Towing With A Gen III Prius. Have You Done It?

[Angel And The Wolf]

Any problems with the Prius?

[redpoint5]

https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...tml#post548976

https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...tml#post556816

[Angel And The Wolf]

Thanks, Redpoint. We've made a 4000 mile round trip with the Prius loaded to the gills with loaded U Haul boxes, and this trip is planned using about 2/3rds of those boxes (and less than 200 pounds of trailer and carrier box). I know the car's suspension will be less taxed by moving the load to a trailer. I just wanted to know if anyone has experienced any mechanical problems with the drive train doing what Toyota says is verboten.

[redpoint5]

I would probably try to fit everything interior if you can, and it doesn't exceed say 1,200 lbs. It's extra strain on the suspension, but less strain on the motor since a trailer ads aero drag.

If you go with a trailer, Filling the box to the top or covering it will make it much more aerodynamic and put less strain on the motor.

I've pulled jetskis maybe an hour away on winding roads with no issue, and compost dirt only 10 minutes away with no issues.

What are you pulling?

[Angel And The Wolf]

It won't be an open box. I have an X Cargo 20 cu. ft. cartop carrier I plan to mount backwards on a 40 x 48 Harbor Freight trailer (stretched to 40 x 67 to undrlay the whole carrier) Much like this drawing. I'll mount the tongue as short as possible to allow full lock turns without hitting. (I will park where I don't have to back up.)

[redpoint5]

That will be cake to pull. How much total weight are we talkin?

[Angel And The Wolf]

Don't know, yet. Haven't packed. Might be a good idea to do that and weigh the cargo.
The trailer is about 150 Lbs. The carrier is 34 Lbs.
Might do PVC hoops and some kind of smooth fabric to make a conical air divertor forward of the carrier coming to a point just behind the coupler.

[freebeard]

Air over a tarpaulin or whatever has problems (buffeting). A vertical wall between the tow vehicle and the trailer will block crosswinds. Vortex traps in the lower right:

[slowmover]

The load in the trailer always trumps putting the same load in the car.

And they DONT say it’s forbidden. Only that they cannot recommend it. Big difference.

The easier the road (Interstate) the less it would concern me. Tires on the car will heat higher than those on the trailer. That’s normal.

As the trailer presents no forward wind load of consequence, it’s only the crosswinds. Natural & man-made.

Choose your routing. Post it. There’s always meat on that bone.

.

[Angel And The Wolf]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Air over a tarpaulin or whatever has problems (buffeting).

Yes, I should find a flexible material, such as that used for kitchen cutting pads. Something light that would bend around a vertical post near the and triangularly fill the gap between the carrier and the car. OR, I
could do it with two pieces of 1/4" plywood.