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Trailer Hitch for bike rack

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by nednvermont, May 15, 2019.

  1. nednvermont

    nednvermont Member

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    Hey all... I've been looking at threads here concerning bike racks for 2017 Prius 2. I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on having a trailer hitch installed and getting hitch rack. Just called our local "Yipes" shop and they informed me that the only hitch available (from their sources) is a 1.25" receiver (for $280 installed). I'm looking at bike racks and a lot of what I see are for 2" receivers. I'm thinking a 2" receiver would be more stable/rugged, though I may have that wrong. I have no intention of towing anything with my car, but am wondering if the 1.25" hitch is the "only thing available" because towing is discouraged by Toyota... Have others had 2" hitch installed and, if so, where. I'm in NW Vermont. Thanks!
     
  2. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    All I have ever had on my Gen-3 Prius and my Prius Prime is a 1.25" hitch. That's worked fine with 4 bikes (none really heavy).
     
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  3. mczouav

    mczouav Member

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    Got a 1.25 hitch on my prime and it shakes a bit with 2 bikes on the buzzrack, but it s fine as long as i do not go off road. The standard prius prime 1.25 '' hitch can take 200kg weight and pull 2 tons at the hook ( i i m not mistaken) So really having just bicycles on it is more than ok...

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  4. sboli

    sboli Junior Member

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    Did you check etrailer? On some car models the 1 1/4 hitch requires a supporting strap if using a bike rack. The weight of your bikes really dictates what kind of rack you buy and the hitch you will be putting on. Some ebikes weight 60 pounds apiece. How often you'll be using your bike rack dictates how much you'll spend for one. Yes, you can buy an inexpensive one but the cheaper ones have more fiddly bits to mess with every time. That's what I did (swagman x2} and if it wasn't only temporary (waiting for rav4 hybrid) I would have crushed it by now. Spend some time on youtube and watch reviews.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe 2000 pounds?
     
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  6. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    I use a stabilizer clamp, since the shake originates from the need for a long bar or an extension... which is nice, since you can still open the hatch.
     
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  7. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

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    Torklift Eco Hitch with 2" receiver. 1upUSA bike rack which has an anti-wobble feature. uHTZnVIWT7GPK18yIuwocg.jpg
     
    #7 ewxlt66, May 15, 2019
    Last edited: May 15, 2019
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  8. mczouav

    mczouav Member

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    The buzz rack i use with the bikes has a big bolt tightened to fix it on the hitch and there is no motion /rattle from there. The shaking is directly originating from the hitch itself which elastically bends with the weight/bumps on road. I wish there was a simple solution as a clamp to fix it but not really.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  9. nednvermont

    nednvermont Member

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    Thank you! Great info... I don't think I'll worry about the 1.25" receiver, and will move ahead with the install.
     
  10. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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  11. dyun1dyun1

    dyun1dyun1 Member

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    I ordered a 1.25 hitch for $130 shipped from etrailers. I haven’t installed it yet but I couldn’t imagine it being that tough.

    I plan on installing in a couple of weeks. etrailers also sold 2” for over twice the cost. Like yourself, I wasn’t planning on towing anything.
     
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  12. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    I tow a lot, just not anything that requires a 2".
     
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  13. dyun1dyun1

    dyun1dyun1 Member

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    Some of the better hitch bike carriers that swing open require a 2” hitch. Again, I didn’t want to spend the money for it.


    iPhone ?
     
  14. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    You won't find a better bike rack than 1UP USA...but they are not cheap.
     
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  15. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

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    True, although, I'm not aware of any "good" bike racks that are cheap...aka Thule, North Shore, etc.

    I don't consider any bike rack that hangs a bike off it's top tube as a "good" bike rack.
     
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    With the 2010 Prius? Some sort of utility trailer?

    After stuffing bundles of black berries in the hatch for the last coupla weekends I'm starting to lean to the dark side.
     
  17. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    My 1 1/4" hitch and two bike rack work great - and clamped securely there is no wobble.
     
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  18. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    4x6 uhaul box and 5x9 open with ramp gate.
     
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  19. nednvermont

    nednvermont Member

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    Thanks! Do you mind my asking which hitch you got? The Drawtite or the Curt Class? I just purchased a Yakima Ridgeback for two bikes from REI (on sale right now) and I thought I saw something on the etrailer website indicating that the Drawtite wouldn't work for that rack. Why do they have to make things so complicated?!
     
    #19 nednvermont, May 21, 2019
    Last edited: May 21, 2019
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  20. dyun1dyun1

    dyun1dyun1 Member

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    I assume due to towing rating the options are limited. Class 1 seems the minimum rating. I saw some class 3 but didn’t want to pay twice the cost to access some of the better bike racks. So I purchased the class 1.


    iPhone ?
     
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