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Is it safe to tow with a Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by oil_burner, Jan 31, 2019.

  1. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    Well I have been regularly towing between 800-1500lbs for the last 60k on my Prius and the head gasket is starting to leak at 275k. The car still runs fine and gets 35mpg. I have also driven this car very hard, as I commuted through a mountain pass everyday for 8 months that involved holding the gas pedal to the floor for about 1 hour straight each day. So I am actually quite pleased that this engine lasted for so long. I was able to sell my catalytic convertor for $400 and get a junkyard motor with 80k miles for only $600, so I will put that in next month and see how much longer the rest of the powertrain will last.

    This is my heaviest tow, I don't know the weight but I am guessing over 2500lbs along rural roads. The Prius had no trouble, even climbing a steep ramp from the woodshed.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 oil_burner, Jan 31, 2019
    bisco, TomB985, George W and 1 other person like this.
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #2 JimboPalmer, Jan 31, 2019
  3. oldtechaa

    oldtechaa Active Member

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    #3 oldtechaa, Jan 31, 2019
    SFO likes this.
  4. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Good thing you didn’t have to stop quick
     
    #4 Skibob, Jan 31, 2019
    kenoarto likes this.
  5. George W

    George W Active Member

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    Is that a repurposed truck bed? How do you have it attached?
     
    #5 George W, Feb 3, 2019
  6. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    its a tent trailer that someone repurposed into a utility trailer by putting plywood on the frame.
     
    #6 oil_burner, Feb 4, 2019
  7. Paul Schenck

    Paul Schenck Active Member

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    The rule book says no. Now lets Break them! I got a 2" hitch for mine and have worked My car like a truck since i got it now over 550,000 miles. The tongue weight when breaking can get way over the load limit for the vehicle pretty quick. even so though I have done the 4000 foot California grapevine with over 2000 lb. being very careful to keep 2 + bars on the battery and keep the RPM at the 3500 sweet-spot and not push it to its 5000 rpm limit. At 397,000 I got a totaled 2006 for $1000 and have been scavenging it for parts for years what fun Ive had in my garage.
     
    #7 Paul Schenck, Feb 6, 2019
    bisco and George W like this.
  8. oil_burner

    oil_burner Active Member

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    yes you do have to be careful with the tongue weight and not overload the hitch. Personally I've had a tongue weight of about 180lb before and the rear was close to bottoming out, but not quite.
     
    #8 oil_burner, Feb 7, 2019
    Paul Schenck likes this.
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