Thule Box Luggage Carriers plus coastaletech hitch

As far as the weight-carrying capacity of the Costal hitch, you can email them from their web page and ask them. They always answered my questions when I was considering the EV switch, even if it sometimes took them a day or so.

I can't kelp you with the wiring issue, but if you don't get an answer, try posting in the maintenance forum, with a subject line like "Wiring Question."

 

The Coastal Tech's Hitch carries up to 200lbs. I think having this Thule rack would really reduce you mpg's.

 

if the tail lights are red,red, yellow no problem, if red, red you'll need a tail light wiring adapter available at WalMart or any auto parts store. Wired mine up in about 45 minutes and that included soldering and taping all connections. As the Toyota wiring is about 22 gauge wire I wouldn't use those "scotch lock" type connectors. Way to easy to cut off a wire. Also don't poke holes thru the wire insulation to find the brake and tail and turn signal wires, go to a connector and do it there and write down the colour code. Then connect the wiring from the adapter or the flat trailer wire to them.

 

Mike, Coastal shows an optional light kit for their carrier so I expect you could work something out to get just the hitch and necessary wiring.

 

Re: Thanks...

Exactly. And who knows, you might find you can do without all that stuff we all "need" when there isn't room for it. We dragged around the portable crib, but there are hundreds of thousands of "non crib" nights for those without them and the kids sleep anyway.
I once house sat for a friend and was amazed at how they could do with so few pots and pans (and it wasn't because they had zero money). Then I figured out how many I had and never used. Stuff accumulates to fill the available space.

 

OK, almost a year later. Has anyone added one of these to their Prius, or any other hitch-mounted storage boxes/luggage carriers?

 

I will probably buy this, or perhaps a flat tray-type carrier, for the 2" Coastal hitch. I can stand on the tongue (230#) and the car drops, nto the hitch, so it is plenty strong enough for this box. LIghts will be needed, and a plate carrier, since both may be blocked. I'd like to find a Toyota connector to use to splice in to the wiring, but it's not a priority right now. I like this box solution since it is weatherproof, lightweight, and removable.

 

I already own a Thule Terrapin, and also a Thule Trailblazer that we use with a Jeep. It would be great to use either or both of these with the Prius.

Any first hand reports of using the Terrapin with a 2" receiver hitch on a Prius?

/Jim

 

With regard to a Terrapin or other attachments to the Coastal Prius receiver hitch. The weight is not the only factor when determining what you can connect to the hitch. The leverage of the item, based on how far out it protrudes from the reciever is critical. As an example; if KTphil wieghs 200 pounds and stands on the end of the hitch, that's a lot different than the same 200 pounds standing on something that extends 1 foot out from the hitch, the effect of the weight is multiplied by the leverage of the extension sticking out of the hitch. This is further multiplied when you go over a bump. This could easily equal 2 - 5 times the amount of wieght in the box or carrier. In other words if you have 200 pounds in a box that sticks out 1 foot from the hitch, and go over a bump, you might generate 500-1000 pounds of force on the hitch. There's no way that Coastal hitch will take that. My hitch get's flexy just putting 60 pounds of mountain bike and bike rack on it.

My advice, is don't even think about that Terrapin or other luggage carriers with the Coastal Hitch. The roof is the place for moderately heavy loads that don't fit in the car, not the bendy little coastal tech hitch.

Andrew