1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Bicycle Rack Solution 2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by JollyOllie, Sep 10, 2009.

  1. meechelleftw

    meechelleftw Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    4
    1
    0
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I was hoping someone would mention this. We just got a second bike and haven't tried to fit them both in my 2012 Prius yet.
     
  2. meechelleftw

    meechelleftw Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    4
    1
    0
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I was hoping someone would mention this. We just got a second bike and haven't tried to fit them both in my 2012 Prius yet.
     
  3. NathaliePr2010

    NathaliePr2010 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Hi all,

    I know this is an older post and I've read through most of it. I bought a used 2010 Prius over a year ago, and my little family and I like to ride bikes... Except that we have 4 of them. I see Meechelle's point but if you have 2 kids, 2 adults, luggage and bikes, they don't fit in the hatchback!! With that being said, I am contemplating buying a bike rack with a hitch. I saw some great recommendations in the earlier posts, but now being 2015, I was wondering if anyone would make new recommendations. Obviously, I would like the ability to open the hatch door while the bikes are on. Any new recommendations?

    Thanks all for your time.
    Nat :)
     
  4. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2014
    1,784
    944
    0
    Location:
    Pa.
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    I Have the saris bones 3 and will not use it again on a Prius…. It has worked on every suv and car that I have owned as it is very adjustable but it tore up the spoiler area on my previous Prius three, so it will not be going anywhere near the Persona. I'll eventually get a hitch rack (am really liking the thule one on pg. 2), or put my Bones on the wifes Rav4..

    Then again if only transporting 1 bike, just drop the rear seats and see if it will fit, worst case pop the front tire assembly off..
     
    #44 Blizzard_Persona, Feb 14, 2015
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2015
  5. Bill the Engineer

    Bill the Engineer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2013
    1,044
    2,272
    467
    Location:
    At the beach in Delaware...
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    [​IMG]

    Thule roof rack with carriers works well for us.

    Bill the Engineer
     
  6. My590L

    My590L Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2014
    42
    8
    0
    Location:
    NorCal, CA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I installed the Ecohitch with 2" receiver on my wife's Prius V wagon. I use the Kuat Sherpa to hold the bikes. Haven't had any problems. The Sherpa only holds 2 bikes. I have road bikes that I only want to be cradled by the wheels due to the frame material (carbon fiber), so I wanted a rack that would have wheel trays and straps. I like the Kuat line because their racks are made of aluminum and are a lot easier to install and remove. The Ecohitch line for the Prius does require some trimming of the underbody plastic panels. Not a big deal though to have most of the hitch, hidden, with the exception of the receiver. Hope this helps.
     
    Bill the Engineer likes this.
  7. NathaliePr2010

    NathaliePr2010 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2015
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Hi all,
    Thanks for your replies. I really appreciate it. :) I've opted for the Curt trailer hitch (seems everyone likes it and no one has complained about it) and just bought it. Now I'm still debating about the actual rack. I don't need it to carry 4 bikes (not recommended) but only 2 (and again, I want to be able to open the hatch when the bikes are on). More shopping and more analysis to do. Thanks again! :)
     
  8. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,534
    581
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    What is the mileage decrease when the bikes are on the rack?
     
  9. Bill the Engineer

    Bill the Engineer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2013
    1,044
    2,272
    467
    Location:
    At the beach in Delaware...
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    On I-70 between Ohio and Baltimore with both bikes on top we see about a 3 mpg drop. Also need to be aware of overhangs at drive-thru's... :eek:

    Bill the Engineer
     
  10. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,534
    581
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    That's not much of a drop. I have a hitch mounted rack and see at least a 5 mpg drop with it.
     
  11. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    I've driven with my rack for years and didn't experience this. Same for a few others I know.. so this is the only post noting hitch rack dropping it by 5mpg. That must be with hauling the bike not folded up?

     
    #51 Sfcyclist, Mar 17, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2015
  12. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    The Yakima Hold up tilt down away from the hatch so you can acesss/open the hatch. Pull the red knob and it tilts the direction needed. I think the Kuat does that as well.

    A 3rd bike can fit in the car fairly easily with one side folded down. So with that way, you have room for 3 bikes are passengers.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Bill the Engineer

    Bill the Engineer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2013
    1,044
    2,272
    467
    Location:
    At the beach in Delaware...
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    You need to remember that the bikes on the roof are mounted fore-n-aft so that they present a relatively small cross-section to the air passing by. This creates less drag than when the bikes are mounted across the rear. Also, much of the turbulence that the bikes cause on the roof is far enough above the car to not create as much suction on the back as the rear mounted bikes do. Strong side winds can be a bit more of an issue though when the bikes are up on top.

    Bill the Engineer
     
  14. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    If comparing roof vs hitch mount.. it's obvious hitch is much less of an aero drag. I'm speaking from personal experience and from others. Several of my friend have the same setup, Prius with hitch rack. I've hauled bike on the roof and back of the car for years. Consistent results, more aerodynamic drag on the roof than behind the car. Mpg's that reflects that as well.

    A few people I know keeps their hitch rack on the Prius and don't see an mpg impact.. if there was, minimal. They actually get better MPG that I do(without hitch rack) but that's due to their commute.

    I also tested this out year ago.. in a Lexus SUV, simple experience, just the cross bars on the same route and then without. The cross bars reduced mpg's by 1-2 mpg. Yes, the SUV is taller but theory is the same. I would suspect the hit on the Prius is much more than 1-2 mpgs.

    Pretty simple, aero vortices formed by the car limits drag of the bike on the hitch.. I use those drafts all the time on my bike!
     
    #54 Sfcyclist, Mar 17, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2015
  15. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,534
    581
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Yes, hauling bikes. There's also a mileage hit folded up against the back. I remove the rack when I don't use it and carry my one bike inside the car. I assumed that a roof rack would be worse for mpg. Maybe not so. The platform rack and hitch is pretty costly. I have a One Up rack.
     
    #55 MikeDee, Mar 18, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2015
  16. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    When I had my hitch on the car, I never saw a 5 mpg hit. A friend who runs the same setup says the same. We think maybe 1-2 and that's pushing it.