Towing a Prius Prime behind an RV

1. The main confusion I have centers around the parking brake and whether I should turn ignition to accessory position? Some say to release the parking brake where others say to engage the parking brake/? which is it?

Towing with the front wheels on a dolly is THE way for use behind an rv. Parking brake OFF.

IF you were a tow truck driver with a flatbed, all four wheels would be off the ground. Then you would engage the brake.

2. If ignition is on accessory position, will it significantly drain the battery even if you turn off the AC and radio? These are what I am confused about.

YES it would. Towing behind an RV with front wheels on the dolly would be with ignition OFF.

3. Realize there are EMERGENCY situations where you might pull the car with a chain or tow rope. With all four wheels on the ground. Not recommended but the manual addresses this case. In this emergency case, with a driver in the disabled vehicle, you turn on the ignition so the driver can steer and brake. The manual says use the ON position so the driver can steer. In Neutral. You disengage the emergency brake. Short distance 18
mph max. This is not your use case.

4. The situation is different if your Prius was awd. Then all four wheels have to be off the ground. Most tow truck drivers these days default to this method regardless. This is not your case.

5. You don't have an "automatic" emergency brake so that variable does not apply. You simply release the emergency brake and tow with the car ignition Off.

Most of the replies above are correct but first few with questions may not be confidence inspiring. Trollbait's response was wrong but he was probably trying to be funny.

Yes I have done it. But I would suggest talking to the service manager (not advisor) or their Master Mechanic.

 

The video shows multiple towing styles, but then shows a graphic checklist that would really only apply to a towbar/flat tow situation. The dolly tow and full transporter tow deserve their own graphic checklists.

I'll stop short of saying that the video is wrong, but after having watched it I completely understand why you are confused.

 

Again, the only time the ignition would be on and the wheel would be unlocked is an emergency situation when you're pulling the car with all four wheels on the ground.

Here is a uhaul instruction and video on the use of a towing dolly:



Video:

Pay particular attention at time 1:30 in the video

 

yeah, that key in the ignition right after showing a gen 4 prius on a dolly is really confusing

 

I've rented that trailer before, and I have successfully moved a number of cars by doing exactly what they say in here.

Your own car dolly shouldn't be any different.

 

If your using a dolly; similar to the U-haul one above.
1. Once on the dolly and front tires strapped down. Ignition off
2. Transmission in Park
3. Parking brakes OFF
4. make sure the trailer lights are working. Put your Prime FOB in a Faraday bag. It wouldn't hurt if you brought along a jump pack; Just in case.

FWD Only!!! AWD require all four wheels off the ground.

You may want to engage the Prime's parking brakes and drag it for 20 yards. That way you'll know what it feels like, if you forgot to release the parking brakes. You'll find that you will need to get the RV's RPMs up quite a bit to get it going - but at least you'll know something is wrong; before you fry the rear pads on your Prime.

Have a safe trip....

 

No need to. Just temporarily deactivate the FOB

Key Fob deactivating | PriusChat

 

No. Just the automatic steering lock like the instructions shown above indicate.

 

No need to, once the front wheels are in the dolly wheel pockets and strapped down. The steering wheel, anti-thief lock will keep the wheels straight. The only way for the car to start crabbing, while being towed - if you angled the car onto the dolly. I believe you'd have a very difficult time strapping down the tires.

 

You never say what your motorhome is rated to tow? Our turbo diesel motorhome can 'tow' 7,500 lb. The Chevy Volt we tow front wheels up is thousands of lbs less.
Also, don't forget to account for the vehicle payload. That becomes part of Towing equation as well
.