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Finally got my Curt hitch!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by justlurkin, Sep 24, 2007.

  1. justlurkin

    justlurkin Señor Member

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    Greetings,

    First, let me thank those forum members who answered my questions about the Curt hitch in this thread: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=3...p;hl=curt+hitch

    I was a bit concerned about chopping up things on my brand-new Prius and was a bit hesitant on getting the Curt, but having seen some of the failures with the 2" Coastal hitch here: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=9326&st=20 I decided the Curt was the only real choice.

    Two weeks ago I went to the UHaul at Westbury on Long Island to inquire about the Curt hitch, and unfortunately they were out of stock. They quoted me $167 total, including the hitch, installation and sales tax, and I was sold. I asked them to order it for me, and this past Friday they gave me a call to let me know it was in. I opted to have them do the install because I don't have the necessary tools. Cutting the plastic tray was tough going with a box cutter, so we had to use a sawzall instead. The hitch installed, I got to use it this past Sunday. Photos:

    - The hitch was very unobstrusive. It's barely visible:
    [attachmentid=11635]

    - We followed the Curt instruction sheet on elongating the slot in the plastic tray to the letter, but it still looks rather messy with a big, big gap. I'll think about patching up the big gap some other time:
    [attachmentid=11636]

    - Another shot at the unobstrusiveness. :wub:
    [attachmentid=11637]

    - Gratuitous shot of my baby. ;)
    [attachmentid=11638]

    - My old 3-year-old el-cheapo bike rack. The quick-release is very worn so the bike rack shakes and rattles even though everything is tightened as far as it will go. I will be replacing it with a higher-quality Thule rack in the next few weeks.
    [attachmentid=11639]

    - My bike on the rack. It's what I call my AT-ZEV (Advanced Technology Zero-Emissions Vehicle). Heh heh. It's advanced technology because it's a carbon-fiber bike-- Specialized Sirrus LTD. Carbon frame, fork, seatpost, handlebar, cranks. This bike weighs 22 pounds total. Specialized isn't making a carbon-fiber Sirrus anymore so I decided to jump on it earlier this year. B)
    [attachmentid=11641]

    - Fully-outfitted. Aftermarket carbon fiber bar-ends (which required aluminum inserts to prevent them from crushing the hollow carbon fiber handlebars when bolt-clamped on) and Cateye cycling computer.
    [attachmentid=11642]

    - The Sirrus LTD came with Armadillo tires standard. Puncture-resistant due to its kevlar lining. Almost mandatory for city-riding!
    [attachmentid=11643]

    I also have a much-heavier mountain bike (40lbs.), and the Curt hitch had no problems hauling that puppy around. I used to lug my bikes around on my Range Rover, and with the hitch rack installed I can't open the rear gate. No such problems on the Prius!

    This past weekend I drove my bike on the Prius up to Westchester from Long Island (25 mile drive) for Bike Sunday. Every May, June and September, Westchester closes a stretch of the Bronx River Parkway for cycling use from 10AM - 2PM on Sundays-- Great place to ride! I noticed a drop of about 0.5mpg in my fuel efficiency (from my usual 52.0mpg down to 51.5mpg with the bike rack and my Sirrus LTD carried) . Not too bad.

    For those of you on Long Island looking for the Curt Hitch, I highly recommend going to the U-Haul in Westbury (on Jericho Turnpike and Brush Hollow Road). They were quick, weren't pushy, and charged me only $25 for the installation. $130 for the hitch, $25 for the labor, and $12 for tax.

    All in all I'm very happy with the Curt hitch-- I'm sure my Prius and I will have many a great biking trips in the upcoming summers!
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 justlurkin, Sep 24, 2007
  2. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    A little tip for those with receiver hitches that rattle. Take a roll of electricians vinyl tape and put a wrap on the bike carrier part that inserts. It will take up the play, damp any rattling, and make it much nicer to own. Cheap enough to redo whenever you like as well. ;)
     
    #2 David Beale, Sep 24, 2007
  3. DGH

    DGH Thread Terminator

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    Most excellent........Ride on.
     
    #3 DGH, Sep 24, 2007
  4. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    I really like my Curt 1.25" hitch with a Thule T2 bike rack but am totally confused as to why Curt doesn't make a 2" hitch for the Prius.
     
    #4 Rest, Dec 3, 2008
  5. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    Mostly because a 2" is totally overkill for anything you should be doing with the Prius. You get more clearance and all the towing/bike hauling capacity you should need with 1.25"

    Personally, I love the fact that so much of the hitch industry has finally moved to 1.25" for the smaller cars. 2" is GREAT for trucks and other vehicles that haul serious loads. The 1.25 is ideal for passenger cars.
     
    #5 darelldd, Dec 3, 2008
  6. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    Yes but with a 2" hitch (for the Thule T2) a Prius really could carry 4 bikes safely.
     
    #6 Rest, Dec 3, 2008
  7. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    I don't believe that's true. The Prius was designed to carry NOTHING off the back. I still contend that two bikes cantelevered off the back of the frame is going to absorb most of the "safety margin" of doing things like this.

    But really - I'm all for experimentation! If you want to do this, just have a custom hitch built by a good welder. It really isn't all that hard, and would cost on order of $300 to get exactly what you want.
     
    #7 darelldd, Dec 3, 2008
  8. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    Kind of misses the point as to why we buy a Curt hitch. Let me see.....$87.49 with free shipping or $300...Hmmmmm. This is why I want Curt to make a 2" hitch as it would cost me less money.
     
    #8 Rest, Dec 3, 2008
  9. stock

    stock Junior Member

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    For the small and low Prius, I think more than 2 bikes is a bit risky.
    For 4 bikes (on nonPrii), I would stick with a 2" hitch for the best security.
     
    #9 stock, Dec 4, 2008
  10. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    Simply swapping a 2" receiver tube onto the 1.25" Curt hitch will not give you significantly more strength, safety or durability. The weld area on the 1.25" hitch won't support the weight that a 2" receiver should be capable of. Making a 2" receiver that is capable of the extra capacity you are looking for costs more to make. The Curt hitch costs what it costs because of its size/capacity, among other reasons. You were searching for a safe way to carry four bikes. Buying a cheap, low capacity 2" receiver hitch is not the solution. Spending what it takes to be safe is the better answer in my book.

    I'm sorry to have missed your point. I was just trying to help.
     
    #10 darelldd, Dec 4, 2008
  11. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    Yes you missed my point. I am talking about a hitch designed to be a 2" hitch, not adapting a 1.25" into a 2". It wouldn't have to be much heavier than what the 1.25" Curt already is. Curt could shave some weight off those wings on the current design. Why are they so huge anyway? They tend to scrape the ground on certain dips in roads.
     
    #11 Rest, Dec 4, 2008
  12. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    Yeah, but MY point, that you seem to have missed, is that you can't just toss a 2" receiver onto the same sort of hitch and call it stronger and safer. To do it right may not make it much heavier, but it would have to be stronger and would be more expensive to build. More weld area means more and thicker steel.

    Those side plates are the size they are for strength. They would need to be bigger to support a 2" receiver.

    Please note here that I'm not just blowing smoke. I've been welding for years, and have build trailer hitches in the past....and seen many fail over the years. You don't get something for nothing. a 1.25" receiver hitch and a 2" receiver hitch are two entirely different animals - when designed and built correctly. We have seen examples of 2" Prius receivers that are NOT designed correctly from our friends in Florida.
     
    #12 darelldd, Dec 4, 2008
  13. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    How do they provide strength? They just hang there well past the area that does provide strength.
     
    #13 Rest, Dec 5, 2008
  14. darelldd

    darelldd Prius is our Gas Guzzler

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    The plate strength is not just to hold the cross-bar up. It is also to prevent sway... and provide a good weld surface for the cross bar.

    I've tried to help. You've got it figured out. I'm done.

    Be safe.
     
    #14 darelldd, Dec 5, 2008
  15. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    Explain how having the side plates so big prevents sway. I am not trying to be rude, I just don't understand.
     
    #15 Rest, Dec 11, 2008
  16. rxsrule

    rxsrule New Member

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    Re: Finally got my Curt hitch!

    You are not supposed to two anything with a Prius.. I am worried that if I have the hitch installed, it will void my warranty. any problems I have, toyota can claim it was the result of towing... any thoughts?
     
    #16 rxsrule, Jun 25, 2009
  17. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    It won't void your warranty because this hitch won't tow very much weight, 2 bicycles max. Without a hitch the Prius can easily load more weight into it.

    This has been discussed over and over again on this forum. But Toyota does not want you to tow trailers and such which can put to much strain on the trans. A 2 bicycle carrier is nothing in comparison.
     
    #17 Rest, Jun 25, 2009
  18. jcgee88

    jcgee88 Member

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    Finally got my Curt hitch! (me too!)

    I received my Curt receiver hitch today. It looks solid,
    and well made.

    The ends don't look bent out of alignment, as some
    folks reported for theirs. That being said, the packaging
    wasn't very impressive...a flat, tall box with no interior
    padding or product tie-downs. In other words, the
    weight of the hitch is all that keeps it from moving
    around. The shipping container had no visible dents
    or damage, so I am hoping that the ends will fit "the
    first time."

    The accessories and installation instrucitons are
    wrapped in tape, around one of the ends - sort
    of looks like a wasps' nest.

    It weighs about 35 lbs, or roughly 1% of the
    weight of the car itself. I am guessing it will ding
    my gas mileage similarly.

    I was planning to have U-Haul install it. While I
    still like having them do it, I wonder if they will do
    the BT stablizer plate install for me at the same
    time, i.e., while the car is up on the hoist. Any
    one try that with them?

    Edit: Took it over to the local U-haul "hitch
    center" location. They weren't all that familiar
    with Prii, but they said they had done installations
    on similar Toyotas. Charged me $35 for
    1/2 hour of labor, then it took them about
    25 minutes to install.

    John
     
    #18 jcgee88, Mar 10, 2010
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