2 inch circle in front bumber

jyoungprius · 04-06-2005, 05:33 PM

Someone may have asked this already but I have not seen an answer here yet. Have you 2004-2005 Prius owners noticed the approximate 2 inch circle on the drivers side front bumper? Does anyone know what this is for? My salesman had no idea. I guess I could call the Service Dept...but I bet someone here on PriusChat has the right answer.

xevious · 04-06-2005, 05:42 PM

The answer lies buried in the bowels of the owner's manual...

or, you can visit this thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/help-for-a-new...ner-vt7648.html

Charles Suitt · 04-06-2005, 06:48 PM

Hi... Simple... this "plug" when removed gives access to the mounting base for the towing ring. You should find this ring in the tools area near your spare tire. The plug is removed and the ring screwed into its threaded base to provide a secure "eye" for tie-down or towing.

CAUTION: The Prius should not be towed with its front wheels on the ground. Read the Manual on towing.

V8Cobrakid · 04-06-2005, 07:14 PM

It was designed as a very fast way for toyota to ship their cars. Since it's tied solid into the frame, all they have to do is drive them up and clip them in. now the cars can't roll.... er.. that's what i heard from a dealer a while back... well.. a dealer that knew what he was talking about for the most part.

prius mdt · 04-06-2005, 08:59 PM

No - not for shipping - there are holes in the rockers in front of the rear wheels that accept a chain hook for shipping. Rubber plugs went in the holes before delivery to seal out weather / road gunk.

They are indeed for a tow truck driver to hook a winch cable to and drag your Prius up onto his flatbed tow truck. The good news is ALL tow truck drivers are Prius trained. They know where the eye bolt is stowed inside your prius and know where to install the eye bolt in your front bumper. No offense to those drivers who do know this - just food for thought for you Prius owners before you leave a dead/stranded Prius on the side of the road for a tow truck to arrive later. Install the eyebolt yourself before the tow truck arrives.

P.S. - I don't recall seeing a Prius "on the hook" yet? - NO one did get towed in...it was out of gas!!!

V8Cobrakid · 04-06-2005, 09:05 PM

cool.. i learned something new... what do yo know.. the dealer was wrong :wink: i find that amusing

hdrygas · 04-06-2005, 09:28 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"79185)</div>

Quote:

cool.. i learned something new... what do yo know.. the dealer was wrong :wink: i find that amusing[/b]

Amusing is not the word I would choose, inevitable is the one I would have used.

V8Cobrakid · 04-06-2005, 09:31 PM

lol.. inevitable... very true.

Stocky · 04-06-2005, 09:39 PM

Ok - I knew what the hole was for and all about the eye-bolt, BUT ...

How the heck do you get the plastic "bung" out of the front bumper without damaging it or the bumper? Anyone had experience?

**Tideland Prius** · 04-06-2005, 09:42 PM

Tissue over screwdriver

04-06-2005, 05:33 PM	#1
jyoungprius Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Euless, TX Posts: 5 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	2 inch circle in front bumber Someone may have asked this already but I have not seen an answer here yet. Have you 2004-2005 Prius owners noticed the approximate 2 inch circle on the drivers side front bumper? Does anyone know what this is for? My salesman had no idea. I guess I could call the Service Dept...but I bet someone here on PriusChat has the right answer.

04-06-2005, 06:48 PM	#3
Charles Suitt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,622 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: 2 inch circle in front bumber Hi... Simple... this "plug" when removed gives access to the mounting base for the towing ring. You should find this ring in the tools area near your spare tire. The plug is removed and the ring screwed into its threaded base to provide a secure "eye" for tie-down or towing. CAUTION: The Prius should not be towed with its front wheels on the ground. Read the Manual on towing.

04-06-2005, 08:59 PM	#5
prius mdt Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Richmond VA Posts: 25 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: 2 inch circle in front bumber No - not for shipping - there are holes in the rockers in front of the rear wheels that accept a chain hook for shipping. Rubber plugs went in the holes before delivery to seal out weather / road gunk. They are indeed for a tow truck driver to hook a winch cable to and drag your Prius up onto his flatbed tow truck. The good news is ALL tow truck drivers are Prius trained. They know where the eye bolt is stowed inside your prius and know where to install the eye bolt in your front bumper. No offense to those drivers who do know this - just food for thought for you Prius owners before you leave a dead/stranded Prius on the side of the road for a tow truck to arrive later. Install the eyebolt yourself before the tow truck arrives. P.S. - I don't recall seeing a Prius "on the hook" yet? - NO one did get towed in...it was out of gas!!! __________________ Don - Toyota Master Diagnostic Technician

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04-06-2005, 05:42 PM	#2
xevious Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 187 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The answer lies buried in the bowels of the owner's manual... or, you can visit this thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/help-for-a-new...ner-vt7648.html

04-06-2005, 07:14 PM	#4
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,559 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	It was designed as a very fast way for toyota to ship their cars. Since it's tied solid into the frame, all they have to do is drive them up and clip them in. now the cars can't roll.... er.. that's what i heard from a dealer a while back... well.. a dealer that knew what he was talking about for the most part.

04-06-2005, 09:05 PM	#6
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,559 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	cool.. i learned something new... what do yo know.. the dealer was wrong :wink: i find that amusing

04-06-2005, 09:31 PM	#8
V8Cobrakid some guy... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,559 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	lol.. inevitable... very true.

04-06-2005, 09:39 PM	#9
Stocky Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 84 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Ok - I knew what the hole was for and all about the eye-bolt, BUT ... How the heck do you get the plastic "bung" out of the front bumper without damaging it or the bumper? Anyone had experience?

04-06-2005, 09:42 PM	#10
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,909 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Tissue over screwdriver