[HB012]

I would like to haul my dirt bike on a small 4x6 flat trailer... I have read the owners manual and it says Do Not Tow with this vehicle. However, there are tow hitches made for the C-HR and even a few people on here have posted instructions & pictures on how to install it... does anyone here have any experience with towing with the C-HR? Obviously I understand that if it is not recommended by the owners manual it is for a reason, but at the same time I’d really like to be able to haul my own bike again. I’m looking into a very light trailer & just one bike (~300lbs). Can it be done relatively safely?

 

[HB012]

I’ve been reading and had also noticed that the Non-US versions seem to be able to tow. I’m not sure what the difference is and why they make a specific statement in the owners manual. I believe what I’m looking to haul will be less than 1500lbs. I actually got the idea from following a Prius into the track one morning that had a KTM 50 Peewee bike on a hitch mounted rack. I got to thinking... of a Prius can handle that weight of a hitch mount rack why couldn’t my C-HR pull a little trailer?!?! 😄

 

[PatrickBE]

It's the regulation in our country's that is different not the cars.
https://oppositelock.kinja.com/tow-me-down-1609112611

 

[zbyra]

CH-R is heavy enough and has good brakes so towing a light trailer now and then should be no problem. However - the NA version has a CVT transmission that is not up to the task, also independent rear suspension is not designed to deal with added trailer tong weight or the forces applied to rear end while driving. Just because someone makes a tow hitch kit that fits does not mean they will be fixing/replacing broken parts down the road because you use the vehicle beyond designed limits. To summarize, do it at own risk and be prepared to pay out of pocket for any potential repairs, thee warranty WILL be voided the second they know you have towed with the car.

 

[RoLleRKoaSTeR]

Strange, I had a third gen Escort (ZX2) that was lowered and I had a trailer hitch on it. Manual tranny had no issues (weakest link in any Ford). I towed a three-seater SeaDoo.

 

[zbyra]

Both automatic and manual transmissions use real gears to drive the wheels. Once clutch/torque converter locks it creates a solid power transfer to drive wheels. CVT is a metal belt that sits between two sets of cone clutches (no gears) and uses friction to push the driving wheels. That design as applied in small cars is not up to task of constant forces towing puts on drive train. I had an old Toyota pick up with 22RE motor and 4 speed trany and used to tow a 17' I/O boat all over the place with no problems. Same set up with CVT would have burned out on first grade I would encounter. New age technology, great for the application it was designed for but not towing.

 

[PatrickBE]

I've a original Toyota tow hitch placed by the Toyota dealer on my Hybrid with CVT transmission.

 

[zbyra]

I've a original Toyota tow hitch placed by the Toyota dealer on my Hybrid with CVT transmission.

Just curious but what does your owner's manual says is the towing capacity of your CHR. The North American version manual states not to tow with the vehicle. And did the hitch combo the dealer installed have a Toyota OEM part number? Asking because I'm wondering what the difference in NA version is.

 

[Rob van Jaarsveld]

1500lbs for the hybrid version, as i wrote above.

 

[PatrickBE]

Invoice PART Numbers:
Towing hitch PW96010000
Cableset GDW.SET0955

And as Rob Van Jaarsveld already posted 1500 lbs MAX towing capacity.

Original Toyota CH-R website accesoires:

 

[zbyra]

Thanks Patrick, Guess here in North America we are getting shafted on all the available options. Looks like Toyota places more restrictions in some regions for the marketing reason and not because of the vehicle limits. We will probably have that as a dealer option in 2020 and they will call it premium touring edition so they can extra 10K Lol.

 

[MichaelM]

I owned a 2018 C-hr, so i can tell you there is no big problem in towing. Well, ok you won't be able to tow a big trailer or a truck, however in case of need, you can help out a person who needs to be towed.