Full Size Spare Tire with Steel Wheel OK?

Wow, they really did not care about your situation at all--what a customer-be-damned brush off !
I am in same situation as you in planning trip to Alaska and back, for which a full-size spare was recommended by Priuschat folks.
When I have an OEM 2012 rim and full sized tire in there, it looks like I must remove or bend the floor of the plastic storage bin to be about 2-3 inches higher at the edge nearest the rear hatch--the front part appears to fit. Has anyone either adapted that storage bin so that it all fits or else constructed an entirely new bin to fit over a full size spare?

 

Thanks for info! Will replace donut for my upcoming 15000 check but go with full spare for safety's sake for Alaska trip.
Might go with your "binlless" approach, or May modify bin to fit as I really don't want any chance of blocking exit vent for HV battery cooling given link of overheating to failure. Still think dealer and corporate responses to you were unnecessarily hostile. Better would be to provide a simple alternate black plastic tub that would allow the full spare and that they would sell as $200 option for us folks who want full sized spares.(plus the sale of the new rim plus tire, etc)

 

Keep in mind the spare is -designed- to work with the crash mitigation system. It is also designed to NOT interfere with the battery cooling system and the battery, in use and in a crash. Replacing it with something else means YOU have done the re-engineering work. Are you qualified? Toyota have every reason to try to discourage you from replacing the spare with something else. No tests have been done so warranty has been voided. But crash results and battery overheating or interference issues only. Most warranty claims would not be impacted.

A simple way around this is to mount your full size spare on the hatch floor with the "D" rings and nylon straps supplied, leaving the original spare under the hatch floor. You then have two spares "just in case".

If you think I am over-stating the importance of this, have a look at the Prius C spare area. It's covered by a huge foam block for crash mitigation. Hatchback owners are lucky to have such a simple setup!

 

I'm planning a trip to Alaska with my 2007 Prius that has 220,000 already. Can anyone recommend anything I can do to ready my vehicle for the trip. I can think of a couple of things, a skid plate for the underbody, roof rack, full size spare. Any suggestions please.

 

Spare 12v battery, or fully charged jump pack?

Mini, folding shovel, survival blankets...

SCH-I535

 

Bear spray!!!!!!!

 

Assume you are going in summer, correct?
I have installed strips of 3M Clear Bra plastic polymer on nose for rock strikes and may do hood and sides before we leave for Alaska . Agree full size spare but also take Slime sealant with valve core removal tool and 12-volt air pump to fix minor punctures and keep tires inflated properly. Find best quality windshield washer fluid that helps with bug residue as Spider-man reports heavy bug strikes during Summer in Anchorage area. Recommend GPS with current Alaska and Canada maps--I have both the Toyota version and a TomTom mounted on passenger's side. I installed backup magnetic compass on dash but not sure how well it will work in Alaska. Also have installed an altimeter and would like to install a good clinometer , but most folks would probably not need/want such items. Have installed a Scangauge II ODB II reader to keep track of coolant temperature , etc and will program it to track HV battery temp if I can figure out how to do so.

I am considering a lightweight storage rack behind rear bumper as I think aerodynamic losses will be less than with a roof rack and I also don't like adding weight on top of a car---other PCers have installed small trailer hitches and have luggage trays that insert in those hitch receivers. I may carry a small 2 gallon gasoline can as insurance for long stretches and would mount that on the external tray.

Hope this helps!

PS: If you plan to camp in Denali you should go to web site and make your reservations NOW! I made ours in December when 2014 reservations opened and not sure what is left by now.

PPS: have you considered emergency survival gear?

 

Big Question - where in Alaska are you traveling too? Where you intend to go matters. And this relates to the abilities of the car. If you look at my sig. pic- that's a Twin Otter - preferred travel at the Arctic.

 

Agree, BUT make sure it is large and labeled specifically for use against bears!
No kidding, because Canadian Customs will confiscate any human-sized pepper-spray stuff that would be easier to carry; they consider it a concealed firearm . They may also put you on a permanent watch list where they will disassemble your car whenever you cross the border. Er, at least that's what happened to a "friend" of mine.

Forgot to include mud flaps on your car. I bought and installed the PriusChat mud flaps behind the front wheels and will either put the other pair on the rear wheels or maybe a fender skirt in back.

 

Will it fit or not?

 

Are you referring to steel rim? There's for sure a 15" Corolla steel rim that works. If that's what you're asking about I can post part no.