What is the maximum weight recommended in a Prius?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oxo @ Oct 6 2006, 11:05 AM) [snapback]329034[/snapback]</div>

Hmm, I'd like to know this as well. I am going to have to drive to Vegas (obviously due to distance I'd like to take the Prius) to pick up an anvil or two. And I don't want to hurt my car at all.

--vext

 

it's on noted on the drivers side door jam near the tire pressure, at least on the us models. it's a little over 800 pounds. I think it's 840 but I'm not certain.

 

<_< Owner's Manual - Section 3 - Information before driving your Toyota - Vehicle load limits.

That's page 224 in my U.S. '04 manual. Not sure about the UK manual. 379kg - 835 lbs.

 

owners manual under C in the index Cargo and Luggage.... Capacity.
Edit: sorry Charles when I composed it yours wasn't there.

 

839 lbs, 15oz.

About one ounce less than the maximum listed on the door jamb and in the owner's manual.

 

The sticker on the driver's door jamb of my car indicates 374 kg or 825 lb.

Why is it that a certain poster from Texas always assumes that all owner's manuals for all model years and countries contain the same information as his? Oxo clearly stated that he could not find that information in his owner's manual.

 

Depending on the passengers, 5 people and no luggage might be about it for capacity.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Oxo @ Oct 6 2006, 01:05 PM) [snapback]329034[/snapback]</div>

I carried 13 laminate boxes plus a pad plus self. Total = about 655lbs. I must have hit a hole on the freeway doing only 50MPH and heard something pop. Later at home my right rear fender was popped out. Toyota put a new clip for the fender and that fixed about 95% of the problem. I have yet to crawl under the car to ascertain the problem ( still a small bit of free play on the fender. I believe I neglected to distribute the load equally and that caused the prblem. So should anybody out there attempt 800-850 lbs make sure the load is equal and the tires at bead pressure. After that incident I only carried 10 boxes of laminate (350 lbs), dist equally, and had no more problems.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Oct 6 2006, 11:11 AM) [snapback]329041[/snapback]</div>

Uh oh, um....hm.

What sort of bad things happen if you go over that limit by about 70 pounds?
Hypothetically, of course.

 

For the 2007 Prius, pg. 342 of the owners manual states "365kg (810lb.) Total load capacity means combined weight of occupants, cargo and luggage."

Hope this helps.

 

if one wishes to add more weight to the car, be sure to add more PSI into the tires so they themselfs can support the extra weight

 

When I took my Prius to Burning Man, it was so overloaded with stuff that the hitch bike rack on the back of the car was only a few inches off the ground. The whole space behind the front seats was filled to the roof with gear. The hitch rack would hit the ground when going over speed bumps in parking lots and such, and the pin for the rack actually came out on one bump... luckily I had a cable lock which was enough to keep everything together.

I'm glad for the auto-levelling headlights, otherwise I'm sure I would have blinded oncoming traffic.

 

Yes, it's on the door label -- 8 hundred and something pounds.

Another good reason to lose weight!!

 

From the Toyota.ca website:
Gross vehicle weight - 1721 kg or 3795 lbs
Curb weight - 1335 kg or 2943 lbs
Difference - 386 kg or 852 lbs

Curb weight is usually with nobody in the vehicle, and little or no fuel.
Gross vehicle weight is max. vehicle weight. If heavier, it's overloaded.

Effects of overloading:
1) tires may be overloaded - check max rating on sidewall - that is with the max pressure on the sidewall, so air up if necessary. Assume they are loaded equally and add all four. To be safe, however, assume they are loaded with 70% balance and use that figure (multiply max load on sidewall by 70% and multiply that by four).
2) Check the suspension - ensure the car is not riding on the rubber "overload" bumpers when sitting still. If it does a hard bump can break parts.
3) Check the autolevel sensor on the left rear suspension - make sure you will not damage it with overtravel.
4) When loaded near max. keep your speed down. This will reduce tire heating, and ensure you do not max out the braking capability of the car. Be aware the tires and brakes will not perform as you are accustomed to. Leave lots of room to stop, and take corners more slowly than you would normally. Go -very- slowly over rough road.

As with any engineered device, there is a "safety factor" built in. Just take care and you will not do damage.

 

Cur weight does include full fuel. At the curb, ready to drive. The difference between the curb weight and the gross weight is the "payload."

Someone might be confusing this with "useful load" on airplanes. Useful load includes oil, etc, but only unusable fuel.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Manksgloob @ Oct 7 2006, 03:36 PM) [snapback]329492[/snapback]</div>

You could end up like these people: http://www.swapmeetdave.com/Humor/Workshop/Overload.htm

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sub3marathonman @ Oct 9 2006, 04:36 AM) [snapback]329981[/snapback]</div>

Those pictures are amazing. If that car isn't overloaded by at least 2000 lb, I'd be very surprised. If it's a front wheel drive (which I'd assume it is), how does the car get enough traction to move?

Dave M.