How much weight can a prius tow in a trailer?

I tow a 5X10 landscape trailer with 2 yards of mulch on it a few times every year, and I use it occasionally to haul 4X8 sheets every once in a while. It tows like it's not even there when it's empty.

That said ... the lighter the better. Harbor freight's cheap, lightweight trailers work just fine and fold up to put in your garage. I wouldn't overdo it in terms of how often you do it, and I wouldn't overload it either ... instead make 2 trips if necessary. HF has an 1100 lb capacity trailer for right around $300, and with a 20% coupon you can get it for about $240. They're fine for light duty occasional use, especially if you can keep them inside out of the weather.

Toyota says you should never tow anything. I just do things within reason. Not really worried about it for as often as I do it. Maybe 20-30 miles per year total in 2 or 3 trips.

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Technically, legally, zero.

 

Yeah ... we all know that.

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http://priuschat.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1426064


Posted from my iPhone via the Tapatalk app.

 

Nothing illegal about it.

 

I'm sure it would void any warranty.

 

This is another "snakepit" question, that creates controversy in asking and reply.

Toyota recommends not using The Prius to Tow...PERIOD.

And yet? Even though we all supposedly know this, not only does this question continue to be asked and debated, people do use their Prius to Tow.

I think the most correct answer to the question "How Much Weight Can A Prius Tow In A Trailer?"

Is, Toyota isn't saying, because Toyota doesn't want you towing any weight with a Prius.

So How Much Weight are you willing to "Risk" Towing with your Prius?

That opens up the debate between the realities of what has been done by others, how many times it has been done, and what it might mean to any warranty coverage if somehow someone had a failure and Toyota discovered the vehicle had been used in towing.....

Good Luck With That....

My general feeling is that if towing a lot is a life priority? Don't buy a Prius. If towing is a big priority? Prius is the wrong tool for the job, even if you CAN get away with it to a degree.

 

So ... ALL you guys responding have 'TOWED A TRAILER WITH YOUR PRIUS' as the OP requested ????


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If the PSD went TangoUniform you wouldn't have a legal-foot to stand on going after Toyota to fix it under warranty. Just saying.

 

Phht...you ask a question in a open forum? Don't go attaching caveats to it.

You want to discount my response because I haven't towed a trailer with a Prius? Go Ahead.

But Toyota doesn't recommend using a Prius to tow. Therefore...there is no factory provided stats as to how much weight a Prius can tow...so any answer from any individual is based on simply there own experience and opinion about towing or not towing.

 

First of all ... I didn't ask the question, but I have a feeling that some of the responses given so far is the EXACT reason the OP 'tried' to put that caveat on his question.

To the OP ... try the link below ... for further information in answer to your question ... and less preaching about what you should and shouldn't do. You may have to join to read everything, but it might be worth it. It's a whole newsgroup related to towing with a Prius.

priustrailers : The Toyota Prius Can Tow a Trailer!

Again ... yeah .... we got that .... Toyota doesn't recommend that you tow .... OK.


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Don't tow this:

Caravan problem - YouTube

Ha Ha

 

Yeah ... I wouldn't go THAT far .... LOL !!

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IMHO The topic should read:
How much weight can a prius tow in a trailer safely and at what speeds?
or
How much weight and at what speeds can a prius tow without shortened life penalty?

full disclosure: I don't tow with Prius. I tow a 17' boat with RAV4.

 

Interesting questions, but no way for definitive answers.

The best anyone can come up with is common sense and reasonable solutions. Everybody has their own threshhold for risk, and everyone's towing requirements will be different. In my case, a few times (with light weight) a year is all I need, and I'm comfortable with that. If someone needs to tow a pop-up or a light boat every weekend of the year 50 miles each way, then they bought the wrong car. I wouldn't tow a pallet of cinder blocks 5 blocks with a Prius, even if I could, but that's just common sense. For towing a few kayaks or bikes occasionally, or maybe even a broken down motorcycle a half dozen times a year ... there's no issue


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Isn't this like asking if it is OK to kill a man and asking that only people who HAVE killed a man answer?

 

Good question... have you?

 

No, the most sickening thing I ever had to do was kill someone's horse that had fallen (on a hillside 17 miles from a road) and broken two legs, with an axe.

 

you didn't need to answer this question.