How much can your Toyota/Lexus SUV tow?

When we see a towbar on the back of our SUV, we assume that we can tow just about anything, but each vehicle is actually rated for a legal maximum towing capacity. Exceeding this maximum weight is not only illegal, but also dangerous. This towing capacity is determined by the vehicle manufacturer and takes into consideration factors such as the weight of the vehicle, the power and torque of the vehicle’s engine and the vehicle’s braking ability.

According to the law, to tow a trailer that weighs 750kg or less, a vehicle must weigh at least double the weight of the trailer. So for a trailer of 600kg, the car must weigh at least 1200kg. For a trailer of 750kg, the vehicle must weigh at least 1500kg.

Trailers that weigh over 750kg by law need to be fitted with a braking system. Because of this, the weight of a vehicle towing a trailer that weighs over 750kg only needs to be the same or heavier than the trailer/caravan.  That means a vehicle of 1200kg, for example, is allowed to tow a caravan of 1200kg.

NB: These weights all refer to the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), which is the fully laden weight. This means that if your empty trailer weighs 500kg, you can only load it with 250kg of luggage before it exceeds the 750kg weight limit.

Lexus

LX

NX

RX

UX

Toyota

C-HR

FJ Cruiser

Fortuner

Land Cruiser 76

Land Cruiser 200

Land Cruiser Prado

RAV4

Urban Cruiser

But are YOU licensed to tow?
Also remember that your driver’s license stipulates what size trailer/caravan you are legally allowed to tow. To tow a trailer/caravan of over 750kg requires a particular licence, either a code EB, EC or EC1. A ‘standard’ licence (code B) only allows the driver to legally drive a trailer of 750kg or below.