Raising my 2010 Prius Hybid higher off the ground?

Here's one place to start looking.
Lift Kits & Parts in Engine - Liter_Display:1.8L | eBay

You can also do a google search for them. I found a couple discussions here.

I sometimes toy with the idea of something like that for my Prime because it's even lower than the Gen 3 and I had to drive through 3-4 inches of water yesterday because of an outrageous rain storm. (We got about 2" in an hour.)

 

Handling will suffer. Go up inclines at an angle

 

Bigger tyres will throw the speedometer out, you will be going faster than your speedo says. Better to raise the suspension.
Is this what you're after ?

Gen2Monster by kithmo posted Jan 13, 2017 at 8:59 PM

 

@kithmo is right. Leave the tires stock. (Some people go to a very lightly larger circumference to reduce the speedometer error built into the car, but that's not enough to raise it.) Just do the lift kit. Although a setup like in his picture would have been nice Saturday in that frog strangler deluge we had.

 

I have slightly larger tires installed and a suspension lift of 30 mm to avoid bottoming out on Boston roads. I never bottom out now, unless I'm literally offroad. The larger tires don't make a huge difference in the lift. However, to the people saying the speedometer will be off, it's like 3mph off at 70mph. Not a huge deal. You're not likely able to fit more than 225's on the car without turning problems.

 

Interesting. Mine came with 185/65r15s which are 1/2" shorter than stock. I have already high centered twice being a country driver. Been exploring this challenge.

Will have 205/70r15s installed soon and plan to install 1 1/4" coil spring spacers. Be aware that the coil spring spacers will require removing a lot of stuff to get at the top bolts.

The 205/70r15 tire is 1 1/3" taller than stock. There is a 205/75r15 tire that is 2" taller than stock - so 1" gain in ground clearance.

 

$10 less on Amazon. Put them in my cart for further evaluation. I'm not sure these will increase ground clearance but they will prevent the rear from sagging under load. Who can't use a rear lift?

 

Those are not for increasing ground clearance. They help maintain ground clearance in the back when you have a heavy load back there. From the product description:

OP is looking for something to raise the whole car, not to carry heavy loads.

 

"slightly larger tires"

I'm guessing that science was not your best subject? Why not post the tire size? That would have actually helped.

 

I traded my 2010 in on a Prius V. Much better clearance, better brakes, and better steering. Just not quite as good mileage.

 

My old Prius+, which was basically a 7 seat UK version of the V, also had a quieter and more comfortable ride too.

 

I agree about the ride and unmentioned was the far better-increased rear visibility.

 

Prius mirrors are not designed for towing - very, very few stock mirrors are. One can do a lot with 3" glass blind spot mirrors. Prius has a LOT of glass which equals very good visibility overall. Highly practical until one needs to do maintenance - like changing plugs.

Sitting so low to the ground gives a lot of stability. Mine tracks very well. For now I have decided to just do tires and rear coil spacers. Too many other pressing projects going on.

 

That caught my eye. 2010 Prius (CDN) brochure:



2012 Prius v (US) brochure:



The difference is 0.2 inch, about 3/16".

Funny thing is, regardless of that 5.5" spec, when I run a tape measure around under our 2010, near the front, seems as low as 4" to the engine underpanel in places, and it's secure. Maybe they're talking about the non-flexible steel? Or the Prius v numbers are more honest?? Who knows.

 

Interesting, 0.2inch is not very much indeed. I measure the lowest spot on a pair of brackets just at the front of the front wheel arch on the bottom panel. It shows 5.5" there. But from the front bumper back to these brackets there is a clearance of 6 1/4". This runs a full 24" from the bumper to the brackets so it gives 3/4" more clearance in this area. This allows one to drive forward over obstacles that were not able to be cleared in the 2010, which I was always grinding on something it seemed.

 

I ran a tape measure around the front underside this morning: there was places with less than 4", under the engine underpanel. But there you can push it up about an inch. I don't think it's sagging though; recall it was always thus.

(I have a tape measure where the body adds 2" precisely. Very easy to use, and think they should all be like that, full inches.)

 

Do manufacturer numbers matter? We all know our Prius has an issue when it comes to ground clearance. Prices to be paid for this range of fuel economy.

I can't resent the ground clearance when they built it for gas mileage. I can resent the challenges in increasing ground clearance. Or changing spark plugs.

I am still a pretty satisfied Prius driver so far. You simply can't have everything in one car.

 

If you install too many catch cans the extra weight may result in reduced clearances...

 

What is a catch can?