experience/advice using 1.25 hitch with adapter for bike rack

I drive a 2008 Prius and have a Saris Thelma bike rack with a 2 inch bar that I would like to use. I understand that my Prius can only have a 1.25 inch receiver hitch as the 2 inch hitch by Curt is no longer made. What are your thoughts about having a Draw Tite 1.25 inch receiver hitch installed and using a hitch adapter to allow the use of my Saris rack? Will the extra length of the adapter be a problem? I will only be carrying 2 road bikes plus the Saris rack. Will the adapter be able to hold the weight? Will the rack stick out too far behind the car or hit the pavement?
Thanks for your help!
Lisa

 

[/QUOTE]
You said that the Thelma has a 2 inch bar -- is the bar 2 inches or is the bar 1.25 inches but with a 2 inch adapter? The new Thelma racks have a 1.25 inch bar and have a 2 inch adapter. Unless you have an older model that has a 2 inch bar you will not need an adapter and there should be no problem.

You may want to contact Saris.com with any questions. I found them to be very helpful. The website also has manuals and installation videos for their hitches.

Good luck
Steve[/QUOTE]

Steve,
My Thelma bike rack by Saris is connected to the hitch by a bar with a 2 inch square hole. I know the hitches that can be installed on the 2008 Prius are 1.25 inch receiver hitches. So that means I have to have an adapter added between the bike rack and the hitch. The adapter adds weight, length, and also reduces the tongue weight the hitch is able to hold. That's why I'm concerned about using all these pieces together.

The suggestion to contact Saris is a good one as is the reassurance from Bliz that he's used an adapter without any problems. I just don't want to be doing all this and then find out the hitch will bend under the weight or the added length will make the hitch under the car scrape the ground. Thank you Steve and Bliz for your replies!
Lisa