How to Carry More Than 2 Bikes on 2014 Toyota Prius C
Updated 07/18/2020 | Published 07/16/2020
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Question:
HI, for this Swagman 4 bike carrier, it says using a Class 1 hitch will only allow for 2 bikes to be carried. I am a little confused. The picture here shows the 4 bike carrier mounted to my exact car, Toyota Prius C, which apparently only supports a class 1 hitch. Why does it say only 2 bikes? Is it a weight issue? Would a childs bike count as an actual bike? Thanks
asked by: Mandy
Expert Reply:
The hitch and bike rack manufacturers all agree that bike racks used in a Class I hitch like the Curt # C11484 should not carry any more than two bicycles (even kid's bikes) even if the rack used has a 4 bike capacity and for good reason.
Weight is part of the reason, but leverage is also a huge consideration. Adding a 3rd and 4th bike moves more load further away from the hitch which rapidly increases the leverage and force applied not only to the hitch but to the hitch attachment points on the underside of the vehicle. Adding additional bikes beyond 2 could cause the hitch to bend or the points where the hitch attaches to the vehicle to fail which would be bad.
If carrying a maximum of 3 bikes would work for you, you could use a trunk mount rack like the Hollywood Racks # HRF2-3, which would reach over and around the spoiler atop the rear hatch so the bikes wouldn't be hanging on the spoiler which would damage it.
If you absolutely have to carry 4 bikes, you could use either a trunk mount like I mentioned above or a 2-bike hitch mounted rack like the Swagman Trailhead # S63360 and carry the remaining bikes on the vehicle roof using a roof rack and a roof mounted bike carrier.
You can install a Rhino Rack Vortex Aero roof rack using the following parts:
-Aero style 41 inch crossbars, part # RRVA106S-2
-Roof Rack Feet, part # RRRLKVA
-Vehicle Specific fit clips, part # DK351
You could then install bike carriers like the Thule ProRide XT # TH598004 on the roof rack.
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