Coastal Tech Receiver Hitch

I would contact Coastaletech directly to find out what class hitch you ordered, although someone here may reply with this (imo, it's always better to hear directly from the vendor).

I have the 2" coastal receiver hitch (bought it from a local PC member). I bought it primarily to carry snowboards and skis. I have a Yakima Bighorn 4 bike rack and ski hitch attachemnt. With this set up and 2 snowboards and one set of skis, the hitch bounces quite a bit. I think trying to add a bike rack plus your cargo carrier may be asking too much of the hitch, especially if they're loaded up...someone on here beefed up their hitch by having an additional support member welded on and attaching to a point further towards the front of the car (his modification should strengthen the attachment points, imo).

I've been wondering about a lightweight cargo carrier for when we take mini vacations (sans skis/snowboards/bikes), so thanks for the link.

I would wait to get some responses from more knowledgeable members here before attempting/purchasing this combo. They will not steer you wrong.

 

I have a 2 in. costal hitch and I only use it to haul trailers. Tung weight is 300lbs, except for gas mileage it hasn't caused any problems. You need to keep it close to the carrying capacity of the Prius. I don't remember exactly what that is right now but it seems like 1300lbs comes to mind although I have hauled considerably more than that but not for long distances or up hills.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(grasshopper @ Mar 3 2007, 11:29 AM) [snapback]399494[/snapback]</div>

2006 Manual states vehicle capacity weight (occupants and luggage) as 810 lbs. I'm sure there is some built-in tolerance to that figure, but I'm not intrested in personally testing that theory.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZenCruiser @ Mar 3 2007, 11:48 AM) [snapback]399501[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, like I said I wasn't sure. But 810lbs WOW, My wallet weights more than that since I save so much on gas. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

The Coastal Tech hitch is a class I, 100lb tongue rating and 1000lb towing capacity. Eventhough Toyota specifically states that the Prius has zero towing capacity. (I may have violated this a couple of times!)

I bought the Curt hitch which has a shorter reciever and creates less torque on the mounting points. With the CT hitch you should add the stabilizing bar to the rear center jack point or else your bikes will bounce.

As far as racks, I have a Coleman I got for $129 at performance bike which holds the bikes great, by the wheels and with a clamp and not hanging style, Thule and Yak both make one for significantly more, though those do fold a second time so that when not in use it only sticks out about 8" from the back instead of the 24" on mine.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gpb5200 @ Mar 3 2007, 05:21 AM) [snapback]399452[/snapback]</div>

I have the Coastal 2" receiver and there is no way I would even consider a flat cargo carrier and then a bike rack attached to the cargo carrier. As others have said, the Coastal receiver bounces when loaded with bikes and the extended load and distance from the hitch would put stresses on the hitch and car frame that the receiver was never intended to handle.

I am currently using a Thule T2 hitch rack (55 lbs) and then carry 2 mtb's that weigh about 55 lbs together. My total hitch weight is about 110 lbs and I know that the Coastal receiver deflects when you drive down the road and hit bumps, etc. Coastal told me that the 2" receiver is rated at 200 lbs so I'm under that, but I wouldn't want to put much more weight on it then I do. It makes me nervous to see expensive bikes bouncing behind the car.

I am investigating reinforcing my hitch to minimize the deflection and I would be interested in any information from people that have done this.

 

Steved or others,
I also have a 2006 Prius w/ coastal 2" receiver. When I first put it the bike hitch rack, I couldnt open the hatch, but now after months of carrying mtn bikes, the load has caused the hitch lower a bit, and I can open the hitch. This is great, but I also see A LOT of bouncing and its time to fix this. Does anyone have any detail or suggestion on where I can go get a support bar attached as mentioend in the previous post, or some other solution?

Thanks,
Norm

 

search around.
there were some really good pictures of someone's work. essentially it extended the back of the hitch about 12-18inches to a point where it could be screwed down and balance/off-set the dropping at the front point of the hitch.

I found a welding shop that specialized in hitches for trailers and handicapped wheelchairs trailers. He installed the bar as I described about and also welded some support up above the hitch mount to the inside of the frame.

The job cost about $125.

 

Curt make a very nice receiver hitch for the Prius. I have a cargo basket to go on mine. Works great.

http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-modifications/35586-hitch-type-cargo-basket.html

Post # 6 has a picture of the hitch and the cargo basket. Takes all of 1/2 hour to mount the hitch.

Icarus

 

You can take a close look at pics of my modified 2" inch Coastal hitch here: http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-f...tml#post558310

I've done a lot of towing in the last three years and have had no problems. I did remove, sandblast, and repaint the entire hitch this spring. (Wisconsin road salt in winter is a killer)

Timm

 

I purchased both the Coastal 1 1/4" and Curt (1 1/4") hitches (long story involving a Hurricane). Just based on the mass, the Curt hitch is about 10 lbs heavier and looks much sturdier. The long Coastal neck didn't give me much confidence. I'm sure the Coastal Hitch works, but I decided to install the Curt hitch and it's really solid. I haul 2 Bikes on a Yakima Stick-Up carrier (which is pretty heavy) and it's very stable. Also, you can get the Curt hitch for $50 less.

--WJP

 

Is the Coastal hitch the only 2" receiver?

 

Hi Timm!!!
Thanks for the response. I just logged back into prius chat a whole month later, I was grumbling over the holiday break about my bikes bouncing around, and seeing your pics is really making the new year look better to me. I'm off to the trailer hitch shops to see if they can machine something for me. I live in the CA SF Bay Area, hopefully the cost for the fix will be reasonable.
Thanks again!
Norm

 

You're very welcome. :rockon:
Timm

 

If anyone is interested, I have a CoastalEtech 2" Receiver hitch for sale. Cost me $167. Asking $100, open to offers.

 

Is it still available?

 

Hi. I'm sure it's sold, but I am trying to get the receiver hitch for Gen I 2002, which seems to be discontinued.

Thanks