Difficulty Reaching, Pulling Down the Hatch

Folding 3 Step Aluminum Ladder Folding Platform Work Stool Non-Slip Hot A4T5 | eBay

 

Dual purpose device..storage and height enhancer.

FYI Tapatalk isn't showing the picture, but other browsers are.

 

Sounds like a pull down strap and some ingenuity on your part.

 

I'm also short and cannot reach the hatch at all when it's fully open. I have basically a stick with a hook on it that i use to close it. You have to trigger the hatch closed latch, then use the hook to pull the hatch down. It's a pain, but I used that same stick on my 2010 Prius for years. I've threatened to mod it for years, but never really found a good solution. I almost bought a C-Max to get the powered hatch..

 

I’ve also been looking for an aftermarket power liftgate kit for the Prius Prime. Haven’t been able to find one for the Prime but they have them for the RAV4 as well as other cars. I suppose it has to do with the total number of models sold RAV4 is in the neighborhood of 450,000 units whereas Prius is not nearly as many.

UPDATE - Sunday, 4/22/18 2:15 Pacific Time
I have found a vendor who may have a power liftgate that works with Prius Prime. I’ve sent an inquiry and waiting to hear back.

 

Maybe just maybe you could get the really good I mean I'm talking industrial heavy duty that will never come off tape and stick a really good rope so she can pull it down

 

And on both right and left side of the hatch, they have little button kinda hook (On the Hatch) That are meant for the soft cargo cover (NOT HARDCOVER) and could maybe tie a strong rope onto it

 

The arrows in the picture point to the handles for the rear hatch. Are these what she cannot reach?

 

There is also this genuine Toyota product.

 

By the way, in case you are wondering, on the Amazon Japan website the word-
bakkudoasutorappu - translates to back door strap.

 

I keep thinking: if a strap is long enough to help, is it also going to get in the way when the hatch closes?

 

It depends on where you put it. Something closer to the middle of the hatch might work. The trick would be to get as close to the center of the hatch that you can while still being able to pull it down.

 

The genuine Toyota part come with an installation template to avoid having the strap interfere with the closing of the hatch.

 

Look on the sides of the hatch when it's open. You'll see the heads of bolts there that are not used. I think the struts could be mounted to the bolts here to limit the opening height. If you try it, be sure to use a strong helper to hold the weight of the hatch when the two struts are disconnected.

 

I bought a pack of bungee cords at Dollar Tree, and the 12" size is just right. I just need to spend a little time with a pair of pliers to bend the hooks so they will stay in place around the ends of the strut. This will effectively lower the height the hatch can raise.

 

If all else fails, you could keep these in the back seat!

2781731630_a19519ee98_m by Shameless posted Apr 24, 2018 at 11:09 AM

 

Excellent, but the late seventies are asking you to return their disco platforms, they were only a loan.

 

This is the kind of question likely will get some silly answers but it deserves a serious solution.

Being five feet tall is not a disability, but but in this situation it creates a problem similar to those faced by many people with disabilities. (Having my left arm in a cast for six weeks made me appreciate the need to come up with creative work-arounds just to accomplish simple things like pulling a car door closed.)

I found this handy tool which is made for people who are physically impaired to assist with the simple task of getting dressed. It's an excellent device for reaching and pulling things in addition to clothing... such as car doors, etc. I now keep one in the back of the car with the snow brush.



It is available from Amazon and from other places. The hooks are firmly attached and the plastic coating does a pretty good job of not scratching surfaces.

I'm sure that, if you wanted, you could make something like this out of hardware store parts.

 

Well said Old Bear!

fwiw, the stick and hook thing I use is very similar to that only home made. I'm short and disabled, so it really is a serious problem to be able to reach some things. You haven't felt frustration until you go to a store and what you need is on the top shelf and there's nobody else around to beg for help.