We’ve got a family holiday coming up this summer, and I’m not sure if my Prius is up for it.
I’ve got a 2016 Prius with 180,000 km (110,000 miles) on it. The trip is around 700 km (380 miles), split into two days of driving about 350 km each.
It’ll be me, my partner (90 kg and 65 kg / 200 lbs and 145 lbs), and our three kids (combined weight of 85 kg / 190 lbs). We’re also packing luggage for the whole family since it’s a three-week holiday. The luggage will be split between the trunk and a roof box.
To top it off, we’re bringing five bikes (two adult and three kid bikes) on a bike rack attached to the towbar.
Does anyone think this is too much for the Prius? Should I skip the bikes or even think about getting a different car?
Man, the five bikes are a bit much. I’ve seen people use hitch racks on Priuses for luggage and stuff, but they usually have to upgrade the rear springs to avoid bottoming out on driveways and steep angles. If you want to test it, load up the bikes and drive around somewhere with rough parking lot entrances to see if it scrapes.
@Nevan
Honestly, the bikes might be pushing it. Without them, it sounds doable, but five bikes add a lot of weight. Plus, with a trunk full of luggage and a roof box, it might be too much. You might be better off renting something bigger or just leaving the bikes at home. If you’re really set on taking them, a trailer might be safer since it spreads the weight out better.
@Nevan
Yeah, I’d be worried about the rack itself, especially with that many bikes. Hitch racks can mess up the departure angle and hang pretty low. If the bikes alone are already a challenge, adding the luggage could be a real problem.
@Sloan
We’ve used the rack with the bikes before. The kids’ bikes are pretty small—one of them is tiny and goes in the trunk. The other four fit fine on the rack, but this is the first time we’d be loading up both the bikes and all the holiday gear.
@Nevan
I cringed with every extra thing you added. My Prius isn’t as old, but the battery’s definitely not what it used to be. I can’t imagine taking on hills with all that weight.
Cairo said: @Nevan
I cringed with every extra thing you added. My Prius isn’t as old, but the battery’s definitely not what it used to be. I can’t imagine taking on hills with all that weight.
Haha, mine’s got 509,000 km and still keeps going. I’ve done some road trips in it, but I’ve never tried using a hitch rack. Can’t say I’d be too confident with one, though.
Harlow said: @Zeke
Good idea, thanks. I’ll look into that. Appreciate the advice.
Another thought—my kids used to love big-wheeled scooters. Way lighter and easier to pack than bikes, and they still had a blast on them. Just an idea.
Add up the weight of everything (people, luggage, bikes) and see if you’re under the weight limit listed on the driver’s side door. I like to use a cheap hand luggage scale to weigh stuff like that. They’re pretty handy and only about $15.
I think you might be over the limit with the bikes, though. My Prius is rated for about 875 lbs total. Maybe think about a hybrid Sienna if you do these kinds of trips often.
If you’re worried about the rear suspension sagging, try getting PriusOffroad springs. They’ll increase the weight capacity without making the ride rougher. Plus, you get a little lift, which helps when you’re loaded up like that.
Harlow said: @Chao
Good point, I hadn’t thought about the suspension being too low with all that gear. I’ll check out those springs.
Yeah, definitely worth looking into. I got their lift kit and did the shocks with OEM parts. It rides almost the same as stock, but I still need to lift the front end. Makes a big difference when loaded down.