Gen 1 (2003) receiver hitch

The U-Haul 2002 hitch should work for the 2003. AFAIK, there were no structural changes during the first years of production (the "Classic" Prius) that would affect the tie-down bracket locations where the hitch is mounted. Years ago there was (and still is, apparently) an outfit in Florida, http://www.coastaletech.com, that offered a number of mods and parts for the 2001-3 Prius, including a trailer hitch with 2" receiver. I bought one and it's mounted on my 2002 right now, for use with a bike rack. It also offered a mod that remotely opened the trunk, as well as extra key blanks so you could program your own duplicates---I did that, too. And I have their mod, a simple jumper wire installed in the driver-side interior fusebox, whereby the accessory outlet is always "live," which is very handy for charging phones and the like. But now they don't offer any products for models before 2007. There were some threads on this hitch topic a while back, including one that discusses the U-Haul hitch, as well as some bad customer experiences with coastaletech. Good luck with your search! (Footnote: Toyota says that the 2001-3 models aren't designed for trailer towing, though some early buyers apparently did so. I wouldn't risk damaging the transmission! Bike racks should be OK, though.)

 

Glad for you! Happy biking!

 

I would think a Gen 2 hitch would work I don't have a gen one Prius here to look at there's one up the street I have to go looking back where the hitch mounts I have one on my gen 3 paid like 80 bucks for it it's a hidden hitch I think it looks like the Gen 3 one could go on the Gen too but I'm too lazy to pull it off and hold it up to the back of the gym too holes but it looks real close I need to get a receiver on my gen too my Gen 3 is a parking lot Queen mostly and I would think the Gen 2 would be the same back end fundamentally as the gen 1

 

My gen 3 and most of the hidden hitches and other brands of receivers that I've seen the holes on one side or even on both sides of the bracket are slotted so they can shift a bit I know you still have holes on the rear subframe somewhere near the muffler above it whatever and over on the opposite side of the car so for just a bike rack whipping something up pretty quick would not be too prohibitive for inch and a quarter upright bike carrier like a saris thing. I don't own a gen one so probably not going to happen here but it seems like it would be a easy retrofit to use something off of the Gen 2 gen 3 maybe I found a Gen 2 and gen 3 local for like $66 I'm assuming I would be able to take that and me and my buddy with the torch would be able to whip it in the shape to make it happen or maybe not but I believe so

 

Assuming you went forward, can you post some pictures of it? I just need a bike rack, too, not a 1500 lb square tube hitch but they are the only ones...Worried it'll hang down too far, not just for looks but also my exit angle

New to this forum, Very helpful so far. "Inherited" a 2003 gen 1. Any SoCal locals would love to hear from you.

 

All the Toyota hitches for the prii.are going to be a lil low . The car already is so if you hang a hidden hitch back there you're going to be the width of the piece of square tubing that runs between the two tail lights if you will lower to the ground and if I'm not mistaken that's inch or inch and a quarter tubing so you're going to be half that down just at that one spot. So if you have the Prius lift kit on your car not going to bother you much if not and you're driving in lots of snow or sand or dirt or something and your 3/4 of an inch lower where that bar runs across so you're going to be striping the sand or the snow like you do with your lawn mower in the summer. For a street driven car this should make no matter as just look how often you'll be using the hitch. Especially was just a bike rack sticking out of it you're not even going to be putting 1/10 of the load made for the hitch a lightweight bike and Sarrid rack coming out of the hitch. With two bikes on it actually will weigh 48 lb whatever Not much

 

That looks like you got better clearance than my generation 3 persona with 17-in rims and 215 tires I will say that that looks like my Corolla when it has a hidden hitch on it That's the brand name that's pretty much like all the other ones that I just usually get the hidden brand fairly cheap The Reese and tow whatever brand are all available they just prices are higher I actually try and shop and find them used

 

Thank so much. Yeah, dang, we just don't need the 1500 lb towing version with square tubing and straight corners... still deciding. It's also not easy finding a trunk or roof mount for these guys! Any insights there by anyone also appreciated.

 

Isn't the roof on that model more like an echo.?

 

/Like/ an Echo. I understand (could be wrong) it's not an Echo but a little bigger. Many of the rack manufacturers say "no model fits your car" even when they have Echo racks so I'm leery.

 

I just meant for roof racks it looks like that would be a real close call and the echo or the Camry XW whatever I would think those racks would be able to fit your car with almost no modifications I mean it similar width and everything

 

I ended up just doing the $64 Target trunk rack. Didn't want to dump $500-$750 on the hitch+rack. Appreciate you sharing your experience.

Bill

 

I don't know if I'd be standing 5:00 to 7:50 I bought the generation 3 hidden hitch for I'm going to say 1:30 came with the four bolts to screw it in and I already had the receiver but I don't do bikes that way anyway I prefer your method that you have here simply because of quick removal and there's nothing underneath the car that needs to be discussed. You can't tow the trailer but this is not what this is about unfortunately in the Gen 3 I had to be able to move stuff with a small trailer No way around it now I know a better way to do this without having the hitch running across the bottom of the car and still have the same load carrying capacity so great if I have to do it again I have it covered and it's way cheaper.

 

I saw on UHaul $250 for the hitch. Then the fancy Kuat rack for ~$4-500 likely. That kind of math rounded up for other stuff.