Can't locate a front tie-down for canoe - Prius 2008

Priuses4All,

Welcome to PRIUSchat.

Found using 'tie down' in the search function:

4 Point Kayak Holder: Front, Rear and two middle | PriusChat

it is EXTRA important that kayak(s) be secured with a line from the bow to front of car.
I have found the perfect attachment point (there are few options). Pop the hood. Attach
a permanent loop through the small hole directly below the hood latch, and pull it through
the first grill opening. Voila! You now have a bombproof attachment point, that you can
tie a line to the kayak(s), without opening the hood,or crawling under the car. Use thin
high strength nylon cord....use a trucker's hitch to tie off kayak to loop that you can stash
in grill opening when not in use....
Anyone haul a kayak on your Prius? | PriusChat

I also recall a member posting that they used the hood and rear hatch hinges as tie down
points... But I can't find the post. Thinking about it, the lead angles of the ropes/straps
wouldn't appear to be right; more fore and aft than up and down. I do not know!

 

I'm glad that I could point you towards a solution that might work for you.

I wish that I could claim some small credit for the through-the-grill idea.

But, I can't. I just used the tried and true method of using the search function
to dig around in the archives. Just about anything Gen2 related is addressed in
there somewhere.

'The search function is your friend.'

The Biggest Tool in the Newbie Arsenal | PriusChat

 

These bolt right on and are the best way to go. When not in use they tuck neatly under the hood. The front and rear lines should only be used as a failsafe if the main hold down lines fail.
You do not want them tight as in bending your boat. Thus the off center mounting of the straps is OK

2013 Thule 529 Hood Loop Strap (one pair) - Provides Attachment Points for Tie-Downs On Front of Vehicle

 

I would think using the front bumper tow hook would work for you.

 

The Prius has the nicest tie downs on all 4 corners at least 2006. Up front they are sort of directly beneath the head lamps. The view from an angle is blocked by plastic so you sort of have to look close to the headlamp. Someone on PriusChat talked me into a Tarpon 100 kayak last year, which he fits in the Prius by leaving the tail gate open with a tie down. I just put it totally inside my minivan. So I have not been doing the canoe much.

 

If you look on REI's website or similar ones, search for seatle sports hood loops or quick loops. Pieces of nylon that you bolt underneath the hood.

This is what I do with my prius (note - the distance between bars is so short that it really seems to be necessary to diagonally cross tie sea kayaks when carrying them... they work themselves loose easily as compared to on my subaru), it saves the paint on the front. I put a hitch on the back of mine, so I hook to the hitch in the back.

 

Got the rack and kayak (even though it's not quite done) atop my 2014 v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) yesterday.

 

I guess this is a thread resurrection, but I use the shipping tie-downs underneath the front valence and up under the bumper in back. The canoe tie down cords we have (they've been in the family a while) have sections of rubber tubing over the rope near the ends to protect the bumpers.

 

That is impressive! What length bar is that? 60"? And the weight/load on roof is ok? Do you have a sunroof?

 

With a trailer hitch in back it's easy to use that in the rear. In front, the two shipping eyes don't let rope run easily and they are not easy to locate. During boating season, I hang a carabiner (actual climbing carabiners, extremely strong) in each one making it easy to tie in. I like the idea of the nylon webbing loops bolted under the hood, but my boats are too long...