Yaris Towbar - why not?

[sproutdreamer]

Before we bought a SH Yaris hybrid 1.5 I researched e bay for the cost of tow bars and not too expensive. So having bought the car I was disappointed to see in the owners manual that the towing rating is zero. So I guess illegal to fit a towbar?

I am interested if this is an electric drive limitation issue or that the car is already quite heavy with its traction Battery or is the rear subfame or whatever jusy not strong enough to securely mount a towbar. Any ideas on the reasoning of this?

[flash22]

Technically, it's not type approved, non hybrid models are rated to 550kg un-braked or 880kg braked

the tow bar on the hybrid is for a bike rack 😉

 

the reason, something to do with the alterative fuel rules and compliance

 

[Paul john]

3 hours ago, flash22 said:

Technically, it's not type approved, non hybrid models are rated to 550kg un-braked or 880kg braked

the tow bar on the hybrid is for a bike rack 😉

 

the reason, something to do with the alterative fuel rules and compliance

 

Can you explain the “alternative fuel rules and compliance” with regard to a tow bar as the Prius, Corolla TS and Rav4 hybrids can tow with no “alternative fuel” restrictions

[flash22]

Mainly emissions and co2 quotas the Yaris is a 1.5 1160kg

both the prius TS and rav4 are much bigger cars aimed at a different market

it gets deeply complex

https://www.vehicle-certification-agency.gov.uk/publication/vca061-3/

[Paul john]

2 hours ago, flash22 said:

Mainly emissions and co2 quotas the Yaris is a 1.5 1160kg

both the prius TS and rav4 are much bigger cars aimed at a different market

it gets deeply complex

https://www.vehicle-certification-agency.gov.uk/publication/vca061-3/

Forgive me for being dense but i dont see a refence to towing. 

[hind]

11 hours ago, flash22 said:

Mainly emissions and co2 quotas the Yaris is a 1.5 1160kg

Fortunatelly you can tow up to 450kg with the Yaris IV hybrid 🙂 I remember checking this parameter before buying Y4 (and compared that among other competitors like Audi A1 and Skoda Fabia). Audi was the only one disallowed to tow and in my beautiful country mounting towbar even just for the bike rack would be illegal with max trailer mass of 0 kg. 

[flash22]

14 hours ago, Paul john said:

Forgive me for being dense but i dont see a refence to towing. 

I'm not going down this rabbit hole, there are many 1000's of pages of reg's here is just one of many - 32018R0858

[jthspace]

Toyota UK's own page lists all towing capabilities

https://mag.toyota.co.uk/toyota-towing-capacities/

and

https://mag.toyota.co.uk/toyota-hybrid-towing-questions/

It may be worth contacting Customer Services and ask them as to why your user manual says something different.

2022 online manual shows 450kg tow weight

https://www.toyota.co.uk/customer/manuals

 

 

[flash22]

OP has a 67 plate, 2nd facelift, Mk3, hybrid

 

450kg is nothing a motorcycle on a trailer or jetski will technically put you overweight

[hind]

1 hour ago, flash22 said:

450kg is nothing a motorcycle on a trailer or jetski will technically put you overweight

Yet you can still use a small 120kg trailer with up to 330kg of cargo - so bringing a sofa from Ikea is doable 😄 

[Parts-King]

PM me the registration number, I will check for you 

[Paul john]

6 minutes ago, hind said:

Yet you can still use a small 120kg trailer with up to 330kg of cargo - so bringing a sofa from Ikea is doable 😄 

Or carrying one of these in the trailer plus sleeping bags and porta potty …

https://www.outwell.com/en-gb/ecommerce/tents/stonehill-7-air
 

 

[MikeSh]

2 hours ago, hind said:

Yet you can still use a small 120kg trailer with up to 330kg of cargo - so bringing a sofa from Ikea is doable 😄 

When I was on the EV forum a few years ago there were similar issues with 0kg tow ratings. Quite a few people have small trailers just to take garden waste, etc, to the dump (me too about 10 years ago), so not having that option can be a nuisance or even a deal-breaker.

[Cyker]

I'm just amazed anyone would even consider or want to tow anything with a Yaris!  

It's a Yaris! I'd be hesitant to even put a Roof Rack on it, nevermind tow something!  

[hind]

17 minutes ago, Cyker said:

It's a Yaris

It's weight is similar to 8th gen Corolla, with more power than it's most powerful (civil market) 3ZZ-FE 1.6L.

Yaris is no longer motorised shopping cart for women 🙂 every segment grew to be +1 during the last 20 years 😉 People already did crazier things, like getting into Polish Fiat 126p (600kg / 23hp) and towing N126 caravan trailer (~300kg) to a trip to Turkey.

Where there is a will, there is a way 😉 

[Cyker]

That is a point... it's definitely grown up over the years; I reckon it'd be considered a C-segment car, not a B-segment car, if it came out maybe a decade ago!!