Gen 4 2016 Trailer Hitch

I just spoke with a rep. from Curt Manufacturing about a hitch being available for the 2016 4 touring. He said there is one now in design and it will soon be available! He said keep checking their website and when it becomes available the "Prius will show up when you select "model". I now have a 2008 Prius hatchback and have been using a Curt class 1 hitch for 8 years which accepts my bike rack. I have a 2016 4 Touring on order and also need the tow hitch!

 

Thank you for the update! I just asked the same question in one of the other forums.

 

I contacted Cequent Performance Products who manufacture the tow hitches for several companies, some being Hidden Hitch, Reese, and Draw-Tite. I spoke to a representative in tech. support about our problem finding a hitch. He said they are looking into the possibility of designing a hitch for the 2016 liftback, but they have nothing in the works for the near future. It would have been nice if Toyota had considered the fact that some of us use a class 1 hitch to receive our bike racks. I have not received my Four Touring yet. It is still on order. Are there rear tow brackets on the 2016 as in the previous years?

 

Toyota UK sells this as an option for the 2016. Perhaps the Prius Chat shop could find a way to ...

lInk: Toyota Prius - A Hybrid Icon. Again. | Toyota UK

 

I'm also interested in a hitch, especially a hidden one, for ground clearance. Torklift made a nice one for gen3 called EcoHitch. They're actually on PriusChat. How about making one for gen4, "Torklift Central"?

Prius ECOHITCH, who has one? | PriusChat

Torklift Central: Torklift Central | PriusChat

 

My 2011 had a round hole in the body under both ends of the bumper. I used these as attachment points for rear tiedown straps for boats I carried on the roof. Very secure, although unfortunately these straps rubbed on the bumper. The underside of the 2016 is completely covered by an aero panel, so I could not find anyplace I could clip a strap to. Towards one side of the bumper there is a removable cover with a threaded hole underneath one can screw a towing eye into. One towing eye is included, stored under the cargo floor.

 

The 2016 Curt Mfg. hitch is now available. $244.95. Drilling and trimming required. curtmfg==com/part/11426 (where == is a dot).

 

When I chatted with the representative in the Torklift booth at the Seattle Bike Expo, she indicated that they would need to borrow a Gen4 for several days.

Any Seattle-Kent area volunteers?

 

Cool! Thanks for the update. What does "trimming required" mean?

 

I have a Curt hitch on my 2010. On my 2016 Prius Two I am planning to use the SeaSucker bike holder. It uses suction cups to mount to the roof and needs no hitch or roof rack. It is lighter, easy to remove/install and because you wet wipe the area of the suction cup mounting and the suction cup surfaces, it leaves no scratches Check it out at SeaSucker | Vacuum Mounting Systems I am not a rep for them just a user of their product.

 

From looking at the photos it appears that the plastic bumper section may need to be cut to install the hitch. It's not real clear, but it makes sense that for the receiver to be accessible, a hole must be cut. This is not untypical.

 

Assume the other very interesting accessories will eventually make it over here but when?

 

Since new members can't directly post links and other media, here are the images:

 

I just went on the Curt Manufacturing site and found out that they now have a class 1 hitch for the Gen4 Toyota Prius Hatchback available. It is Model #11426. They show manufacturer's msrp as $244.00. They have an excellent downloadable 6 page set of instructions with pictures of how to install the hitch. No drilling required, but they say it is a bit challenging to some. Go to the Curt Mfg. site for the information. If you go to etrailer, the hitch is listed for $130.95 with free shipping for a short time! I orderd mine today, 4-10-2016. I tried to give you the link to the site, but Prius Chat would not allow me to list it as I have only made two posts so far !!

 

Thanks for posting the photos and info. Also, I printed out the installation instructions and there is no mention of any drilling required?

 

I am very much looking to how your installation goes.

I put a Curt Hitch on our 2010 and it went on easy, but the instructions said his one was challenging. Perhaps just because you need to cut some of the panels underneath?

I am on the fence now as to whether or not to add a hitch to the 2016. That special price is terrific-- I will probalbly regret not ordering one now.

One consideration is whether or not you need to jack the car up to make the installation work, or if you can just slide under like for the 2010.

 

$120 on eBay
Curt Class 1 Trailer Hitch 11426 for Toyota Prius | eBay

 

Almost certainly some of the under panels must be trimmed to allow the receiver to come through.