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

Prius Towing Capacity

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by vicrod16, Jul 7, 2009.

  1. vicrod16

    vicrod16 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Is the Prius rating for towing at all?
    I have yet to find any published info.
    Have a very small trailer, log splitter type.
    My best guess is that installing a hitch is the issue.
    Please confirm that I am only half an idiot.
    Thanks!
     
    #1 vicrod16, Jul 7, 2009
  2. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,985
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    It's in your owners manual. Towing is "not recommended". Lots of people do tow with Prius with no problems. Hitches are available. The standard knowledge is to keep the towed weight below about 50% of the weight of the Prius. So 1500 lbs max. Some owners have exceeded even that with the GII model without any reported problems. Your small trailer sounds like it would not cause any problems, providing it's done properly.
     
    #2 David Beale, Jul 7, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  3. lefat1

    lefat1 Fat Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2007
    1,476
    47
    0
    Location:
    Sunny S. Florida
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    there are hitches available, towing is limited. common sense would figure somewhere around the same as 5 adults plus a little more would be fine.
     
    #3 lefat1, Jul 7, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  4. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2007
    10,664
    567
    0
    Location:
    Adelaide South Australia
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    In some jurisdictions it might be illegal to tow with a Prius. This is the case in Australia. It is an offence here to exceed the towing capacity of the towing vehicle. The towing capacity of a Prius is 0kg.
     
    #4 patsparks, Jul 7, 2009
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,341
    920
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    I wouldn't exceed 500lbs personally, and if I chose to tow that amount of weight, I wouldn't do so w/ passengers. Simple reason being the "transmission" and brakes were not designed for the additional weight.
     
    #5 HTMLSpinnr, Jul 8, 2009
  6. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2004
    9,159
    3,565
    0
    Location:
    Kunming Yunnan China
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Accumlated experience on this matter can be tapped in the Yahoo group called priustrailers
     
    #6 tochatihu, Jul 8, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)