1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

what have you TOWED with your prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by 05azprius, Jan 5, 2012.

  1. fataugie

    fataugie Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2010
    9
    0
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    OK....so....that wasn't my prius....just so we're all clear.
     
  2. engerysaver

    engerysaver Real Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2011
    426
    130
    0
    Location:
    Tyler, Texas ; USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    #42 engerysaver, Apr 30, 2014
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2014
  3. flyerjonathan

    flyerjonathan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2012
    22
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    thanks :) seems the only option is rubber inserts for the springs. :( does anyone out there have another option? the inserts are $150... not really impressed with paying that for inserts. i put air bags on a F350 once when towing and the change was amazing... hoping to do the same with the prius.
     
  4. 2007blueprius

    2007blueprius Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2012
    461
    30
    0
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    holy mother, I have a 18 footer seats 10, thou it seems bigger than that, maybe because the trailer is a tandem, I never dared considering the prius to tow it, but more so putting it in the watter, I had that boat on a couple trucks, and even the taller one the tailpipe would have to be submergerd to get the boat floating, I'll have to take a pic for gigs with the prius in front of the boat.

    than again with the trucks beeing RWD, the prius might do fine, I dont know but I want to say the hitch would be too low to start
     
  5. WNY-HYBRID

    WNY-HYBRID Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2014
    244
    48
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The cars not rated for towing for a reason. If you ever got I to an accident, or anything ever happened with that trailer you'd be totally at fault. Adding air springs to this type of car is a very bad idea. Your looking for a lawsuit/ hefty repair bill.


    ON A SIDE NOTE - as a fisherman I think it's cool that you tow a boat with the prius. Have you had any trouble at all? My pickup uses to have a hard time pulling my 20ft out of the canal here.. I have roof racks and put two 12ft kayaks on top with no issues
     
  6. WNY-HYBRID

    WNY-HYBRID Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2014
    244
    48
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't mean to sound like a jerk.. I'm a little rev'd up tonight. My sister just ripped a big hole in her honda fit towing a small trailer. Ripped the hitch right out of the frame of the car. Totaled it, and it wasn't covered under the insurance.
     
  7. 2007blueprius

    2007blueprius Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2012
    461
    30
    0
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    luckyly Michigan is a no fault state, insurence is the bigest scam anyway so at the end I treat this as take your own resposibility, as for the legal aspect same rules apply lights, speed limit, if towing reasonably lower, if something is going to happen it will happen, but all within reason, a small boat sure why not, small trailer, of course,

    I have been interested in towing a very small trailer loaded with a gokart and some tools, hence the interest, the boat ? I dont know about that, honestly I'd be more concerned about it at the docks rather han at the road, I can allready see it slippin on the slime there goes both car and trailer or at the least the trunk will fill with watter, I'm not going to be that guy.

    but hey more power to those that can do it
     
  8. WNY-HYBRID

    WNY-HYBRID Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2014
    244
    48
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Exactly... Sometimes I see stuff like that and all I can think is, wow (glad that's not me, lol)

    I've almost lost my boat trailer in the river. I can't see the prius getting it out
     
  9. 2007blueprius

    2007blueprius Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2012
    461
    30
    0
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    maybe with a winch up front tied to a tree, that is just too much, prices have gone up, $170 and up
     
  10. 2007blueprius

    2007blueprius Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2012
    461
    30
    0
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    ordered this, supposedly complete with drawbar hardware pin and clip $113.02 shipped, we'll see what arrives in a few days

    link wont post for some reason, carparts.com hidden hitch
     
  11. LDPosse

    LDPosse Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2011
    35
    27
    0
    Location:
    Hershey, PA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have towed all kinds of things with my Prius. I have the Curt hitch, which I have been very pleased with. Probably the items that turn the most heads are building materials or coal (my home's heat source)

    image.jpg image.jpg
     
    JBumps, engerysaver and Handygeek like this.
  12. engerysaver

    engerysaver Real Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2011
    426
    130
    0
    Location:
    Tyler, Texas ; USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My latest adventure!!:)

    [​IMG]
     
    JBumps and LDPosse like this.
  13. sir spends a lot

    sir spends a lot New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2014
    8
    0
    0
    Location:
    fremont, mi
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I installed my :Reese Towpower 77179 Class I Insta-Hitch 1-1/4" Square Tube Receiver and
    CURT Manufacturing 56147 T-Connector for about $160 from amazon. You need the connector when you have LED lights. When I am pulling my 8ft trailer without anything on it I get about 32MPG. When I put my bike rack or the hitch with a stroller system I get about 38MPG. I put a bunch of flowers and landscape items on my trailer and got 29MPG for a 70 mile trip. I use it mostly to bring scraps to the dump. Hope this helps those who are researching if it's worth getting one.
     
  14. M in KC

    M in KC Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2014
    358
    106
    0
    Location:
    KC, MO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Ldposse new application for rolling coal! I love it!
     
  15. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,530
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Two thumbs up! LOL
     
  16. gary sciascia

    gary sciascia New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2014
    10
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I u
    I think I understand Handygeek . Some people give more constructive input than others. Maybe eventually you'll get the answers to the questions you pose. I didn't even think the prius could tow. Glad I read the thread. Thanks to all of the above, including maestro8, I think.
     
  17. gary sciascia

    gary sciascia New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2014
    10
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    can't have too much ground clearance, speed bumps, inclines, steep driveways,etc. So nobody ever answered which one looks better ?
     
  18. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2010
    5,194
    1,912
    0
    Location:
    Herefordshire England
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I am now a member of the towing brigade towing a caravan. Only done 380 miles so far at an average of 43 mpg (UK gallons) with the van in tow.
    The van "pictured below" is 19ft 8 inches overall length, 7ft 2 inches wide, 8ft 6 inches high. The unladen weight is 1792 lbs, and maximum gross weight is 2420 lbs.
    It has it's own electric drive to each wheel for parking in tight spaces, or driving up to the tow bar on the car. (no reversing the car into the draw bar) This is controlled by a hand held radio control controlling the drive direction of each wheel. This means you can spin the van round in it's own length driving one wheel forwards and the other in reverse. I believe this system is illegal in the US.
    The van is pulled well behind the Prius at 50 mph (the maximum legal speed limit in the UK for towing except on motorways where it is 60 mph) with no stability or braking problems, the van having it's on very efficient braking system.
    No pictures as yet attached to the car but these will follow after the next outing.
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    Reich Move Control english Image Video - YouTube
    Video starts about 2min 30seconds in.
    John (Britprius)
     
    #59 Britprius, Aug 7, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
    engerysaver likes this.
  19. engerysaver

    engerysaver Real Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2011
    426
    130
    0
    Location:
    Tyler, Texas ; USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Nice!!
    I like that!!:cool: