Trailer Wiring Harness Recommendation for a 2012 Toyota Prius IV

Question:

I want to use a small trailer with my prius, to haul kayaks, bikes and the like. My concern is the lighting harness. This one sounds great as it seems to be independent of the power system of the car. trailer weight 200lbs. cargo weight max 200 lbs. tongue wt about 15 lbs estimate Does installing this void any manufacturers warrenties or cause issues with dealer support? Do you have any history of failures causing issues on the Prius? Do you have any recommendations on a trailer for Prius IV, 2012?

asked by: Dan S

Expert Reply:

Despite the fact that there are trailer hitches made for the 2012 Toyota Prius, you will need to consult the owners manual as to whether or not you can tow with the vehicle at all. I know that Toyota has said not to tow with the Prius in older models but I am not certain about the 2012 models.

Trailer wiring harness # 118505 would be an excellent choice. It does offer circuit protection to protect the vehicles wiring and it is a plug and play style T-connector. I have included a link to the installation instructions as well as a link to a video showing a typical installation for you. We have not had any complaints about this wiring harness causing any issues on a Prius.

Purchasers of aftermarket products are protected by the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act. The act states in part that the warranty cannot be voided unless the part that was installed caused the problem.

If you find that you cannot tow a trailer then I recommend a roof rack. The most economical is # SR1002. You could then use a kayak carrier like the Thule Stacker, # TH830, to carry the kayaks. For bikes you can use the ProRide XT, # TH598004. You will need to make sure that the weight of the items of the roof does not exceed the roof capacity. This information should be in the owners manual or you should be able to get it from Toyota.