MPG hit with a small trailer?

here is the prius I bought a few years ago and passed it on to two different siblings of mine. She doesn't die!

 

This past weekend took a 300 mile trip, 565 lb camper, 165lb gear, 70lb tongue weight. got 34.1 mpg 2007 Prius w 270k. I did not exceed 65 mph. I was little skeptical but the car handled like champ. There was a strong headwind going out but calm coming home.

 

Wanted to sign up on the forum and chime in because I have put some significant miles on my 2008 Prius Touring while pulling a fairly large (for a Prius) trailer. My trailer is a 2017 Sundowner MiniGo 4'x8' enclosed cargo trailer. Empty weight is around 600 lbs. I have loaded it with as much as 800 pounds of cargo, including front-heavy motorcycles. To give you a baseline, my Prius has 146k miles, gets around 40mpg highway when crusing at 70mph, and is stock in almost every way, except a Curt trailer hitch.. I will be having 350lb-rated double-progressive springs installed on Tuesday (yay!), but all previous miles were done on the stock suspension, which was already squeaky/worn out before I started pulling a trailer. The trailer itself is just under 6 feet tall and the front sits a bit higher than the rear due to having to use an upside down drop ball hitch. When pulling the empty trailer, I can get in the 30-32 mpg range at 60-65 mph. Can get closer to the 33-35 mpg mark at 55 mph. But loaded with ~500-800 pounds, my max speed drops significantly and the engine really struggles on minor hills. 55-60 mph tends to be the sweet spot when running heavy. I'll usually get 29-30 mpg, on flat(ish) runs if I keep it below 60 mph. If I bump it up to 65-70mph, I'm lucky to get 25mph and that little gas motor is in pain! It's feels like it's at redline when getting above 70 mph. These trips were 900 miles each way (between Chicago and Dallas). Fairly flat through there, so I can't help with mountain/hilly estimates. Hope this helps someone. From months of research and math, the Gen2 Prius + all-aluminum MiniGo trailer was the best cost/mile I could come up with for my semi-regular trips. But that trailer cost almost as much as the car!! Feel free to hit me up if you have any specific questions.

 

Impressive as well! Would love to see a picture of your towing set up!

 

The OP paid1500$ for an 06 prius, I would so use the 17mpg truck, I would so take a train, Or, I would so make everything fit in the 1500$ Prius, after rubber brakes and a new traction battery.

 

Least try pulling the air inlet tube off the air filter box. Engine will breath better.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

It's taking air from the engine compartment, yes lower than the air box but not exactly cool.
Try it, you'll hear the engine is louder because of the increased air. Pulling that trailer with 500lbs in the car. Wouldn't hurt.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Most inlets by the end are smaller than the throttle body. Any performance car or truck that's not the case.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

70's cars during the big smog years used to choke down the engine with a 1 and a half inch intake on a big block engine. Don't need to Dyno that to know it can't breathe very well. A tuned intake with a smaller inlet will not breath as effective. I tried a cone filter on my Prius with a slightly bigger tube around the mass air sensor. It definitely picked up speed faster. But it's out of range for how it's set up and light up the engine light. Mass air sensor alone set in the smaller than the throttle body tube is a restriction.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I lose about 10mpg in my gen4 when towing 725kg

 

725kg is more than 50% of the Prius curb weight itself! No wonder. Plus weight of driver and passengers

 

Plus the top box lol

 

Not to mention, Aunt Edna.