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

Protecting the front valance from parking curbs?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Johnny Cakes, Oct 18, 2021.

  1. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    998
    756
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    The parking spots in the garage at work are very short and so I need to get as close to the concrete parking stop as possible. Even then, the car sticks out a bit. My current strategy is to go very very slow until I hear contact with the valance and then back off an inch. Obviously that is not ideal.

    I can not hang anything from the ceiling or make any other alternations to the lot. The lot is huge and I am in a different spot each day. So I'm not looking for environmental solutions. Likewise I'm not looking for "learn how close you can get" because I want to be basically right up on it, not several inches away.

    I am pretty good with tools and can do some jerry rig fabrication. Any creative ideas for what could be done?
     
    #1 Johnny Cakes, Oct 18, 2021
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Reverse into the stall, there's lots of clearance in the back. Depending on the distance of the curb to the wall, you might even be able to get your car further into the stall, because there's more overhang in the rear than the front.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #2 xliderider, Oct 18, 2021
    jerrymildred likes this.
  3. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,099
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I was going to say the same thing. And the bonus is that it'll be safer when you leave thanks to better visibility pulling out than backing out.
     
    #3 jerrymildred, Oct 18, 2021
    xliderider likes this.
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,636
    38,196
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Or mount some "feelers" on the front fairing; the catfish look.

    upload_2021-10-18_17-10-7.png

    That first black/plastic piece IS too low, for sure. And kinda "barbed", as in: you can roll that front piece up AND over the concrete wheel stop, and then it snags fearsome when you back out.

    For extra fun: sometimes the rebar "nails" in them protrude an inch or three.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Oct 18, 2021
    jerrymildred and burrito like this.
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Lol, I was going to mention the curb feelers, but I think you have to be of a certain age to know what they are.

    Nice picture you found.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #5 xliderider, Oct 18, 2021
    Raytheeagle and Mendel Leisk like this.
  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,476
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    The Sheriff in the Cars movies had curb feelers :):

    upload_2021-10-18_19-26-42.jpeg

    So even the youngen's know what they are(y).
     
    #6 Raytheeagle, Oct 18, 2021
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2019
    409
    331
    0
    Location:
    Sanford NC
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two

    But those are on the wrong side of the car.........
     
    #7 bettergolf, Oct 18, 2021
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,848
    3,102
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I just searched "curb feelers" on Amazon, they're still available.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #8 xliderider, Oct 18, 2021
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,636
    38,196
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    One thing, those feelers tend to snag stuff, anything blowing around on the road. You need to keep an eye on them.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Oct 19, 2021
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)