Bike Hauling Options

I use the Allen Sports Ultra Compact bike rack purchased from Amazon. Its a hatch bike rack that folds up small enough to fit in a small drawstring bag easily stores under the rear storage compartment in the Gen 3. Never had any issues with it putting too much weight in the spoiler (one 29 inch bike, driving at speeds averaging 80 MPH for cross country road trips, often exceeding 90). The rack has never peeled any paint, scratched the spoiler, or left any marks of any kind in my car. Right now its going for $59.00, on sale from a normal price of $79.99. I believe I paid between $30 to $40 for mine last year, seems like prices have risen. Its sturdy, compact, and safe on the car at any speed. Takes about a minute or two to attach to the car and load the bike. There are options to hold more than one bike, but I have the 1 bike model.

 

Definitely go with a hitch mount. Eco Mount makes a 2" hitch for the Gen 3. Don't waste your money on a 1.25" inch — I've had both versions of the Thule XT and the 2" is BY FAR more sturdy (crazy they're the same price).


Go Huskies!

 

How often do you access the car through the back hatch?

Hitch mount makes that access easy- extremely easy if the mount incorporates a tip- or swing-away option. Installing a tow hitch for a bicycle rack is a total non-issue as long as you don't accidentally hitch up a landscaping trailer instead.

The 1UP USA bike hitch mount is the best I've ever used. None of the rattles or fiddly adjusting of the thules or kuats, and you don't even need the clunky 2" hitch, works fine on the 1.25".

 

https://www.etrailer.com/p-306-X7178.html?hhyear=2013&hhmake=Toyota&hhmodel=Prius

A 2" hitch is going to be more robust and versatile. I see people towing with their Prius more and more often.

 

I have the Curtis 1.25" on a 2013 Prius V, and it is very solid. I do tow a small utility trailer with it and
for a bike rack, it is more than adequate.

 

Yeah the 1up isn't cheap at all but I love the fact that I can pull it off the shelf, unfold it and attach it to the car in about two minutes flat. At the end of the ride, it comes back off the car, folds up to gym bag size and goes back on the shelf just as fast.

Other racks require you to tighten bits and rethread straps and adjust more stuff. I've used some very cheap flimsy racks before and they work- you get there with your bike and everyone's safe and fine. It's just that now I'm willing to pay for the quick "click it on and go" experience instead of the erector set experience.

 

I fold the seat down and throw a moving blanket over the seat. I take the front wheel off the bike and throw it in the back.

 

For us, a Curt 1.25" hitch and a Kuat Sherpa, 2-Bike Rack.

I can put my DJ bike in the back of the Prius, for a quick trip to the pumptrack or DJ's.

If we're riding trails, always use the Hitch/Kuat. No tools to put on, and it's so easy, has a hitch lock too!

The Sherpa is only around 32lbs.

 

I have the same setup as mailkiko, and I think it's ideal for the prius.

For one, the hitch attachment on the Prius isn't as sturdy as I'd like (it's two bolts on either side, no third support by the receiver like past vehicles I've had) so I'm reluctant to add much tongue weight. Particularly when that weight is two carbon fiber bikes that cost more than the car itself. The Kuat is (as far as I know) the lightest tray style rack out there, which is nice because it doesn't add tongue weight and is easy to carry to and from the car.

The other nice thing about the Kuat is: it has a tilt feature making the trunk still accessible, and it can also fold up nicely to get out of the way when not transporting bikes.

The downside is: Kuat is pricy.