Recommended Surf Board Carriers, Tie-Downs and Trailer Hitch for 2014 Toyota Prius 3

Question:

Hello, Following up from question 129367. That is helpful and I have ordered the roof rack system. What type of bungees and/or straps do I need to actually affix the surfboards to my Thule bars? I have seen people use straps. Also, will my boards hit the antennae of my 2014 Prius Three? Not V or C. I want to put the bikes on a tow hitch instead of on top so I can have bikes and boards. I have been given a Bell 2 bike rack. What tow hitch should I get and what extra parts do I need to order? THanks,

asked by: Susanna L

Expert Reply:

Thank you for your recent purchase of a Thule AeroBlade roof rack for your 2014 Toyota Prius Three.

If you plan to load your surfboards directly onto the Thule crossbars then I suggest something more substantial than a standard bungee cord. We offer ratcheting straps such as Erickson # EM34410 which are 2-inches x 10-feet and which have vinyl-coated S-hooks to prevent scratches. The linked page will show you many similar items that will be far safer for securing your boards than even a great bungee like # EM06924.

You might want to consider a surfboard carrier that can fit your AeroBlade bars such as one of those shown on the linked page. We even offer a 3-short-board carrier from Inno, part # INA744, that includes locks. This carrier can handle 3 short-boards or 2 long-boards. Thule offers a 2-board carrier # TH811XT that will work on your roof rack. Your specific choice of board carrier, its mounting position and your particular boards will determine if there will be interference with your roof antenna.

One thing to check on up front if your Prius' roof eight capacity. This should be listed in your owner's manual or be available from your local dealership. Keep in mind that the roof limit must include everything on it - the roof rack, the board carriers and the boards themselves. You want to be careful to avoid overloading the car's roof. Your roof rack weighs about 6-1/2-lbs, the Inno carrier system referenced above about 10-lbs. Add in your actual board weight to these to confirm the car can handle the total.

The trailer hitches offered for your Prius are light-duty Class I types with a 1-1/4-inch receiver opening, such as Draw-Tite # 24847 which is shown in the linked installation video. You'll need to verify that the bike rack you have is a Class I rated rack since others will not fit into a Class I hitch.
Note that only 2 bikes can be carried on a Class I hitch, regardless of the carrier's actual capacity.

If the bike rack does not include locks we offer a cable lock # e98891 to lock bikes to the rack and you can use a hitch lock like # 5200 to lock the carrier to the hitch.