Toyota Annouces Towing Package for 2016 Prius

agreed, bad news.

 

Curious: how would you tow anything without a) blocking the rear view camera, and b) getting a constant alert from the proximity sensors at the back?

 

If there is a towing package, there will probably be an update to Entune that will allow the car to be in towing mode so the sensors don't go off. Just a guess...

 

and a remote camera to velcro onto the back of the trailer.

 

You would block the rear view camera, same thing that happens on any vehicle with a trailer and a rear view camera.

As far as the Intelligent Clearance Sonar, I would guess that (with the European wiring that Toyota sells - not useful here unless you would wire your own trailers to the European standard) either the trailer is detected (based on current draw, most likely) and it's automatically disabled, or if it's not detected or you don't have that wiring, you just turn it off in the multi-information display (I'd have to check a European manual to see whether it can actually detect a trailer, though) - the US owner's manual says how to turn it off.

 

A) You look out the back windows and use the mirrors like you're suppose to.
B) They only activate (beep) in Reverse.

I like to use the rear view camera to check my load on my CMax (not tow rated but 3rd party hitches are available).

 

I havn't heard this to be a factory option here in the Americas. I went to the "build" section on Toyota's site but see no choice for a towing package.

New Toyota Prius Tech Adds Towing Capacity

Toyota Offers Tow Package For 2016 Prius | Specs, News | Digital Trends

 

Lots of cars in Europe are rated to tow when they're not rated to tow here, because of European tow ratings often not accounting for much beyond whether the car can start uphill on a grade.

Curt has a hitch available, but I'd want to see another couple chassis attachment points added to it, to mirror how the Toyota European market hitch attaches to the chassis.

 

The Curt is a nice hitch. Somewhat involved to install yourself tho.

 

Another (very brief) article about the towing option:

2016 Toyota Prius Has Got Pickup Truck DNA

(not sure where that title came from )

 

When trailer light / brake wiring is plugged into my 11 F150, the proximity sensors are automatically deactivated.

 

Same thing that happens on my tow rig- you simply don't use the rear camera. There is a button on every one of my other cars to disable the proximity sensor- there has to be one w/this package.

 

Could some of our UK owners check on the tow package part number and price?

I might be interested in buying one.

Bob Wilson

 

For Gen 4? It may not necessarily fit the Prime. At least, not without modification.

 

I am interested as well... The official Toyota Australia line is that PRIUS isn't approved for towing. I wonder if the UK models have specific ECU firmware or other modifications to allow towing?

 

The Prime's significantly longer, so the European towing package hardware may not be the best bet for it...

Also, it's not going to give you an American-style receiver, it'll instead give you a swan neck ball.

The towbars are PW960-47000 for a fixed ball (bolts to the towbar), or PW960-47001 for a removable ball.

Installation instructions for PW960-47000: https://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/ddb78e80-fa88-40cd-935f-c979fce0f76a/Prius_THF_PW960_47000_AIM_003_556_0.pdf
And for PW960-47001: https://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/928183ed-f94b-4315-b786-724a4f9af782/Prius_Towing Hitch Detachable_PW960-47001_AIM 003 554-1.pdf

You'll need to copy and paste that second URL, the forums aren't cooperating.