I kind of assumed I'd get a hitch rack for my prius ... but some feedback I'm getting is that it might damage the car (the strain of bikes leveraging out there). So I'd really like feedback from people who have put a few miles on their 2004/2005 prius with roof or hitch racks. Any downsides? Which really yields better mpg? Thanks.
Subjects like this have been discussed a zillion times. A quick search would serve you well. Below are links to four of the previous discussions that took place earlier this month: First Thread Second Thread Third Thread Fourth Thread
I've read those, actually. There is a lot of information, but not quite the "long term road test" I'm looking for. I didn't see the "I've had mine six moths and no damage, such and such mpg" etc. kind of posts. I saw lots of conjecture of what mpg people "expected" to get once they got their racks, or what the racks looked like, installed.
How much more of a "long term road test" do you want than 6 months? The car's only been produced a year and 9 months!
Geez, all I'm asking for is something like that 6 month experience. That's why I said that "I didn't see 'I've had mine six months [...]'" Do you guys have bike racks, or other hitch racks? How many miles do you have on them, and what is your experience?
Sorry, misread your sentence. I don't think there are many people that drive around all the time with bikes attached. But I'll shut up now.
Most of my trips are short-ish, but I'm actually trying to get set up for some more serious road trips with bikes right now. Maybe Southern California <-> Idaho, things like that.
Well, no negative answers for either path anyway. I think I'll go with the hitch route, just becase it will be easier to take on and off with one person and no scratches. I had considered this lightweight but somewhat dangly hitch rack (below) but maybe that is too much to wave around off the Prius chassis: The Sport Rider is the second rack down on this page: http://www.hollywoodracks.com/2&3.htm and I think it is also the same as the Performance XPORT Flatbed 2: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profil...3&subcategory... Instead, I think I'll go for a simple Yakima (Kingpin) or Thule (Hitching Post) 2 bike rack. (I'll check back in an hour, before I leave the house ... just in case I get that long-term review) Thanks.
Today's lightwieght bikes (20# or less) won't strain a hitch rack. I've stood on the rack (200# +) and the car hunches down, but the hitch barely moves. Those mounting points are for holding the 3000# car in place, so I don't think four 25# bikes are going to be even noticed. The only MPG drop is from air resistance, which you'll get with any external rack. What more info do you need? The thing's not going to rot in 12 months and fall off...
I guess the first repsonses I got have made me cautious. The guy at the hitch shop was cautious about how big a rack, or how many mountain bikes to haul, and how far. He knew enough about mountain bikes to say "not downhill bikes." And then the first mountain bike forum I asked in, the answer was "not on a prius." Now, I know those aren't Prius guys, and you folks are ... which is why I really stopped by hoping to hear from someone with some miles under their belt. My initial hope was that someone would pop up and say "I did a X thousand mile road trip with ..." - that would make the decision very easy.
