How to Carry an Adult Schwinn Meridian Trike on a 2008 Toyota Prius  

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Expert Reply:

Hollywood Racks Over-the-Top rack # HRF2-3 is rated for 35 pounds per bike meaning no single bike can weigh over 35 pounds. There also would be no easy way for the rack to hold the trike. The only option would be to install a trailer hitch on the 2008 Toyota Prius.

Even with a trailer hitch such as # 24808 installed you are limited to Class I compatible accessories. So what you could do is use cargo carrier # C18110 on top of which you could make a platform that is wide enough and long enough for the trike to set on. Then use straps such as # EM05710 to secure the trike to the platform and carrier. The combined weight of this set up is limited to 200 pounds which is the tongue weight capacity of the trailer hitch. The carrier by itself weighs 30 pounds so it plus the bike is 105 pounds meaning you have 95 pounds left over for a platform which is more than enough.

The other option is to put the trike on a small trailer, # K2MMT4X6. This is the safest way to carry the trike with the Prius since it will put much less stress on the hitch. For this method you will also need ball mount # 3594, a 1-7/8 inch ball # 19256, and trailer wiring harness # 118505.

expert reply by: Michael H

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