In the following paragraphs, let us raise the bar a bit higher. Let’s say, for example, that you are an avid cyclist and that you own a Prius. Naturally, the question that arises is: what would be the best possible way to transport your bikes in your Prius?
What would you do if, let’s say, you’re not a regular cyclist. You just want to spend some quality time with your family and friends on bike tours from time to time. Considering that it is important to bond with your friends when rushing down muddy trails, you don’t want to waste those opportunities.
As long as you own a Toyota Prius and have bikes to carry; don’t worry about the type of cycle you own. Or even the type of cyclist you are; as long as you own a Toyota Prius and have bikes to carry; there is no problem for us.
In this article, I will take my best effort to provide you with a few tips on how to choose the right bike rack for your Toyota Prius that would go perfectly with your vehicle.
What are the best bike racks for Toyota Prius?
It is always a difficult task to pick a decent bike rack, no matter if you’re a new cyclist or an experienced cyclist. In this article, we will be looking at 5 awesome bike racks for the Toyota Prius. To make this process easier, I’ve selected 5 of my favorite racks that you can use on your Toyota Prius to handle your transportation needs.
As an example, I have chosen one rack from none other than the famous Allen Sports. It is a platform rack that will handle four bikes without breaking a sweat. The next rack is from Thule, a hanging hitch rack that has all the great qualities that you normally look for when choosing a rack.
After that, let’s take a closer look at the trunk bike rack carrier from Saris Bones. This one is specifically famous for its universal compatibility, meaning that it fits perfectly with all cars, regardless of the make and model, and maintains a safe distance from your car at all times.
Lastly, we have two bike racks from Swagman and ROCKBROS. While Swagman racks are renowned for being robust and durable, the ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack is known for being safe and reliable.
It is these racks that we will be discussing here today. I would like to examine them under an electron microscope, trying to find out all of the features they have and the places where they lack. Thus, without further ado, here is the first bike rack on the list, the Allen Sports 4Bikes Hitch Rack.
1. Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks
Whenever it comes to delivering world-class products, Allen Sports has never failed to deliver. Their 4-Bike Hitch Rack is certainly a very capable one in this case, as well as many others.
If your Prius has a 2-inch trailer hitch installed, you should be fine. This hanging rack is particularly well known for its 22-inch long carry arm. These arms do a wonderful job of keeping the bikes safe and secure while in use.
There is no doubt that this hanging rack, which is very lightweight, is capable of carrying 4 bikes (maximum load capacity 140 lbs) at the same time, as the name suggests. In fact, it weighs only about 12.5 pounds. However, don’t let that fool you. This bike rack is as strong as you would expect a bike rack to be. It is made of steel, so it is capable of withstanding a lot of abuse and carrying the weights properly for years to come.
Adding the Allen Sports Bicycle Rack to your trailer is a piece of cake – all you need to do is connect the rack to your trailer hitch and secure your bikes in the tie-down cradle system. In order to accommodate bikes with a variety of designs and axle types better, Allen Sports has also included different carrying arms in various sizes and designs.
Moreover, there is a folding mechanism built into the 22-inch carry arms for even more flexibility. When you are not using it, simply fold it down, so that it can be saved in storage space while still being able to drive around; you won’t even notice that it is there. In that way, you can save space and still be able to drive around.
Yes, you can use the tilt-down system whenever you feel like you need to access the rear of your car. Fold down the main mast with this cool feature, and there you have it. The main body will fold completely out of the way when you need it to. In the event that you have to make an emergency stop, your Prius will always be able to be accessed from the rear.
One of the features I like most is the tie-down feature. It’s one of the features that I think is crucial to the success of your trip. Why? Well, because the road may and may not always have smooth asphalt. Sometimes you’ll need to drive on rough terrain to reach your destination. The tie-down system serves this purpose perfectly.
It is important that your bikes are secured with these types of racks because they not only keep them safe, but they can also rotate on their axis, which allows your bikes to wobble in place (a good kind of wobble) when the road gets bumpy. If the bikes remain stiff in those circumstances, they might get damaged.
In addition to this, the rack also has an important application. That is when you are mounting your bikes on the rack, simply rotate the arm and attach your bikes. Do not worry about having to fight with some bike racks to get your bikes attached. This is not the case with this bike rack.
It may seem like your rack won’t fix the issue of swaying when you’re on the road, but Allen Sports have been experimenting on this issue for years and have created a very cool No-Wobble Bolt system to solve the issue. With this system, your rack stays in one place and doesn’t sway when you’re driving.
Besides looking classy with the black powder-coated finish, Allen Sports Deluxe Hitch Rack is also equipped with a wide range of features that will make the task of transporting bikes much easier. These features come incredibly handy and will make the job of transporting bikes a whole lot easier.
2. Thule Camber Hitch Bike Rack
In addition to being a hanging hitch rack for your Toyota Prius, this rack also has the capability of carrying two bicycles at the same time. Thule has been making high-quality bike racks for a long time. They have had the opportunity to be on the front lines for over 60 years, which has given them an unmatched level of experience that is carefully incorporated into their products today.
The Thule Camber Hitch Bike Rack is rated to hold a maximum weight of 75 pounds. You probably won’t be able to extend it much further, but if I were you, I would rather not add the extra weight to it.
I believe that part of the reason is that when you are on the road, you have a very narrow margin for error. Even if your vehicle is more than capable of carrying the weight to be carried, it would still be a good idea to stay within the weight limitations.
It is important to note that you will need a hitch receiver with a diameter of at least 1.25 or 2 inches in order to attach the hitch to your Prius. Installing it might annoy you a little bit, but it will only bother you one time since the installation guide consists of merely diagrams without any commentary at all.
Despite the fact that the installation process is relatively straightforward and intuitive, it would be very helpful if the steps were outlined in words. Again, you only have to figure it out once…and believe me, it’s extremely easy to do. Using the sturdy ratcheting straps, you can secure the bike rack to your bike with ease.
I really like the design of this bike rack. It is very compact and very strong at the same time. Due to the fact that it is a hanging hitch rack, it is not a compatibility issue. Because of its good design, it will fit a range of different sizes and styles of bikes.
Since Thule cares about the safety of the bikes, they left all bikes with a 7-inches spacing between them. Even if the road gets bumpy and rough, your bikes won’t have the chance to come close to each other. By doing this, your bikes will remain secure and safe at all times.
The modest spacing, however, isn’t the only thing that keeps the bikes stable; Thule Camber Hitch Bike Rack also comes with an anti-sway cradle which ensures that no contact can be made between the bike and the hitch – neither with the other bike nor with your car.
This thule bike rack for prius has one slight issue. When you mount your bikes on this rack, a large part of your rear-view will be blocked. That’s one thing that sticks out to me about this rack. If you’re thinking about picking it up, you shouldn’t have any problems.
There are all the features you will need on this car, but you must be very attentive and aware of your surroundings while you are driving it so that you will not cause any problems.
In addition, Thule Camber has an ingenious HitchSwitch lever that you can use to tilt the main mast away from the car at any time. Just like the Allen Sports rack, this allows you to access the trunk or tailgate of your Prius at any time.
As an alternative, if you don’t plan on using the bike rack to carry your bike and don’t wish to detach it right away, you can simply fold down the entire rack using the fold-down feature instead of removing it right away.
The Thule Camber Hitch Bike Rack is a great hanging rack for all Toyota Prius model cars. It has a fairly good build, the body is made of metal, and the plastic components are all designed to do their jobs well. If you take proper care of it, it will last for many years.
As a result, the bike remains well protected and the wobble is almost unnoticeable. With this rack, you can easily transport your bikes in an easy and hassle-free manner.
3. Saris Bones EX Trunk Bike Rack Carrier
If you own a Prius Prime model, then you can skip this rack. This is a Prius trunk bike rack carrier that is compatible only with Prius C and V models. Due to the curved trunk of the Prius Prime, this bike rack cannot be installed on it. You don’t need to worry, it supports all types of roof racks and hitches.
For the time being, let us pause that matter for now. We’ll discuss it in the latter part of this article. So, for now, let’s take a look at Saris Bones EX…the first thing you’ll notice is that this rack will not touch your vehicle at all. I think it is important to emphasize that the structure of this rack is very sturdy and the features are very practical and useful as well.
In addition, this rack is relatively lightweight, which is an advantage to people who like to move things around a lot. In spite of its weight of 12.3 pounds, it is made of sturdy composite material that is strong and durable. The injection-molded arms and legs ensure that this rack will remain functional for many years to come.
In addition to carrying a large amount of weight, this trunk rack also has the capacity to transport three bikes that can each weigh 35 pounds. If you are a family guy with either a Prius V or C model, then you might want to consider this trunk rack.
In addition to that, you should know that the Saris Bones EX also has impressive anti-sway cradles. They will ensure that your bikes will no longer sway, and just like the Thule Camber Hitch Bike Rack, this rack has ample space between each bike so that your bikes will never come into contact with one another. In addition, they will remain intact and safe throughout the entire journey.
In order to increase the safety of your bikes, the manufacturers have come up with a new type of hold-downs that are specially designed for bicycles. With these hold-downs, your bikes’ frame and paint job will remain scratch-free. For even greater security, you can always choose the ratchet clasps.
There is no need to put too much effort into mounting your bikes with this bike rack, as it has made the job of mounting your bikes a lot easier compared to other bike racks. All you need to do is remove the pedals first and then place a bit of pipe lagging around your bikes’ frames at possible contact points. That’s pretty much all you need to do!
However, there are some drawbacks as well, such as the fact that you won’t be able to access the back of your Prius. Honestly, I don’t like to call this a downside since its natural mechanism is to hold on to the trunks. If you’re buying it, you’re already aware of this.
There is, however, a possibility that you will lose a great deal of visibility on the backside of your car if you use the Saris Bones EX. Even without the bikes mounted, your visibility will be reduced tremendously. So, just be extra careful when you are driving and you will be fine.
In spite of those drawbacks, this trunk bike rack rocks. It does what it’s supposed to do. It keeps the bikes safe, it’s super-easy to assemble, and it’s super-easy to maneuver, so storing your bikes in it is as easy as pie. It can be easily folded to save your Prius’ storage space as well.
4. Swagman XC2 Hitch Mount Bike Rack
You might find that the Swagman XC2 bike rack is the perfect bike rack for you if you aren’t a frequent user. It’s not a great rack, but it has plenty of great qualities that easily outweigh its shortcomings. It’s a platform-style bike rack that is highly adjustable, and it can hold two bikes at the same time.
The construction of the XC2 is moderately good. While the main body of the bike is made from metal, the knobs on the wheel trays and the rubber coating on the clamp hooks are made from quality plastic. If you don’t abuse the bike too much, there is a very strong likelihood that it will last for a long time.
In addition to being extremely lightweight, the Swagman XC2 is a platform-style rack that only weighs about 28 pounds, which makes it potentially easy to move around and more importantly, it’s extremely easy to assemble as well.
As long as we’re on the topic of weight, let’s talk about the weight capacity of this laptop. Well, it has the capability to carry up to 70 pounds total, which is quite a decent amount if you ask me.
It has been designed to be easy to use because it is a platform rack. As a platform rack, it has a low loading height, so you shouldn’t have any issues mounting your bikes to it. But, if the wheelbase of your bike doesn’t match the wheel trays, you can adjust them by hand and you’ll be fine.
I particularly like the XC2 model from Swagman because it is very versatile. It is able to accommodate a wide range of bike sizes/frames. The wheelbase is able to accommodate wheels of a size range of 15-52 inches. The oblong wire loop wheel trays are also compatible with wheel sizes from 20 to 29 inches in diameter and tire widths up to 3.5 inches in width.
The bummer is that, even though it is compatible with most bikes, the size of the wheel trays just doesn’t seem to be enough to accommodate fat-tire bikes, so you will need to purchase additional fat tire wheel trays to solve this problem.
If you are wondering if this bike rack is compatible with a Prius Prime, yes, definitely. It’s definitely a Prius Prime bike rack, and it even fits Prius C and Prius V models. You’ll need your car to have a hitch receiver with a 1.25″ or 2″ diameter. Swagman XC2’s adapter system works perfectly with these receivers.
The hitch pin that comes with the package does not seem to work smoothly with the receiver that has a 2 inch diameter.
It is also important to note that there is no security built into this product. I was quite surprised that there is no way to lock the bike to the rack or the rack to the vehicle. If you live in an area with a close-knit community, or if you usually don’t stray far from your car, then I guess it’s okay.
You should always remember that you’re using it at your own risk. But then again, nobody is going to pull off a Mission Impossible stunt to steal your bikes while you’re driving. So try to always keep an eye on your car when it’s parked.
As much as I know this is not the ideal bike rack, but it is perfect for seasonal cyclists who don’t want to miss an opportunity to be out on the trails. Even with those downsides, this rack still has a lot to offer. It’s reasonably durable, surprisingly versatile, and surprisingly flexible.
There’s no doubt that this is not what you would call a great bicycle rack for your Toyota Prius, but I don’t think you should write it off completely. That’s because, if you are honest with yourself, it has more fights in it than you might imagine.
5. ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack
I know we’ve talked about hanging hitch racks, platform-style racks, and trunk racks so far. Let’s take a look at a suction cup bike rack next. ROCKBROS is one of the most trusted names in the industry. Over the years, they’ve excelled at manufacturing durable and highly functional suction cup bike racks.
You might have second thoughts just by looking at the name, but I’m pretty confident that by the end of this article you won’t have any more second thoughts about ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack. It has the capacity to hold two bikes and its build is amazing.
It is compatible with all the models of the Prius Prime, Prius C, and Prius V, as well as fitting a wide range of mountain and road bikes too. So, there is no problem with that.
This bike rack also features rubber suction cups that keep the bike in place and keep the vehicle safe from scratches. These rubber suction cups also have a premium feel to them, and are made from some very durable aluminum alloy. The body is made from very strong aluminum alloy.
If you try to repair the trunk, you may face scratches, no matter how careful you are. You don’t have to worry, ROKCBROS has also thought of that. As a way to prevent your car from getting scratches, they have added a strap that comes with the body. Use it properly, and you won’t have to worry about those annoying scratches anymore.
This little devil is literally just 5 pounds, but don’t let that fool you. This bike rack is capable of carrying two mountain bikes if you wish. So, yes…this is a capable bike rack.
Moreover, it is so easy to use. The front fork can be easily installed with a quick-release clamp mechanism. There is a clear instruction manual that has everything explained to the tiniest detail. If you follow the manual, you will be able to set it up in no more than a few minutes after following it.
Please keep in mind that the roof of your Prius and the sucker should always be clean and shiny. In other words, if any debris or dust is present in the sucker, it will not work properly. After that, you need to install the sucker on the roof and press hard on it. Don’t be shy about pressing it down, it needs to be pressed hard.
In other words, if you don’t do this, the pressure will be released and the rack and bikes won’t stay in place. If you’re worried that you’ll break the rack, you can try anyway. It won’t break that easily. So, don’t be afraid to push really hard.
In order to eliminate that guessing game altogether, ROCKBROS has incorporated a clever feature in this device. When you’re pressing it down, you’ll have to press the cylinder rod. Once you’ve stopped pressing, you should stop pressing until the white line disappears. This usually takes about 30 to 45 seconds.
As a next step, fix the front fork with a quick-release located at the front sucker step, then place the rear wheel and pedal carefully until you are satisfied with the settings.
There is no doubt that this roof bike rack is capable of holding a substantial amount of weight (maximum load capacity 88 LB) at the same time as I mentioned earlier. It has a great build, a decent design, and it is able to carry a considerable amount of weight as well. Since you’re going to be mounting two bikes on the roof of your Prius, you might need a little time to get used to it. Apart from that, there is nothing wrong with it at all.
The only thing you need to do is to keep your speed in check, and everything will be fine for you. Yes, this is weather resistant, so don’t worry if it rains or snows. It’s made to withstand harsh weather conditions, so that you can drive on to your destination with your precious bikes without any worries.
Having said that, what would be the best rack for your Prius?
There is one thing you need to know before we get into that. If you own a Prius Prime, then any trunk rack will be off-limits. Other than this, you can use any hitch bike rack that you wish, whether it be a hanging bike rack, platform-style rack, roof rack, or even a trunk rack.
It is important to note that there are a lot of different bike racks available for your Prius, so I will try to highlight the key points that will help you to make a better choice.
Let’s start with the basics: Compatibility
In normal circumstances, I would look at the build and design of the car first, however, since this is only about a specific type of car: the Prius, I strongly recommend that you check some important aspects regarding the compatibility issue for both your car and your bicycle.
There are times when I feel like I’m repeating myself, but I have to say this once again for the sake of this article: if you own a Prius Prime, you don’t want to buy a trunk rack. Choose a hanging bike rack, a platform bike rack, or a roof bike rack only. The Prime’s back is more curved than most cars, so a trunk rack won’t work on it.
As well as this, I would like to mention that all of the products that I have mentioned here besides the ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack and Saris Bones EX are compatible with either a 1.25 or 2-inch hitch.
If you wish to purchase an Allen Sports 4-Bike Rack, you will need a 2-inch hitch. Thus, make sure that your car has the correct receivers for a 2-inch hitch before you purchase the rack.
In addition to this, you need to consider if your bikes will fit perfectly on the rack. This issue largely depends on your bike’s frame style. You need to carefully inspect the top tube of your bike’s frame if you insist on buying a hanging rack, such as Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Rack or Thule Camber Hitch Bike Rack.
There is a great deal of versatility in these two hitch racks on this issue as they can accommodate almost all the traditional road bikes as well as mountain bikes. So, want to give them a try? Go ahead…you won’t be disappointed.
Whether you are considering a platform-style rack or a single-wheeled model, you can rest easy on this matter since they only touch your bikes’ tires, so you don’t have to worry too much about this.
Can you tell me how many bikes you intend to carry with you?
There are a few things that you need to know before you buy a bike rack. The first thing you need to know is that if you love to take your whole family with you, you need to go for a rack that can carry at least four bikes at once. The first rack from Allen Sports can be a good choice in this case.
In addition to being compatible with the Prius Prime, this bike rack can be used with both the Prius V and C as well.
There is a Saris Bones EX Trunk Bike Rack Carrier you can use to carry three bikes. However, you cannot use the Saris Bones EX Trunk Bike Rack Carrier if you own a prime model of the Prius. Other models can use this without any issues.
There are a lot of good options for those who are interested in carrying two bikes at the same time. Just make sure your bikes are compatible with the rack that you choose to use.
It is important to check the weight capacity of the product
There is a maximum weight limit on each bike rack. Normally, these racks are built so that they can carry more than what the brochure states, but you should never take any chances on this matter, as the consequences can be severe both for you and for your bikes.
It is therefore important to carefully check the weight capacity of your bikes prior to buying them. If you own standard bikes, then you shouldn’t have a problem with them since standard bikes typically weigh between 30 and 35 pounds on average. There are several racks that I have mentioned here that can carry two to three, even four (Allen Sports) bikes that weigh around that much.
The ROCKBROS Suction Cup Bike Rack is one of the best options on the market for its ability to carry a great deal of weight. It is known for its ability to carry two mountain bikes with a great deal of ease. However, if you plan on carrying heavier downhill mountain bikes, e-bikes, fat bikes, or cruiser models, you might want to calculate their weight.
There is no doubt that the same is true for Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Rack, Thule Camber Hitch Bike Rack, Saris Bones EX Trunk Bike Rack Carrier, and Swagman XC2. These racks have been proven to carry incredible weights for years. Be careful with e-bikes, okay? Their weight can easily exceed 50 pounds.
You should look for features that will be of great help to you.
You probably realise that when you’re buying a product, we tend to choose the one that has more features than its competitors right? Even if we won’t be using some of those features any time soon. But when it comes to choosing a bike rack, you’ll need to leave this strategy at home.
For example, you should look for features that play a vital role in the transportation of your vehicles. For example, your bike rack should have a tilting and folding feature as well. By using the first one, you can access the rear part of your vehicle while using the second one, which makes the rack less bulky when not in use.
Does it make it easy for you to use it?
As a biker, you should be able to ride your bike without too much difficulty. However, if you feel that you have to maneuver too much, then you are probably not making the right choice. So, how can you figure out if a rack is easy to use, or where can you look for this information?
There are a few things you need to know before getting started. First of all, a bike rack shouldn’t be difficult to assemble. It doesn’t matter what type of rack it is. The rack should be easy to install and detach. You don’t want to spend hours figuring out how it works.
There should be no problem with either of those tasks as long as the instructions for installing them are clear and easy to follow. All of our racks in this list are very easy to install. You can get the job done within a few minutes.
It is crucial to think about how difficult it is to mount your bikes on the rack. Of course, this issue is somewhat relative and will differ from person to person, but in general, platform racks have a very low loading compared to rooftop racks and some hitch-hung racks.
What is the expected lifespan of the rack?
Make sure that your bike rack is durable, and if you want to make sure that it will perform under hard conditions, check what kind of material it is made from, what kind of design it has. Never compromise when it comes to its durability.
It is important to know that some of the parts of your bike rack will not be made of steel. There will be parts that will be made of plastic. Make sure you take a good look at those parts carefully.
As for the suction cup rack, carefully examine the rubber of the suction cup, make sure that the rubber has a weather-resistant coating, and check the ratcheting arms and wheel trays if it is a hanging rack. Check the straps and wheel trays of the platform rack as well.
The best way to ensure your bike rack lasts as long as possible is to take good care of it. Otherwise, even if it is made of sturdy materials, it can shorten its lifespan if you leave it in the open for a longer period of time than you need to.
Let’s wrap things up by saying a few words.
Every single avid cyclist out there needs to have access to the Best Bike Rack for Prius. It is even more important for people who ride sometimes because they may not be well-versed in this area. In the case of a wrong bike rack, you may experience a change in the way in which you approach this wonderful sport.
In the event that you end up with a bike rack that isn’t suitable for your car, your bikes, and most importantly, your bike, you are going to lose interest fast. Therefore, it’s crucial that you make the right choice when it comes to the bike rack.
You should make sure the hitch receiver you are using is compatible with your bike, and the bike rack you choose is compatible with your bike as well. Hopefully, you can find a great bike rack that will match perfectly with your Prius if you do some research, take notes, and speak with your people who have hands-on experience with the matter.
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