I wanted to share my experience with my recent installation of a Thule T2 Bike rack on a class 1 hitch. When in the collapsed mode, theres hardly noticable drag with maybe a loss of 1-2 mpg. The rack weighs in about 50 lbs. When loaded up it's a different story. haven't gone too far where I could gauge any measurements of mpg yet. But if you were thinking about going this route and worried about ground clearance like I was, rest assured this has plenty of ground clearance and you won't have to lift bikes up to a roof rack.
No wind noise or vibration. I live on the worse part of 80 in the North Bay and no noticable shaking when traveling on that freeway.

Hitch View


Loaded with Bikes


Collapsed view


Top view Collapsed to give you an idea of the distance from the trunk.

 

What kind of hitch did you install? I just picked up a Thule Roadway 2 bike carrier, but neither the local garage nor U-Haul can figure out what hitch should be installed.

Thanks so much!

 

This is a Uhaul brand hitch, same as the drawtite. I picked this one since the price was basically the same installed and if it get's damanged, they replace it.
This has a 1 1/4 inch receiver. Your rack should be either 2" or 1 1/4" and the kit should contain the adapters to go either way.
Tell Uhaul it's a hide away hitch and print the pictures of my install it should be clear to them.
The bike shop you bought the rack from should know too what size receiver you need to install. If it's a 2" receiver, no way that's going to happen. Take back the rack and get the 1 1/4" if this is primarily going on the Civic.
Hope that helps.
BTW, its been on for 8 months and no issues at all.