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

Trailer hitch?

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by MikeDee, Nov 16, 2016.

  1. Captmiddy

    Captmiddy Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2016
    225
    204
    1
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I wonder if this item may work for the car. Not sure if it pushes out far enough but a rise adapter (flip it over) would be nice to give a little more clearance for bikes on the back of the car.

     
  2. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,536
    583
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I have a 1upUSA bike rack. It barely clears the back bumper. If I had installed the Curt hitch instead of the Draw-Tite, I would have needed a hitch extender. I am not familiar with other brands and styles of bike racks to offer an opinion on which ones work without an extender.
     
    twinprime likes this.
  3. galenagal

    galenagal Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2016
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Curt says
    It looks like you have the Curt 1.25" hitch and a 2"
     
  4. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,749
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    It's all 1.25"
     
  5. galenagal

    galenagal Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2016
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I contacted eTrailer about a setup for two carbonfiber frame mtn bikes. They suggested the Curt 1.25" hitch (the only Prime specific) and Kuat Transfer 1.25" bike rack which has a 7-7/8" tenon which is 7/8" longer than the hitch hole-to-end-of-bumper which is too tight considering all the rattling that will occur. Yakima Holdup rack adds 2-1/2" but the tenon curves up soon and might hit the bumper. Others have mentioned that the 1.25" hitch and/or extender seems loose/rattly. Total weight I need to carry is about 95-100 lbs (rack plus bikes). Thoughts? Rspecially on an extender? How to make it more stable? Thanks.
     
  6. galenagal

    galenagal Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2016
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    oops, Not the Kuat Transfer but the Kuat NV 2.0 Base.
     
    Jon Senum likes this.
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    21,751
    11,330
    0
    Location:
    eastern Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    @bwilson4web uses some simple wedges on his i3 hitch to tighten up the connections, and there products like this too.
     
    itsmejame5 likes this.
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,167
    15,410
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    The installer called and it is taking longer than expected. They are keeping the car tonight so I rented a Jeep Cherokee, $22/day, from Enterprise, their next door neighbor. Now for my Jeep Cherokee review:

    "THE FUEL NEEDLE GOES DOWN WHEN YOU DRIVE IT!!!"​

    Bob Wilson
     
    #128 bwilson4web, Apr 13, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2017
  9. galenagal

    galenagal Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2016
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Thank you! Both are great ideas.
     
  10. bear15

    bear15 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2006
    168
    35
    0
    Location:
    Suburban Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Yes, and quickly.

    "THE FUEL NEEDLE GOES DOWN WHEN YOU DRIVE IT!!!"

     
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  11. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,167
    15,410
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I turned it back in after refueling, 1.67 gal for 19.7 miles: 11.8 MPG. OWCH!

    I can't imagine thinking this is normal mileage for anyone. What got me is my first drive home, watching the fuel needle move. The good news, I'm back in the Prius Prime Plus and drove the rest of the day on EV ... with the receiver hitch and extension.

    Sad to say, the air conditioning at work broke down and the top, 5th floor got pretty grim. Huntsville tied the heat record set in 1925. I'm just now getting back to 'normal.'

    Bob Wilson
     
  12. Samprocat

    Samprocat Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2017
    491
    297
    0
    Location:
    Lincoln, NE
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    That is awesome MPG against my M 760 9 MPG in city normal drive AC on

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  13. bear15

    bear15 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2006
    168
    35
    0
    Location:
    Suburban Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Glad to hear you got your hitch and extension installed and you are back in your Prime Plus. Do you have a few pics?

     
  14. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,167
    15,410
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    #134 bwilson4web, Apr 14, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2017
    HPrimeAdvanced likes this.
  15. bear15

    bear15 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2006
    168
    35
    0
    Location:
    Suburban Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  16. galenagal

    galenagal Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2016
    24
    8
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    And you backed up to a curb! Very nice.
     
  17. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    1,536
    583
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Nice. Did you use an anti-rattle device to prevent sway? Lock? Etrailer.com sells a combination lock and anti-rattle device.
     
  18. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2005
    27,167
    15,410
    0
    Location:
    Huntsville AL
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I wasn't aware of them. I took a quick look and can see the merit. Certainly for the 1.25" receiver extension. So taking out the slack, instead of working like an impact hammer, the load become a solid piece. But I am still concerned about torque loads.

    Bob Wilson
     
  19. itsmejame5

    itsmejame5 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2017
    10
    2
    0
    Location:
    Brea, California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    Finally!!! finished installing the hitch, bike rack, and the best part is that I ended up NOT needing an hitch extender.
    Everything went so smooth... until I found out that my bike rack is rattling like jingle bells after mounting. Any idea on how to fix the issue?

    Equipments used:
    (Purchased from etrailer.com)
    Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver Custom Fit - Class I - 1-1/4
    Thule Vertex 2 Bike Rack - 1-1/4 & 2 Hitch
     

    Attached Files:

  20. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2009
    5,850
    4,018
    0
    Location:
    Westminster, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    You'd have to identify where it's rattling first.