Does anyone know *why* Toyota says no to hitch mounted bikes?

LMA · 09-17-2006, 01:54 AM

Title pretty much says it -- does anyone know *why* Toyota specifically goes out of their way to tell you not to put a hitch on a Prius *even* to *just* carry bicycles? I know that people here have done it, and I assume since I haven't seen any threads about how it destroyed this or that thing on their car or ruined their warantee or whatever, that no problems have yet made themselves clear, but I'm *extremely* reluctant to "modify" my brand new car if the manufacturer has a real *reason* against doing something. When I bought the car, I kind of assumed I could just put a hitch back there and get a simple, lightweight Thule or Yakima hitch mount and was dismayed to find Toyota saying "no, don't do it!" in the manual.

Does anyone have any insights into this issue?

darelldd · 09-17-2006, 02:00 AM

The manual really says this? I guess I just ignore CYA type of instructions and pretend they don't exist. Why do they do it? Because it is easier and safer to say NO.

Does the manual also say somewhere not to exceed the posted speed limits? Most owners manuals I've seen say that somewhere. And yet I keep seeing all these people dangerously speeding!

cabillings · 09-17-2006, 02:06 AM

My guess is that it has something to do with the tongue weight. I think that the tongue weight on a Prius is rated at 100#. I have not idea what the average weight of a couple of bikes (or more), plus the carrier is, but it might be marginal and easier to say no rather than to have people pushing the limit. Just a guess.

LMA · 09-17-2006, 02:14 AM

[quote]
The manual really says this? I guess I just ignore CYA type of instructions and pretend they don't exist. Why do they do it? Because it is easier and safer to say NO.

See, I don't buy that as an explanation. They clearly know that people want to carry bikes on hitch mounts, and they clearly feel there is some scientific reason why that's not a good idea. Otherwise, it would just say "don't tow stuff" and show the picture of someone with a trailer behind the car. If that's all it said, I would feel totally comfortable just putting a hitch rack on. But they don't just say that, they specifically mention "don't carry bikes on a hitch either" and I'd love to know why.

jbarnhart · 09-17-2006, 06:28 AM

Can you please provide a document and page number for this quote? I thought I read my manual pretty well and I didn't see this admonition. I'd like to look at it and read what Toyota says about hitch-mounted bike carriers in context.

john1701a · 09-17-2006, 08:05 AM

Huh?

There was no such "rule" when I had my hitch built. Of course, I was the very first owner in the United States to have that done for a Prius. But I don't recall anyone ever mentioning "not to" advice from Toyota following that.

I think you are confusing bike carrying with trailer towing, since both utilize a hitch. The first is acceptable, the latter is not.

Jeannie · 09-17-2006, 08:17 AM

Page 353 of my 2006 owners manual says:

Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your Toyota. Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc.

And page 351 says
Do not drive in excess of the speed limit.

dipper · 09-17-2006, 08:37 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeannie @ Sep 17 2006, 05:17 AM) [snapback]320775[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Page 353 of my 2006 owners manual says:

Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your Toyota. Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc.

And page 351 says
Do not drive in excess of the speed limit.
[/b]

I don't see any where that said warranty will be void if done. If that is the case, every Prius built by Toyota is voided for speeding too....

john1701a · 09-17-2006, 08:42 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeannie @ Sep 17 2006, 07:17 AM) [snapback]320775[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Toyota does not recommend[/b]

That explains a lot. They also do not RECOMMEND the use of non-genuine Toyota part. In other words, it is just a suggestion.

Look through the manual some more. You'll find references saying DO NOT all over the place. They actually indicate that bad things will happen if you fail to comply.

Nothing bad will directly result from carrying a bike using a hitch, no worse than a strap-on type anyway. People have been doing that with Prius for years now. After all, what could happen? That's a whole lot safer than when I carry my 12' and 14' kayaks on the roof.

techguru · 09-17-2006, 10:47 AM

So, just to confirm then, no one posting here has had any problems from their dealer service or warranty issues with having a receiver hitch mounted? We (I am LMA's other half) just want to make sure that this won't effect our warranty or hurt her new car in any way. I think you all have answered the "won't hurt the car" question, just want to confirm the warranty half of the equation.

Thanks,

Alan

09-17-2006, 01:54 AM	#1
LMA Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cloverly, MD Posts: 58 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Title pretty much says it -- does anyone know why Toyota specifically goes out of their way to tell you not to put a hitch on a Prius even to just carry bicycles? I know that people here have done it, and I assume since I haven't seen any threads about how it destroyed this or that thing on their car or ruined their warantee or whatever, that no problems have yet made themselves clear, but I'm extremely reluctant to "modify" my brand new car if the manufacturer has a real reason against doing something. When I bought the car, I kind of assumed I could just put a hitch back there and get a simple, lightweight Thule or Yakima hitch mount and was dismayed to find Toyota saying "no, don't do it!" in the manual. Does anyone have any insights into this issue? __________________ Proud new owner of Chu-Totoro (He's a cute, blue, Japanese tree lover!)

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09-17-2006, 02:00 AM	#2
darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 4,518 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 10	The manual really says this? I guess I just ignore CYA type of instructions and pretend they don't exist. Why do they do it? Because it is easier and safer to say NO. Does the manual also say somewhere not to exceed the posted speed limits? Most owners manuals I've seen say that somewhere. And yet I keep seeing all these people dangerously speeding!

09-17-2006, 02:06 AM	#3
cabillings Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Los Alamitos, CA Posts: 44 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My guess is that it has something to do with the tongue weight. I think that the tongue weight on a Prius is rated at 100#. I have not idea what the average weight of a couple of bikes (or more), plus the carrier is, but it might be marginal and easier to say no rather than to have people pushing the limit. Just a guess.

09-17-2006, 02:14 AM	#4
LMA Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cloverly, MD Posts: 58 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	[quote] The manual really says this? I guess I just ignore CYA type of instructions and pretend they don't exist. Why do they do it? Because it is easier and safer to say NO. See, I don't buy that as an explanation. They clearly know that people want to carry bikes on hitch mounts, and they clearly feel there is some scientific reason why that's not a good idea. Otherwise, it would just say "don't tow stuff" and show the picture of someone with a trailer behind the car. If that's all it said, I would feel totally comfortable just putting a hitch rack on. But they don't just say that, they specifically mention "don't carry bikes on a hitch either" and I'd love to know why.

09-17-2006, 06:28 AM	#5
jbarnhart Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 628 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Can you please provide a document and page number for this quote? I thought I read my manual pretty well and I didn't see this admonition. I'd like to look at it and read what Toyota says about hitch-mounted bike carriers in context.

09-17-2006, 08:05 AM	#6
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,719 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Huh? There was no such "rule" when I had my hitch built. Of course, I was the very first owner in the United States to have that done for a Prius. But I don't recall anyone ever mentioning "not to" advice from Toyota following that. I think you are confusing bike carrying with trailer towing, since both utilize a hitch. The first is acceptable, the latter is not.

09-17-2006, 08:17 AM	#7
Jeannie Proud Prius Granny Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 1,382 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	Page 353 of my 2006 owners manual says: Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your Toyota. Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc. And page 351 says Do not drive in excess of the speed limit.

09-17-2006, 10:47 AM	#10
techguru Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Baltimore Washington Megalopolis Posts: 8 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	So, just to confirm then, no one posting here has had any problems from their dealer service or warranty issues with having a receiver hitch mounted? We (I am LMA's other half) just want to make sure that this won't effect our warranty or hurt her new car in any way. I think you all have answered the "won't hurt the car" question, just want to confirm the warranty half of the equation. Thanks, Alan