Bike Transport

With the rear seats folded down, I transport my bicycle in the rear (through the liftback). With more than one bicycle, I use a Yakima rack on top (with nylon bras to reduce insect and microdust impacts). Either method, the Prius sits low enough to make loading and unloading very easy.

 

You might want to check out these thread and others like it.
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=29262&hl=
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=9326&hl=
I've had good results with a thule 4 bike carrier on a coastal 2" hitch receiver. I would recommend a bike rack that doesn't hang too far out of the receiver, I had to modify mine to work well.

 

This is how I transport mine, along with one more bike, and two surfboards, all at once.

 

I just bought a Saris Bones, a trunk-mount hitch, based on the experience of john1701a. I haven't used it yet, so I can't cite any personal experience. I chose the trunk mount because I wanted to avoid the cost and time of having a hitch installed, and because I didn't want anything mounted on the roof for aerodynamic and cosmetic reasons.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Mar 12 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]404486[/snapback]</div>

It's been working really well for me, carrying oddly shaped bikes no less. See:



There are larger photos are on this webpage and there are close-ups of that rack here.


Being able to fit that other recumbant inside at the same time, while still being able to seat 3 people too is pretty impressive.

. .

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ Mar 12 2007, 08:12 PM) [snapback]404490[/snapback]</div>

Hey, John, what are you currently using to keep the straps from rubbing on the spoiler?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Mar 12 2007, 08:33 PM) [snapback]404499[/snapback]</div>

Just a piece of cheap foam pipe-insulation does the trick.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Mar 12 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]404486[/snapback]</div>

When the rack's not in use, it pops off by pushing 4 (lockable)buttons:

In my eyes, not at all cosmetically unappealing. I actually like it better (there are caps that cover the silver bars).
Plus this way it's expandable for future hobbies; snowboards/skis, kayaks, canoes, cargo boxes, longboards... will not fit thru the hatch. I have noticed no loss in MPG in this configuration.
Also, check out similar topic: HERE

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jgills240 @ Mar 12 2007, 09:13 PM) [snapback]404594[/snapback]</div>

Is this a Thule system? I like the looks of this better than the warts Darrell has (sorry Darrell). Does this require drilling through the roof to attach, I assume? I anticipate a cargo box, bike carrier and future kayak use (not all at once), so am trying to research.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(edselpdx @ Mar 13 2007, 12:56 PM) [snapback]404923[/snapback]</div>

Yes, I chose Thule as I already had all the attachments for surfboards and bikes. Yakima also has an identical system, but they use round bars instead of square, which may make it easier to use different configurations. Darell's system is the Yakima, just without the tracks. Drilling is required, I ended up using 6 holes per side (10 are available per side) which turned out to be 4 more than Darell had to drill. So there are some + & - to each way, I just decided the track way would be more versatile, and it looks badass!