Anyone tried a trunk-mounted bike rack?

[RestonVA]

I'm glad to find this forum!! - I'm a new Prius owner (< 24 hours!). My dealer threw in a Yakima roof rack but after experiencing the wind drag and reading the comments on here, I'm leaning toward a Coastal Tech receiver and hitch mount for my bicycles.

My question is, Thule lists two models of trunk rack that allegedly fit the 04-05 Prius. Has anyone here ever used one? Any recommendation? I don't see how a trunk mount could fit without damaging the car but I'd love to hear if anyone has any experience.

I am loving my Prius. And by the way, mileage is at 42.1 MPG, up about 1.5 since I removed the roof rack at lunchtime today. That's all stop and go driving in beautiful congested Loudoun County, VA.

[Dave Morris]

I would lilke to know what any one else was using sence the roof rake dosen't seem to be a good option.

[Ken S]

I purchased the Coastal Tech hitch kit and use one of my two hitch bike racks. The hitch kit from Coastal is pretty easy to install...took me about an hour.

I use one rack for hauling a tandem and the other when it's just road/mountain bikes. There are a number of different hitch compat bike racks out there. You may want to look for one that will swing down so you can open your hatch without removing it.

[Don-RI]

I'm looking at the 2" receiver hitch...

How did your installation go? How is it on the car (any rattles, bumps, etc?)

I thought I remembered reading something about needing to bend the tail pipe up or out of the way?

Or may be I was dreaming... I didn't manage to find the thread searching on priuschat.

Thanks for your help!

[Ken S]

The installation took about an hour (could be done in 30 minutes if you had a lift). It's pretty easy...if you do it by yourself get something to hold the hitch up while you start to attach it (holding it and using a socket at the same time may be a bit tricky).

Thus far haven't had a single problem with it. I will probably crawl under the car just to check all the bolts and make sure they've stayed tight...although I haven't heard or seen anything to make me think they didn't.

Ken

[john1701a]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RestonVA\";p=\"80707)</div>

I don't see how a trunk mount could fit without damaging the car but I'd love to hear if anyone has any experience.[/b]

Then you obviously haven't seen these photos...







And the full-size versions of those photos are available here... http://john1701a.com/prius/prius-album76.htm

[Pest]

John,

Are you able to open the back while that is installed?

How much weight does it put on the back glass?

Also, it looks like you can't run the read wiper, correct?

[john1701a]

> Are you able to open the back while that is installed?

Opening the hatch with the rack is impossible... and quite unnecessary, since you have access to the back (even with the shade extended) by just lowering a seat.


> How much weight does it put on the back glass?

Almost all the weight is on the vertical legs touching the bumper. The upper ones are really just for balance.

I suspect you could actually put quite a bit of weight on it. I used to put all 4 legs of a trunk-mount rack on a sheet of wood touching nothing but glass on the back of my Dodge Omni's hatch. In fact, I even have a photo (somewhere) of that ridiculous setup along with a bike hanging off a rack on the front of the car all at the same time.


> it looks like you can't run the read wiper, correct?

The wiper cannot be used with the rack attached. But since virtually all of my bike trips are on sunny days with virtually no chance of rain, that is hardly a concern.

[Don-RI]

I am hoping to plug my "Yakima Supreme GetAway Plus Two" bike rack (a hitch-mounted 4 bike carrier) right into the 2-inch Coastal Tech Receiver Hitch.

But, the Yakima's manual says: "Warning: GTW 3600. To carry four bikes your 2" hitch must have a gross towing weight of 3,600 pounds or more."

Nothing about tongue weight.

So, does my 2004 Prius have a GTW of 3,600 pounds or more? All I can find in the manual are recommendations against trailer towing... Found nothing online.

Thanks again!

[Isabelle]

I have the Thule bike rack that lists the Prius 04 as compatible in the manual, but I haven't tried it yet (I used it with Isabelle's predecessor,
a 96 Caravan).

I'll dig it out and relay the setup for the Prius soon.

John's doesn't look like a Thule...or at least the stock one.