So for several years we've been pretty happily taking our greyhounds on rides with us in my 2008 Prius. There is enough room with the seats folded down, however for longer rides (4+ hours) we wanted a car with more space for both the hounds and a couple of suitcases. We just bought a Prius V and love it. It's perfect, with one issue: that gap between the rear seats and the cargo platform. Talk about a leg-breaker! We're pondering ideas for covering or filling that gap. I thought perhaps one of those thick plastic mats that you put under office chairs, but those tend not to fold well and they're heavy so not convenient for removing/replacing or putting the seats back upright. Can you guys help us think outside the box for solutions?
This is just a thought, but we took a golden retriever puppy up to afamily during Christmas this year and got a tough dog seat cover that we left up there with the new owner. It worked well when we tried it. It attaches to the headrests on the backside of both front seats, hung down and covered the back seat (with these neat fittings that slipped in to where the seatbelts went in between the seats to hold it stationary), and then attached to the headrests of the back seat also. If you put something like that in there, attached it to the front seat headrests and attached the stationaries into the seat, then folded down your rear seats on top of it, you would have a nice set-up!
As I mentioned in one thread, might as well mention it here, maybe consider this? http://www.amazon.com/Outward-Hound-Back-Hammock-Cover/dp/B001P7DP2C
Forgive me for shooting down your suggestions, I know that's a bit rude. But the pet hammocks don't work for us. We have two large dogs. The cargo platform is ideal because they can both lay down and snooze or look out the windows. With the rear seats folded down the car is like a large crate on wheels. Also to be clear, I'm not talking about the rear seat footwell. I know that's how many people travel with their dogs: dog in back seat. What we do is lay the rear seats down to make the cargo area larger, and have the dogs back there on the nice level platform. There is a gap immediately behind the front seats, but that's not a problem. The problem is the gap between the REAR seats and the platform. In my 2008 Prius there is no gap. But in the newer models there is a gap there because the rear seats can be adjusted forward. That's the gap that I'm calling a leg-breaker. It's just wide enough to catch a dog's foot in.... and then go snap!
Shooting down a suggestion is fine as long as you don't use hollowpoint cannon rounds in doing so. After all, we don't know what or how you plan on having things. The hammock MIGHT work with the seats down too to cover up the open area between your seats and the folded section. There was also a mat someone had for the cargo area that attached to the headrests to do the same thing as you suggested. I don't recall the thread, but it was in this forum
Canine Covers Dog Cargo Liner & Pet Cargo Liners - 835+ Reviews on SUV Trunk Cargo Liners for Dogs Did a search and this could be a possibility.
jetcitywoman, I know EXACTLY what you are talking about. I take my dogs out in the car very often. THat gap was a main concern of mine. I have some suggestions for you. Go to Lowes or HD and buy some of that "anti-fatigue" rubber matting. It is in the carpet area. It is a light gray cushiony type of material. Cut it to a decent size, roll it up TIGHT, duct tape it so it stays rolled up. Stick that thing in the gap. It works. You might also look at an oversized foam noodle? Or a foam roller that you get from a physical therapy type place. These were my ideas. I am using the first one in my Prius and it works real well.
I am a dog walker and originally used a foam mat, with a tarp and cheap $20 walmart carpet on top. For my purposes all the rigging was fine-ish, but the carpet got dirty too easily. My new solution was suggested months ago, a rubber truck bed mat you get at Pep Boys for $75. I cut off a couple feet and caribeenered it to the front seat head rest bars, and it covers everything and is heavy enough that it really doesn't move. It's about 40 lbs though so taking it out or putting it in can be a bit of a bitch. I took it out and hosed it down today and it dries quickly as well. May be a bit heavy duty for your needs, but it's an idea. Someone else bought this from Japan and posted about it somewhere on here: Rakuten: It is expensive at $200, but seems durable, supposedly waterproof, can stay on whether the seats are up or down and it looks great and seamless.
Ah, some great ideas here guys, thank you! We'll probably try the exercise noodle or rolled up mat idea first simply because it's cheapest. If that doesn't work then we'll try the other ideas. Cool!
Hello- do you think you could post a pic of what you have in your Prius v? I would love to see how you rigged that. Thanks.
The first picture was the carpet set up after a quick clean, the second is the rubber truck bed mat after I hosed it off (so cleanish though it looks dusty, and still a bit wet in places.) It's just laid out, though when in use I attach it with carabeeners to the head rests. It's nice because it's easier to clean, covers everything and it's heavy duty enough so it doesn't move much.
I hope you found the solution by now! I drive withmy two dogs but in the crates. My cattle dogs are 40-45lbs, so I can put two mideum crates in. But that is the option that is not working for everyone due to the size. If the Prius engineers thought about dog owners and designed the inside differently, we could have put larger crates in!! Before I started using the crates, I had the dog barrier (Vehicle Barrier - Dog Supplies_). You can purchase the additional bar to block the bottom. You can put the barrier before the auful space between the seats and the cargo area.
Jetcity, we also have 2 greys! And we used to live in Richmond (pre-grey). The gap is a concern of mine as well, but so far, with the seats up, they seem to have enough room. Though they are mid-size females. Like the foam noodle idea.
I'm a new v 0wner as of last week. When we were shopping we saw a Prius V Two Limited that had a hinged plate to cover the cargo area- rear seat gap. The limited was nice but only came in a black interior that we did not want. Dealer did not know of availability of this plate. I was not savey enough to see if the rear seats of the v Limited were fixed. I'm looking to make my v safe for a large dog and will probably go with the foam roll method for now. However. I'm very interested in the hinged plate. If anyone has any details please post!
Nobody has cut some scrap carpet to fit? Some Berber or such would allow quick removal of dog hairs, traction to keep the dogs from sliding, protection for the original floor and scraps are cheap. Making it fit and not catch a stray leg between the sides of the rear seats when down and the door is as much of an issue as between the seat and the trunk IMHO. When I'm lugging around rough stuff, I even cover my WeatherTech with an old shag rug from the '60s to prevent gouging of the trunk sides.
I remember reading this excitedly when it was first posted. I tried to do some of the "fixes" then learned that my grey now likes the ability to lean against the seat in the back, and then jump into the trunk area to lay down on the dog pillow I have back there.
My situation is similar, but does not involve dogs. I use my v to carry cargo, which I do not want falling down behind the rear seats. I use a generic cargo mat placed backwards over the rear seats with the narrower portion under the stock cargo may covering the load floor, this also allows me to raise the rear seats when I actually intend to carry passengers. FH-R16400 Trimmable Cargo Mat Beige : Amazon.com : Automotive As an example, I actually used my Gen 2 cargo liner backwards.
