picture of bike carrier on 2006 Prius

[bmaxey]

I am new to this board, and have found it to be a really great way to learn about my new Prius. I am wanting to get a hitch receiver to use with my bike carrier, and have read about Coastal Tech, and it looks like the way to go. But- all the pictures I have found are of it installed on the earlier, sedan model Prius.

Are there any pictures posted anywhere that show a hitch receiver, bike rack, and bikes on a 2006 Prius? I thought I had seen it on a red one, weeks ago, but can't find it now.

Plan is to carry 2 bikes. Within safe limits? Obviously it is ok sitting in my driveway, but going along the highway there is surely more of a load on the system, and I want to make sure I am not stressing anything.

Any other input to help me decide?

Thanks much.

[gordonr]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MaxeNC @ Aug 20 2006, 09:36 PM) [snapback]306457[/snapback]</div>

Plan is to carry 2 bikes. Within safe limits? Obviously it is ok sitting in my driveway, but going along the highway there is surely more of a load on the system, and I want to make sure I am not stressing anything.

Thanks much.
[/b]

Two bikes on a hitch mount is not a problem. I've done that many times over the past year. Two days ago we did a mostly highway trip with two on the hitch and two on the roof. The payload of my hitch mount carrier plus two bikes is about 85 lbs. Putting more than two on the hitch may not be wise. See the post,

http://priuschat.com/How-Many-Bicycles-Do-...rier-t9326.html

for more info. There is also a picture there of a new generation Prius with a hitch rack.

[bmaxey]

Good to see the picture of the rCoaastal Tech rack on a 2006 Prius. Sounds like good discussion on the previous thread about tongue weight and live load and all that, but that surely is all referring to the stress on the hitch receiver, and the bike rack. I guess I am ok here, especially since others have been ok with 2 bikes, but I still have concerns about the car underside that all of this is bolted on to.

Is your car ok or is there any twisting down under, where it all attaches? I wonder if anyone has added additional support from the top of the bike rack to, say, the top of the hatchback, to relieve some of the torque pressure on the car frame?

Or am I totally over-worrying this thing? (It's a new car. Looks new. smells new. 102 miles on it. I want to do right by it!)

Thanks.

[Nda3rdCar]

[quote]
I am new to this board, and have found it to be a really great way to learn about my new Prius. I am wanting to get a hitch receiver to use with my bike carrier, and have read about Coastal Tech, and it looks like the way to go. But- all the pictures I have found are of it installed on the earlier, sedan model Prius.

We have a black Prius 2006, (3K+ miles). I installed the Coastal hitch and find it to be a perfect fit. The installation should be done with care, but it's not difficult... the instructions include colour photos. The receiver sits about 1/2 inch below the skirt, but this is no lower than the side skirts... It's very solid and I have been using a Hollywood (brand) 2 bike carrier that is made for 2" receivers. It's heavier than some carriers but very solid. The wind flows over the car and you will notice very little change going down the highway. If I can figure out sending a picture, I will a bit later.... I'm happy with the hitch. P.S. I've been using that same bike rack for years on a VW Golf. It looks nice with a 2" rubber plug (U-haul, $1.50) that is the same colour as the bumper skirt. The hitch is much less noticeable.

More than two bikes..... towing.... well, I wouldn't take the chance. That's just me. If you go to the Coastal Electronics web site, for ordering the hitch.... They have updated photos and 2006 compatability lists. The hitch is one of those items.

[gordonr]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MaxeNC @ Aug 21 2006, 05:38 PM) [snapback]307022[/snapback]</div>

Is your car ok or is there any twisting down under, where it all attaches? I wonder if anyone has added additional support from the top of the bike rack to, say, the top of the hatchback, to relieve some of the torque pressure on the car frame?

Thanks.
[/b]

Been using the Coastal hitch w/ 2 bikes for a year now without any issues. Been over all kinds of roads and bumps while carrying bikes, and the position of the hitch receiver remains unchanged. I've also wondered about the use of supports straps as you mentioned as a way of getting to 4 bikes without issues.

[mtsarpilot]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gordonr @ Sep 2 2006, 10:55 PM) [snapback]313373[/snapback]</div>

I've also wondered about the use of supports straps as you mentioned as a way of getting to 4 bikes without issues.
[/b]

I loaded 4 bikes on mine this weekend and proptly removed them. The hitch bent down a little more than with 2, but still within reason. The problem was that with so much weight on the back end, and having it cantilevered that far behind the car, it lowered the back end of the car way to much. The rack now only had 4 inches of road clearance and the wheels looked way to close to the wheel wells. The thing looked to scary to drive. I think I'm going to go with 2 or maybe 3 at the most from now on.