Prime Tonneau Cover Modification for Height?

That's a bit of a sand-pounder. I've a vague recollection of the sheepish looks of the Toyota presenters when the Prime debuted, as they were showing the hatch area.

I would just throw in the towel: forget about using the cover?

 

Hard tonneau cover comes only with Advanced model. For Premium and Plus model, it comes with flexible black nylon tonneau cover that attaches to both with hatch door and body side of the trunk with string that will open up with the door. It looks cheap, but turns out this material is very flexible that you can place cargo much higher than the level of cover attachment and it will accommodate any size and shape of cargo items. I don't know how much those covers are from Toyota, and if it fits Advanced model.

This is for Gen4, but it looks same as the one I have on Prime Premium. 2016 Prius rear hatch cargo space with flexible tonneau cover | PriusChat

 

I have a 2019 Prius Prime Plus, and I didn't realize how much of an issue the nylon cover is in advance of buying it...

If you live in a city (like I do) and ever park your car on the street or in a garage, anything underneath the cover that raises it at all will expose what's in your trunk via the lower hatch window (vertical). This is a very poor design that I'm surprised by, among other things like no button/ability to touch the hatch door area to keylessly unlock it.

I'm also looking into modifying the cargo cover to better hide my trunk contents. I'm planning to try carving out the sides where the insert would go for the pull cover that comes with the Advanced trim. Then buying the cover on ebay. Hoping the dimensions are about the same...!

Would love to hear any others' experiences with modiyfing this.

 

Hard tonneau cover that comes with Advanced trim will fit on Plus and Premium trims unmodified. All you have to do is to take of the plastic hook in place. The inside side panels are identical for all three trims. There was a thread discussing this mod. If I find it, I will post it.

That being said, if you have any item the raises the nylon tonneau that came with your Plus, you will not be able to fit that item under the hard tonneau cover. I find flexibility of the soft tonneau to accommodate the shape of the item higher than the cover to be more useful. Then again, I have found old blanket works just as well or much better than either of tonneau covers, and much cheaper.

 

This feature exists on my Premium. With the key in my pocket, I touch the latch on the rear hatch and it unlocks the hatch (and the rest of the car). This may be a trim-level difference between the Plus and Premium/Advanced.

 

That would be my choice as well. I don't use the tonneau cover that came with my car, and when I travel I have an old wool blanket that I put over things in the back. Covers the things, and I have a spare blanket if I need one.

 

This is not the thread I remember, but it explains what I mean. You do not need major mod. All you need to do is to remove the hook piece. You may want to fill the hole with black tape or something after the removal. See pic in comment #10 of the thread.
Will Advanced cargo cover fit on a Premium? | PriusChat

You are correct. 3 door SKS is available only for Premium and Advanced. Plus trim comes with driver side door only SKS.

 

Thanks so much for the quick replies and info! Hoping to find an Advanced cargo cover on ebay soon...

 

Toyota continues to punish base level buyers, restricting the touch-to-unlock to driver's door only.

If I was interested in buying, I'd be looking for a level with a spare tire, 3 door touch-to-unlock, and no sunroof. Toyota doesn't have a Prius for me.

 

From the opposite perspective, they are making a model that is more affordable by removing some of the features that would increase the cost. Cloth seats vs. Softex, no adjustable lumbar support, the touch-to-unlock feature, etc. To their credit, they offer exactly the same platform and power train, LED headlights, power windows, with nothing like steel wheels, crank windows or rear drum brakes on the base model.

 

Yeah, but I just wanted this one feature. And yeah, if only we could customize (and pay for) the features we wanted...

Cost wasn't an issue, but I didn't want leather seats or the large screen. I can see those additions justifying a level up in trim, but I truly thought this touch-to-unlock ability on the hatch (technology around since at least my 2004 Prius!) was not a feature I'd have to upgrade a whole trim for.

 

I know what you mean. I didn't want pleather seats or the large screen either. But the cost was the issue for me. They offered me Premium trim at less than what other dealer's offer for a Plus. At the end, I am glad I got Premium trim, though I hate the pleather and the big screen, it is very nice to have 3 doors SKS. I upgraded from Gen3 Two trim which had only driver's door SKS.

Good luck finding the hardcover tonneau cheap. It is waaay too expensive to buy it full price, something like $500.

 

Wow, that is nutty (cheaper price!). I found one on ebay for $225. My dealership told me it'd be $600 to buy from Toyota and pointed me to ebay. Will see if it works out!

 

Ouch. That would buy a lot of nice blankets at Goodwill, any of which will likely cover better.

 

not if your windows are tinted like mine are.

 

I always have cover closed to keep the battery cooler. Better than having the Sun heating up the floor of the trunk (right above the battery).

I don't have any empirical evidence of this, but it costs nothing so why not?

 

I think it's in the owner's manual of at least one of the Prii I've owned. On the other hand, if the battery is warmer than the cabin, it'll tend to hold in the heat. Hmmm. I like keeping it covered anyway. Here in FL, the cabin will soon be uninhabitable even parked in the shade.