1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Missing tow cover on replaced front bumper?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Tom Farrell, Aug 28, 2015.

  1. Tom Farrell

    Tom Farrell Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2014
    9
    1
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte NC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I should probably be posting a photo but will start with just a description. I was in an accident (not my fault!!!) in my 2007 Prius earlier this year, which fortunately just required replacement of the front bumper, left fender and motor coolant reservoir. There have been problems with the body shop, which is attached to a local Toyota dealer (sloppy, inconsistent work and people being fired in the midst of my repairs). Most of the outstanding issues have been resolved. Of those, one which remains is that I noticed the replaced front bumper has only one of the two circular plugs which I have seen only every other Prius II. The purpose of the plugs is evidently to cover a pair of mounts which a tow truck (probably the lowest-end tow truck) can attach to if need be.

    Honestly, it was a couple months after the initial repairs were done that I even noticed the missing plug. (I came across this while noting the sun glinting on the single plug -- because it was not properly painted and the unpainted aluminum is kind of shiny). If I should ever need a tow again, I would not want to use a tow truck which needed to use these tow mounts which I have described. But no doubt I still have two of those mounts with one of them unavailable, because there is no removable plug over it on the front bumper.

    Before I go back to the Toyota body shop, I am wondering if anybody can tell me if there could be any logical reason why I now have only one pop-out plugs on my front bumper, where the original front bumper had two? I get a little attitude out of the body shop and I am stuck with them due to my insurance company, so I want to have my facts straight.

    Is it possible that the bumper came from the factory with only one cut-out for only one tow mount cover? Or are these cut-outs created at the body shop? By the way, the single pop-out plug is on the left (driver) side of my front bumper. I really cannot imagine that I tow truck could pull my car using a single mount.

    Anyhow, I am glad that, if a tow were ever needed again, there are far better tow trucks than the kind which would need these tow mounts anyhow -- such as the tow trucks which have an incline-able bed upon which a car can ride, rather than being actually towed.

    I'm sure I really need to post a photo and will have that up soon. I'm sorry I don't know the actual language I should be using here, and hope my description makes a sense nonetheless.
     
  2. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    2,002
    745
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I don’t think I have ever seen one that has attachment point for tow hook on the right side (passenger side for left hand drive). It really is designed to be only towed from that one side. But that’s only for towing it to flatbed or wheel lift. You really can’t tow Prius (with front wheels on the ground) anyways because of the transmission.
     
  3. Tom Farrell

    Tom Farrell Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2014
    9
    1
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte NC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Wow ... I went outside to take a photo of somebody else's Prius and, sure enough, you are right -- the tow hook is only on the driver side. I also went and looked at photos of my car at the dealer where I bought it -- sure enough, just the one hook on the driver side.

    I always consider myself extremely observant, but obviously I got this one wrong. You know, you think you know your car inside and out but I guess that's just an illusion.

    Thanks very much for setting me straight on this!
     
    valde3 likes this.