Hitch Mounted Bike Rack Recommendation for 2010 Toyota Prius

Question:

Hi! I am looking for a 4 bike rack to put on my Prius that will still allow me to access the trunk. I was looking at the Thule Hitching Post Pro And I was wondering how easy this would be for me to take the rack on and off of the hitch. I would prefer to put the rack on when we are taking the bikes out but as this is often I want to make sure it would be easy enough to do on a regular basis? I have two small children so ease of use is a must

asked by: Marie D

Helpful Expert Reply:

There is going to be a rack that will work for you, but the Thule Hitching Post Pro # TH934XTR is a 4-bike rack, and each of the hitches available for your 2010 Toyota Prius are Class I hitches, meaning you can carry a maximum of two bikes.

For ease of use you are going to want a lightweight rack and I highly recommend checking out the Kuat Beta # B202-114, which weighs only 12.6 lbs. It offers further convenience with the use of a hand knob to tight the rack inside your hitch and reduce rattle, as opposed to many other racks which require a bolt and wrench. The Beta also folds down so you can access the trunk of your Prius easily like you wanted.

This rack will work in your Class I hitch and the small distance between the arms of the rack reduce the need for an adapter bar, though one like # 64005 may still be necessary if your bike is dual-suspension, has a step-through frame or you want to carry a small children's bike. The bar will give those bikes a horizontal mounting point so they can be carried by the rack. I've added a link to a video review of the adapter so you can see exactly how it works.

I do strongly recommend Cable Lock # e98891 to secure your bikes to the rack and protect your investments. I've added links to video reviews for you to check out as well, including one of the Kuat Beta on a Prius which should give you a good idea of how it works.