RV with a Prius

mwool · 08-01-2008, 10:13 PM

Does anyone pull a Prius and if yes, is there a way to do 4 down?

mingoglia · 08-01-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwool

Does anyone pull a Prius and if yes, is there a way to do 4 down?

Unfortunately, no, there's no way to flat tow a Prius....

mwool · 08-02-2008, 09:33 AM

Being new, I do not know which wheels have the generators but can it be towed on a two wheel trailer?

Tchou · 08-02-2008, 10:53 AM

generators are not on the wheels, but on transmission, so you have to lift front wheels to tow.

tochatihu · 08-02-2008, 09:54 PM

It is highly expermental, and not necessarily safe, to let the front wheels rotate. Consult With Bob Wilson for details. You can find him out on 'the edge of the envelope'

mwool · 08-03-2008, 07:41 AM

Thanks to everyone, This does make a lot of sense.

pdhenry · 08-05-2008, 01:09 PM

You can't "dingy tow" a Prius for the same reason that you can't Glide with the engine off above 42 miles per hour - the engine needs to be running or else Motor-Generator #1 (the one not connected to the drive wheels) overspeeds.

Bob64 · 08-05-2008, 01:21 PM

Not entirely true... at least for the current prius model. it CAN overspeed... especially at highway speeds of 60+. I frequently coast down hills in neutral with the engine off in speeds up to 55mph. Nowhere near the 10,000 rpm limit of mg2... which by the way, is at 65mph.

The other reasons are:
1) lack of oil to the transmission. The oil pump is driven by the engine.
2) the battery could be overcharged if towed.

pdhenry · 08-05-2008, 04:25 PM

OK, I misunderstood something I'd read.

Where does Neutral do anything? I'm only familiar with the HSD but there's no clutch or variable gears there. I had thought neutral was another electronic mode (such as reverse is). Doesn't it just disengage power to both MGs?

a64pilot · 08-05-2008, 05:44 PM

Are the MG's actually generators? That is do they have permanant magnets? I would think they would have electromagnets and as such wouldn't generate anything unless they were energized. I would also be surprised if the battery could be charged without the system booted up.
Surely the manual addresses towing and I would be surprised if you could tow with the front wheels on the ground. I don't have thecar or I would look in the manual.

08-02-2008, 09:33 AM	#3
mwool Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: McKinney Texas Posts: 7 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: RV with a Prius Being new, I do not know which wheels have the generators but can it be towed on a two wheel trailer?

08-02-2008, 10:53 AM	#4
Tchou Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 122 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: RV with a Prius generators are not on the wheels, but on transmission, so you have to lift front wheels to tow.

08-02-2008, 09:54 PM	#5
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 1,681 My Car: 2001 Prius Package: Pioneer #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: RV with a Prius It is highly expermental, and not necessarily safe, to let the front wheels rotate. Consult With Bob Wilson for details. You can find him out on 'the edge of the envelope'

08-03-2008, 07:41 AM	#6
mwool Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: McKinney Texas Posts: 7 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: RV with a Prius Thanks to everyone, This does make a lot of sense.

08-05-2008, 01:09 PM	#7
pdhenry It's HEEERE! Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA Posts: 270 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: RV with a Prius You can't "dingy tow" a Prius for the same reason that you can't Glide with the engine off above 42 miles per hour - the engine needs to be running or else Motor-Generator #1 (the one not connected to the drive wheels) overspeeds.

08-01-2008, 10:13 PM	#1
mwool Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: McKinney Texas Posts: 7 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	RV with a Prius Does anyone pull a Prius and if yes, is there a way to do 4 down?

08-05-2008, 01:21 PM	#8
Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 764 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: RV with a Prius Not entirely true... at least for the current prius model. it CAN overspeed... especially at highway speeds of 60+. I frequently coast down hills in neutral with the engine off in speeds up to 55mph. Nowhere near the 10,000 rpm limit of mg2... which by the way, is at 65mph. The other reasons are: 1) lack of oil to the transmission. The oil pump is driven by the engine. 2) the battery could be overcharged if towed.

08-05-2008, 04:25 PM	#9
pdhenry It's HEEERE! Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA Posts: 270 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: RV with a Prius OK, I misunderstood something I'd read. Where does Neutral do anything? I'm only familiar with the HSD but there's no clutch or variable gears there. I had thought neutral was another electronic mode (such as reverse is). Doesn't it just disengage power to both MGs? Last edited by pdhenry; 08-05-2008 at 04:28 PM.

08-05-2008, 05:44 PM	#10
a64pilot Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany Ga. Posts: 16 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: RV with a Prius Are the MG's actually generators? That is do they have permanant magnets? I would think they would have electromagnets and as such wouldn't generate anything unless they were energized. I would also be surprised if the battery could be charged without the system booted up. Surely the manual addresses towing and I would be surprised if you could tow with the front wheels on the ground. I don't have thecar or I would look in the manual.