Towing a trailer with my Prius v

Small loads 900 lbs or less, is OK!! Over 900 lbs , I would say it would be SAFER with electric brakes on your trailer or camper. It really depends on how you drive? It is SAFER to drive slow!!
It also depends on your load?

 

as I posted in another thread, I just installed a Torklift Ecohitch Stealth 2" hitch on my 2013 v/5. It was easy and took under an hour, unassisted apart from ramps under the rear wheels and wheel chocks behind the front ones. I will say that the directions are not the clearest, but they are correct. The only issue I have with them is that there are two bolts that go through the rear bumper support structure (a basically square tube of lightweight steel) to attach the support straps (not the main connection to the car, but an additional connection to provide more weight support and reduce the cantelevered load on the main connection) to the car. Torklift wants you to torque all the large bolts to 65 ftlb. On all the rest of them I did just that. However, my judgment was to stop torquing those at about 55 ftlb (unmeasured) because I felt I was inducing more strain into that piece than I felt is appropriate by going higher. I'll recheck the torques in about a week, but I'm comfortable with my install.

Good luck. In case it is unclear, I completely, without reservation, recommend this hitch. It was actually easier that the Hidden Hitch I installed on my 2011 Odyssey.

Oh, one more thing, you need a torque wrench and a variety of extenders. I used the ones from my 3/8" socket set, and a pair of reducer/adapters to go down from 1/2" (the torque wrench) and back up (the socket.) So, you do need a good, and complete set of the right tools, but that is true of any hitch install.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like Ecohitch for me.

 

Any mpg to report with the camper towing?

 

On our last trip we got 5.9 liter/100 km, normally we get about 5.3 l/100km ...not sure what it is in US mpg....about a 10% hit.

 

That is not bad

 

We also drove just under the posted speed limit. 100kph = 60 mph

 

A coworker also installed the ecohitch 2" on his 2013 liftback and was very happy with it. No trailer, he just wanted to be able to use a bike rack that was only available with 2" and did not want to have to use an adapter.

 

I ordered my torklift hitch to haul my wheelchair I'll post pics once I get it installed

Here it is with my wheel chair and it's a 2" hitch from torklift get stuff fit great too

 

Looks great how much does it weigh?

 

Hitch is lite but my chair and basket weight aprox 210 lbs

 

Sounds like me in the back seat...lol

 

Hello,

Any thoughts as to if the Prius v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) could pull a Honda AquaTrax® R-12X a couple times a year?

Dry weight on the ski alone is 746lbs.. I'd guess the trailer is ~150ish..
I'd say all combined <1000lbs..

all I'm looking for it to/from the ramp in the spring and fall.. at a distance of ~50 miles.. mostly flat terrain.
w/exception of at the ramp naturally.

I asked while at the dealership and they just looked at me like I was crazy.. I'd like to displace our 1992 Camry Wagon, which has preformed well with this task.. but I'd like to get some MPG's the rest of the year too.. Thanks in Advance.. -j

 

Tongue weight will be the main factor, and whether you can install a hitch capable of handling that weight.

 

yes, I'll need to research the hitch options.. I don't know the exact tongue weight, but would estimate between ~50-100lbs.

 

As you know, the manual says no, but not why not? Cooling of the engine and, separately, of the hybrid system power electronics, are two reasons besides braking capacity and transmission strength. That said, you can buy the hitch, rig the lights and probably be ok. I am waiting until the warranty on the hybrid system expires, particularly since some inverter failures have occurred even without the tell-tale receiver hitch in the back. The hybrid warranty is 100k miles.

 

Just don't be surprised if the tail wags the dog a bit, and keep it under 65mph.

 

Put the wheel of the tongue on the bathroom scale and if it is under 150-lbs no problem.

 

^ But when you encounter a steep hill, or have to hit the brakes, you're dealing with ALL the mass, not just the tongue weight.

 

It may be easier to move the scale tho !