Coastal Tech Hitch and Prius Warranty....

Brian · 08-14-2004, 03:56 PM

Can the Hitch viod the warranty at all, if you are only using it to carry bikes?

daniel · 08-14-2004, 06:51 PM

Sure seems unlikely. [My uneducated opinion.]

Frank Hudon · 08-14-2004, 09:01 PM

The Coastal E Tech hitch doesn't include anchors for the safety chains and as such is illegal for towing. That is how they can stand behind it and say it's not for towing and only for load carrying.

hdrygas · 08-14-2004, 09:24 PM

The schedule for servicing the car includes provision for additional checks and service for towing. FWIW It is in the service schedule. I read it last night. On the other hand the Owners Manual says it's a no no.

bruceha_2000 · 08-14-2004, 10:14 PM

Which brings up something I've been thinking about. Why CAN'T you tow with a Prius? I'm not talking a 24' travel trailer, but why not a small 4'x6' or 4'x8' trailer to get fairly light stuff to the dump or something. Or one of those little trailers used by motorcycles? I saw one that was sort of a little pop-up camper.

Frank Hudon · 08-14-2004, 10:24 PM

it doesn't say it's a no no, it say's Toyota doesn't recommend towing with the Prius. If you tow a 32 foot travel trailer thru the Colorado Rockies your going to have problems. If you tow your utility trailer over to the plant store and get a bunch of shrubs for your yard, and it's not up and down really big hills I don't see a problem. I do it, and it doesn't really affect the fuel ecomomy as much as the A/C does. Now that I can check the temps of the MG1 and 2 and battery current flow and such I'll be in a better position to tell if it really has a big affect but from my useage so far all I can see is about a 3 mpg hit in the mileage. My longest trip has been 15 miles and that includes one really steep hill about 3/4 mile long. I take my hitch off when not needed as there is no sense in packing around 35Lbs of iron for nothing.

Brian · 08-14-2004, 11:32 PM

Thanks for all that. It helps a lot.

htmlspinnr · 08-17-2004, 10:02 AM

Quote:

The schedule for servicing the car includes provision for additional checks and service for towing. FWIW It is in the service schedule. I read it last night. On the other hand the Owners Manual says it's a no no.

Keep in mind those maintenance schedules are written to cover all Toyota vehciles, not just specifically the Prius.

hdrygas · 08-17-2004, 12:23 PM

Quote:

The schedule for servicing the car includes provision for additional checks and service for towing. FWIW It is in the service schedule. I read it last night. On the other hand the Owners Manual says it's a no no.

Keep in mind those maintenance schedules are written to cover all Toyota vehciles, not just specifically the Prius.

A good lawyer would turn it into a entire case. If they did not want you to tow then they should have printed a Prius only service manual. *** Music comes up, visions of Razzle Dazzle them from Chicago running ***

ervajv · 09-01-2004, 01:07 PM

Where can I buy a hitch?

08-14-2004, 03:56 PM	#1
Brian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orange, California Posts: 479 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Coastal Tech Hitch and Prius Warranty.... Can the Hitch viod the warranty at all, if you are only using it to carry bikes?

08-14-2004, 10:24 PM	#6
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	it doesn't say it's a no no, it say's Toyota doesn't recommend towing with the Prius. If you tow a 32 foot travel trailer thru the Colorado Rockies your going to have problems. If you tow your utility trailer over to the plant store and get a bunch of shrubs for your yard, and it's not up and down really big hills I don't see a problem. I do it, and it doesn't really affect the fuel ecomomy as much as the A/C does. Now that I can check the temps of the MG1 and 2 and battery current flow and such I'll be in a better position to tell if it really has a big affect but from my useage so far all I can see is about a 3 mpg hit in the mileage. My longest trip has been 15 miles and that includes one really steep hill about 3/4 mile long. I take my hitch off when not needed as there is no sense in packing around 35Lbs of iron for nothing. __________________ You can quote me on this, People who drive vehicles that idle at a traffic light, are idiots. mine 2k3 avg. 5.36 for 46,915Km Best tank 4.4L per 100K 64.2 Imperial 53.4 U.S. gallon, MiniScanner, SilverStars, block heater, winter lips, in as of Oct 15, out on April 25. In again on Sept. 21st. her's 2k4 "B" avg. 6.01 for 42,317 Km Best tank 4.02L per 100K, CAN-view with OBD11 module and flashloader, SilverStars, 06 Chrome grill bar, Michelin HydroEdge, upper and lower grill blocker,upper out as of April 7, lower out on April 28. In again on Sept 21st.

09-01-2004, 01:07 PM	#10
ervajv Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 4 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Trailer Hitch Where can I buy a hitch?

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08-14-2004, 06:51 PM	#2
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,125 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Sure seems unlikely. [My uneducated opinion.]

08-14-2004, 09:01 PM	#3
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The Coastal E Tech hitch doesn't include anchors for the safety chains and as such is illegal for towing. That is how they can stand behind it and say it's not for towing and only for load carrying.

08-14-2004, 09:24 PM	#4
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The schedule for servicing the car includes provision for additional checks and service for towing. FWIW It is in the service schedule. I read it last night. On the other hand the Owners Manual says it's a no no.

08-14-2004, 10:14 PM	#5
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,191 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Which brings up something I've been thinking about. Why CAN'T you tow with a Prius? I'm not talking a 24' travel trailer, but why not a small 4'x6' or 4'x8' trailer to get fairly light stuff to the dump or something. Or one of those little trailers used by motorcycles? I saw one that was sort of a little pop-up camper.

08-14-2004, 11:32 PM	#7
Brian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orange, California Posts: 479 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks for all that. It helps a lot.