Does anyone regularly use their Prius to transport their pets? We're thinking about replacing our CX7 with a Prius, and looking for real world experience. The dogs are in the car everyday, short trips to the dog park. We know the v has more room but my wife does not like the styling, and worry about the reduced fuel economy. Thanks MartyD
I have two 25 lb Bichons and estimating How that 50 lbs goes in back car. I think you'll have just about enough room if they're all in backseat.
My Bull Dog loves sitting on the floor behind the passenger side of my Prius. Sometimes I take both her and her sister to the dog park. No problems. They are both females just under 50 lbs each. I keep the cooler with water and ice in the trunk (Hatchback). Try renting one for the weekend and see if it meets your needs.
We have a 100 lb black lab and he fits in the back even with the rear seats up. With the rear seat down, of course, he has even more room..
On a recent 250 mile trip to my son's my daughter accompanied my wife and I. She also brought her 2 dogs. A German Shepard sat/layed in the back seat by my wife and a Beagle which layed on my daughter's lap in the passengers seat. Oh, forgot to mention my wife brought her min-pin also. She was small enough that it found its own space back there somewhere. All arrived in relative comfort none the worse for wear.
I've got a 90lb dog (all legs) with a baby seat in the middle sitting in back with the Mrs. It's a little tight for him behind the driver's seat, but he's also harnessed in. http://i.imgur.com/YKglT.jpg
all, Since this is a 3G thread & I only own a 2G Prius, I am not aware of where the battery cooling vent is located in the back seat (I heard that it's down lower in the 3G), but just be sure that the placement of your pet does NOT block the vent. And actually you should consider placing some thin filter material over the vent to trap most of the dog hair before it gets inside the vent & all over the fan motor. It will be easier to maintain that way rather than going inside to clean out the motor & vent tubing. Of coarse, the fan probably will not come on as much now that the weather is cooling down, but still when you have your heater on & set to the fresh air position, that vent is where the stale air is exhausted to the outside past the HV battery (your HV battery enjoys the same kinds of temperatures we do), so pet hair can still be pushed inside the vent to be a problem in the winter too. Ken (in Bolton,Ct)
RRxing, Thanks much for your post & pictures. Now I can only hope they can or have developed the equivalent for the 2G models (it's nice to be able to hope, even if they haven't got something for us yet). They should have done that a long time ago. Ken (in Bolton,Ct)
