Parts Needed to Tow Trailer with 2018 Lexus GX 460  

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We do not currently have genuine Lexus parts available for your 2018 GX 460 so I am not sure exactly how they would install in comparison, but we do have custom aftermarket hitches that won't require any drilling and will look great.

I recommend the Curt Class III Receiver Hitch # C13043 because it offers a bit more of a concealed, factory appearance when compared to the alternative option. This is a custom hitch that uses existing holes in your Lexus' frame for a no-drill installation. It features a 5,000 pound towing weight capacity so it will work great for your 4,500 pound camper and it is made right here in the USA. This is the highest rated hitch we have available for your Lexus GX 460. It can be used with a weight distribution system with sway control as well.

I have attached an installation video on the 2016 model GX 460 that you can also take a look at. The process will be extremely similar for your 2018 model.

I wasn't able to locate with certainty if the factory tow package on your Lexus consists of a trailer wiring connector, but if not we have the Tekonsha ZCI Circuit Protected Vehicle Wiring Harness # 119250KIT that will work well. This is a unique harness that uses zero-contact interface sensors to identify the current flowing through each wire just by clamping to it. This simply means you will be able to install the harness without having to actually splice into any of the vehicle's factory wiring. It will provide you with a 4-Way connector to power a trailer's basic signal lights.

If your Airstream is equipped with electric brakes you will need to convert this 4-Way to a fully-functional 7-Way using the Universal Wiring Kit # ETBC7. I have attached the complete installation instructions for this kit so you can see exactly what this process entails.

If the trailer has electric brakes then you will also need a brake controller. For this I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 # 90195. This is an excellent proportional controller that will activate the trailer brakes at the same time and with the same intensity that you apply to them in your Lexus.

Adding a weight distribution with sway control is a great idea. When picking out a system the most important factor to consider is your total tongue weight, which includes both the loaded tongue weight of your trailer along with any added cargo weight coming from behind the rear axle of your Lexus. Ideally this number will fall somewhere near the middle of the operating range for the system you choose.

Using a tongue weight scale like the etrailer # e99044 is the most accurate method for measuring this but we can take a pretty good estimate in the meantime using the 4,500-pound total weight you mentioned. This is because a trailer's tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of its total weight. With this in mind, we can estimate a tongue weight of around 450 to 675 pounds for your trailer.

If this ends up being an accurate estimate then I recommend taking a look at the Reese Strait-Line Weight Distribution System # RP66083 that has a tongue weight capacity of 400 to 800 pounds. This is a fantastic system that will not only evenly distribute weight over the axles of your trailer and vehicle for a level ride, but it also features dual-cam sway control that will work to stop trailer sway before it even begins. I have attached a short video demonstration that you can also check out.

expert reply by: Chris R

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