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an example of Prius cargo capacity

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Much More Better, Feb 13, 2011.

  1. Much More Better

    Much More Better Active Member

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    I was at HD today picking up some lumber. Here's what I took home with ease:

    8 pcs of 2"x4" 8ft length
    2 pcs of 3/4" MDF: 2ft x 6ft
    1 pcs of 3/4" MDF: 2ft x 4ft

    Sadly, the front passenger seat does not fold flat with the rear seatbacks folded forward. In order to carry lumber without damaging the car fabric, it is necessary to make supports. You can see in the photos where I've done so. Without them, the 2x4s would angle upwards towards the front, rub the seat where the headrests go, and slide around. The supports allow more horizontal placement and lumber stacks much more better.

    You can get fancier with support design to limit lateral sliding + bungee cords or ratchet straps. Stack 24 pcs of 2x4x8 and strap it all together!!
    You can carry 10ft lengths of 2x4 but it has to sit on the dash which I'm not willing to scuff up.

    Just think......you can't do this with pickup trucks with less than 8ft bed and keep the wood out of the rain.
     

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  2. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    Cool, thanks for sharing. What are you building?
     
  3. SuperchargedMR2

    SuperchargedMR2 Diehard Rams Fan

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    Good info although I love having my Previa for HD runs. ;)
     
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    A gen II can get one 10 foot 2 by 4 in, 8 foot lumber will fit straight down the middle and clear the dash. (although if you slam on the brakes it opens the clear glove box)

    and of course, mine spends much of it's time carrying networking gear.
    [​IMG]
    17 foot ladder, four 8 gallon tubs of PC parts, three laundry bags of network cables, 4 book bags of non-networking cables, 1000 foot of bulk cable and room for 3 humans.

    (Had it been available in 2009, I was a candidate for a Prius v, if I could have fit a 22 foot ladder in) http://www.wernerladder.com/newprods/mt.php
     
  5. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    Sorry for thread jacking, but Jimbo thats allot of stuff! Thanks for the pic., your avatar is the side view to this rear view correct? Always wondered what else was is in the car. Any idea of the estimated weight of everything and how's your MPG's loaded vs. unloaded?
     
  6. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Yes that is the same day, side view. What I need varies day by day but I need it all.
    PC parts are not that heavy, (400 pounds?) Loads of potting soil feel MUCH more back heavy. I get 40 MPG in winter, 47 MPG in spring and fall, and 42 MPG in summer. Mostly due to heating and A/C, (I am not native to Mississippi) and 35 years of bad driving habits, which I am very slowly losing. I very rarely drive with it unloaded, I only unload it to carry all my in-laws, so it is not any lighter.
     
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  7. Michgal007

    Michgal007 Senior Member

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    Thanks for sharing. In 2009, I moved 250 miles with ALL my belongings packed in the Prius.
     
  8. Much More Better

    Much More Better Active Member

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    I'm building a work bench for the garage. It's about time I organized that place.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    well done everyone! prius is my favorite hauling vehicle for both home depot and lowes. i only take the pickup if i'm building an addition.:eek:
     
  10. Thai

    Thai Prius Neophyte

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    Can't do that in a CT200h! :D
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    brought home a 12' piece of baseboard molding last night, had to stick it out the window.:(
     
  12. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Great! :)
    I wish we could do that with sheetrock or plywood!! :(
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that wood be sweet. i hate tieing a 4 x 8 sheet on the roof.
     
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    That's one thing I missed from the old Gen 2 Prius - flatter folding front seats. In the Gen 2, you could recline the front seat backwards such that you have a "lounge" mode where you sit in the backseat with your legs over the front seatback. It also works with the rear seatbacks folded.
     
  15. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

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    I have used the Prius twice now to make smaller deliveries, to avoid having to use my wife's Tacoma 21 MPG or our Chevy 3500 hi-cube van 12 MPG. As long as it fits in the cargo liner and the hatch closes it goes.

    IMG_1004.jpg
    delivery one Mustard Cabbage and a couple of Squash
    IMG_1099.jpg
    Delivery two 140 lbs. of Lemon Grass Banana boxes 30 lbs. each, Papaya box 20 lbs. Removed tonneau cover and folded rear seats down, had to Tetris the boxes in to get the hatch closed. 140 lbs. might not be allot of weight but you might only use a couple of ounces of Lemon Grass usually to cook with. Total weight with boxes about 156 lbs.
    IMG_0338.jpg
    My other delivery vehicle 2003 Chevrolet Express G3500 Hi-Cube Van 12 MPG in traffic even less!
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  17. Spcalan1

    Spcalan1 New Member

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    But can it haul a 9,000 pound tandem dual axl trailer?
    just kidding..
     
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  18. DumbMike

    DumbMike Active Member

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    If you stick it out the window, it will actually handle a 16' piece of baseboard (without red flags), with the back door closed. You just have to tie down the baseboard to the front end of the car.

    Mike
     
  19. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    I've got one a bit heavier and probably a bit geekier for networking gear... 45 Cisco Catalyst 3750 48-port POE switches. Moving from a provisioning area to another part of a warehouse during a recent built-out I worked on.

    [​IMG]

    The rear of the car was down to the shock bump stops due to the weight. ;)
     

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  20. tomlouie

    tomlouie Member

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    So, how much combined bandwidth were you hauling in that photo? 3terabits/sec?