Will Carpod Cargo Carrier for 2-Inch Hitches M2205 Fit a 1-1/4-Inch Hitch on 2012 Toyota Prius V  

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The Carpod Walled Folding Cargo Carrier for 2" Hitches, part # M2205, will fit into the 1-1/4-inch hitch receiver on your 2012 Toyota Prius V wagon only if used with an adapter. The problem with using hitch adapters is that they reduce the hitch weight capacity by half.

The hitches we offer for your 2012 Prius V are all light-duty Class I hitches which are rated for a tongue weight of 200-lbs. The link provided will show you all of these. If an adapter is used the hitch capacity drops to 100-lbs, and since the Carpod itself weighs 54-lbs, you would end up with a loaded cargo weight capacity of only 46 pounds. (You always need to take into account the weight of the carrier itself as this counts against the hitch capacity.) If your cargo is light in weight you could do this, but...

A better and safer option to maximize your cargo carrying ability is a Class I carrier intended for your 1-1/4-inch hitch. This will avoid the need for an adapter and will ensure you can fully utilize the 200-lb capacity of your hitch. I have included a link to our product page for all Class I 1-1/4-inch cargo carriers. The first item shown, Curt # C18145, is the lightest of all four options at 29-lbs. This carrier would allow you to load as much as 170-lbs of cargo and still remain with the hitch tongue weight rating.

You can determine the fit of any carrier relative to the back of your Prius Wagon if you measure from the center of the hitch pin hole to the rear-most part of the vehicle. This distance will be the amount of clearance you need for a carrier to clear the vehicle. For example, Curt 30-lb carrier # C18110 offers 6-3/4-inches of clearance from the hitch pin hole to the nearest part of the carrier, plus it also offers 3-inches of rise in the shank to provide improved ground clearance. This carrier includes a pin and clip but locks are also available, such as Tow Ready # TR63254.

No matter which carrier you choose, please keep in mind that your loaded cargo cannot block visibility of your license plate or your tail lights. We do offer a light kit, etrailer License Plate and LED Tail Light Mounting Kit for Hitch Mounted Cargo Carrier Item # e98943-44LED, to go with the ProSeries carrier that includes both lights and a license plate relocation bracket. This comes with a flat 4-pole connector to plug into your trailer harness. If your Prius does not already have a 4-pole I recommend Curt # C56156 which is a plug-in custom-fit harness that does not require you to cut into the wiring of your Prius.

Also, some Curt hitches require use of a stabilizing strap to support all non-trailer loads such as bike racks and cargo carriers but this is a good idea for any hitch and carrier combination. We offer Curt # 18050 for this purpose.

It is a good idea to review your Prius owners manual for any limits or guidance related to use of hitch-mount cargo carriers.

expert reply by: Adam R

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