Hey Gang, One of my workmates jokingly sent me a picture of a Prius Tote, which is a Ute (utility vehicle/SUV) based off a 2nd Generation Prius. I checked the website and it no longer exists, but these pictures are still out there on the internet. I would think you'd have to build a set of subframe connectors to support cutting the roof section off, so it wouldn't be something that would be easily done, but I think this actually looks pretty sharp. Has anyone ever seen one of these before? I'm still looking for pictures of the interior and how access to the battery & battery pack is done through the bed once the conversion is done.
It's cute and all, but if you lay the rear seats down in a regular gen 2 Prius you can have pretty much the same space AND be able to carry 4 passengers the next day.
True, but I like it from a visual aspect. I use mine mostly to drive back and forth to work, so I don't often take passengers with me. Plus, if you were adding extender batteries to the design, you could put them in front of the original battery pack, since there isn't a back seat anymore. I think if I were going to do it, I'd weld the doors shut and remove the handles, then do bodywork over them so that the body was seamless like a regular truck bed.
Search "2005 Prius to Light Duty Pickup Truck Conversion" Found this from a few years back. Unfortunately Ruudh hasn't been around for awhile.
For anyone interested: I'm finishing my "Trius TRX" conversion right now. Final details and paint by approx May 15th 2020. Gary K Manchester TN 2005 Prius to truck conversion.
