Should I Use A Trunk Bike Rack Or Trailer Hitch Receiver For A 2012 Toyota Prius?

Question:

We have a 2012 Toyota prius, and really want to know what your best recommendation is Family of 3, so at least bikes for 2 adults and one kiddo. It sounds like that before there was a 2inch hitch option, trunk rack was best. Is that still true? Or now that there is ecohitch- maybe others, is that now a better option? Let us know! We just want to do the best option to keep the bikes secure and of course ease of use is a factor : Thanks for your expert opinion!

asked by: Erin Q

Expert Reply:

I would go with a trailer hitch receiver rather than a trunk rack; this is because a trunk rack will not have as much weight capacity and versatility for various bike designs. Also, installing a receiver will add to the overall functionality of your vehicle, allowing other accessories to be installed. I always recommend going with a 2" trailer hitch receiver rather than a 1-1/4" whenever possible. This is because there are far more accessories that can be fitted to a 2" receiver and they can typically hold more weight. That said, I would definitely go with the EcoHitch Hidden Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - 2" # 306-X7178.

Then you can install a bike rack such as the Thule Hitching Post Pro - Folding Tilting 4 Bike Rack w Anti-Sway # TH934XTR that you were looking at. This can hold up to 4 bikes and has a tilt feature that allows access to the trunk on most vehicles, such as your Toyota Prius (see demonstration video). An anti-rattle bolt is included to reduce sway and movement of the bike rack shank, but you can add Thule Snug Tite Hitch Lock and Anti-Rattle Device # THSTL2 to lock the bike rack to your receiver to prevent theft. One last thing to note is that you typically will want to use an adapter bar such as # RRRBCA021 for any oddly shaped bikes (women's, children's, step-through).

expert reply by: Andrew N