Community Forums

Bernardo · 08-04-2013, 11:52 AM

I try to tow my Toyota Prius behind my 28' Daybreak Thor motorcoach.
There is any possibility
Thanks

**CLIFFTALL** · 08-04-2013, 11:59 AM

Welcome to irv2. I moved your post here to get a better answer.
Cliff

RickO · 08-04-2013, 12:11 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum.

From your post, I can't figure out if you're asking if your Prius can be towed four down or if you're asking if your coach can handle towing the weight.

You should have a plaque in your coach listing your allowable weights. You'll want to check on what your current weight is when you're loaded for travel and then learn the weight of your Prius... add it to the weight of your loaded coach... and see if you're still under the CGVWR listed on your plaque. Your hitch should also be stamped somewhere with how much weight it is designed to tow.

Both Motorhome Magazine and Remco publish towing guides which will tell you if your Prius can be towed four down.

Good luck.

Rick

Ramblin · 08-04-2013, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernardo

I try to tow my Toyota Prius behind my 28' Daybreak Thor motorcoach.
There is any possibility
Thanks

To my knowledge, hybrids can't be towed 4 down, but you could tow it on a dolly or trailer.

Sky_Boss · 08-04-2013, 12:50 PM

The Prius can NOT be towed 4 down. It can be towed with the front wheels on a dolly.

I doubt that you should have a problem with GCWR. The Prius curb weight (around 3000#) is well below your 5000# hitch rating and even adding the weight of a tow dolly won't get you close to your hitch weight.

**CountryFit** · 08-04-2013, 04:32 PM

when i was looking for a toad, prius was the first one on my radar, unfortunately i quickly found out it was prohibited from being towed 4 wheel down otherwise the transmission will be severely damaged. the only thing you can do is, just as others mentioned, you can put front wheel on a dolly or the entire car on a trailer so be towed. however, that was based on the assumption of the engine being shut down. if you don't mind gas and odometer rolling, you can let engine idle and still tow it dinghy.

search on this board you will see a lot of posts on this topic. good luck to your finding your future toad.

AtecMike · 08-05-2013, 09:12 AM

What year prius do you have? I have a 03 and want to tow it 4 down. I think if I idle it or run the 12v hybrid cooling system pump and transaxle in neutral it will be ok without damage. Have not tried this still working on the tow plate.

Sky_Boss · 08-05-2013, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtecMike

What year prius do you have? I have a 03 and want to tow it 4 down. I think if I idle it or run the 12v hybrid cooling system pump and transaxle in neutral it will be ok without damage. Have not tried this still working on the tow plate.

Good luck!

The 2003 owners manual says on page 183:

NOTICE
Never tow a vehicle from the rear
with the front wheels on the ground,
as this may cause serious damage to
the transmission.

EDIT: OK...I re-read the NOTICE and that is only if you tow it backwards.

Never the less, page 182 says that unless it is an emergency it should only be towed with a lift with the front wheels off the ground, from the rear with the front wheels on a dolly or via flat bad truck. There is nothing in the manual that remotely suggests it can be towed 4 down except for very short distance at very slow speed.

tlkhorses · 08-05-2013, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin

To my knowledge, hybrids can't be towed 4 down, but you could tow it on a dolly or trailer.

Ford C-Max can be towed four down.

**CountryFit** · 08-05-2013, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtecMike

What year prius do you have? I have a 03 and want to tow it 4 down. I think if I idle it or run the 12v hybrid cooling system pump and transaxle in neutral it will be ok without damage. Have not tried this still working on the tow plate.

this will work. the key is the fluid circulation. when you idle the engine, it's just like a regular driving on the road.

Ramblin · 08-05-2013, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlkhorses

Ford C-Max can be towed four down.

I stand corrected. Thanks.

AtecMike · 08-06-2013, 06:48 AM

Thank you all for the input. I have a manual and other books on my 10 year old Prius with 170k miles I drive it most days. I am a do it yourselfer I have replaced several parts hybrid batt, inverter water pump. The manual is limited to only telling you to take it to Toyota. I do not want to damage it and do not want to use a tow dolly. I just want to know if anybody has more experience towing a 03 prius 4 wheel down. Thanks

**CountryFit** · 08-06-2013, 10:47 AM

you will be the first one

Please do keep us informed on how it goes.
I thought it over, there will be a tackle you have to take - while being towed and idling (in theory), how to keep engine/motor running so to circulate the fluid? no press on the gas pedal yet

AtecMike · 08-06-2013, 12:18 PM

The water pump is 12v and runs when key is on circulates coolant for inverter, transaxle, converter it is a separate cooling system with radiator. I suppose I can use 12v from MH.