Torklift EcoHitch for Gen 4

Toyota says NOT to tow anything with your Prius. The attached page is from the 2019 Prius Owner's Manual. I can't believe that your 2016 Prius' manual doesn't have the same warning.

 

I suggest that you CAREFULLY re-read the second two sentences of the page that I attached above.

 

Same here. I had a 1-1/4” hitch on my gen 3 and the amount of sway from the bike rack with 2 full-size 29ers on it drove me crazy. At the time no one made a 2” hitch so I made my own and swapped the bike carrier out for a 2” model. So much better! I’ve also built a rack for the hitch for camping to carry my cooler and camping gear weighing up to 250lbs. 100k miles of blm, fire roads, and US highways and zero issues.

 

EVERY auto manufacturer writes in specific limitations in their owner's manual. These are clearly written to limit, or eliminate, the manufacturer's liability, IF the owner has issues with their vehicle.

These limitations are very broadly written.

That said, after 47 years of automobile ownership, and observing the installation of several trailer hitch kits, as well as custom designed, welded-to-the-unibody hitches, I consider this limitation by Toyota to be overkill. I have never had an issue of any kind, as long as I'm careful not to overload.

 

Can anyone confirm if the Torklift EcoHitch for the 2019/2020 Prius will fit on other Gen 4 years? I contacted them and they said they had not tested the fit on other years. They sent me the install guide and the mounting location appears to be the same as the Gen 4 class 1 hitches, so I suspect that it would work. I would like to stick one on a 2018 Prius for an amateur radio antenna mount.