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Thule Box Luggage Carriers plus coastaletech hitch

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mikeslavis, Aug 22, 2004.

  1. mikeslavis

    mikeslavis New Member

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    Hi all,

    I started a thread here a few days ago:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3726

    about our quest for a new vehicle for our family. At this point, my wife and I are still pretty set on a Prius, but we know we're going to need some extra storage space, so I checked out Thule and had a question about the Thule Terrapin. If you don't know what it is, it's a box carrier that goes into a 2" receiver hitch. A couple links to check out are:

    http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/product.as...t_id=11&sku=684

    http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/buyer...apin&v=41&g=217

    I've also been following the wizardry from coastaletech, and their relevant product in this case is their 2004 Prius Receiver Hitch. See:

    http://www.coastaletech.com/04hitch.htm

    for details. Here is my "simple question":

    Will the hitch from Coastal "work" with the Terrapin from Thule?

    And here's a little elaboration...

    I'm worried the weight of the Terrapin will be too much (it has 165 pound capacity, but I don't think I'd ever need it to haul that much weight).

    I'm also worried because the Terrapin comes with a standard flat-4 connector for its built-in tail lights, and I don't think the Coastal hitch comes with wiring. Is it a big deal to add a flat-4 to a Prius? Has anyone done it before, and if so, which kit did you use?

    Does anyone out there have one of these Thule Terrapins on their Prius and can speak with some experience to how well they work? I searched the Forum here but could only find talk of Thule Roof-Mounted boxes, not hitch-mounted. I like the hitch mount because when I don't need it I can just take it out of the hitch and get back to a "normal" Prius configuration (plus no messing around on top of the roof with any gear).

    Also, coastaletech lists carriers on their site but they look a bit smaller, lighter and won't work for me because they're open to the elements. I need something I can close in case of rain.

    Thanks again for any input!

    [email protected]
     
  2. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    As far as the weight-carrying capacity of the Costal hitch, you can email them from their web page and ask them. They always answered my questions when I was considering the EV switch, even if it sometimes took them a day or so.

    I can't kelp you with the wiring issue, but if you don't get an answer, try posting in the maintenance forum, with a subject line like "Wiring Question."
     
  3. Brian

    Brian Member

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    The Coastal Tech's Hitch carries up to 200lbs. I think having this Thule rack would really reduce you mpg's.
     
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Call Dave, he should be able to answer your questions about the wiring and weight.
     
  5. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    if the tail lights are red,red, yellow no problem, if red, red you'll need a tail light wiring adapter available at WalMart or any auto parts store. Wired mine up in about 45 minutes and that included soldering and taping all connections. As the Toyota wiring is about 22 gauge wire I wouldn't use those "scotch lock" type connectors. Way to easy to cut off a wire. Also don't poke holes thru the wire insulation to find the brake and tail and turn signal wires, go to a connector and do it there and write down the colour code. Then connect the wiring from the adapter or the flat trailer wire to them.
     
  6. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    Mike, Coastal shows an optional light kit for their carrier so I expect you could work something out to get just the hitch and necessary wiring.
     
  7. mikeslavis

    mikeslavis New Member

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    Thanks...

    Guys,

    Thanks for the responses. It sounds like I *should* be able to do all this, so I'll just assume for now that I can. I didn't want to bug Dave at Coastal yet since I don't even have the car and the main reason I'm trying to figure this out is to decide whether the car can handle my whole family plus gear...I figured I'd just "go fish" to see if anyone else here had already done anything similar! :)

    Brian, the box carrier probably will reduce MPG, but as I stated in the post:I like the hitch mount because when I don't need it I can just take it out of the hitch and get back to a "normal" Prius configuration (plus no messing around on top of the roof with any gear). This means for those 3 or 4 times a year that I need the capacity I have it and all those hundreds of other times I don't I can enjoy the great "green" MPGs the Prius offers. I could haul all my stuff in a minivan too, but I think I'll suffer a permanent mileage hit of like 30 MPG compared with Prius if I do that!! :D That's actually what I'm *still* trying to figure out...can I fit it all in a Prius or do I need a minivan (Sienna or Odyssey most likely)...

    Thanks again!

    [email protected]
     
  8. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    Re: Thanks...

    Exactly. And who knows, you might find you can do without all that stuff we all "need" when there isn't room for it. We dragged around the portable crib, but there are hundreds of thousands of "non crib" nights for those without them and the kids sleep anyway. :)
    I once house sat for a friend and was amazed at how they could do with so few pots and pans (and it wasn't because they had zero money). Then I figured out how many I had and never used. Stuff accumulates to fill the available space.
     
  9. elitman

    elitman New Member

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    OK, almost a year later. Has anyone added one of these to their Prius, or any other hitch-mounted storage boxes/luggage carriers?
     
  10. mikeslavis

    mikeslavis New Member

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    Elitman,

    I chickened out. The following line from the Thule website was something I couldn't seem to get around:

    Requires 2†receiver, Class III

    That's like a pickup-style hitch receiver. The coastal hitch isn't even rated.

    Note that I have also seen the Stowaway, which is very similar to the Terrapin, but it also requires a beefier hitch than anyone seems to make for the Prius.

    [email protected]
     
  11. KTPhil

    KTPhil Active Member

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    I will probably buy this, or perhaps a flat tray-type carrier, for the 2" Coastal hitch. I can stand on the tongue (230#) and the car drops, nto the hitch, so it is plenty strong enough for this box. LIghts will be needed, and a plate carrier, since both may be blocked. I'd like to find a Toyota connector to use to splice in to the wiring, but it's not a priority right now. I like this box solution since it is weatherproof, lightweight, and removable.
     
  12. flynz4

    flynz4 Member

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    I already own a Thule Terrapin, and also a Thule Trailblazer that we use with a Jeep. It would be great to use either or both of these with the Prius.

    Any first hand reports of using the Terrapin with a 2" receiver hitch on a Prius?

    /Jim
     
  13. murdog

    murdog New Member

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    With regard to a Terrapin or other attachments to the Coastal Prius receiver hitch. The weight is not the only factor when determining what you can connect to the hitch. The leverage of the item, based on how far out it protrudes from the reciever is critical. As an example; if KTphil wieghs 200 pounds and stands on the end of the hitch, that's a lot different than the same 200 pounds standing on something that extends 1 foot out from the hitch, the effect of the weight is multiplied by the leverage of the extension sticking out of the hitch. This is further multiplied when you go over a bump. This could easily equal 2 - 5 times the amount of wieght in the box or carrier. In other words if you have 200 pounds in a box that sticks out 1 foot from the hitch, and go over a bump, you might generate 500-1000 pounds of force on the hitch. There's no way that Coastal hitch will take that. My hitch get's flexy just putting 60 pounds of mountain bike and bike rack on it.

    My advice, is don't even think about that Terrapin or other luggage carriers with the Coastal Hitch. The roof is the place for moderately heavy loads that don't fit in the car, not the bendy little coastal tech hitch.

    Andrew