Hitch mount rack for 4 bikes?

Do a search. There are 1,000,000,000 threads on this.

 

If you ask most manufacturers ANY question about their product ... they would love to recommend that it not be used for ANYTHING ... ever. Far safer that way. No risk.

Put 4 bikes on it and don't worry about a thing.


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I would think that it is the torque being applied to the hitch. If you hooked up a trailer, then the 200# tongue load is being applied straight down. If you have a 4 bike rack, the weight is hanging a foot or two behind the vehicle which would try to twist the down. If you need to use a 1 1/4" to 2" adapter, that would make the twisting force greater due to the additional distance.

If you have the bike rack and hitch, try it out and put some weight on it and see if the hitch hold up before carrying any bikes on it. I have the Curt hitch on order specifically to carry bikes and have an existing carrier that I would like to use. I will probably just weld on a 2" receiver to eliminate the adaptor if it turns out to be a problem.

 

What hitch and bike rack are you using? I have a Thule T2 with the extension for 4 bikes - I wonder if I can use the extension on the Prius.

 

Hey op, hope you find what you're looking for. But on a side note, how is the hitch mount rack working for you in terms of affecting mpg? I'm torn between a roof rack or a hitch mount. The roof rack looks cooler, but the hitch mount would be easier to access and I'm assuming less mpg fluctuation.
I will be using primarily for carrying cargo shells/boxes, but occasional bikes.

 

The way the hatch is on the Prius, I would go straight for a hitch mount. I have had both on the car, hated the way the hatch mount works. Also I like to retain use of my trunk!

 

Curt hitch, and Swagman 4 bike carrier. It's no big deal, the hitch is 1/4 inch steel and is no problem whatsoever. They're just bicycles. I also use a cargo hauler on the hitch when I need to, and have had a hundred plus pounds on it without an issue. I also tow a small landscape trailer a few times a year with a few yards of mulch on it without any issues. Would I tow a trailer across the country ??? NO. But to use it a few times a year to go 10 miles or so is no big deal, and I don't care WHAT Toyota says. They won't know. The Prius tows the landscape trailer like it's not even there.

ANYTHING beats putting stuff on the roof or the hatch.


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Until someone runs into the back of it and bye bye bicycles. At least crashing into a low clearance garage/car park is your fault and no one else's.

 

I've used roof mounted bike carriers, and hitch mounted carriers....

BY FAR the hitch mounted carrier is the way to go!
- Easier to load/unload
- Less wind noise
- Better fuel economy
- No clearance issues (garage, trees, etc)

 

I don't think towing puts as much a strain on the hitch (and the frame where the hitch is attached) as a bike carrier does. There are wheels at the other end of the trailer.

But that said.... I'm thinking 4 mountain bikes (say 30lbs each) - 120Lbs, plus the T2 rack and extension - 100Lbs.

So this comes in at around 220lbs total weight - seems like too much, no?

What about the rear shocks?

 

Then you get 4 brand new free bikes from the other guy's insurance ... no big deal. If you worry about what-if's like that ... you'll never go out of the house.

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Your bike rack is 100 pounds ??? Mine is about 20. An extension isn't necessary. Either way ... hitches are way overdesigned. The bikes are only on your car a small percentage of time I'd imagine.

Hey ... put the extension in ... and stand on it and jump up and down. You'll see that the hitch is rock solid. Sure the car will move up and down, but the bikes will be far more of a static force than you jumping up and down. No need to overthink this ... it's just a few bikes. You could probably put 500 pounds on the extension and it wouldn't budge.

These are my opinions and my experiences ... you have to decide what to do yourself.


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100lbs for the rack is maybe high - it's probably more like 80lbs... the main 2-bike rack is 50lbs, and the 2-bike extension is another 30lbs (from the Thule website)... this rack is heavy!

Probably the bigger issue is that the full rack extends about 4.5 feet behind the back of the car... the first bike is 1.5' from the car, then each additional bike is another 11" further out.

Maybe I leave it to just 2 bikes on the Prius... and use the XC60 for carrying 4 bikes.

 

Moreover, and possibly more substantial, is not the fact that the weight is extended a foot behind the hitch, but that it's also centered way above it, so if you take a corner that weight is twisting against the hitch. That is the primary reason I got a class III hitch with the 2" receiver for my rack. I use a $99 Allen rack from walmart, has done fine with 4 bikes.

That said, you can find 4-bike racks for Class I rated fine, so I'd go ahead and get one of those and not worry too much.

I used the Quality S hitch. Been very happy with it, I don't believe it impacts mileage to any meaningful degree when no bikes are on it, and a hitch-mounted bike rack is the only way to play. No lifting bikes to the top of the car, no scratching paint or playing around. It just works very well.

Speaking of shocks, yes you'll see that the springs do compress down with the weight even of just a rack and four bikes, but it is what it is. I've gone camping with a 15 cubit foot roof bag on top with clothes, sleeping bags, etc., fully loaded trunk, bikes. It is pretty heavily loaded but I've had no issues.

My 4 bike Allen rack I doubt weighs more than around 30 lbs honestly.

...yep, 24 lbs shipping weight: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Deluxe-4-Bike-Carrier-for-2-Hitch/10812001#Specifications

 

Whatever floats your boat. I know I'll have buckle's of getting their insurance to pay for $400 worth of lights alone. I have trouble alone with claiming for contents inside that car in the rear ender I had last year.

But at least I don't carry 25kg of ballast 100% of the time but again, whatever floats your boat.

 

How has this solution been working out for you? Have you tried it with 4 bikes yet?