Trailer Hitch, 7-Way Trailer Wiring, and Brake Controller for a 2017 Lexus NX 200T

Question:

Hello, I have a 2017 Lexus NX 200t and Im interested in towing a 1500lb tent trailer with electric breaks. The trailer dealer is asking me to make sure I have a 2 inch receiver, brake control module inside your Lexus, and a round 7-pin wiring connection. Will this wiring package Code: 118652, along with the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2inch Code: 75956 and the etrailer.com Ball Mount Kit for 2inch Hitches - 7,500 lbs Code: 989900 give me the ability to tow the trailer and control the breaks? Im new, please be gentle haha. Thank you!

asked by: Kyle

Expert Reply:

I will be happy to get you set up with everything you will need to tow the trailer. Draw-Tite trailer hitch # 75956 does fit the 2017 Lexus NX turbo models. It is rated for 3,500 pounds gross trailer weight so it has plenty of capacity for the 1,500 pound trailer.

Since you will be doing some towing you can use etrailer ball mount kit # 989900. It comes with 2 ball mounts; one with a 3/4 inch rise or 2 inch drop and one with a 2-3/4 inch rise or 4 inch drop. It also includes a 1-7/8 inch ball, 2 inch ball, hitch pin with clip, and a storage bag.

If the ball mount kit does not have the right rise or drop to tow the trailer level, use the link I have included that explains how to measure to choose a ball mount to tow the trailer level.

To add a 7-Way trailer connector and a brake controller you will start with adding a 4-Way using # 118652. Then, once installed, you will need installation kit # ETBC7 to add the 7-Way and the parts needed to make it fully functional. I have included some links that show and explain the ETBC7 installation.

But for your vehicle there will be a little bit of a difference from the normal installation. Basically you will not have to do anything with the blue wire in the ETBC7 or hardwire a brake controller into the cab. This is because the controller that I recommend, the Curt Echo # 51180, mounts to the 7 way connector and not inside the vehicle. This brake controller does not need the blue brake output wire to function so there is no need to connect it in the vehicle.

The reason I recommend the Curt Echo brake controller # C51180 is because there aren't any brake controllers officially recommended for this vehicle since it is so new. But the Curt Echo works with just about everything as long as the 7-Way works properly.