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

Very interesting find on our v2...

Discussion in 'Prius v Technical Discussion' started by danbob, Mar 27, 2012.

  1. danbob

    danbob Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2012
    36
    1
    0
    Location:
    Westchester NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
    So I go to install my new trailer hitch for our bike rack tonight, get under the car, and low and behold....no rear plastic skid plate under the car...or any plastic skid plates as far as I can see....is this something new or did they forget them? I thought all prii had black plastic skid plates all over the underside of the car for aerodynamics purposes. Does the 2 not come with them because it is a base model? Help me out guys....I am bewildered....
     
    #1 danbob, Mar 27, 2012
  2. RichardAK

    RichardAK Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2012
    121
    14
    0
    Location:
    Fairbanks, AK
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I was meaning to look last night but I forgot. I'll take a look tonight. How did the hitch install go? Bolts line up pretty well?
     
    #2 RichardAK, Mar 28, 2012
  3. danbob

    danbob Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2012
    36
    1
    0
    Location:
    Westchester NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
    Simple - 20 mins with sockets and extensions. You just have to push the muffler out of the way a bit when putting that side up. Bolts line up perfectly. Looks great, can barely be seen, and all I have left to do is torque it to spec before I put the bike rack on cause I threw it on quickly the other night. I am going to get a 1.25 hitch cover - you know the little square rubber piece that goes on the front of the hitch to protect it from rust and water getting inside the receiver.
     
    #3 danbob, Mar 29, 2012
  4. steve 1948

    steve 1948 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2012
    4
    1
    0
    Location:
    utica new york
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three

    I looked under my Prius V type 3 and there is nothing there either...:(
     
    #4 steve 1948, Apr 16, 2012
  5. syscon

    syscon Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2012
    329
    42
    0
    Location:
    Edm. Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    There are not very many cars that have rear skid plates; I've not seen any.
    We are lucky we have front skid plates. Subaru's don't have any and the engine bay get dirty very fast.
     
    #5 syscon, Apr 17, 2012
  6. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    764
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    The GenIII has "side" skid covers. The "v" does not.

    Since the "v" has larger tires and wheels than the GenIII, there is more ground clarance than the GenIII.

    I can't be sure, but I would conject that Toyota did wid tunnel air "flow" and "drag" test of prototypes of modes with and without the covers to determine a cost v. benefit analysis and found that they were not reallly needed ar affected the mileage minimally.
     
    #6 Mike500, Apr 17, 2012
  7. btcompute

    btcompute Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2012
    46
    7
    0
    Location:
    Central NH
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Danbob, can you tell us what you bought for a hitch, and where you got it? Have you picked out a particular bike rack?
    I'll be looking for a hitch and bike rack for my new V three.
    Thanks.
     
    #7 btcompute, Apr 18, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  8. jon_lancaster_toyota

    jon_lancaster_toyota Nate Riesen

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2009
    120
    68
    7
    Location:
    Madison, WI
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm willing to bet the weight of the skid plates didn't improve fuel Economy enough to warrant their installation. Saves money in vehicle cost and repairs.....
     
    #8 jon_lancaster_toyota, Apr 19, 2012
  9. blisspacket

    blisspacket Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2009
    32
    4
    0
    Location:
    StAugustine FL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Indeed the "skidplate" present on the 2010 is not there on the V. Seems really naked and uncouth. I just transferred the tow hitch/bikerack setup from my traded-in 2010. It swapped with no problem, other than slight bending and a 2" slice in the muffler heatshield to accomodate the longer hitch bracket. You'll see it when you do it; heatshield is very lightweight aluminum, modifies readily. I only carry two bikes, but am contemplating a trailer such as towed behind a Hardly or a Honda.
     
    #9 blisspacket, Aug 13, 2012
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,330
    4,614
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'd say it's not an issue of weight so much as chronic problems people have had with hitting debris and having their undercarriage covers coming loose and excessive dealer costs related to fixing them under warranty. Not having them also cuts down on production costs....

    But seriously, there's significant MPG saving at freeway speeds if you have a aerodynamic underbody. Yet only super expensive luxury sports cars do the full body covers for the undercarriage. So I understand why Toyota doesn't do it in economy cars...

    But what I don't understand is why more Prius owner don't modify their undercarriage for improved MPG? Why no templates for a DIY undercarriage that's not only more sleek, but more durable then the cheap milk carton plastic that rips off when the car scrapes on something?
     
    #10 PriusCamper, Aug 13, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)