New Owner '03, Trailer Hitch And Lexus Link Questions

[J Stokes]

Hello Club,

Just landed a terrific '03 with 40 some thousand miles on it. Super clean. Lexus pre-owned with 3 year / 100K warranty. I'm still on a high driving it. The night vision is cool but I don't really see it saving me from a run in with a deer. Traded a '98 Land Cruiser which never gave me a stitch of problems but it was getting a little long in the tooth. What a cool truck the LX is!!

So I need a trailer hitch for the 470. I haven't called parts yet. When I was at the dealer two people told me that it would be $750 to get a trailer hitch. Come on. All I need is the little bracket that bolts onto the existing towing structure that is on every '03 (under that little plastic cover). So just on the long shot that someone in the club has one sitting around I'm putting out the word that there is a good home for one if you are ready to part with it. Please contact me if you can help out and lets see if we can come to a fair price.

I should add that it is my understanding that every '03 owner received the bolt on hitch with their new car purchase and that it was up to them if they wanted to leave the plastic cover on the bumper or take it off and bolt in the trailer reciever. Please let me know if this is fact or fiction. If that is the case I would guess that there are dozens of these little guys sitting in garages looking for a home.

The other question is... the window sticker that I found in the owner manual says that there is Lexus Link in the car. I have not come across it. Is there a button or something that would tell me if the car has it?

Update, I just learned that there is a control pannel for Lexus Link and that my car does not have it. It's a pay service and I have a cell phone so that's one feature I can live without.

Thanks so much

Jim

[strong1993]

My dealer wanted to send me to a place where they would install the aftermarket frame-style system. I told them they were crazy and ordered the adapter plate and bolts. There isn't much to it, but definitely the way to go. Make sure you get a drop-down "receiver ball mount", the bumper is quite high. I think it needs to drop about 8 or 9 inches for my trailer.

[lexus411]

Lexus link or Homelink?

[Jim_Chow]

The '03 came w/ lexus link, which was discontinued. Lexus removed the lexus link for free. I don't know if the lexus link now is the same as back in '03.

My '03 has the little plastic door on the bumper, but didn't come w/ the hitch attachment. Instead, it had a drawtite towbar bolted underneath to the frame. I don't know if the PO used it at all (no scratches on the tow bar, so I doubt it), but I've since replaced it w/ an integrated steel rear tow bumper, so the towbar is sitting in the corner of the garage. If you do a search on the drawtite tow bar, you'll see what it looks like. I don't tow, either, but got the replacement rear bumper since it's all steel, for protection in city traffic. To my knowledge, none of the '03's came w/ the tow piece that bolts to the rear crossmember. I think you have to buy it from the dealer.

[mkc]

My dealer wanted to send me to a place where they would install the aftermarket frame-style system. I told them they were crazy and ordered the adapter plate and bolts. There isn't much to it, but definitely the way to go. Make sure you get a drop-down "receiver ball mount", the bumper is quite high. I think it needs to drop about 8 or 9 inches for my trailer.

[/quote

I have a 2004 LX 470 with the rear bumper built in hitch and I'm getting same runaround on the adapter plate. Where did you order from and what exactly did you call it. I've been searching online with no luck.

Thanks

Mike

Atlanta

[ghitos73]

Is this what you guys are looking for?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lexus-Lx-47...Q2em118Q2el1247

[Nolealum]

Is this what you guys are looking for?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lexus-Lx-47...Q2em118Q2el1247

I know these are old posts, but I am looking for the plate as well. If you can tell me where you fount it I would be very grateful!

Brandon