Bike rack on plug in ideas

i have a regular rack that hangs on the back. you have to take it off to open the hatch.

 

Just on a Thule roof rack. Also a kayak that way. Hatch-mounted racks are problematic in that they block access to the trunk if installed securely against the bumper. Not to mention blocking the rear view.

 

agreed. i can't lift the bikes on the roof anymore.

 

A hitch mount rack should work on the PPI the same as it works on a regular Prius. Hitch receivers are available for all Prius versions.

 

that's probably the best option, does that allow hatch to open?

 

On my Prius, the bike rack doesn't interfere with the hatch at all, and can remain upright. When the same rack is mounted on my Forester, it must be folded down to open the hatch.

 

with the bikes on it?

 

i think there are some that fit, check the old threads.

 

Yup. A Thule Helium has no Prius Liftback hatch interference at all.

Torklift Central | 2010-2015 Toyota Prius & Prius Plugin EcoHitch
Originally Torklift had a different version for the Plug-In than for the regular Liftback, but that appears to have changed.

Torklift's model is pricier than other brands, but is available in both sizes, is less conspicuous than others, and is not likely to drag on the ground on steep driveways. It also counts as 'local' to me.

 

4 bolts, no drilling, are there holes underneath the plastic undercover?

 

Hitch racks are not specific to a Prius, many different models will work. The car-specific part is the hitch receiver, which is acquired from a different vendor.

Have you looked at Yakima racks too?

 

I moved a curt hitch from a 2010 Prius to my 2012 PIP with no problems at all. Like someone else said, just 4 existing bolts and holes and you are done. Some people sometimes wrestle a bit with the hole and trim near the back of the muffler (by the bumper). Lots of possible hitch racks to choose from, some of which don't prevent the hatch from opening, and others that allow the whole rack to be leaned over to make room. Check out current options from kuat, Thule, saris, 1up, etc. There are other long good threads with plenty of suggested racks.

 

Curt hitch and a 1upusa.com rack. Once the bike is in it, just flip it down to access the hatch.

Buy the right equipment right the first time. It's pricy but so easy and worth it.


iPhone ?

 

Does installation of a hitch require removal of any aerodynamic plastic? How much of an impact does just the hitch alone have on fuel economy?

I'm considering installing a hitch so I can carry bikes more easily and possibly an occasional jetski. My first concern is scraping on the steep transition to my driveway, and my second concern is the impact to fuel economy.

 

The hitch itself must have some impact, but I'm unable to quantify it. The Torklift model, where most of the structure is hidden inside the bumper cover, should have less than other models that have the cross element exposed. But even those should have much less drag from the hitch that from the bike and rack assembly, which is substantial.

Mine (an older revision) was installed by Torklift itself. Some of the flat underside plastic was cut away to allow the receiver to stick out, and a bit more on the left side was cut out to access bolt holes. The later could be taped or paneled over, but I haven't done so.

The scraping risk likely varies considerably among hitch models. If you scrape the muffler, this Torklift will too. But it doesn't stick out much beyond that. Will you need a photo showing 'departure angle'?

 

No cutting of plastic needed for the curt hitch or most others I've heard of.
MPG hit is negligible (whatever is attributable to the extra weight).
On the plus side, this may give you the same benefits as a rear sway bar! (No promise; I'm sure some car guy will tell me I'm wrong.)