Car Hitch

Prius with hitch

I have had a hitch on my 2008 Prius for many years. Used with platform and light tool box as an extra trunk for long trips. Have hauled and moved many items with this setup. Have had no problems. Now have 180000 miles and still going strong.

Thank you very much for your comments. I appreciate them very much. Did you have much trouble with it dragging on high spots?

Bill

What I trying to ask is does your carrier shank comes straight from the hitch to the carrier, or does it curve upward resulting in the carrier being higher from the ground.

Thank you,

Bill

BillNolen said:

Excuse me please if I've asked this question before! I'm an old man, and very forgetful!

Has any Prius owner here ever installed a trailer hitch? If so...what is your experience?

Just want to install and use a lightly loaded car carrier. Less than 200 lb's total.

Bill

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I'm wondering the same, but I'm looking at the 2023 Prius Hybrid (plugin Prime) and I'm wondering if a hitch can be installed for a couple of bikes.

ronnieb said:

I'm wondering the same, but I'm looking at the 2023 Prius Hybrid (plugin Prime) and I'm wondering if a hitch can be installed for a couple of bikes.

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Regardless of what anybody tells you in a forum like this,
I suggest that you NEED to ask your dealer.
And/or look in the owners manual.

This question has ben asked on a number of forums.
i’m from the UK where the only Prius allowed to tow / have a hitch fitted is the Gen4 non AWD. There is a punative risk of invalidating your insurance here, no other type of Prius or earlier model is rated to tow.
i have a hitch fitted to my gen4 (Non prime / non awd)
In the USA NO Prius of any sort is rated to tow, so going through official channels will be a huge no.

PaulDM said:

In the USA NO Prius of any sort is rated to tow,

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That is a bit of a surprise to me.

A "hitch mounted" bicycle rack isn't quite the same as towing something.

Easy Rider said:

That is a bit of a surprise to me.

A "hitch mounted" bicycle rack isn't quite the same as towing something.

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Its about the subframe fitting for the hitch. There are many many youtube videos on “look what i have done “ with regard to hitch mounting. But officially its a no..
not suggesting ppl do anything illegal or unsafe but just posting what toyo / american regulators say is “safe” we all know that there is a public contingent who dont like being told what to do.

just lookup the guy who mounted two plastic jerry cans on a hitch connected with rubber pipes plugged into the tank intake. So he could get extra range…