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Trunk-mount bike rack vs. hitch

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by kayakgirl, Apr 2, 2018.

  1. kayakgirl

    kayakgirl New Member

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    Just replaced my Gen 2 with a Gen 4 and am wondering if anyone has experience with a trunk rack. My Saris rack allegedly won't work; Yakima is the only one that lists a rack for Gen 4 and requires anchors inside instead of the clips. Looks like a bit of a pain. The other option is a hitch-mount rack. It would be easier to load, but more costly, and does the hitch hurt mileage? (Roof isn't an option -- that's for the kayak rack.)
     
  2. syncro87

    syncro87 Member

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    I just got my Prius, but if you search the forum, you'll find a number of people who have installed a hitch and or bike racks on their Gen 4.

    I bicycle a fair bit, and plan on installing a hitch soon. I've hauled bikes all kinds of ways, and in my opinion, a hitch mounted bike rack is the way to go. The tray style racks work best in my experience, i.e. where your bike sits on a tray rather than hangs from a post.
     
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  3. kayakgirl

    kayakgirl New Member

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    Thanks. I probably will end up with a hitch in the end, but I'm hesitant to have something heavy installed on a brand-new car and I'm still curious about whether anyone has experience making the trunk-mounted rack work.
     
  4. syncro87

    syncro87 Member

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  5. Ranko Kohime

    Ranko Kohime Member

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    It's not really that heavy. A child might struggle to pick it up, as a 5'6" 150-lb adult I lifted the whole hitch with one hand. I'd say, 20, maybe 30 lbs?

    I don't carry bikes but I would have to echo that I wouldn't want anything hanging off the liftgate.
     
  6. kayakgirl

    kayakgirl New Member

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    Thanks. I'm leaning toward the hitch, but was looking for someone who actually had a hitch on a Prius. I ran into a friend tonight, and she didn't see an effect on mileage.
     
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  7. Ranko Kohime

    Ranko Kohime Member

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    Any effect on mileage would be hard to quantify, at the large MPG numbers we deal with. I run a 62" CB antenna on the roof, and when towing a 2-300lb trailer, I still managed 60+ mpg even with the drag of both on the trip home. In cold weather.

    The right foot has more effect on MPG than small amounts of extra weight.
     
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  8. itrekrm

    itrekrm Trekker

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    I'm considering a hitch-mount and tray style bike rack. I've had hitch-mounts on my 2 previous Prius'. My concern is; will the bike/rack interfere with the backup sensors?
     
  9. josh s.

    josh s. New Member

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    Just got 2018 Prius Two. A couple of conversations have alluded to trying not to hang trunk-mounted bike rack from the top of the hatch, but no one has explicitly said that this is bad or why. Toyota FAQ's have nothing on this. Dealer is mystified. I hung trunk mounted rack from top of hatchback-wagon door on my Prius V wagon. But difference there was that the edge of the frame where I hung the strap hooks was metal, but on this Prius 2018 Two, the top of the hatch is glass.

    Can this question be answered?

    Thanks,
    --JS
     
  10. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    I have a hitch and a tray-type bike rack (two bikes). The hitch is an easy install with minimal tools (screw driver, metric sockets, razor knife to make a very small cut in a piece of the plastic under the car. You can hardly see it after it is installed (the second pictures shows the rack plugged into the nearly invisible receiver). hitch.jpg IMG_5662.JPG
     

    Attached Files:

  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    What did you use for a license plate bracket on the hitch rack?

    My state's LEOs haven't yet cared, but I was pulled over several years ago in another state for obscured license plate, receiving a written warning. I'll likely never be hauling bikes there again, and several hints suggested the real reason for the pullover was not the obscured plate, but rather a 'marijuana state plate'.

    Regardless, I should find a solution to remount the rear license plate to an unobscured location on the bike rack.
     
  12. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    I made that bracket with a 3d printer specifically for the rack. Originally, prior to putting in the wiring for trailer lights, I extended the license plate light wiring with a hidden connector so it would be lighted. I could not find an appropriate bracket from the aftermarket.

    Since I live in the Great State of California, the Soviet Union of the West, I do all I can to avoid any contact with LEOs. Regular citizens are treated as criminals, while criminals don't even have to post money bail.
     
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  13. markg1975

    markg1975 Junior Member

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    Soviet Union of the West? Yeah it's not Cali that's cozying up to the Russians these days, look eastward and south for that.
     
  14. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    Great thread. I hadn't thought yet of a bike rack. I have one of those cheap ones that hooks over the edges of the hatch and underneath, but my Prius has the corny "spoiler" which is kind of flimsy.

    I was thinking of putting a small hitch on my Prius for a small motorcycle trailer. Your thread reminded me that it could be used for a high quality bike rack.

    It makes me want to remind you that the hitch might have other uses in the future. A small cargo trailer can be VERY handy from time to time, for example.
     
  15. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    Lots of us Gen 4 owners tow light trailers. The Harbor Freight variety is popular due to the availability, inexpensive cost and weight. At one time I was considering building a teardrop for the Prius ("Foamy" construction"), but abandoned that because the Prius serves better as a climate controlled sleeping berth. The crap can go in the trailer.
     
  16. jlimgarfield

    jlimgarfield Junior Member

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    Is this a 1 1/4" size hitch (Class 2) or a full 2" hitch (Class 3)?
     
  17. William Redoubt

    William Redoubt Senior Member

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    1-1/4". Which I think is a Class 1?
     
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  18. sboli

    sboli Junior Member

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    If you have the time you might want to check out the mtbr cars and bike racks forum.
    I'm considering the 1 up quick rack but I'm waiting to see what the new Saris MTR rack looks like when it comes out this spring. It's a shame that the new and improved quikrack (just do a search) will never be produced.
     
  19. rosencrantz

    rosencrantz Member

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    William Redoubt, a few questions....
    I’m seriously thinking about a receiver hitch and really like how discreet yours seems to be. Can you tell me what brand/type it is? Where did you get it installed? Do you have to disable any of the car’s safety systems when pulling a light trailer? Does the receiver impact MPGs?
    I’m looking to pull about a 1000 lb trailer a few times a year - just a few miles each way.
    Thanks for your help!
     
  20. Ranko Kohime

    Ranko Kohime Member

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    There are 2 classes at 1-1/4", Class 1 and Class 2. The only ones I was able to find were Class 1. (I wanted a Class 2, so I looked fairly hard)

    I would think the Prius would need severely upgraded rear springs, if not other bits, to accommodate a Class 3.

    That being said, this hasn't stopped me from towing a Buick. :D /banjos