Recommended Bike Rack for a 2010 Toyota Prius With a Class I Trailer Hitch  

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I can definitely recommend a bike rack that would work with a class I trailer hitch, but you will only be able to carry 2 bikes on your 2010 Toyota Prius. The further the bikes extend from the back of the vehicle, the more sway is passed back to the bike rack from the vehicle. A class I hitch is not able to handle the stress that towing more than 2 bikes would create.

Class I Draw-Tite hitch # 24847 would be my recommendation for your vehicle, as it does not require any drilling to install and it is a popular seller for the 2010 Prius models. You can view the included link to the hitch installation instructions for reference.

The best application for this kind of setup will be to use a bike rack that is made for a class I, 1-1/4 trailer hitch. Using a 1-1/4 to 2 inch adapter actually cuts the capacity of the hitch in half, and the adapters are not intended to be used for towing or carrying an accessory on a constant basis.

I am including a link to all the class I compatible bike racks we offer if you want to do some comparison, but the # TH9042 Thule Helium bike rack would be my recommendation for you. This rack is made of aluminum, so it is very lightweight and easy to handle, and it also includes some nice features like integrated hitch and cable locks. Please note that the Helium has a 2-arm style that requires a fairly straight top frame tube for the bike to sit level. Womens and other alternative frame bikes will typically require an adapter bar like part # TH982XT to sit correctly on the rack. You can view a video demonstrating the different features of the Helium bike rack at one of the links provided.

Another option for carrying bikes on your vehicle would be installing a roof rack and using roof mounted bike carriers. The Yakima roof rack kit for your Prius includes parts # Y00699, # Y00605, # Y00409, # Y00124. This kit fits on a bare vehicle roof and would set you up with cross bars for carrying accessories. You can see some additional information on the roof rack components in a video at one of the included links. The Yakima Front Loader rooftop bike rack # Y02103 would be a good choice, as it accepts a multitude of different bike styles including childrens bikes, as the bike is secured to the rack via the wheel instead of by the frame. I am including a link to the installation instructions for this bike rack if needed.

You may or may not be able to install 4 bikes on the vehicle roof. You will need to compare the measurements of your bikes with the width of the mounting area. For reference, the available cross bar space you will have for mounting bikes should be slightly over 41-3/4 inches. To reduce wind noise and drag, I would recommend installing fairing # Y07048, which helps divert air up and over the roof cargo. If you use a fairing, you would need to install the rooftop bike carriers facing the rear of the vehicle. You can take a look at the installation instructions for the fairing at one of the links I have provided.

expert reply by: Sarah L

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