Bycicle Hitch

The Prius MPG Simulator predicts 53 MPG at 55 MPH, assuming 50F outside air temp, climate control not in use, no wind, smooth level terrain, Goodyear Integritys inflated to 44 front/42 rear. Add an empty hitch-mounted bike rack and it drops to 52 MPG. Add one bike and it drops to 50, and 49 with a second bike.

 

In my experience, the hitch itself causes not enough of a mileage drop to be measurable; the addition of the bike rack (a thule 4-bike w/2" receiver) drops MsPG about 10%; and the additon of 2 bikes drops it another 10%, for a total drop of about 8-10 mpg.

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I observed a ~25% drop (52 to 38, highway) with two bikes on a hitch rack (A Saris T-rax). This rack holds the bikes relatively high so they are still significantly in the slip stream.

 

A very minor point of etiquette: Most readers do not like posts typed in all CAPS. It sounds like the person is shouting at them.

Tom