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

Gen 3 Towing a Uhaul 5x8

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by TADFAR, May 26, 2016.

  1. TADFAR

    TADFAR Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2007
    6
    10
    0
    Uhaul.JPG

    Just thought i would show it is possible to tow with a Prius. Got the hitch installed at Ocala Uhaul, they were the only one in Florida that had it in stock. Returned home from Afghanistan in SEP 15, and had a new house to furnish. I was trying to trade my 14 Prius in on a truck, but since gas is lower they were only offering $13,500.00 trade 26k miles 2014 Prius Five Package, so decided to keep the Prius. Looked on You Tube and there was video of dude towing a Boston Whaler with a Prius. Turns out he lives in my neighborhood.
    So i had the hitch installed, and then furnished my 5 bedroom house with Tommy Bahama (Heavy) furniture purchased from Miami to Tallahassee, Naples to Jacksonville, I live in Orange Park, Fl.

    I did over 6,000 miles with a Uhaul 5x8 with furniture in it in the months of Sep and OCT. Mileage dropped to 22 mpg. I was cruising at 65-75mph and had no problems at all. I was amazed how ell it towed on the HWY, I used to tow with my 2006 corolla and the Prius handled the load better. Tracked straight. Just leave more room to stop and you will be fine.

    i believe with the money i saved by not buying a truck i am going to get a boat now, either a 15 Whaler or a 16 Hewes Bayfisher
     
    akmaz, scona, imOCD4a_prius and 6 others like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    well done!(y)
     
  3. grnd0

    grnd0 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2016
    42
    26
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    You know there would be legal issues if you had an accident.
     
  4. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,516
    1,789
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    There are ALWAYS legal issues when you have an accident...
     
  5. andino

    andino Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2009
    746
    550
    0
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hmm I'm going to have to move from my current place come sept. Maybe I'll just rent one of these and tow it all! Though I'd probably have to raise my car up.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what legal issues?
     
    imOCD4a_prius likes this.
  7. sw1tch

    sw1tch Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    5
    3
    0
    Location:
    Midwest
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Just thought I'd throw in my experience towing a 5x8 with my 2010:

    IMG_20171022_110113736_HDR.jpg
    IMG_20171023_103756314_HDR.jpg

    IMG_20171024_070625822.jpg

    IMG_20171024_070652545.jpg

    I towed for a total of ~ 1,400 miles. Half of the trip was with an empty trailer. The trip back was loaded with a full car and a loaded trailer.

    With the empty trailer I went about 60-65mph and averaged ~ 28 mpg.
    With the loaded trailer and car, I went about 55-60mph and averaged ~ 29 mpg. I even had a stint where I averaged ~ 33 mpg due to having a strong tailwind and a section with a side/headwind where I got 23 mpg.

    The fill-ups were all logged in fuelly (really brought down my average).
     
    #7 sw1tch, Oct 29, 2017
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2017
    akmaz, bisco and kc410 like this.
  8. Ford Galaxie

    Ford Galaxie Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2018
    36
    22
    1
    Location:
    Rome, GA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    V
    Unnamed1 | PriusChatAdd me to the list. Crown Point, IN to Cartersville, GA - any way I get there, I have to climb a mountain. 630 miles. I've used 4X8's and this time with this vehicle pulling a 5X8. Avg 27.8 MPG. Drove it like a Swift /JB Hunt/ Schneider truck - and tailed many. Never over 62mph, mostly 55-60 and easy on hills, often dropping to 47-48mph. Monitored it with an Ultragauge. Curt hitch and Firestone air bags blown to 25psi. . Ran tire pressure at 40 in the rear, 35 in the front.
     
    #8 Ford Galaxie, Aug 19, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2018
  9. Baryonyx

    Baryonyx New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2019
    21
    12
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hello!

    Dropping in with a couple of questions.
    (Sorry if this counts as a necropost, I didn't want to start a whole new thread just in case.)

    I'm going to be moving from Arizona to Oregon in the next month or two. Exploring all options, I found some people have used a 2010 Prius for towing. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions for doing that safely on this trip. (Even simple things, like should we drive at night to avoid as much traffic as possible?)

    Thanks in advance!
     
  10. Nopho4u

    Nopho4u Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2016
    1,007
    2,061
    0
    Location:
    Socal son
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    Great job on not needing to buy a truck but a boat is a even worse investment than a truck. Let me guess you are also looking into a motorcycle
     
  11. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    After towing with your Gen 3, how’s your oil consumption now?
     
  12. akmaz

    akmaz New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2021
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III

    I WONDER WHAT CLASS YOU HAD FOR PRIUS. I PUTTED MY PRIUS CLASS I AND I WILL RENT END OF THE MONTH 5X8 UHAUL TRAILER. DO YOU THINK IT WILL WORK ? COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT WAS YOURS?
     
  13. akmaz

    akmaz New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2021
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Boston
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III


    I WONDER WHAT CLASS YOU HAD FOR PRIUS. I PUTTED MY PRIUS CLASS I AND I WILL RENT END OF THE MONTH 5X8 UHAUL TRAILER. DO YOU THINK IT WILL WORK ? COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT WAS YOURS?