One of the other things I wanted to get some input on is a hitch for transporting a electric wheelchair and/or a trike. I have a Worksman pedal trike that I love to take places to ride. It folds in half and fits in the back of my Prius v. The downside is that I have to get someone to move the trike in and out for me. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and am facing foot surgery this winter. I have been given an electric wheelchair that I plan to use while recovering. I work 20+ miles from home and having someone take me to work would not be easy. So I would need a way to transport a wheelchair myself. I have seen hitches that people use for both devices. They are designed so that a chair/scooter/bike is ridden on, then cranked up out of the way. I am wondering if this would be ok to use them on a Prius v? The owners manual cautions against hitches. Our other car is a blizzard Toyota Solara convertible. We have the last year it was made and it is almost identical to the Lexus model. We actually have "equality" in the car and have almost paid it off. Would it better tolerate the use of the type of hitch I'm considering? Although I'm not too keen on modifying it. I know better then to try to tow *anything* with either cars. Also the tongue weight should not be too bad. We've towed large trailers with a F150 so I do know some of the basics though I always make the husband back in a camper. Thoughts?
By far your best source of info is a local lift shop who specializes in handicap lifts and hardware. Most electric scooters with lift weigh in at 200+ lb, so you're pushing the limits there for a hitch setup. But they make and sell a wide range of other gear that doesn't use a receiver hitch.
Thisxhitch came off my 2006 gen 2 Prius... worked great. lubbock for sale / wanted classifieds "PRIUS RECEIVER HITCH" - craigslist
That is a lot of weight for a Prius v. If you decide to get a hitch: Torklift Central Eco-Hitch Stealth 2" 2012+ Toyota Prius V Trailer Hitch | Torklift Central
Yes you can get a hitch for a Prius v. Quite a few have done it and there is some consensus that short trips that exclude mountain passes in a properly loaded vehicle would not cause a problem. In fact the video below shows one being installed on a 2012 Prius v. There has been lots of debate about Toyota's recommendation not to install a hitch. The usual issues: 1. Total vehicle loading should be limited to 915 lbs which includes passengers and cargo. Possible downside - have to substitute the chair for Aunt Blabby 2. Towing over long mountain uphills "could" exhaust the HV battery, which then limits the car to the 1.8 liter engine. Possible downside: slower speeds on long uphills. 3. Descending long mountain stretches with a heavy load could quickly fill your regenerative storage capacity forcing you to (gasp) use engine braking (the B position) and the brakes. Possible downside: slower speeds on the some downhills and increased brake wear. 4. "Could" void the warranty, if you still have one. Possible downside: You have to wait until the warranty expires or take a chance. Some have said that Federal law prohibits a manufacturer from voiding a warranty on unrelated items. Torklift Central - EcoHitch® |Chevrolet Volt|Nissan Leaf|Mitsubishi I-Miev|Subaru Outback|Toyota Prius|Prius V|Prius C|Hitch|Seattle|Kent|Auburn|Puyallup|Tacoma|Renton|Covington|Sumner|Bellevue|Burien|Enumclaw|WA Prius v Load Capacity and Towing Recommendation:
I put that exact hitch on our v about 3 weeks ago. Easy to install and is almost totally hidden. We don't put much tongue weight on it, but it is rated for up to 350, although I'd never push it anywhere close to that, at least not w/o beefing up the suspension. Not worried about the warranty issue since the manual only says "not recommended". It does not say "not allowed", "Strictly prohibited", etc.
Just discovered this thread. This is exactly what I need for the Convertible project to hold my 4-bike hitch mounted rack. It s made for a 2" receiver which I haven't found anywhere else. Bill the Engineer
We have a hitch that the Dealer installed for a luggage rack. And we just came back from a Road Trip that took us from San Jose to Boston MA and back (over 6000 miles). We had a Very Full Car, and the weight didn't bother the Prius at all. No problems climbing hills or coming down steep ones, and we had some very steep hills. We got 36 MPG even going 70+ on the interstate. The dealer was reluctant until we told him No Towing, just luggage rack and eventually an electric scooter for the hubby. Both are apparently within the scope of acceptable uses. NOTE - The car will be back heavy, be sure to check rear ground clearances. We did have to be careful with some driveways, and the bottom of the luggage rack has some good scrapes on it now. Yes, we got the v because the 2005 hatchback couldn't hold all our stuff for the Long Road Trips. Looking for many more years with both Prii.
Hope there are still people reading this thread. I want to retrofit my 2013 Prius V so I can load my Quickie 2 ultralightweight manual chair myself. It fits into the back seat through the door and also into the cargo area. BUT I don't really have the strength to lift it. I can stand for short periods of time, walk with a walker, but my shoulders are already unhappy with only a few months of walkers and wheelchairs. I've been told Prius will not take a hoist because of the frame design. I think a little electric winch and a narrow ramp might do the trick. I'd really like to be able to drive independently. Anyone have any ideas?
It appears you can get a manual or electric hitch mounted rack. See link. Of course you also add a hitch as described above. Scooter Carriers and Wheelchair Carriers for Cars | DiscountRamps.com
Any ramps options? Aluminum folding etc. Such as ATV ramps used with pickup trucks to wheel the Trike et al into the rear Prius storage area.
