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Trailer hitch?

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by MikeDee, Nov 16, 2016.

  1. bear15

    bear15 Member

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  2. bear15

    bear15 Member

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  3. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    No, but there are pictures posted on the etrailer.com page.
     
  4. BenPrime

    BenPrime New Member

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    Just got my system up and running. I have a draw-tite hitch and a Rocky Mounts Split Rail rack. My first impressions are super good. The rack clears (barely, see pics). It has a phenomenal, built in, anti rattle system that almost completely removes the play in the system.

    My first issue was removing those annoying clips that hold the electrical conduit on when installing the hitch. My total install time was 3 hours. I do have a jack and jack stands which i'm sure made this easier. My second problem was the rockymounts rack does not have a standard dimension from the pin hole to the end of the bar for a class 1 hitch. In order to solve this (and after talking with etrailer help) I had to file off the safety tab that prevents class 2 and 3 accessories. The person who helped me seemed to suggest that "the other" hitch brand does not include this safety tab....so i may suggest the curt hitch if you want this rack...though the extra clearance might make it worth filing off. Filing it off will also be MUCH easier if the hitch isn't already installed.
     

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  5. zappafan

    zappafan The Blizzard

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  6. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    ^ You would trust a $50 accessory to hold valuables? And are you also using a locking hitch pin?
     
  7. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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  8. zappafan

    zappafan The Blizzard

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    Yes, I've used this for over 5 years and have had no issues. What is your concern? A locking hitch pin wouldn't work with this safe, it has it's own locking mechanism.
     
  9. zappafan

    zappafan The Blizzard

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    I'd rather not use an adapter.
     
  10. bentplate

    bentplate Junior Member

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    There are no 2" hitches for Primes. You would either need a custom hitch or an adapter.
     
  11. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    Or have a local welding shop crop off the 1-1/4" tube and weld on a 2" receiver tube before you install the hitch. The receiver tube alone is about $15-$25.
     
  12. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Wouldn't that fall under custom?;)

    In your defense, modifying an available hitch instead of building from scratch might now occur to some upon seeing custom.
     
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  13. SeattleBicycler

    SeattleBicycler Junior Member

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    Andrew ... if you take the front wheel off your bike can you put your bicycle with the rear wheel in first? Why do you have to put the bike in handle bars first? I have a 56cm and always take the front wheel off and put the rear wheel in first in my 2016 RAV 4 Hybrid ... I want to know if I can do the same thing in the back of a Prius Prime. Thanks for any input you can provide! Scott
     
  14. galenagal

    galenagal Junior Member

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    Thanks to all the recommendations on Prius Chat I now have a bike rack on my Prime! Kurt 1.25" hitch w 1.25" extension. I added the Roadmaster Quiet-Hitch (see pic below) which has helped quite a bit especially with up-down movement But, there is still alot of side-to-side and almost twisty type of sway. And I mean alot. I have a two-bike platform rack which with 2 bikes weighs about 85 lbs. The extension-to-rack joint seems quite stable. Any suggestions?

    IMG_4160.jpg
     
  15. parnest

    parnest Junior Member

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    Has anyone installed the Draw-Tite 24966 which is now available from eTrailer.com? It says it's supported for the Prime.
     
  16. Old Bear

    Old Bear Senior Member

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    That's very interesting. I'm planning to add a hitch for a bike rack in the Spring when the New England weather is more welcoming. (It's a beautiful Autumn now, but the on-coming Winter is not Mrs. Bear's choice for biking.)

    When I checked with eTrailer about a month ago, they told me that the only hitch for the Prime was the Curt C-11473 which, when used with a bike carrier, requires a tether strap to the top of the hatch to prevent sway. I was interested in the Draw-Tite 24944 (made by Cequent) which is more rigid and fits the Prius. While the mounting looks similar in the catalog pictures, eTrailer told me that the holes in the 24944 don't line up with the Prime's bumper brackets.

    Meanwhile, the UHaul web site lists the CQT-24944 as the hitch which they install on the Prime. Possibly they are drilling modified holes, but the person I spoke to at UHaul had never installed a hitch on a Prime. An email I wrote to technical support at Cequent was not answered.

    I will investigate the Draw-Tite 24966 which may be Cequent's new version of the 24944 designed for the Prime. If so, it would be just what I'm looking for to use with our Swagman XTC-2 bike carrier (purchased from eTrailer several years ago.) Please keep us posted.
     
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  17. PNWbiker

    PNWbiker New Member

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    I hope someone in Portland, Oregon can recommend a local place to have a hitch installed for my bike rack. I'm renting a Prime right now and I was able to put my 54cm road bike in the back both ways, front wheel first and rear first. No problem either way, just prefer the ease of the hitch mount rack. Plan to buy a Prime before the end of the month. Thanks in advance for any advice

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  18. parnest

    parnest Junior Member

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    I just had the Draw-Tite 24966 installed by my Toyota Dealer. (Today, Nov. 15, 2017.) $275. i chose the dealer over third party (e.g., U-Haul) because I wanted an installer who understood my Prius Prime Advanced. I liked the Draw-Tite over the Curt because the Curt required some sort of stabilizing strap. At this point, eTrailer recommended the Draw-Tite for that reason. Dealer didn't report any issue with the installation.

    I bought the Saris Fredom SuperClamp EX 2 bike rack (recommended by eTrailer). Haven't tried it yet (just got the hitch today). I will keep you posted.
     
  19. parnest

    parnest Junior Member

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    See my post 178. Just had the 24966 installed by my dealer.
     
  20. parnest

    parnest Junior Member

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    Photos of the Draw-Tite 24966 and the bike rack with bike attached. No need for an extender. To fasten the receiver, I recommend a 19mm socket wrench or hex screwdriver. There's not a lot of room for a regular wrench. I had to disable the automatic collision avoidance when the bike is mounted (didn't test with the rack only).

    The Saris rack weighs 35 lbs and can hold two 60 lb bikes (more than the hitch). Two features I like:
    • It has built in locks for the bikes.
    • I don't need a crossbar adapter (for my trail bike)

    photo01.png photo02.png photo03.png photo04.png photo05.png
     
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