Best Bike Rack for Prius in 2021 | In Depth Reviews

Over time, the bike has gained its fair share of fame due to its amazing features like hassle-free movement, environment-friendly characteristics, improving riders’ fitness routine, cost-effectiveness, etc. If you are someone who loves to ride a bike then you should definitely bring it with you while you’re traveling to your favorite place.

If you’ve already decided to do so and are looking for the best racks for your Prius, then you are at the right place. We are going to unleash all the best possible options for you but before we begin with the list, here are some things that you should know about bike racks.

What are Bike Racks? How do you choose the best suited bike racks?

Bike rack is a fantastic tool to transport your bikes and carry them with you wherever you go. But the thing is, before you choose a bike rack, you need to know about all the different types available in the market. You certainly don’t want to move your favorite bike on a random rack you found.

Types of Bike Racks

There are three different types of bike racks from which you can choose the suitable one for you.

Roof Holder

Roof racks are famous for their amazing ability to carry bikes and different items like skiboard, surfboard, kayak, containers, etc. They are great for carrying multiple bikes, so if you are traveling with your friends, you’ll be able to carry more than one bike with you. One downside is, the installation process can be a little challenging. If you have a vehicle that is relatively shorter in height, then these racks are perfect for you as they use all the extra space.

Rear Gate Carrier

These racks are great for someone who is on a budget. They usually have belts ensuring that they are properly tied to the vehicle and the stands allow the bikes to be in place. These types of racks are easy to install and ideal for different types of cars. So if you have more than one vehicle, you can use this rack as it’ll easily fit different models. One of the disadvantages is, they tend to create a hindrance while driving as they block the back glass.

Trailer Ball Carrier

Trailer ball carriers are slightly on the more expensive side as you’ll have to attach the trailer ball before installing the racks. But they are totally worth it. They usually come in two different types.

• Pendant Trailer Ball Carrier: This is comparatively inexpensive especially if you look at the amount of storage you are getting. They generally have a pair of parallel stands where you’ll be able to put up your bikes. 
• Platform Trailer Ball Carrier: These racks have a secured platform in the middle where you can keep your bicycles. The firm belts on the bottom help to safely attach the bikes to the lanes.

These are the types of racks that you’ll typically find in the market. Now let’s find out the best options for your Prius.

Top 10 Bike Racks for Prius reviews

1. Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for 2 in. Hitch

Technical Features

• Material & Usage: The Allen Sports black steel racks are made to carry multiple bikes and trailers
• Product Dimension: 29 x 14 x 3 inches
• Weight: The item weighs around 28.35 Pounds including the dual compound tie-down cradle and multiple belts
• Assemble: It needs only 3 bolts to assemble and install the entire rack

Decisive Features of Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks for 2 in. Hitch

User-friendly carry arms

Usually, the carry arm of these types of racks is quite difficult to remove. The truth is, you don’t need these carry arms all the time. That’s why Allen Premier hitch racks are specially designed with foldable arms, which makes the removing process extremely simple. You just need to press a pair of red release buttons and that’s it. The carry arms will come off.

Dual compound cradle with secured straps and spine shield snaps

The duel compound cradles of these racks are able to resist ultraviolet rays and the straps are made out of rubber which makes them long-lasting. The squishy surface of the cradle is sturdy enough to hold your bikes in place. The snaps on the upright mast ensure that the bikes are secured during the shift.

Single-handed tilt-away mast

The fantastic technology of Allen Premier Hitch Racks allows the user to quickly tilt-away the actual mast whenever they need it. The best part is, you won’t even have to use both hands for doing so.

2. Ultra-Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

Technical Features

• Material: These grey powder-coated racks are made out of steel
• Product Dimension: 14.37 x 7.28 x 3.54 inches
• Weight: 2.7 Kilograms
• Suitable vehicle type: Minivan, SUV, Hatchback, Sedan

Decisive features of Ultra-Compact Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

Discrete Tie-down Structure

The separate tie-down system assures the security of the bikes during transport. Generally, you’ll find tie-downs allotted over the carry arm.

Licenced Ultra-Compact Configuration

The ultra-compact designs make them suitable for all the different vehicles like SUV, sedan, hatchback, minivan, etc. The best thing about these racks is that you can fold them up and make them as small as a shoebox. This also means that they save a lot of space when they’re not being used.

Spine Pad for Security

These racks include a pretty huge TPR landing pad located on the spine which ensures that the bikes are safe during the movement. They also come with a carry bag made out of nylon so that you can keep them intact when they are unused.

3. Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Racks

Technical Features

• Material: The silver/black racks are made out of steel.
• Product Dimension: 3.54 x 24.17 x 14.02 inches
• Item Weight: 21 Pounds
• Capacity: 70 LB
• Hitch: Fits 1-1/4- and 2-inch receiver hitch

Decisive features of Allen Sports 2-Bike Hitch Racks

Foldable Carry Arms

In most cases, the carry arm tends to create an issue as it is quite difficult to close them when it’s not being used. But the specialty of Allen Sports racks are they come with foldable carry ars. This means that you don’t need them, you can fold them and keep them aside.

Separate Tie-down Structure

The tie-down system of these racks is meant for secured movement. The rotating structure is amazing for various bikes and the fixed position gives them the stability they need.

Tilt-away Mast

You can tilt-away the mast whenever you need. The fabulous internal mechanism makes them easy to remove which gives quick access to the vehicle.

Contains a set of hardware

Allen hitch racks come with a set of needed hardware so that you can assemble the rack without any hassle. Besides, you won’t need any wobble hitch which makes the entire process way too easy.

4. Saris Bones EX Trunk Bike Rack Carrier

Technical Features

• Material: The black colored Saris Bones racks are made out of 100 % recyclable composite & plastic.
• Product dimension: 22 x 9 x 20 inches
• Item weight: 12.23 Pounds
• Maximum Load: 105 lb (35 lbs per bike)
• Strap type: Spring Loaded Ratchet

Decisive features of Saris Bones EX Trunk Bike Rack Carrier

Unique Design

One of the most amazing things about these racks is, they can be used in all the different types of vehicles regardless of their model or size. They are compatible with 90% of the leading vehicles available in the market.

Fast loading process

In most cases, straps are quite difficult to remove but Saris Bones has made this process extremely easy and comfortable. You can quickly load them whenever you want.

Flexible Rubber Feet

The rubber legs ensure that the paint of the vehicle remains unharmed during the movement.

Moulded Arms & Legs

Another extraordinary feature is that the arms & legs of these racks are injection-molded which increases their overall lifespan.

5. Tyger Auto TG-RK1B204B Deluxe Black 1-Bike Trunk Mount Bicycle Carrier Rack

Technical Features

• Material: Made out of OE standard black E-coated rust-resistant material.
• Product dimension: 20 x 15 x 9.02 inches
• Item weight: 8.93 pounds
• Vehicle Type: Minivan, SUV, Hatchback, Sedan
• Maximum Capacity: 25KG or 55 pounds per bike

Decisive features of Tyger Auto TG-RK1B204B Deluxe Black 1-Bike Trunk Mount Bicycle Carrier Rack

Individual Soft Cradles

The frame of the bikes needs to be protected during transport. That’s the whole purpose of using a good rack. Tyger Mount racks have individual soft cradles that protect the bikes and keep the frame intact while traveling.

Padded lower frame

A lot of racks tend to damage the vehicle due to unwanted strokes while carrying the bikes. But the best part is the lower frame of these racks is covered with a fine pad that protects the vehicle by keeping a safe distance between the bike and the vehicle.

Security Straps

The straps give steadiness and protect the bike from unwanted bumps.

6. Thule T2 Pro XT Platform Hitch Bike Rack

Technical features

• Material: The black XT racks are made out of Alloy

• Product dimension: 54 x 15 x 43 inches and when it’s folded, the dimension would be around 54.7 x 22.5 x 33.8 inches
• Item weight: 52 Pounds
• Maximum Capacity: 60 Pounds

Decisive features of Thule T2 Pro XT Platform Hitch Bike Rack

Automated knobs with hitch switch

The digital knobs have a built-in lock cylinder which makes them easy to attach and remove. You can use the hitch switch lever to tilt the rack whenever you need.

Frameless arm for extra security

These racks are suitable for 5-inch tires and 20-29 inch wheels. The frameless ratcheting arms protect the bikes from any kind of damage.

Special Cable Lock

The 24-inch special cable lock gives extra security besides the ratcheting arms.

Extra Space

These racks can easily carry upto 4 bikes and the 197mm space is more than enough to carry them shoulder to shoulder.

7. LITE-WAY 2-Bike Bicycle Hitch Mount Carrier Rack

Technical Features

• Material: The rubber-made black racks are great for multiple bikes
• Suitable vehicle type: Minivan, SUV, Hatchback, Sedan
• Product dimension: 16.8 x 11.8 x 39.8 inches
• Weight: 22.6 pounds
• Maximum capacity: 80 IBS

Decisive features of LITE-WAY 2-Bike Bicycle Hitch Mount Carrier Rack

L-shaped hitch for extra space

Most of the time, carriers tend to take a lot of space, which is why people don’t prefer to use them. But Lite way has come up with an “L” shaped hitch rack that saves all the space and is able to carry two bikes simultaneously.

Heavy-duty foldable structure

These racks are made out of heavy-duty iron, which increases their lifespan. Despite their small foldable structure, they are strong enough to carry multiple bikes due to their steady material.

Anti-rattle stabilizer

The heavy-duty anti-rattle stabilizer protects the bikes from any kind of scratch or external damage.

8. Hollywood Racks Expedition Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

Technical features

• Material: Grey Hollywood racks are made out of steel and aluminum
• Product dimension: .01*.01*.01 inches
• Weight: 2.20 pounds
• Suitable vehicle type: SUV
• Maximum volume: 15.87 kg

Decisive features of Hollywood Racks Expedition Trunk Mounted Bike Rack

Anti-sway cradles

Anti-sway cradles of the Hollywood Mounted Bike Rack are steady enough to hold 2 bikes in place. They are made out of rubber which makes them firm and flexible. The straps are also made from EPDM rubber.

Folds flat

When you’re done using them, you can fold them up and keep them at one corner of your trunk. As they fold flat, they barely take any space.

9. Kuat Transfer 2 Bike Rack Black

Technical Features

• Product dimension: 29 x 29 x 6 inches
• Item weight: The black racks weigh 44.4 Pounds
• Maximum capacity: 40lbs
• Tire size: Suitable for 20-29″ tires

Decisive features of Kuat Transfer 2 Bike Rack Black

Combination screw system

These racks don’t come with cable locks or anti-rattle locking pins. Instead, they come with a pin that goes into the hitch lock. They usually don’t come with any locking mechanism, so you’ll have to buy a cable lock separately to secure your bikes.

Suitable for different wheels

The hub to hub distance is around 54 inches which keeps the bikes safe from each other. They don’t rattle during transport.

10. Prorack 4-Bike Hitch Carrier

Technical Features

• Material: The black Prorack hitch carriers are made out of solid steel
• Product dimension: 34 x 15.3 x 7.3 inches
• Weight: 28.1 Pounds
• Hitch Size: Suitable for 1-1/4″ and 2″ hitch receivers

Decisive features of Prorack 4-Bike Hitch Carrier

Quick-release pin

These Prorack hitch carriers come with quick release pins which allow the user to tilt the rack to 45 degrees so that you can have access to your trunk without removing the rack.

Extra pair of straps

These racks come with extra straps with the intention that you’ll have extra protection while traveling. This also prevents excess vibration.

Complete Buying Guide for Best Bike rack for Prius

Buying a bike rack isn’t rocket science. They are widely available and easy to access. Despite having all the necessary information, people tend to buy the wrong type of rack. The reason behind this is ignoring some vital details while making the decision.

There are some facts that you’ll have to check in order to find the perfect rack for you. Try to go through these question while looking for the rack

• What vehicle are you using and is the rack suitable for that vehicle?
• What is the size of your hitch receiver? 
• How many bikes can the rack carry at a time? 
• What is the maximum loading capacity?
• What is the material of the straps and how long do they last?
• Does it come with a locking mechanism?

These are some of the basic things that you’ll have to look out for while buying a rack. Here are some important tips which might help you take a wiser decision.

• Always try to buy a rack that claims to fit more than the size of your receiver.
• While buying a rack, divide the total number of bikes that the racks claim to hold and divide it by two. This is the actual number of bikes that the racks can hold. For example, if the racks claim to hold four bikes, divide it by 2. The result will be 2, meaning that you’ll be able to carry two bikes without any difficulty.

Keep these tricks in your mind while buying a rack, as they’ll help you get the perfect rack for your vehicle.

Bike racks are an amazing innovation for all bike lovers. But the process of finding the perfect one and using them for a long time can be a little frustrating. Our goal is to make this process easy and comfortable for you. So make sure to thoroughly go through the product description as well as the small tips & tricks to find the suitable rack for your vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions by customers before buying best bike rack for Prius

What kind of bike racks are suitable for Prius?

Answer: Hitch and trunk bike racks are suitable for Prius as they don’t leave any mark on the car.

What is the appropriate rack height for Prius?

Answer: The height should be around 30 to 35 inches measured from the middle point of the rack.

Does a bike rack leave a scratch on the car?

Answer: Sometimes the racks tend to leave a scratch on the car, especially the one without the straps.

Are these racks foldable?

Answer: Most of the racks mentioned above are foldable which means you can keep them anywhere you want while they are not in use.

Do the racks come with a locking mechanism?

Answer: Some of the racks come with locking mechanisms such as Allen Sports 4-Bike Hitch Racks, Thule T2 Pro XT, Liteway mountain bike rack, etc.