Towing a Prius Prime behind an RV

is there anything in the owners manual?

 

On a dolly, there should be NO disagreement about what is the "right" way to do it.
Front wheels on the dolly, rear wheels on the ground.
What exactly are you worried about ??

 

I’ll vote car off and parking braking off. The latter in particular seems very obvious.

Would the RV’s brake lights be obscured by the Prius?

 

If the rear wheels are on the ground, the obvious answer is to release the parking brake. Don't know why you would want the car accessories to be on. It's going to turn off by itself anyway...

As for the Prius blocking the RV lights, you can get magnetic brake lights that you put on the roof of the car if that's the case. Although I would worry of it leaving scratch marks on the paint.

 

IF......the parking brake is on the rear wheels, of course it needs to be OFF.

BUT......if it is electrically operated and automatically engaged when the engine is OFF.......then what ??

Seems like I remember that Neutral is there mostly for this exact situation and putting it in N should release the
brake if it is automatically engaged in Park.

 

I've never towed a Prime, but everything I've read suggests that they are "normal cars" from the perspective of a tow dolly, just like every other Prius.

Thus, the instructions that come with the tow dolly are to be observed, and for safety's sake should be considered the superseding authority.

In a nutshell, the car should be OFF with the parking brake OFF for compatibility with a tow dolly.

A detail: You may find that you need to keep the car keyfobs in an RF-tight enclosure. If you have the smart key system, the car notices you approaching and starts waking up systems. But if you are towing the car in an RV, you are never actually that far away from it. The car could get confused and that confusion could drain the 12v battery inappropriately.

 

In my 2017 Prime, it's a pull string and not an electrical parking brake.

 

You can hold both buttons (I think that's the combination) at the same time to deactivate the FOB so this doesn't happen.

 

Why hasn't anybody suggested flat towing it to charge the battery?
I'm so disappointed.

 

And then run an inverter to the RV, to power stuff.

 

towing-a-prius

 

Install a battery bank for power in the RV.
Then top it all off with solar panels.

 

The typical tow dolly has its own complete lighting system integrated into the trailer unit.

There is no need to alter the towed car beyond strapping its front tires to the dolly deck.

 

I think only a tire shop owner would suggest setting the parking brake...you'll need new rear tires in a block or two.

Ignition accessory position? Why in the world? Anyway, it can't work. The accessory function shuts itself off after a few minutes to save the charge in the 12v battery.

 

I guess using a dolley for the rear wheels or on a flat bed are the only exception to have the parking brake activated.

 

Read the manual. With the Prime being Front Wheel drive and not AWD, the front only has to be on a dolly.

Disengage the parking brake.

There are separate emergency towing rules for short distances at 18 mph or below.

 

understood, no rudeness taken, all the best!