Rear visibility with luggage

hockeymulder · 06-08-2006, 03:03 PM

I've read some of the various threads on rear visibility, and it seems adequate throught the lower tinted window. But it would seem that any amount of luggage or groceries would block that window. I will be hauling around a bag of hockey gear a good percentage of the time. I think that would easily block that lower tinted window. In that case, is their virutally no rear visibility unless I got the rear view camera?

Thanks in advance.

subarutoo · 06-08-2006, 03:06 PM

No big deal, I can't see much out of it anyway, with or without luggage, except really close objects, and the TV camera takes care of that. I think the lower window is more of a styling gimmick, to make the car look more interesting. The tint makes it hard to see much anyway.

john1701a · 06-08-2006, 03:18 PM

The only use for that lower section of the rear window is for parking, since it is physically below the normal field of view. The side mirrors easily compensate for that.

For normal driving, that's all through the upper section only. And if you have that blocked, give thanks... since a sedan likely wouldn't be able to carry cargo that tall anyway.

By the way, if you require extra depth, just remove the false floor. That provides another 6 inches.

benighted · 06-08-2006, 03:22 PM

I've hauled a lot of stuff back there and I could always see out the back using the rear-view mirror.
The rear-view mirror is mounted high enough that thou would probably have to stack stuff to the ceiling before you couldn't see out the back.

**efusco** · 06-08-2006, 03:41 PM

I find that I DO use both the lower and upper window when driving. I had my windows tinted and now the brightness of the upper and lower windows nearly match, so I disagree with John's assertion regarding 'normal driving'. I tend to see the two windows as one.

That said, I travel often enough with my entire family of 5's luggage filling the hatch. Even when the back is packed to the point that I'm not sure the hatch will close I find that the upper window is hardly blocked at all and that it's still helpful for seeing "most" traffic behind me. While it's possible to fill the entire space and block that upper window it isn't easy as normally you only stack stuff as high or slightly higher than the back of the back seat and that's about the height of the bottom of the upper rear window.

**Tideland Prius** · 06-08-2006, 06:00 PM

I find people tend to freak out if they can't see the whole picture. I know the rear spoiler blocks the view but the fact is that the objects that you'll be seeing through the rear window(s) are big enough such that they'll appear in both windows most of the time. Blocking the lower window is usually not a big deal for me since if I were to reverse park, I'll be using the upper window and right mirror to guide me. (my right mirror is adjusted such that I can tell when the back of the car is roughly lined up with the painted lines on the floor so I know exactly how far back I am)

john1701a · 06-08-2006, 06:16 PM

Parking objects and tailgaters is all I see through the lower section, in the summer. In the winter, nothing... just glass coated by a thick layer of sand-encrusted salt.

So virtually all my driving needs are supplied by the upper section and the side mirrors.

Salsawonder · 06-08-2006, 06:20 PM

I have gotten used to driving a car again so I understand where people are coming from with the visibility thing but I have hauled stuff up to the ceiling and that was the only way to zero out visibility. Positioning your sideviews correctly can give you alot of piece of mind. I have had luggage and cases of wine and people back there. No issues with visibility that cannot be solved with taking it easy, being observant.

06-08-2006, 03:41 PM	#5
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 13,363 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	I find that I DO use both the lower and upper window when driving. I had my windows tinted and now the brightness of the upper and lower windows nearly match, so I disagree with John's assertion regarding 'normal driving'. I tend to see the two windows as one. That said, I travel often enough with my entire family of 5's luggage filling the hatch. Even when the back is packed to the point that I'm not sure the hatch will close I find that the upper window is hardly blocked at all and that it's still helpful for seeing "most" traffic behind me. While it's possible to fill the entire space and block that upper window it isn't easy as normally you only stack stuff as high or slightly higher than the back of the back seat and that's about the height of the bottom of the upper rear window. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD Seaside 04BC9/OEM EVb/NAV & auto-BT/XM Radio, CAN-View, Shark Fin, BT Stiff. Plate, Skid Plate & Strut Support

06-08-2006, 06:00 PM	#6
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,562 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	I find people tend to freak out if they can't see the whole picture. I know the rear spoiler blocks the view but the fact is that the objects that you'll be seeing through the rear window(s) are big enough such that they'll appear in both windows most of the time. Blocking the lower window is usually not a big deal for me since if I were to reverse park, I'll be using the upper window and right mirror to guide me. (my right mirror is adjusted such that I can tell when the back of the car is roughly lined up with the painted lines on the floor so I know exactly how far back I am) __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package as of 25th Oct 2004 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, OEM All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Interior Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Integration Kit, LED licence plate lights, Phillips X-Treme Power H4 2008 smart fortwo passion coupé as of 28th Apr 2008 Fogs, dash pods, leather, rubber mats, Brabus handbrake, LED licence plate lights & dome lamp

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06-08-2006, 03:03 PM	#1
hockeymulder Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 10 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've read some of the various threads on rear visibility, and it seems adequate throught the lower tinted window. But it would seem that any amount of luggage or groceries would block that window. I will be hauling around a bag of hockey gear a good percentage of the time. I think that would easily block that lower tinted window. In that case, is their virutally no rear visibility unless I got the rear view camera? Thanks in advance.

06-08-2006, 03:06 PM	#2
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 1,020 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	No big deal, I can't see much out of it anyway, with or without luggage, except really close objects, and the TV camera takes care of that. I think the lower window is more of a styling gimmick, to make the car look more interesting. The tint makes it hard to see much anyway.

06-08-2006, 03:18 PM	#3
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,590 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	The only use for that lower section of the rear window is for parking, since it is physically below the normal field of view. The side mirrors easily compensate for that. For normal driving, that's all through the upper section only. And if you have that blocked, give thanks... since a sedan likely wouldn't be able to carry cargo that tall anyway. By the way, if you require extra depth, just remove the false floor. That provides another 6 inches.

06-08-2006, 03:22 PM	#4
benighted Chief thread hijacker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Westport, WA Posts: 530 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've hauled a lot of stuff back there and I could always see out the back using the rear-view mirror. The rear-view mirror is mounted high enough that thou would probably have to stack stuff to the ceiling before you couldn't see out the back.

06-08-2006, 06:16 PM	#7
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,590 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Parking objects and tailgaters is all I see through the lower section, in the summer. In the winter, nothing... just glass coated by a thick layer of sand-encrusted salt. So virtually all my driving needs are supplied by the upper section and the side mirrors.

06-08-2006, 06:20 PM	#8
Salsawonder Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: La Mesa California Posts: 1,296 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have gotten used to driving a car again so I understand where people are coming from with the visibility thing but I have hauled stuff up to the ceiling and that was the only way to zero out visibility. Positioning your sideviews correctly can give you alot of piece of mind. I have had luggage and cases of wine and people back there. No issues with visibility that cannot be solved with taking it easy, being observant.