially in hilly terrain, generates a TON of heat. Some GX 460 models come with a transmission oil cooler, but not all do. Overheating your transmission fluid is one of the fastest ways to destroy a transmission, leading to a VERY expensive repair.
- The Solution: If your GX doesn't have one, install an aftermarket transmission cooler. It's a relatively inexpensive part that can save you a world of hurt down the road.
3. Weight Distribution & Sway Control Hitch: Non-Negotiable
I mentioned this earlier, but it bears repeating: if you're towing a travel trailer of any significant size, you absolutely NEED a weight distribution hitch with integrated sway control. This device does two critical things: it distributes the tongue weight more evenly across the vehicle's axles (lifting the sagging rear end & putting weight back on the front wheels for better steering & braking), & it helps to mitigate the terrifying experience of trailer sway caused by crosswinds or passing trucks.
4. Trailer Brake Controller: A Legal & Safety Must
Your trailer's electric brakes won't work without a brake controller. This device, mounted in the cab, senses when you apply the brakes in your GX & sends a proportional signal to the trailer's brakes. This is not optional; it's a legal requirement in most places for trailers over a certain weight, & it's just plain common sense. Brands like Redarc are popular among GX owners for their clean, integrated look.
The Elephant in the Room: That Side-Swinging Rear Door
Ah, the barn door. You either love it or you hate it, & when it comes to towing, most people fall into the latter camp. The GX's rear door is hinged on the passenger side & swings out, a design inherited from its overseas cousin, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. In Japan & Australia, where they drive on the other side of the road, this makes perfect sense for curbside loading. In North America, it's... awkward.
The biggest issue for towers is that when you're hitched up, you often can't open the door all the way. The trailer's tongue jack usually gets in the way, limiting you to opening the door just a crack. This can be incredibly frustrating when you need to grab something from the cargo area.
Lexus did provide a partial solution: the rear glass can be opened independently. This is a lifesaver for grabbing a jacket or a small bag. But for larger items like a cooler? You're out of luck. You'll have to unhitch the trailer to get full access. It's a significant design quirk that you'll have to decide if you can live with.
How Does the GX 460 Compare to the Competition?
The GX 460 occupies a unique space. It's a body-on-frame, V8-powered luxury SUV, a combination that's become increasingly rare.
Its most natural rival in spirit is the Land Rover Defender. A 2021 Defender 110, for example, boasts a higher towing capacity of around 7,700-8,200 pounds. It also features a more modern unibody design with air suspension that provides a more car-like ride. However, the Defender also comes with a much higher price tag & a reputation for... let's just say, less-than-Lexus-like reliability. One owner who switched from a Defender to a GX 460 cited the "overall confidence in reliability" & much lower service costs as key reasons for the change.
Other competitors like the BMW X5 or Audi Q7 are unibody crossovers. While they offer fantastic on-road manners & often have comparable towing capacities on paper, they lack the sheer ruggedness & off-road prowess of the body-on-frame GX.
The Post-Trip Dilemma: Where to Park the Rig?
One aspect of trailer life that often gets overlooked is what to do with your camper when you're not on an adventure. For many, finding a place to store a 25-foot trailer can be a major headache. Neighborhood HOAs often have strict rules against parking RVs in driveways, & storage lots can be expensive & inconveniently located.
This is where a service like Prked can be a game-changer. It's a platform that connects people who have extra space—like an unused driveway, a side yard, or even a large garage—with people who need to store things like cars, boats, & yes, camping trailers. Instead of a commercial storage lot, you could find a secure, affordable spot right in your own neighborhood. It’s a pretty cool way for homeowners to make some extra passive income from their unused space, & for trailer owners to solve a major logistical problem. You might even find a Prked spot near your favorite campground for easier staging.
The Verdict: Is the GX 460 the Perfect Tow Vehicle for You?
So, after all that, what's the final word? The Lexus GX 460 is a conditionally excellent tow vehicle.
The GX 460 is PERFECT for you if:
- Your camping trailer's dry weight is comfortably under 5,000 pounds.
- You prioritize reliability, comfort, & off-road capability above all else.
- You understand the critical importance of payload & do your calculations before loading up.
- You are willing to invest in the necessary upgrades like a good hitch, brake controller, & better brake pads.
- You can live with the quirks of the side-swinging rear door.
You should probably look at a different vehicle if:
- You want to tow a trailer that's pushing the 6,500-pound limit.
- You're a "set it & forget it" driver who doesn't want to actively manage gears on hills.
- Payload capacity is your absolute top priority because you travel with a large family & tons of gear.
- You need frequent, easy access to your cargo area while hitched up.
- You want a more fuel-efficient option. A full-size truck with a diesel engine, for example, will often get better mileage while towing.
The GX 460 is a special kind of SUV. It's a throwback to a time when SUVs were built on truck platforms & designed to do it all. It can be a fantastic & faithful companion for your family's camping adventures, but you have to go into it with your eyes wide open. Understand its limitations, make the right upgrades, & respect the numbers. Do that, & you'll have a luxurious, incredibly capable rig that will get you to the campground & back in style for many, many years to come.
Hope this was helpful! Let me know what you think.
