Custom rear cargo spacer for camping, hidden cargo area, etc.

I did the same but used 5/8” plywood. No carpet because I use it for heavy duty equipment, tools and supplies. Daily load of 800+ lbs on rear deck.

 

great job!

 

2DB147B2-E922-4B3A-BF54-15DEC5490187 by lech auto air conditionin posted Feb 12, 2020 at 12:32 PM

 

Awesome work!

I'm doing this over the next few days too, just finishing off my towbar install and then the interior starts, I really like the idea of using the luggage hook bolts to hold it in.

 

Gosh darn is that cool.

I was thinking of something similar - something to hold up the rear mat without using the foam at all to create space.

--------

That stated, has anyone measured the temperature extremes under the rear seat? I'm wondering if I could use just a little of that area - without using enough to block airflow for battery cooling - for some storage?

 

Use as much as you want just create a little ducting larger than the diameter of the opening of the fan outside of your box area and you’ll be OK

 

Have you measured the temperatures in that space? Some things may be temperature sensitive to a degree.

 

It’s pulling air through the fan from the cabin department it’s the same temperature as your passenger area unless you are making it absolutely air tight so no air can get in there you don’t have to worry. On most build people are not making an airtight box like a sealed shoebox. It will pull air forward to the path of least resistance as long as it has a pass for fresh air from your cabin department you don’t have to worry. It’s one of those things since this is all I do for a living what temperatures and thermal management it’s so obvious I don’t even have to break out my temperature probes

 

And since my last post I drove from Mill Valley to my house in San Francisco after posting I took out my Fieldpiece temperature probes put one under my seat while I was driving and put the other temperature probe at the screen at the fan inlet to the battery so you can see the difference in temperature from passenger compartment to fan inlet.

The return air dry bulb is the passenger compartment temperature 57.6°
The supply air dry bulb is the temperature sensor right at the fan inlet 61°

When it comes to data logging measuring and controlling temperature that’s what I do for a living. Whether it’s radiant heat, convection heat or conduction heat. Manipulating the path of heat whether to impede or increase is what I do from morning to night every day for the past 30+ years.

 

This is why the guys who live in hot desert areas but are trying to get good gas mileage by not using their air conditioning and keeping their interior temperatures of their car at 80, 90 or 100° and just living with the heat The temperature exponentially increases as the temperatures get hotter. The HV battery does not like that.
When I drive from San Francisco to Las Vegas in the summer time with my air conditioning on full blast from the start of my travel until I’m in the desert at 110° the inside of my cabin compartment is a nice cool 68°. But of course I take care of my air-conditioning system and service it every 2 to 3 years. From the day I purchased this Prius brand new and it was driven off the showroom floor the air conditioning button was turned on and never turned off from morning tonight 365 in the rain at night time in the fog or in the blazing sun I just adjust temperature and fan speed to comfort but always leave on the air-conditioning.

 

So that battery and the steel against it does not heat up at all beyond the ambient air temperature?

Seems odd as I'd imagine that item heating up beyond the normal air temp is why it is vented through there.

 

marginal under normal driving Under hard acceleration stop and go or long mountain passes decelerating using regeneration will make more heat but as long as you keep the cabin temperature cool you’ll have no problem. Heat comes from deep discharging in high rates of regeneration or internal battery cell problem with a couple cell getting hot from resistance degrading.

Keeps coming back to the same old situation keep cabin temperature cool unrestricted fan clean fan blades equals cool operation.
Lack of proper operating air-conditioning or a customer who decides to get better gas mileage and turn off air conditioning and run cabin temperature hot or lack of maintenance cleaning the blower fan blades or dirty passenger compartment or dogs with shedding hair then that’s driver operator error.

 

That is so excellent - thank you for the data!

 

I'm in south Florida - I should probably follow your lead and have mine serviced once every three years. We do, thankfully, get a few weeks during winter where we may not need AC in the early mornings.

 

PriusOffroad, You did a great job. I would love one for $125 + 25 shipping. Sign me up!

 

I would be interested in purchasing one too if it would fit my 2018 Toyota Prius (trim level One).

Just bought my car a few months ago and only now realized the significant drop that would hinder camping.