Going over my new cargo hauler today (2015 Prius V) and noticed when laying the back seats flat there is something in the spring hinge mechanism that lets the seat backs move that stops the seats from folding flat...there's a good 3" gap between the bottom seat cushion and seat back. This is a problem: If I lay down a 6ft plastic table I bring for my events and stack milk crates on it, the angle is so harsh I can tell that they will slide towards the back with bumps, and that's a no no for carrying expensive crystals. My guess is internally there is a metal stop tab on the circular hinge areas that prevents further movement, possibly for the spring to not uncoil too much and bind. Has anyone pulled apart those rear seats before and can confirm this? My thought is I could eliminate the springs, and dremel cut the stop tab so it can fully rotate it down...that way the hump between the rear and the seats would only be about a 1/3" which would be manageable. If not, I'll have to remove them completely and construct some wooden base with 2x4 and plywood to level it with the back...hoping I don't have to go that route!
While waiting for a response about how and or IF the rear seat backs can be make to lay flat, it might be in your interest to check out Prius Camping youtube channels to see how others have dealt with rear seat backs not folding flat. If there is a way that someone has figured out already, I haven't seen it either posted here or in any of the tubes I've already seen on the subject. But I'm not a live in my Prius or customize my Prius to haul a load that normally wouldn't fit in the cargo area safely, either. If you're talking about expensive crystal ware, I'd pay more attention to pre packaging and cargo hold downs, than figure out how to flatten your cargo area. But I'm only imagining what I'd do if I were in your situation. Here's a post by @eddiehaskell from 2014 about how to cut an "eco rug" sold at the big box stores to fit the cargo area. I fit my own and posted pics on page 2. My DIY $17 Prius cargo liner made from recycled plastic bottles... | PriusChat
Well, I've dealt with these seats in Gen2, Gen3, and Prius C and observed my friend's work on a Prius V, but not clear on what you're saying/do not have direct experience. I do know that on my old Subaru the rear seat backs would do that unless you flipped the bottom part of the seat forward, so maybe there's a flap of some sort that needs moving, but fairly certain that's not how Prius V works. In looking at the video below it looks like the amount of slope you're concerned about isn't that significant if its the same as in the video. And judging from this photo it looks like they did a great job designing the car to look nice with back seats removed. Of course if you give people rides, especially if they have a kid, you won't have a safe space for them, which is why I put my back seat back into my Prius soon after I first took it out:
The Prius v rear seats are different than a hatchback since they slide forward and backwards like a front seat and the seat back reclines in addition to folding forward. I suspect the latching mechanisms for the more elaborate v seat back complicates your goal unless mechanism was removed completely. At that point the use as a seat would be lost. With that said, the seat fabric is actual a seat cover which can be replaced. Pulling the seat and partially removing the cover might provide an answer one way or the other. By the way, the hv battery air intake is under the rear passenger seat. Don't inadvertently block it. I would remove the rear seat(s) if flat is necessary.
Yeah, the angle IS steep...about 15⁰ so I can't stack crates up flat without everything shifting. The picture is the type of things I'm hauling. I found the rear seat tear down instructions in the service manual, looks like it's a ribbon spring in the circular ratcheting seat position housing... I'm going to remove the left hand side seat and then tear it down to see if I can remove the spring and then cut out whatever prevents it from going all the way down.
I think if I can cut out the forward stop on the ratcheting mechanism, I can retain functionality there just won't be smooth resistance from the spring in there anymore. Yeah I turned the vent full blast in Dr Prius when I was driving it home yesterday and I could barely hear anything, got back there and saw there was a piece of toilet paper blocking the vent...battery looks to be in good shape though.
That booth has the same curtains and lighting as Seattle convention center... Can you take lots of pictures and document the changes you made? It could one day help others on here. Kind of strange that Toyota would do that in the Prius V? Also, I'm less then a couple hours north of you in Olympia if you ever need help with your Prius?
And the seat backs are at a 15 degree slope no matter how far forward or far back those seat have been slid?
Roger that, will take lots of pictures...it was actually an fine art event in Hillsboro. I didn't feel like I fit in with all the high end work around me, but people loved my oil lamps. I actually just picked up the Prius V yesterday from Tumwater at the WA State Fleet yard. My workshop is out in Kalama at my dad's so we could probably meet up at some point!
Yeah, I've known plenty of people getting a good hybrid from that yard, especially after covid when Hybrid battery needed a simple charge and balance but criminals at Toyota Stealership tried to sell them a brand new hybrid battery at inflated prices instead. Had a heck of a time with this Prius V diagnosis a few months back: Engine Diagnostic Challenge in a 2013 | PriusChat The lesson I learned from that is in the future when faced with similar symptoms I'm gonna wiggle and or replace hoses...
