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

Motel Prius Anyone ?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Ray66, Mar 26, 2012.

  1. Ray66

    Ray66 New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2010
    153
    6
    0
    Location:
    Miami, FLORIDA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hello Everyone:

    I know this topic was beat to death before, however, since it's been a while I thought I would start a new Thread about the large space of the Prius and the ability to sleep or nap in the back. Here's what I did. 1. Removed headrests. 2. Dremeled off those baby hooks, and purchased a foam bed topper from Bed Bath & Beyond. Today, I cut the foam out and so it fits in the back.

    However the underside is still hard, so I might buy another Topper.

    Suggestions? Or a waste of time?

    Thx. :)
     
  2. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2005
    15,232
    1,562
    0
    Location:
    off into the sunset
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I'd suggest you look into camping equipment to see what you can find. A high density closed-cell foam like Evazote, or a self-inflating pad like ThermaRest, would work nicely. They also have the advantage of being easy to store in the vehicle when not in use.
     
  3. Ray66

    Ray66 New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2010
    153
    6
    0
    Location:
    Miami, FLORIDA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks.

    I'm 5'10'. With the passenger seat all the way forward, and passenger seat lumbar and upper back of the seat pushed all the forward, I lay my head in back near hatch handle and my feet stick out over the laid down back seat, feet resting near the back of passenger seat. I understand one can lower the back of passenger seat to level with rear seat, the add the estra support to make it level .... but I cannot locate a support like this. Also, stowing the foam topper not easy.

    Suggestions?
     
  4. Ray66

    Ray66 New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2010
    153
    6
    0
    Location:
    Miami, FLORIDA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks in Advance.
     
  5. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2008
    772
    95
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I've driven from Michigan to Las Vegas, San Fran & Oklahoma City in my Prius. I may be strange, but when I'm driving long distances across the country I only drive in 3 hour bursts followed by a meal/potty break or a 2 hour nap in the drivers seat, then its back to driving, I find a regular size bedroom pillow way down on the seat makes the nap bearable. I'm not sure why but I don't sleep for long periods when driving so why spend the money on a motel??

    OKC is 1000 miles from my house, US government pays me $0.48/mile each way last time, that's $960 round trip, that was almost 5 years ago, next time they'll pay me even more, I think the current rate $0.56/mile. Compared with flying where the government pays for the flight only. Our Per Diem is $70/day, the FAA has arranged housing with many apts complexes in town that give ultra short term leases on apts with rates cheaper than a motel. The per diem is enough to cover the apartment and a rental car only, so I'm making money on the drive there, on a daily basis, and the drive home by taking my Prius. We don't have Sonics in Michigan, so I've got them all stored on my GPS, I swear they've got one every block down there!!

    Back to topic, what's wrong with a quick nap in the driver's seat? I've read hundreds of complaints on priuschat about the gen II seats but I've always found them comfortable. I owned a gen III tech.pkg for a while but had to get rid of it because of the stupid interior. Everyone says the seats were way improved but i didn't notice anything. My dream car would have the powertrain and body panels of a gen III, the dash, center console & steering wheel of a gen II, and the retro cool plaid seats from a VW GTI.
     
  6. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
  7. Randyneely

    Randyneely Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2012
    23
    1
    0
    Location:
    chico
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    With all the $ save driving a Prius, I stay at nice hotels....lol
     
  8. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,347
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
  9. ski.dive

    ski.dive Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2008
    863
    223
    0
    Location:
    Hutchinson Island,FL. Mt. Snow,VT
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    EL CHEPO: PRIUS MOTEL NO WAY!!!

    SPEND $40.00 & stay at any BEST WESTERN!!!:rockon:

    S&*t,shower,shave,& sleep in comfort
     
  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    ...just saw the camper mod pic a few weeks ago. I was not sure if anyone had posted here yet on PriusChat.
     
  11. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2005
    19,604
    8,036
    54
    Location:
    Montana & Nashville, TN
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    IV
  12. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    "Flat" is relative. Sounds like the passenger seat will get in your way. I snooze in it set all the way back but if you have the room I'd recommend an air mattress. Last I heard the IRS mileage rate was $0.505 or $0.51 per mile. We seem to use both at the office. Either way, it is tough to not turn a profit when driving a Prius on business.

    BTW, with the rear seats folded down the front seat does not recline all the way back (at least where I have it set).
     
  13. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2005
    15,232
    1,562
    0
    Location:
    off into the sunset
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    No, I can imagine it's pretty bulky. The camping 'foamies' are specifically designed to be light and compact. I can fit four or five of them in the trunk under the floor.
     
  14. Magnus

    Magnus Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    23
    6
    0
    Location:
    West Coast
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I so want one of these! It looks weird, but strangely functional. You could keep all of your camping stuff up on top and sleep in the bottom. I wonder what kind of gas mileage it gets. It would be great for someone alone; a little tight for 2 people, but it could work!
     
  15. CookieGuru

    CookieGuru Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2012
    104
    20
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    You've been snoozing for quite some time; it's now 55.5¢.
     
  16. maestro8

    maestro8 Nouveau Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    471
    109
    0
    Location:
    nor cal
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
  17. justjeff

    justjeff Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2011
    55
    2
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Back before I was a "believer" I used to tease my girlfriend about having a prius. Then we went camping. And I teased her more because she followed me in my Dodge crew cab to the camp site.......we set up camp and eventually went to bed. Then the rain came. We got wet from something touching the side of the tent. So we took cover in my Ram. After about an hour, if that, she said "screw this" because it was about as uncomfortable as sleeping on a bed of nails. She jumped out and grabbed the air mattress out of the tent, opened the hatch on the prius, knocked the rear seats down, moved the front seats forward and threw the air mattress in the back. Then she jumped in and closed the hatch...I personally was amused. But then she said, are you coming in here or what....I figured it would be like a car full of clowns at the circus. But we ended up sleeping the rest of the long weekend in the back of the prius....comfortably and on an air mattress. I still can't believe it. And we are both 5'10"....So I would say give that a try.
     
  18. kirbykirb

    kirbykirb New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2012
    15
    2
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That camper is pretty cool :)
     
  19. jacknyc

    jacknyc Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2012
    9
    5
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Think I will ... what is her number? :rockon:
     
  20. tedjohnson

    tedjohnson Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2010
    347
    72
    0
    Location:
    Greenfield MA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I too have rigged it up as a camper, with back seats down, and front passenger seat way forward and folded toward the windshield . Then I put a collapsable curtain rod across the hatch opening , stuck a piece of mosquito netting over it and held it in place with magnets in the hatch close trough, with head on pillows against the back of the passenger seat and a foam pad - very comfortable and cool. If it rains just close the hatch. It all still works, makes a nice camper