Trailer hitch experience

I have never towed more than 500 pounds with my Prius V, the hitch is also a Curt. The load limit is probably
determined by braking rather than towing ability. The beauty of firewood is that it can always be divided
into smaller loads.

 

UK Gen 4 Prius is rated at 750kg which is about 1650lbs so you should be ok at 1500.

 

The Brink tow hitch sold by Toyota in the UK and Europe for the gen 4 Prius is extraordinarily different from the Curt and Draw-Tite tow hitches sold in the U.S. I suspect that the Brink hitch is stronger. It replaces the bumper beam behind the plastic bumper cover. It took me a while to realize that the installation diagrams really do show removing the bumper beam and putting it in a trash bin. The Brink hitch attaches with steel bars that run forward into the unit body support members on both sides of the spare tire well. The attachment method looks more robust and might allow more downward weight on the hitch, e.g. trailer tongue, bike rack, etc.

Installation instructions for the UK/Europe Prius tow hitch and for other accessories available in the UK/Europe for Toyota vehicles can be viewed without registering at https://www.toyota-tech.eu/

 

Are you sure about 750? I only ask because mine here in Germany is 725 Kg with a nose weight of 60 Kg.

If that's correct, it would be good to find out what the difference is then maybe I could get mine up-plated.

It's a pain when most light trailers are plated at 750 Kg. By rights, they expect me to down-plate my trailer, but I have been putting it off.

 

You're right, it is 725kg (1595lbs) not 750.

 

That's a bummer. 750 would have made life a little bit easier.

Almost every manufacturer builds their entry level light duty trailers with 750 Kg MAM.

I wonder why Toyota would choose 725 Kg as the MAM? It's daft.

 

I bought a Drae-Tite hitch and it rates the towing capacity @ 2,000 lbs.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Draw-Tite

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The rating of the hitch doesn't set the towing capacity, the manufacturer does, and it can change from one market to another.

Whatever is stamped on the hitch is irrelevant if the actual vehicle is not authorised to take it.

I could go out to the cave and weld together some beams and say it's good for 48 tons. That would rip the arse out of my Prius.

I guarantee that mine is plated for 725 Kg MAM.

 

Has anyone in the US installed and successfully used a Euro Towbars hitch (Thule BRiNK) on a US model Prius?

 

I realize this is an older thread, but, FWIW to US drivers: the last sentence in this statement in the 2022 OM will create insurance and warranty nightmares if you install any hitch.

 

I tow in the uk. See my profile pic

 

Uk rating is 725 for both gen4 models.

What are the towing capacities of the latest Toyota models? - Toyota UK Magazine

 

I don’t doubt the Prius could tow the weight. But with that statement in the US market’s OM, for drivers in the US, I doubt the wisdom of doing so, under our insurance laws.

 

True. It’s something to do with how you test I think. Despite being capable you are not allowed.
I wonder where the law sits if you imported a UK car into the USA

 

That is a good question.

 

Toyota often puts "do not tow" warnings in owners manuals for passenger cars sold in North America or specify lower towing limits for vehicles sold in North America than for vehicles sold in Europe.

For example, the owners manuals for two RWD "Toyota" Lexus V8 sedans we've owned said that towing was not recommended. The owners manuals for the same cars sold in Europe said that the towing limit was 2,000 kg (4,409 pounds) and had extensive instructions on how to tow safely; Our current Toyota Sienna is rated to tow 3,500 pounds (1,586 kg) but the exact same Sienna is rated to tow 2,000 kg / 4,409 pounds in Europe.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits Toyota from denying a warranty claim due to the installation of a tow hitch unless Toyota can proof that the tow hitch caused component failure.

 

What we have in the Prius manual is Toyota clearly stating “not designed” which opens up a can of worms when it comes to owner liability: you’re traveling down the road with your trailer and miss judge the distance, slam on the brakes and rear end some one. Then it comes out you are towing with a vehicle that was not designed for it. Ask your insurance carrier what they would do in such a situation. Just for information sake. I would even ask them what they would do if they were representing the vehicle that was rear ended.

 

I think there is an argument there… it’s more about “not authorised” rather than “not designed” in the US. The vehicle is capable in other countries without spec modification.