Undeleting the spare tire from a 4

Thanks for the great info you've provided on this mod. I know it is two years past your postings, but you have the best info on this process. I have a couple of questions based on your comments below:

1) I'm confused about the discussion on the #14 box. I thought this was the center piece of foam that fits over the tire and keeps the floor supported. Your photos show a center foam piece, but are you saying that you didn't use #14 from the parts list? Or am I confusing too different pieces?

2) Are you under the impression that the floor would sit flatter with the full-sized spare foam than with the donut spare foam? I'm leaning toward getting the donut, but surprisingly the price for the donut seems much more than for a full-sized wheel and tire.

Thanks!

 

So this is embarrassing but I just took delivery of my 2018 Two and it comes with a spare tire unlike my 2016 Two ECO

Thanks for your response.

 

Welcome to Prius Chat @Chris SA
Sorry I can't answer your questions, my steering wheel is on the other side to yours and the cars are similar but different specs over here.

 

The Two Three and Three Touring are the US trims with space saving spare tires. That is one reason I bought my Two.

 

The 2 Eco is a puzzling level: roughly $500 more than 2, and deletes spare tire, and the rear wiper.

 

...and cargo cover since mid-2017.
I believe they are trying to get the car weight under an EPA weight category threshold.

 

Thanks!

 

I recently bought a 4 Touring and wanted a real spare--if compact--and wanted to be able to store tools, etc in the well. I went to a junkyard and bought a donut from an earlier Prius along with the screw to hold it down for $10. The top of this donut is at the same height as the foam inserts so no problems with a too high floor. I removed the stick-on HD foam strip that was on the bottom of the floor as it prevented the floor from sitting directly on the donut. I then added 4: 2" x 2" blocks capped with the HD foam from the bottom of the floor strategically around the spare (held in place with velcro) to support the floor around the donut., placing them to avoid "soft" spots in the floor. Everything fits nicely and I perceive no noise from that area.

 

I purchased a 2016 Four from a salvage yard. Whatever was in the back, all of it is missing now (not sure if the previous owner took them out, or the salvage yard/transporters to sell for an extra buck). It is empty in the back. I want to add a spare donut like in the other models rather than the repair kit that was probably in this model. Sounds like cheapest and best option is to get the 3rd Gen (or Corolla) spare from ebay/junk yard since they fit. Any better solutions on the foam yet? Don't really want to shell out $500 for the foam alone :/ if any better solutions, links would be helpful. Thanks!

 

Some 4th gen US levels also have the temp spare, either will do. Rearranging the sub-floor pieces IS an expensive pain in the a$$. Somebody used a kit from another manufacturer? Subaru? There's a posting here, sorry I can't be more specific. Maybe just get the spare first, live with it sitting in the hatch area, see how it goes.

Personally, buying new, there's no way in heck I'd buy a car that doesn't come with spare. If that attitude caught on: all the cars would have spares, in short order.

 

I think we have a PriusChat substitution fail, @Tideland Prius

 

I'm being muzzled.

 

I nice person -umed you were referring to a donkey's noce person

 

I got around it, with dollar symbols, heehee.

 

Nope. For most here, the closets that get us a sense of humor I think the majority here are from the US.

 

Parlez vous Francais?

 

I have a 2018 Prius Four and successfully added back a spare. I bought a Gen3 donut on eBay. I cut the stock foam to make a 24" opening and the donut fit perfectly. I then saw a place that I could carve out to hold the stock jack. The floor board fits perfectly (no bump) and I will be purchasing a hold-down bolt for about $12 from the dealer.

I was surprised that the top surface of the spare tire is completely flush with the top of the foam. It's almost as if they designed it that way! They should've included the spare at the same time!

-David