How to turn a Yaris into a Tacoma

[CTScott]

I recently sold my Tacoma, as the only thing I really used it for was my weekly trip to the recycling center. I don't like the idea of carrying trash or recyclables inside my car, so I decided to turn my Yaris into a proper Tacoma replacement.

I found a hitch rack that would perfectly fit my two cans and then added a Curt hitch to my Yaris to mount it. I purchased the 11050 Curt hitch and the 18145 cargo carrier from thehitchstore.com. I was very impressed with how simple the Curt hitch was to install and how hidden it is. Installation just required releasing the two bottom tabs from the bumper, slipping the hitch up under the hitch cover, and mounting it to the two tie down points with three bolts on each side. Everything was easily accessible and although I had the car on my lift, it could easily have been done on the driveway.



Yaris - Carrier 1.jpg

Yaris - Carrier 2.jpg

Yaris - Carrier 3.jpg

[NEexpat]

Ha! Nice.

Another addition from the skunk works in CT.


Ummmmmm - "Trashy?"

[firebird1999us]

NICE!

[bronsin]

Always wanted one of those!

Not to cause trouble but....

1) How much weight is safe to haul? The car is FWD and youve got all that weight on the opposit end of the car.

2) Wouldnt that thing interfere with accessing the hatch? How easy to R and R?

Thanks!

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Always wanted one of those!

Not to cause trouble but....

1) How much weight is safe to haul? The car is FWD and youve got all that weight on the opposit end of the car.

2) Wouldnt that thing interfere with accessing the hatch? How easy to R and R?

Thanks!

Good questions!

1. The rack is rated for 500 lbs. My cans fully loaded would not likely ever exceed 150lbs combined. If I (~160 lbs) jump up and down on the rack (besides looking quite silly) I find that the rear squats and the front does not seem to be effected.

2. It does interfere with the hatch when the cans are on it. With objects up to 17" tall on the rack the hatch will open completely.

By R and R I think you mean put it and take it off. If that is the case, I just slide it into the receiver and slip the receiver pin in (literally seconds on and off). Because the receiver is under the bumper I have to reach through the rack to do so. If the rack had a solid or mesh floor, I would have to reach around from the side of the rack to deal with the receiver pin.

It does block visibility of my rear license plate. Thus far (four runs with it) I have not been stopped and I have passed by police cars on the way. The tail lights are still fully visible as the rack is just a tad narrower than the space between them.

[WeeYari]

Originally Posted by CTScott

It does block visibility of my rear license plate. Thus far (four runs with it) I have not been stopped and I have passed by police cars on the way. The tail lights are still fully visible as the rack is just a tad narrower than the space between them.

I purchased a hitch basket 3 years ago so that I could use the Yaris for our annual family vacation to New Brunswick. So far I have logged approx 9500 kms across 3 provinces with the plate obscured by a large duffel bag in the basket. Have not yet drawn the attention of the various law enforcement units I encounter throughout the journey.

So far mine has been used to haul;
- luggage
- gas cans
- pool chlorine
- a tree

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Good questions!

1. The rack is rated for 500 lbs. My cans fully loaded would not likely ever exceed 150lbs combined. If I (~160 lbs) jump up and down on the rack (besides looking quite silly) I find that the rear squats and the front does not seem to be effected.

2. It does interfere with the hatch when the cans are on it. With objects up to 17" tall on the rack the hatch will open completely.

By R and R I think you mean put it and take it off. If that is the case, I just slide it into the receiver and slip the receiver pin in (literally seconds on and off). Because the receiver is under the bumper I have to reach through the rack to do so. If the rack had a solid or mesh floor, I would have to reach around from the side of the rack to deal with the receiver pin.

It does block visibility of my rear license plate. Thus far (four runs with it) I have not been stopped and I have passed by police cars on the way. The tail lights are still fully visible as the rack is just a tad narrower than the space between them.

Absolutely fantastic!

2-3 questions:

Which size BRUTE cans are you using? (if 50 gallon, then the next question is moot)

If your BRUTE cans are the 44 gallon ones or smaller, do you know the largest size can that will fit on that basket?

Which strap w/hooks are you using?

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Absolutely fantastic!

2-3 questions:

Which size BRUTE cans are you using? (if 50 gallon, then the next question is moot)

If your BRUTE cans are the 44 gallon ones or smaller, do you know the largest size can that will fit on that basket?

Which strap w/hooks are you using?

My Brutes are 32 gallon and they fit in like a glove. The inside dimensions of the rack are 18" x 46.5", and the 32 gallon Brute is 18" at the bottom, so they slide in and fit snugly. I really just use the strap to hold the covers from popping off.

For the strap, I added two eye bolts in place of two of the screws on the carrier, to make it easier to hook on. I started off with one of the ratcheting straps (that I trimmed the excess off to make it perfect for the two cans). I found slipping the end into the ratchet a hassle, so I instead switched to a motor cycle strap. It was about 18" too short though, so I sacrificed a second one and sewed 18" of it into the other one to make it fit perfectly.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

My Brutes are 32 gallon and they fit in like a glove. The inside dimensions of the rack are 18" x 46.5", and the 32 gallon Brute is 18" at the bottom, so they slide in and fit snugly. I really just use the strap to hold the covers from popping off.

For the strap, I added two eye bolts in place of two of the screws on the carrier, to make it easier to hook on. I started off with one of the ratcheting straps (that I trimmed the excess off to make it perfect for the two cans). I found slipping the end into the ratchet a hassle, so I instead switched to a motor cycle strap. It was about 18" too short though, so I sacrificed a second one and sewed 18" of it into the other one to make it fit perfectly.

Thanks so much for this ^^^^^ post and this thread! This is really going to help me in California re temporarily moving some things a relatively short distance (about 20 miles), taking some things to be recycled or donated, and taking some other things to the dump/transfer station. I imagine it won't matter which Yaris I take to California as (according to thehitchstore.com website) that hitch will also fit on a 2014 Yaris (as long as it is not an SE). I'll purchase the BRUTEs in California (right before I need them)....they're listed as in stock at some Home Depot stores around here, so I imagine the same is probably the case in California.

I have a friend who lives in one of the colder (during the winter) East Bay (SF Bay Area) suburbs. IIRC, his house is between 3000-3500sf (2 story). He has a pellet stove insert in the fireplace in his living room, and has sworn by it for quite a few years. He's had me stand in every room to illustate to me how effective it is . He'd drool if he saw the number of bags of pellets you've got stored (6 tons total, IIRC from another post) . His garage is big enough...he just can't get his beloved wife to get on the same page he is (re neatness and organization) in order to clear enough room. They're originally from Chicago (suburbs)....so, very in touch with 'keeping warm in the most efficient manner possible'.

[CrankyOldMan]

My concern with this kind of setup is the torsional (roll moment) loads that it can generate on the receiver, and the tongue weight. I went with the internal solution and found a nice big rubbermaid bin that fits in the cargo area with the rear seats slid forward.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by CrankyOldMan

My concern with this kind of setup is the torsional (roll moment) loads that it can generate on the receiver, and the tongue weight. I went with the internal solution and found a nice big rubbermaid bin that fits in the cargo area with the rear seats slid forward.

I was a bit concerned about that myself, but thus far I am amazed as to how little it moves with the car in motion.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CrankyOldMan

My concern with this kind of setup is the torsional (roll moment) loads that it can generate on the receiver, and the tongue weight. I went with the internal solution and found a nice big rubbermaid bin that fits in the cargo area with the rear seats slid forward.

I can see multiple future uses (for me) re what Scott has pulled together . However, I think your solution is ALSO great for a temporary need in California (use both) ......but I only need one of them...not eight . Do you know of any retail STORE (that has a location in TX, NM, AZ or CA...or even in Las Vegas) that sells them individually, not by the 8 pack ?

[CrankyOldMan]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

I can see multiple future uses (for me) re what Scott has pulled together . However, I think your solution is ALSO great for a temporary need in California (use both) ......but I only need one of them...not eight . Do you know of any retail STORE (that has a location in TX, NM, AZ or CA...or even in Las Vegas) that sells them individually, not by the 8 pack ?

Oh, that's just the first pic I found of it. I bought mine at a local hardware store a few years back, so I don't know if it's even in production anymore.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CrankyOldMan

Oh, that's just the first pic I found of it. I bought mine at a local hardware store a few years back, so I don't know if it's even in production anymore.

Thanks. It is, I just haven't located anything smaller than an eight pack. I'll check a few stores in California when the time comes.

[Astroman]

Nice cans you got there

[firebird1999us]

Kind of random - and I can't tell from the low resolution of my phone... Is that race deck flooring?

[Gogogordy]

Id like the Curt hitch as well, but nobody Ive spoken with seems to know if it will work with my TRD cat-back exhaust. I could also consider one for my 09 Scion xD....also equipped with the TRD exhaust. Anyone? Also, what do you mean by "releasing two tabs"? And do they get re-attached?

[bronsin]

I guess its going to come to that here in NJ someday too.

Now I understand why I see dumpster sized piles of trash on the streets of Camden!