Bicycle rack for '04 Prius

[HaoWeiXu]

I do NOT need to transport my bicycle daily -- so I don't necessarily need something permanently mounted on my Prius. But there are times when I would like to be able to take my bike to trails in other parts of the state. I don't like sticking my bike in the back since that limits the space for my dog and other necessary items.

Has anyone found a good solution for this sort of problem? The easier the solution, the more likely I am to be happy with it.

Any ideas?

[john1701a]

This webpage shows what a 3-bike strap-on rack looks like on a HSD Prius up close.

Here's a preview...

[KTPhil]

There is a also the receiver hitch approach from Coastal and others. It is much more expensive, but is less likely to bend a panel on the hatch.

[singingtiger]

G'day
I have a 04 and my wife and I just returned from a twelve state, month trip in the US west and mid-west. We rode on about a dozen mountain bike trails. We took off front wheels of both bikes and placed inside. I used the rear storage area bolt to lock our bikes at night. We had no problems taking the bikes in and out dozens of times either in dusty desert conditions or in rain. We have a golden retriever and felt we could easily travel with the dog also with this arrngement. I will try to attach a picture I took showing both bikes in back, with our luggage for a month and we could complely see out the back via the inside middle rear view mirror.
We had fewer scratches and marks on the inside on the trip than when we use the car normally for shopping around town. We had only slightly lower mpg, due to the extra weight.
We are planning to use the same arrangement next summer on another long drive to different bicycle trails.
Our method probably would not suit most users and certainly not if more than two people will be in the car but it works fantastic for us.
Bill G in Boulder, Colorado

[altaskier]

Originally posted by HaoWeiXu@Dec 4 2005, 06:03 PM
Has anyone found a good solution for this sort of problem?  The easier the solution, the more likely I am to be happy with it.

[snapback]167620[/snapback]

Thule makes a roof rack fit kit for the Prius (I got mine from rackattack.com, and they helped me over the phone with a question on how to mount it). Works fine, and once you've set it up it takes 3 minutes to pop on and off. I've used it with both a bike tray and a ski box, and am happy.

[CMaero]

Wow..thanks for the pic of Prius with two bikes+other stuff in the back. Once my 06 is delivered I know I won't want to affect the Cd=0.26 by hanging a bike on the back.

[craigcush]

Originally posted by singingtiger@Dec 4 2005, 10:14 PM
We have a golden retriever and felt we could easily travel with the dog also with this arrngement.

[snapback]167755[/snapback]

Is the dog under there?

[skruse]

Yakima now makes a roof top rack for Prius. The rack is fully flexible, you just add the bicycle carrier of your choice. Available through REI (www.rei.org) and other sources.

[Clar]

Originally posted by skruse@Dec 6 2005, 05:24 PM
Yakima now makes a roof top rack for Prius. The rack is fully flexible, you just add the bicycle carrier of your choice. Available through REI (www.rei.org) and other sources.

[snapback]168899[/snapback]

Really? i checked out REI and Yakima's mounting guide using 2005 Prius as a template and all I got was 3 towing stuff.. No roof rack.

Is this the rack you are talking about? http://www.rackwarehouse.com/y0124c.html

Thanks.

I'm looking for a rack system for my upcoming Prius. Thule and Yakima seem to be the popular ones. What's the major difference between those two brands beside one use square loadbar and the other one uses round? A lot of people in this forum seem to buy Thules (and cheaper too) after some search on PC. Will accessories from Thule compatible with Yakima or vice versa?

appreciate for any info.

[altaskier]

Originally posted by skruse@Dec 6 2005, 05:24 PM
Yakima now makes a roof top rack for Prius.

[snapback]168899[/snapback]

I also don't see this on the Yakima web site. Are you sure, skruse?

I had a Yakima rack on my previous car, and a bike rack and ski box to fit. When I put a Thule rack on my Prius, I had to get a cheap part from Yakima (universal snap-around; part 673999; $8 for set of four from rei.com) to make my Yakima bike rack work with Thule bars.

I just returned from a work trip, but wife and kids went from New York to Vermont and back. They probably went at 70 mph with a ski box on the roof and heat on toasty; it looks like they averaged 41 mpg. So, down from the normal, but a lot better than the Yukons, Hummers, etc. on the road.