2010-2023 GX460 Rear Tow Hitch Receiver Installation Guide

Person holding a black metal or plastic part with multiple clips on a blue quilted surface, with hardware components and screws illustrated as part of a vehicle assembly or repair process.

Before the installation, remove the factory backup tire. Please refer to your owners manual for instructions.

Remove the factory rear lower valance. It is held together with 4 white nylon clips, 4 black 10 mm bolts as shown in the picture above.

If you have a 2010-2013 model year GX460 or if you have purchased the Tow Hitch without the Hybrid Bumper, skip this step.


Close-up view of a car's engine compartment showing various mechanical parts, including metal brackets, bolts, and a black component with a hose.
Black metal car part with four holes, placed on a blue padded blanket with four metal screws nearby.

Now, remove the 10 mm black bolt holding the rear bumper to the driver side rear bumper bracket.

Then, remove the two 12 mm bolts holding the bracket to the frame.

A person is pointing at a component in a car's steering column, likely the ignition switch or a similar part, during an repair or maintenance.
Underneath view of a vehicle's black plastic exhaust pipe and metal frame with workshop tools and orange container in the background.
A black metal bracket resting on a blue quilted fabric surface.

Next, pinch the top of the plug that connects to the trailer 4 pin/7 pin connector, in order to remove the wiring harness.

Remove the connector housing from the metal plate. It is held on with two metal clips as shown in the pictures above.

Then, remove two 12 mm bolts that hold the metal plate to the frame. You will need to relocate the trailer 4 pin/7 pin connector housing in a later step.

Close-up of a black machine part with two hex bolts and a metal bracket attached underneath.
Close-up of a car's undercarriage showing black metal framing with bolts, a black plastic cover, and some surrounding components.

Reinstall the two 12 mm bolts back onto the frame to prevent rust, and then reinstalling the bumper bracket.

Close-up of vehicle undercarriage showing a metal hook, bolts, and parts of the chassis.
Metal hook with two bolts on a blue quilted fabric.

Now, remove the two 17 mm bolts in order to remove the tow hook on the driver side.

You won’t be needing the factory tow hook anymore, as our NYTOP Tow Hitch Receiver offers alternative recovery points.

A black metal trailer hitch with blue arrows indicating mounting points, with red annotations showing hardware specifications, including four bolts labeled M12-1.25x50mm and M12-1.25x45mm, each with accompanying washers.
A mechanical assembly diagram with a black frame, four blue arrows indicating points of attachment or connection, and red annotations highlighting parts, including four M12 bolts of 1.25x40 mm and 1.25x35 mm sizes with washers.
Underside view of a car with a custom metal frame, rear suspension, tire, and exhaust system in a garage.

For the Tow Hitch without Hybrid Bumper, install the NYTOP Tow Hitch Receiver with spacer plates and four M12-1.25x45 mm and four M12-1.25x50 mm bolts (with one washer on each bolt) as shown in the picture above. Torque all eight bolts down to 75 ft-lbs./101 Nm.

For the Tow Hitch with Hybrid Bumper, install the NYTOP Tow Hitch Receiver and four M12-1.25x35 mm and four M12-1.25x40 mm bolts (with one washer on each bolt) as shown in the picture above. Torque all eight bolts down to 75 ft-lbs./101 Nm.

You will need ratchet extensions in order to install the passenger side bolts without removing the exhaust. Otherwise, you may have to remove one of the exhaust hangers to move the exhaust muffler out of the way.

NOTE: Product installed on the vehicle in picture is a 3D printed plastic prototype of the Rear Tow Hitch with Hybrid Bumper.

Close-up of a tow hitch connected to a vehicle with a wheel and tire visible in the background.
Rear of a silver vehicle with an California license plate, showing a trailer hitch and safety chains, in a garage with tools and equipment on the floor.

Finally, reinstall the trailer 4 pin/ 7 pin connector housing onto the new plate included on our Tow Hitch Receiver.

NOTE: You will have to lengthen the wiring before reconnecting it. Follow Figures 2-1 to 2-7 and 5-1 to 5-2 from the official Lexus tow hitch instruction guide below on how to do so.

Diagram of a vehicle component with an arrow pointing to a hose connection.

NOTE: All work in the following steps on the wire harness is done in place on the vehicle. The harness remains connected to the frame. 

(a) Carefully remove the tape covering the strain relief mesh and the (2) corrugated tubes (Fig. 2-1). 

Close-up of hands holding a cloth and electrical cables with connectors, demonstrating a cleaning or maintenance process.

(b) Pull back the mesh to expose the extra length of wiring wrapped underneath. Remove the tape holding the wiring together (Fig. 2-2).  

A diagram of an electrical cable with wires extending from a connector, with a double-headed yellow arrow indicating movement or connection direction.

(c) After removing the tape, unfold and straighten out the extra wiring (Fig. 2-3).

Diagram showing two sections of a cable with a mesh covering at the top and multiple wires at the bottom, with yellow arrows pointing to specific parts.

(d) Use the corrugated, slit tubing provided in the component kit to cover the exposed length of wiring. Begin at one end and continue along the length to the opposite end. Be sure that the mesh netting and the (2) smaller tubes are captured underneath the slit tubing (Fig. 2-4).

Diagram showing how to connect electrical tape around a wire or cable. The image includes a label for electrical tape and illustrates the proper wrapping technique.

(e) Use electrical tape to secure each end of the slit corrugated tubing to the wire harness. Add a few loops around the center of the tube (Fig. 2-5).

Diagram showing two staged illustrations of a flexible hose with an arrow pointing to a connection point, demonstrating proper attachment or repair process.

(f) Use a standard head (not push mount) cable tie to secure each of the ends of the wrapped tape. 

NOTE: Do not install the cable tie so tight that the corrugated tubing starts to squeeze and collapse (Fig. 2-6). 

Diagram showing a limb with a surgical incision, demonstrating a diagonal side cutter used to make an incision at a specific point on the limb.

(g) Trim off the ends of the cable ties (Fig. 2-7). 

Line drawing of a vehicle's interior with a focus on an electrical wiring harness highlighted by a yellow arrow.

(h) Plug the wire harness pigtail back into the connector plug housing (Fig. 5-1).

Diagram showing a cable being secured with a cable tie into a cross-member slot.

(i) Wrap a push-mount head cable tie around the wire harness tubing and install the push mount into the slot in the frame cross member to secure it (Fig. 5-2).

Close-up of the underside of a vehicle, showing a trailer hitch receiver, part of the rear bumper, and vehicle components surrounding the wheel.

After reinstalling your backup tire, you will be all done! Enjoy your full 6,500 lbs of towing capacity!

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