Why Can't More Than 2 Bikes be Loaded on Toyota Prius with Class I Trailer Hitch

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Question:

In another Prius question, one of your team members Jon G said: 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. Could you clarify this for me - if the TW is 200 pounds, why would applying say 190 pounds not work? Other websites are saying that you can get closer to the TW. Is it a function of just the dimensions of the receiver? If so, I guess I am wondering why they would even claim a 200 pound TW. Thanks for any clarification -

asked by: Scot H

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Expert Reply:

I'd be happy to help clarify!

Basically what it boils down to is the strength of the hitch itself and physics. The Class I trailer hitches, like the Curt # C11276 for your 2014 Toyota Prius, are the lightest duty on the market and so they can't handle as much torque as the higher class hitches.

If you were to use a bike rack like the Hitching Post Pro # TH934XTR (which weighs about 40 lbs) and load up 4 bikes weighing in at 35 lbs each you would still technically be under the 200 lb weight limit, however, the further away the bike sits from the receiver the more pressure it puts on the receiver. This means that a 35 lb bike won't be putting just 35 lbs of pressure on the hitch. Since Class I hitches are the weakest then it is just for the safety of everyone (you and others on the road) that you don't load up more than 2 bikes.

The best way to think about the whole weight thing is to compare it to a seesaw. When the fulcrum (pivot point) is placed in the middle then you need an even load for the seesaw to work. If you move the fulcrum closer to one side then a smaller person can lift up a heavier person no problem. If we apply this same concept to the bike rack situation then that is why no more than 2 bikes should be loaded when using a Class I hitch.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Answer 1

Yes, the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part #C11276 which is a fit for your 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid will work with the Bauer Revolution Swing-Away Bike Rack. You don't really need to worry about whether or not the Bauer Revolution…

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Answer 2

Yes, that note is accurate. A Class I trailer hitch receiver is limited to only 2 bikes regardless of the amount of weight it's carrying. This is due to the exaggerated force caused by the additional leverage from the bikes being further away…

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Answer 3

The best hitch for you will depend on what you were wanting to use it for. If you were planning on simply using the hitch as a mount for a bike rack (due to the capabilities of the Class I hitch, you will need a Class I rated bike rack and will be…

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Answer 4

I believe you are talking about the 1/4" nuts and bolts that are a part of the hardware that comes with the EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch #306-X7178. I took a look at the installation instructions and the purpose of that hardware is to use only…

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Answer 5

The issue you are having with your Yakima Highlite 2 hitch-mount bike rack #Y02438 has to do with an incompatible hitch class designation. This Yakima rack is classified as a Class II bike rack, meaning that it can be used in a Class II hitch. The…

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Answer 6

Draw-Tite trailer hitch #24847 has a square cross tube and a little bit different design than Curt hitch #C11276 which has a round cross tube. Both bike rack and hitch manufacturers agree that on a Class I trailer hitch the maximum capacity is 2…

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Answer 7

It does appear that the trailer hitch for your 2014 Toyota Prius V does sit up as high if not higher than the exhaust pipe as you can see in the video I have linked showing installation. But in the video that is hitch #C11276. It should be the same…

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Answer 8

The EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver #306-X7178 is a great hitch for your 2012 Toyota Prius and will be able to handle the 300 lb weight of your motorcycle and the motorcycle rack (if the 300 lbs you mentioned includes both), but I'm not…

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Answer 9

If you check out the picture I attached you can see what your 2012 Toyota Prius V would look like with either the Draw-Tite Hitch #24847 or the Curt Hitch #C11276 would look like once installed. As you can see both of them hang about the same…

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Answer 10

The Curt #C11276 and Draw-Tite #24847 are the two trailer hitch receivers confirmed to fit your 2015 Toyota Prius. Between the two the Curt is the one we have installed on a 2015 Prius. We've installed the Draw-Tite on a 2010, 2011, 2013, and…

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Answer 11

Curt Class I trailer hitches do not have that stop in them. That stop is there to prevent accidental overloading of a Class I hitch. It allows only Class I compatible accessories to be used. In terms of bike racks a Class I hitch is only rated for a…

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Answer 12

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Why Can't More Than 2 Bikes be Loaded on Toyota Prius with Class I Trailer Hitch

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