Towing Capacity: What Boats Can a Lexus GX 460 Tow?

If you already own the new Lexus GX 460 and you are looking for the perfect boat that you can tow to your favorite lake or marina, this is the article for you.

Or, if you are doing research on a dealership and what off-road SUV can tow your boat, you will want to keep reading as a Lexus GX 460 has a lot of towing capacity and some serious benefits.

This article will help you determine not only how much boat you can tow, but also what you will need to get the most towing capacity out of your Lexus GX 460.

Towing Capacity: What Boats Can a Lexus GX 460 Tow? 1

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What Is The Max Towing Capacity Of The Lexus GX 460?

A 2020 Lexus GX 460 can tow up to 6,500 pounds, meaning it can tow less than 6,000 pounds of dry weight. Many boats can be towed by a Lexus GX 460, including PWCs (or personal watercraft, small sailboats, ski boats, small cabin cruisers, small speed boats, pontoon boats, and small fishing boats).

The most important aspect to think about when determining what boat to buy or if a Lexus GX 460 is right for you is determining what the total weight of your load will be.

The 6,500 pounds must include a trailer, gear, fuel, and water weight. Do not buy a boat with a dry weight of 6,500 pounds, as a Lexus GX 460 will not be able to tow that boat.

If your boat is at or close to that number, there are other SUVs and trucks that can do the job, which you can check out on this list.

If you still have questions if the Lexus GX 460 is right for you, or what kind of boat you can buy for your Lexus GX 460, you have come to the right place.

This guide will give you examples of what boats you can tow, as well as making sure you have the right gear to tow your boat safely.

Towing Capacity: What Boats Can a Lexus GX 460 Tow?

Determining the Towing Capacity

It is important to ensure that the towing capacity of your Lexus GX 460 is indeed 6,500 pounds, as this can vary with the equipment that comes with your vehicle, as well as what shape it is in.

However, the max towing capacity for the Lexus GX 460 has been 6,500 pounds since 2009, meaning you should have a pretty good idea of what you will be able to tow.

The Benefits of Towing with a Lexus GX 460

While the Lexus GX 460 does not have the highest tow load in its class, it does come with some serious perks that are standard that make towing a breeze. Not to mention, these standard trim items are going to make towing your boat a lot safer for you, your family, and others on the road.

A 2020 Lexus GX 460 comes with 329 lb-ft of torque at low RPM, enabling it to tow up to 6,500 pounds. The Trailer Sway Control offers peace of mind as part of the Vehicle Stability Control System.

To help control the sway that can happen when towing large loads such as boats, braking is applied to each individual wheel and the throttle can be moderated. The driver will know if this is occurring as a flashing indicator will alert him or her when the system is taking corrective measures.

Considerations Before Towing With a Lexus GX 460

While the Lexus GX 460 has one of the highest tow loads in its class, it is important not to take that for granted and buy the appropriate equipment. This includes the hitch ball and ball mounting, as well as weight-distributing accessories.

If you do not buy weight-distributing accessories, you may limit the maximum load that your Lexus GX 460 can tow. These items can include equalizing arms, snap-up brackets, and sway control systems.

These purchases will help ensure that you are towing your boat properly and won’t run into any issues or costly accidents.

Towing Capacity: What Boats Can a Lexus GX 460 Tow?

Examples of Boats a Lexus GX 460 Can Tow

If you already own a Lexus GX 460 and are looking for inspiration about the types of boats that you can buy, the rest of this article will help guide you towards the perfect purchase for your boating needs.

PWC’s or Personal Watercraft

Your Lexus GX 460 will be able to handle most PWC’s easily. For most models, you may even be able to tow 2-4 depending on you and your family’s needs. Some of our top personal watercraft are:

  • Kawasaki Ultra 310 LX – 1,074 pounds
  • FX Cruiser HO Full – 838 pounds
  • Sea-Doo Spark – 450 pounds

As you can see, your Lexus GX 460 will be able to handle multiple items of a lighter option like the Sea-Doo Spark even when they are fully fueled.

Sailboats

The standard weight of a sailboat is 8,800 pounds. This means that you need to be very careful when choosing a sailboat that can be towed by your Lexus GX 460 as many options will be too heavy to be towed, especially at their wet weight.

This is a category where dry vs wet weight will be important, as you will need to factor in the weight of fuel, freshwater, gear, and the trailer itself.

Here are a few options of sailboats that your Lexus GX 460 will be able to handle at their wet weight with ease:

  • Sunfish – 120 pounds
  • C&C 27 – 5,180 pounds
  • MacGregor 26 – 2,550 pounds
  • Hunter 260 – 3000 pounds
  • Catalina 250 – 4,200 pounds

While all of these options come in well below the maximum weight that your Lexus GX 460 can tow, it is very important to realize that you will need to factor in potentially over 100 gallons of both freshwater storage and fuel weight.

Speed Boats

The best part about speed boats is that, as they are built for speed, they are often constructed to be super lightweight. This means that you can get a whole lot of boat and still hit under the max capacity to tow behind your Lexus GX 460. Some of our favorite options that can be easily towed with your Lexus GX 460 are:

  • Yamaha SX 210 – 3,172 pounds
  • Yamaha AR210 – 3,228 pounds
  • Yamaha 212 Limited S – 3,598 pounds
  • Thunder Cat 32 – 5,400 pounds

Similarly to Sailboats, it is very important to not only calculate fuel and freshwater storage, but also trailer weight when picking your new speed boat.

Cabin Cruisers

If you are looking to take long but comfortable sea journeys with your family, or even just want a nice boat that can seat many people comfortably both inside and outside, this is the type of boat you will want to buy to accompany your Lexus GX 460.

These boats can be very luxurious, but there are quite a few options that you will be able to safely tow. Our favorites include:

  • Stingray 250CS Mid-Cabin Cruiser – 4,971 pounds
  • Parker 750 Cabin Cruiser – 4,100 pounds
  • C-Dory 22’ Cruiser – 2,600 pounds
  • Jeanneau NC 895 Sport – 3,300 pounds

You must be careful when choosing a cabin cruiser to be towed by your Lexus GX 460 as many of them come in at 8,000 pounds or more dry weight.

However, the options above should get you well on your way to finding the perfect cabin cruiser for you so that you can take weekend and overnight sea voyages with your family and friends.

Deck Boats

Sometimes, all you need is a deck boat to have some weekend fun fishing or doing watersports. There are plenty of options for deck boats that can be pulled by your Lexus GX 460.

While you most likely won’t be storing freshwater, it is important to factor in the weight of any fishing or watersports gear as well as fuel weight when calculating what deck boat is right for you. Here are a few that we recommend:

  • Tahoe 1950 – 3135 pounds
  • Tahoe 250 Xi – 3350 pounds
  • Tahoe 2150 – 3235 pounds
  • Boston Whaler 170 Montauk – 2,254 pounds
  • Bayliner Element E21 – 3350 pounds

While these deck boats are all fairly heavy – each clocking in around 3,000 pounds – it is easy to see that there are many options on the market that can be towed by a Lexus GX 460 with full gear and a fuel load.

The Bottom Line

While the top-tier Lexus GX 460 does not have the highest tow load capacity in its class, it is able to tow many different boat options, making it a great vehicle for those who like comfort and luxury touches and want a boat that they can take out on the weekends for outdoor adventures spending quality time with their family. For the average person, the Lexus GX towing capacity is more than enough for the boat they want to purchase.

It has enough horsepower to to a wide variety of water craft. It’s powerful engine hp combined with downhill assist control and active traction control means you’ll have no trouble getting your boat back up the ramp.

If you need an SUV for your family, but need more towing capacity, looking at other luxury SUVs such as the Lincoln Navigator will be a good start.

If you are not attached to the idea of an SUV, and you want a really big boat, then you will get much more towing capacity with a truck. You can use this guide to find the vehicle, be it truck or SUV, that’s right for you.