Closing Back Hatch of Prius -- kinda of stupid??

install the sienna auto rear tailgate system and win.

 

This thread is puzzling to me. I've owned hatchbacks and wagons exclusively for the past 30 years. Although it would be nicer to have a handle or something to grab onto to pull the hatch down, I've never had a problem with just placing my fingertips anywhere on the lower part of the hatch and pulling down. And it's not as if I have especially sticky and strong fingers.

Also, on another point, I don't think one has to avoid slamming the hatch door down. I've routinely slammed my hatch doors closed these past 30 years, and I've never had a broken hatch.

 

Nice idea if my car had bottom holes. I only have the top license plate holes.

 

True, however most license plates have holes iin the bottom. Note the picture in the link, the license plate frame has holes in the bottom, fastners go through the frame and plate only. Mine has plastic nuts on the back that keep it from rattling.

 

Same for me - I pull on the handle just enought to bring the Toyota logo to my chest then push down on it with my palm.

Congratulations on being vermin free! I wonder what all those mice ate -- do you think the bugs will get out of equilibrium now?

 

Actually, I've been looking for a solution to help my young sons since they're too short to reach the top of the hatch at all. Here's our typical daily scenario:

In the morning, they have their cellos in the hatch. When I drop them off at the school, one of them holds the hatch halfway while the other drags the two cellos out. If they forget and let the hatch go all the way up, one of them then has to climb up into the hatch so he can grab the handle to pull the hatch door down.

There's usually a line of cars behind us as people line up to drop off their kids, so we'd like to not take too much time unloading.

In our Xterra SUV there's a rope handle attached to the hatch door on the inside that works beautifully. I wonder if something similar could be improvised for the Prius...

 

Actually, it isn't a handle at all -- more like a recess that faces away from you (makes it hard to notice). Reach up with your palm facing towards you and the fingers slightly curled to lower the hatchback. The part I'm not crazy about is what to do with your hand and arm if you pull too vigorously.

 

WHATEVER you grab, DON'T grab the little metal loop that actually enters the latch mechanism. It will hook your finger when you least expect it and meld your finger into a purple, unrecognizable tube of mung! The indentation (handle?) on the right side of the hatch works much better for pulling the hatch down.

 

I think that Saab lip handle is nice. Did you install one on your Prius using the plastic screws and nuts that came with that plastic license plate frame? (I have the same frame ... simple, cheap, good looking).

EDIT: Never mind. I re-read your post and see that you've installed it.

 

I AGREE, cyberprius. I just hate these funny little pictures all over the place. Most of them are so obscure as to be useless. Call them "icons" if you like, I still hate them! Why do people think is suffered through all those years of school? I learned to read, that's why.

Whew, glad I got that off my chest... Bob

 

To sell the cars globally (aka world-wide), it's a trend for the car markers (Import/Domestic) to use 'icon' on the buttons and function-keys instead of (English reader-only) words. So they can standardize the button parts to keep the costs down.

Same to the traffic crossing signal to the pedestrians. It's used to display in "Don't Walk" or "Stop" in words, but now all in just icons only. They claimed this is more effective for non-English speaking tourists to understand the signals......aka International-friendly.

 

Get in an orderly line now. Behind me.

 

Yeah, but some of the "international" symbols make no sense. For example: "No Parking" is often displayed as a red circle with a bar through it over the letter "P."

Now, how the heck is _THAT_ international?

 

:nono:Shame on you!:nono:

Does Mrs Double - D know what you're upto?

 

hschuck said it best - After lowering the hatch using the inside handle, the Toyota emblem above the license plate is a good place to push to close it.

That procedure works fine.

 

Yes! Thats exactly how i do it! One fell swoop. Pull on the handle and complete the swoop with a slam on the emblem. Works every time.

 

I understand it. And the fact that I don't like it doesn't make it wrong. It just means I don't like it.

Let's face it, some of those "icons" are pretty obscure.

Bob

 

lol OCD?

j/k

I used the spoiler approach the first couple of times, then noticed the handle inside the hatch..made for one's hand to use. Pull down with a gentle motion and hold onto the license plate as you guide the trunk downward. Or one could just slam it close from the handle


I try to avoid touching any part of the hatch body while closing, work hard to wax and clean the car, i don't want my nasty finger prints all over the paint..
op2:

 

Have you done this mod? Any instructions? Thx.