How not to trailer

[oil pan 4]

Wow I didn't know the prius didn't have a tow rating.
In the U.S. if the vehicle doesn't have a tow rating here that means you better not tow anything or you better not get caught.

[gumby79]

The Nissan Leaf has a 0 tow rating as well.

With the new SAE J2807 protocols I don't see to many eco boxes getting a rating. Any vehicle raited over 1500 must be equipped with a brake controller. The new rating system the vehicle must proform under real world conditions and be leagal. One specification is the ability to stop and start in both directions at max rated multiple times.

The standard outlines dynamic and performance criteria as it relates to a given vehicle (it applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and light-duty trucks up to 19,400 lb GCWR [Class 5]). Examples within it include various tests conducted while towing and mandates certain temperatures, speed, and accessories operating, including climbing the infamous Davis Dam Grade on the Arizona-Nevada border while maintaining 40 mph (64 km/h) for single-rear-wheel trucks and 35 mph (56 km/h) for those with dual rear wheels. Also included are a constant-radius understeer test while increasing speed and a sway maneuver using aggressive steering input.

[gone-ot]

Q: what happens when then european model(s) have trailering capabilities, but the exact same USA model doesn't, ie: current 2017 Prius ! ! !

[oil pan 4]

The reason for the euro tow rating versus no US rating is:
Euros do the unthinkable, they actually slow down while towing.
They will put a break controller in a car, unthinkable in the US.
Most if not all of them have to have some kind of trailering class before they can tow.

So in the US everything need to be designed for idiots exceeding the speed limit with no trailer brakes while towing.

[gumby79]

Old tele
In Europe your insurance coveret the "leagal "trailing accident. In the us you broke the rules accepting full responsibility for your illegal choices and your ins gos up, Of the old man that you bump has a heart attack it could be murder charges. With the same car made for different markets, aka different specifications.
Duse the EU require proof of concept on tow rating?or is it a magic number pulled from a hat like the US used to be?
Can an EU prius pass the SAE J 2807?

Oil pan
How much was that load under the rating , that inspired you to rebuild your trailer with brakes this time.

. And the mild 800lb gross trailer weight was pushing the car around a lot more than I would have liked when I tried to stop.

. If any I'd say the magic rating number from the hat was high by the new standard. I think the SAE J2807 is more to force honesty out of the manufacturer. No more selling a truck with a 5/10,000lbs rating tow package that is only leagal for 1499lbs. Or needs a bigger radiator, trans cooler,etc

[Sjoegerd]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

Q: what happens when then european model(s) have trailering capabilities, but the exact same USA model doesn't, ie: current 2017 Prius ! ! !

The 2017 Prius has an towing capacity of about 750 kgs in the Netherlands. So that is not much. (about 1600 pounds?)

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by gumby79

Oil pan
How much was that load under the rating , that inspired you to rebuild your trailer with brakes this time.

Both cars are rated for 2,000lb. I was towing 800lb gross long distance and I noticed that it was pushing the car around any time I would try to stop.
Then when I was towing 1,000lb gross with my corvette brake equipped firebird I noticed the trailer pushing me around and I even locked up my ultra high performance summer only tires.

I read several articles on J2807, they all said exactly the same thing, except for this one, which actually quantified values.
http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/bl...ngs-explained/

Now I see why they refer to it as "that dam test".
It's going to absolutely murder a lot of these crazy tow ratings we see.

I'm sure my firebird could do it. I had no problems maintaining 75mph in 6th gear going over the mountains in Virginia and Tennessee on I-81 and I-40 with my trailer loaded with around 600lb.

[gone-ot]

The dichotomy between EU-spec'd towing capability and USA-NON-spec towing incapability reminds me of saying we had in Vietnam when we were issued GENEVA "Non-Combatant Cards", "...hold it up and see what caliber bullets it protects you against..."

In other words, it's just a "paper game", something to check the necessary "box" somewhere on some useless form.

[Fingie]

a guy here at 'yota said the HSD does not like excessive weight, and that the body isn't rigid enough in the long run of using a trailer.


And priuses until the latest gen are not allowed to tow here in eu area.


A trailer here has also mandatory insurance, it's separate from car.

If it has brakes, it must be inspected.

(trailer accidents rare here, though. I guess having some laws is good sometimes)

My war wagon can legally pull 400kg with non-brake trailer, and 1000kg with a braked trailer.

[redpoint5]

I towed a yard of dirt (1800 lbs) with my Prius. I regularly tow a jetski in the summer. No trailer brake. I just leave a much larger gap in front of me and begin braking much sooner. I'm so gradual with the brakes that I only use regenerative braking instead of friction.

I also didn't use a light controller, and instead wired the LEDs directly into the existing wiring. No turn signals, but the running and brake lights work.