Recommended Trailer Hitch Receiver for a 2011 Toyota Prius to Carry a Bike Rack

Question:

I am looking for a hitch to hold a hitch mounted bike rack on a 2011 Prius. I see you sell 5 different brands of hitches. Of the ones that have a model that fits the 2011 Prius, is the ground clearance of the Prius reduced with any of the hitches if so, which makes/models reduce it the least? Do they all stick out the same amount from the bumper, or are some more even with the bumper than others? Are they all capable of carrying the same amount of weight? Are there any that do NOT require a separate hold-down strap for the RACK not the bikes when using a hitch-mounted bike rack? Thank you.

asked by: Karen

Expert Reply:

The 2 trailer hitch receivers that will fit your 2011 Toyota Prius are the Curt # C11276 and the Draw-Tite # 24847.

The best choice for you is the Draw-Tite option because when we installed it on a 2011 Prius we found the ground clearance to be 12-1/4 inches as opposed to the Curt's 11 inches. They both have a measurement of 2 inches from the center of the hitch pin hole to the furthest edge of the bumper so you will not have to worry about it sticking out. The other thing to note is that the Draw-Tite does not require a Support Strap # 18050 for all non-trailer loads like the Curt option does.

Since this is a Class I hitch please be mindful that you are limited to carrying 2 bikes. Even if the bike rack and bikes fall well under the 200 max Tongue Weight (TW) rating of the hitch, anything more than that will put too much stress on the 1-1/4 inch hitch.

If you do not already have a 2 bike rack then I recommend the Kuat Beta # B202-114 because it weighs a mere 12.6 lbs, comes fully assembled, and has an aluminum construction that resists corrosion.

I have attached a video of this hitch being installed on a similar 2011 Prius for you to reference.