Featured Camp Inn - a PRIUS MotorHome

mileage rating?

I like that they moved the taillights and re-used the OEMs.

no bathroom = no wifey approval, so no good.

 

This is a 10-year old story already. Somewhat interesting, but was it a slow news day and this "writer" just decided to resurrect very old copy?

 

2012

Introducing the hideous Toyota Prius Camper Van

Google up "Prius camper" then click "Images" and most of the stories connected to the photo are from that time period. We've got threads in Prius Chat going back to that as well.

 

Very common trick in the RV world. Lots of RVs are built to use the electrical accessories of some common truck or van because it's much cheaper than designing, manufacturing & stocking their own.

 

Great option but I agree. My wife also wouldn’t agree with no bathroom which is why we did this. Because it does have a toilet. And a kitchen. And 4 beds.

 

Very nice, however isn't this risky to your Prius mechanical health? I know the Prius is not rated for towing at all; isn't a camper trailer quite a weight to pull, putting your "transmission" at risk, and risk voiding your warranty if Toyota figures it out? Do you know the weight of the trailer?

 

The trailer load is the same as driving up a steeper grade. The power-split transmission is very efficient and easily handles the load. In contrast, a mechanical transmission will have internal clutches and other energy wasting, wear mechanics. They are at risk from an additional load whereas the power-split transmission handles the extra load easily.

Bob Wilson

 

725kg on Prius gen4 so no drama. Unit I tow max is rated at the same value.
Only gen 1-3 not rated. This was one of my reasons for upgrade from my gen2

 

The gen4 put in a transmission cooler, so the Prius has a tow rating in other markets. But since Toyota says it's zero in the US, there is that risk with the warranty, and there is a risk with insurance if something goes wrong.

That is still lower than even smaller ICE cars in Europe; the Aveo with 1.4 turbo is rated 1100kg. It is still zero for the Prime/PHV there for completeness.

Europe and Australia have vastly different trailer regulations than the US. For one thing, they require trailer brakes at lower weights(IIRC, it is 500kg). The important difference is the tongue weight of the trailer. It is much lower, putting less weight on the car and the rear subframe. More importantly, loading the trailer for the lower tongue weight means it will get unstable at higher speeds, which is why cars with trailers have a hard speed limit of 60mph.

In the US, the tongue weight is double that of Europe and Australia. This makes the trailer stable at higher speeds. Cars + trailers doing 65+mph on our interstates isn't uncommon. So the US puts more weight on the car's rear, and the higher speeds mean stronger forces on that rear when accelerating and braking. Then the braking forces on the car and its brakes maybe even greater, because a heavier trailer may not have its own brakes.

The 750kg trailer weight is for the EU. If you follow their regulations for tongue weight, trailer brakes, and speed limits while towing, it will be fine doing so. Using US regulations means putting more strain than the car Toyota's engineers planned.

 

That’s a real surprise. I just had a look at the US brochure and I was surprised you guys are not even offered the tow bar pack.
I find it amazing that the towing spec considered safe in one country is dismissed in another.
I know that because of max weight constraint that certain packs cannot be combined but seriously the LE and the bus edition (uk) are the same

not allowed examples.
Awe + spare tyre
Awe + full leather
leather (either type) + moon roof + spare tyre
Awe + moon roof

in the UK you can get 15 inch tyres and spare across the entire range
In US not so much

 

Well, the EU way is still safe here, if you completely follow it. The issue is that the US is bigger with things more spread out. People wouldn't be content sticking to 60mph max on long trips, and likely be an obstruction on Interstates at that speed. going over 60mph with an EU spec trailer will have the rig in the ditch at best.

Of course, this gives dealers a chance to upsell a buyer to a SUV or truck.

Then many of the truck makers here adopted the SAE test for determining a trailer rating. It isn't easy, and many of the actual cars that could once tow here would likely have a reduced rating using it.
http://www.trucktrend.com/how-to/towing/1502-sae-j2807-tow-tests-the-standard
"To simulate some of the toughest conditions a truck and trailer combination will face, the J2807 “Highway Gradeability” tests take place on a well-known stretch of Arizona highway, the 11.4-mile-long Davis Dam Grade. If trucks are not tested on this specific stretch of steep road, they can be run in a simulation using a “climactic” wind tunnel. Ambient temperature plays a significant role in this test with a minimum temperature of 100 degrees(F) required at the base of the grade. In addition to a hot climate outside the truck, the test requires the air conditioning system to be set at maximum cold, with outside air selected (not recirculating) and the fan running at full blower speed.
...
To pass this test, a truck-and-trailer combination must be able to drive at 40 mph (35 mph for dualies) and never drop below that speed until the end of the test segment at the peak of Union Pass."
The elevation increases 3000ft in those 11.4 miles, and nothing can break on the truck, nor any warning lights. There are also tests for stability, acceleration, launching on grade, and braking.

 

Interesting. My trailer is rated at a max speed greater than 60mph but uk law won’t let me go faster. Lol

incidently I’m a bit rusty on interstate max speeds. How much faster than 60mph is your limit?

the tow test site gave this lol.

 

Searching SAE j2807 should get a place you see the details.

With many trailers, the tongue weight is determined by how you load it. Put the payload weight closer to the trailer front, and tongue weight goes up. So you can safely get your trailer going faster if loaded for it. Just that regulations are for lowest common denominator. 606mph is with a safety buffer. It may be at 65mph when the trailer starts swaying.

I take I95 to my parents. Up North the speed limit is 55mph, but it increases as you go south. By North Carolina it is at 70mph. Of course people are going faster than that.

 

Thank you. So pretty much the same limit as the UK. With the same issues with speeders. Incidentally the max speed of the camper is 85mph as it is on modern alloys 175/65/14 tongue weight of the Prius is 132 pounds

 

That's very interesting - I wasn't aware that the Gen 4 was tow rated in other regions. That's great!

North American bias I suppose....

There are nice features in other regions, like our Primes don't offer the solar roof (which is really cool but not really that useful overall given the low amount of charge it produces), and the power folding mirrors or the old Prius V (Alpha?) with a third row. But I digress and don't want to hijack the thread, lol..