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Tow and drive with ease: Toyota Prius Towing Capacity 

  • Car Talk
  • Xavier Sabastian
  • 4 minutes

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The Toyota Prius, a pioneer in electric vehicles, wasn’t built for towing when it first debuted, but since 2015, its towing capability has been reported as 1,598 pounds. The Prius’ easy maneuverability and comfy interior were created with streets in mind, though not always with luggage in tow. Although adding a trailer hitch can increase the Prius’s ability to tow, it’s important to be aware of its limitations. Read to find out more information about the towing capacity of the Prius.

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Toyota Prius Towing capacity 

The Toyota Prius’s engine power isn’t very impressive for a hybrid. Initially, the manufacturer advised against hauling anything. Toyota has recently altered its position, though. 

The Prius’s listed towing capacity has been 1,598 pounds since 2015. The Prius V has a maximum towing capability of 1,600 pounds, with minor changes across variants. 

So you might want to consider another model if towing is a top priority. For instance, the Toyota 4Runner has a 5,000-pound towing capacity. 

  • Maximum towing capacity: 1,600 pounds 
  • Engines: 1.8L 4-cylinder 

Also Read: Toyota Prius Customization: Customize Your Ride Your Way

Toyota Prius and Trailer hitches 

Priuses don’t come with a fitted tow kit, but you can still attach a trailer hitch by yourself. A wise choice is the CURT 11276 Class 1 Trailer Hitch. Just make sure the hitch you select is suitable with your vehicle by checking again. 

While the precise towing capacity may differ between a Prius C and a Prius V, they are all within a few pounds of 1,600. 

Calculate the necessary towing capacity 

Even though the Prius has an efficient tiny (electrical) engine, you shouldn’t overload it when hauling heavy objects. It’s better for your car and safer for you if you keep the heaviest load you haul below your maximum towing capability. This implies that before you start driving, you must take into account both the weight of the load and the weight of the trailer you are towing. 

Trailers that can be handled by the Toyota Prius 

  • Jayco Hummingbird (1,545 pounds)  
  • Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro (1,133 pounds) 
  • Taxa Outdoors TigerMoth (1,310 pounds)  

Gears that campers can accommodate on the Prius 

Before you pack up your Prius for a weekend of camping beneath the stars, you should think about the weight of the equipment you’re carrying. 

  • Pika Teardrop Trailer (1,025 pounds) 
  • LG MyPod (840 pounds) 
  • NuCamp Tag (1,269 pounds) 

These are some of the things that the towing capacity of the prius can handle.

Remember to add the weight of your belongings inside your Prius, including any luggage, to the total weight you’re towing. Moreover, the passenger weight needs to be taken into account. It is essential to calculate everything beforehand because an uneven weight distribution could affect the performance and safety of the vehicle. 

Increase towing capacity 

Towing capacity is a factor that most people look for when choosing a vehicle. There is no secure way to raise the Prius’s towing capability because it wasn’t designed to do so. No matter how you look at it, the hybrid engine’s maximum load is 1,600 pounds. A heavy trailer might seriously harm the car’s frame because it is lightweight. 

The good news is that you won’t have to deal with typical towing challenges like installing signs or getting weighed at checkpoints. With your Prius, you can have the best of all worlds if your towing requirements are restricted to smaller trailers. 

Is the Prius actually good for towing 

No, the Prius wasn’t designed to haul heavy goods, even if it can tow up to 1,600 pounds. It can be adequate for your requirements if you adore your Prius and don’t frequently tow or tote heavy cargo. 

The Prius was never intended to be a heavy loader puller; it was meant for basic transportation. If you’re the average car owner in the US, you wouldn’t probably need a bigger vehicle because the Prius is enough for basic and light tasks. But if you want to tow higher loads, you should look for an alternative that has a higher towing power. 

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