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

Ideal Mattress to fill the Cargo Area?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Mister Swigart, Mar 12, 2007.

  1. Mister Swigart

    Mister Swigart New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2007
    37
    0
    0
    My wife and I look forward to getting away for a month or so during the summer to travel. I broke my back many years ago, playing ice-hockey. I was lucky the spinal-chord was not severed, but I sure have trouble sitting, too long. So, even if I don't overnight in the Prius, I need to crawl up in the back (while my wife drives) to recline frequently during travels. My wife and I would be travelling with two mid-size dogs. So, I would like to fill the space from hatch to driver seat. They can move about back there on throw covers. Does anything exist for the Prius, yet. I would like it to be full width at the doors, narrow down to 36 inches between the wheels and out wide again at the back. It needs to be durable enough for dogs to use this back area during drives, and to even take a fair amount of cargo.

    Thanks. With your help and suggestions . . .

    The Lone Ranger
    Rides Again!
     
    #1 Mister Swigart, Mar 12, 2007
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I"m sure you will find it. I have to point out that someone (at least one person) slept in their Prius at the '06 Hybridfest.
     
    #2 TonyPSchaefer, Mar 12, 2007
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I think you could buy some memory foam or the eggcrate foam and just cut it to fit. I tried using a few blankets and a comforter and it's still a bit uncomfortable but I have spent many nights and between class snooze sessions in the hatch area. :lol:
     
    #3 F8L, Mar 13, 2007
  4. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

    Joined:
    May 3, 2005
    4,096
    81
    13
    Location:
    USA | Oregon | Portland area | 97004 |
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Mar 12 2007, 10:04 PM) [snapback]404638[/snapback]</div>
    I curiosity question: do you sleep with your head forward or under the hatch? Why?
     
    #4 Bill Merchant, Mar 13, 2007
  5. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2005
    10,339
    14
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I'd make a pattern with butcher paper.

    Then take it to a local upholstery outlet. (We have UFO locally here). They can cut foam to the pattern you make. You can decide on the thickness and the density. They can also glue pieces together if it doesn't come wide enough. If it isn't thick enough, have them do it twice then glue the layers together to make it thicker.

    It won't be cheap to do it this way but it will be custom and comfy.

    If your wife is handy with a needle (or a sewing machine) she can make a custom cover to fit it.
     
    #5 Godiva, Mar 13, 2007
  6. Mister Swigart

    Mister Swigart New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2007
    37
    0
    0
    Well, I think I have found the ideal solution. I've been on the Internet, trying to keep the price down, the product suitable, and the uses multiple. And, I sent off tonight for this mattress:

    http://www.allchildrensfurniture.com/asp/s....asp?sku=EL2211

    The first two of the four sections will lay flat and full size across the lowered back seats from door to door as far as where the wheel wells in the cargo area: approximately 54" wide and 36+" behind the front seats.

    The last two of the four sections will be opened and cut to 36-38" to run out the last few inches to the hatch. Once the foam is cut down to size, I will sew or stitch the cover tightly back up. Everything stays attached and can still be folded. I am not going to cut out the left and right flaps that could fit into the zones just forward of the rear lights, though I could.

    So, instead of looking like someone has a "mattress" in the back of their car, it will pretty much fill up the cargo area in a single rear surface. With a throw cover, my dogs will traipse over them. With a foot fitted sheet my wife and I will sleep occasionally when we need to. I can rest my broken back and be renewed for the driving and traveling I so enjoy.

    One nice thing is that the first two of the four sections can be flipped back to allow the back seats to be raised, when needed. The black should look pretty good with the red carpet I have running the full length of the cargo area and the existing gray and black of the rest of the interior.



    [attachmentid=6895]
     

    Attached Files:

    #6 Mister Swigart, Mar 16, 2007
  7. grasshopper

    grasshopper Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2006
    425
    2
    0
    Location:
    Myrtle Beach SC
    We will be expecting pictures and a complete critique. B)
     
    #7 grasshopper, Mar 16, 2007
  8. Bohous

    Bohous New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2006
    316
    1
    0
    Location:
    Boston-ish
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Well, I see that you have found what I was going to suggest. My wife and I have a tiny cottage up in Maine with a back breaking pull out sofa bed so we actually use 2 of those fold up mattresses you found there and they are not bad. I prefer them to the Aerobed we used to use. Customizing it might be a challenge though.

    Another option could be a closed cell camping mattress like the Ridge Rest. Certainly not as comfy but would take up far less space and could easily be cut down to fit your specs.
     
    #8 Bohous, Mar 16, 2007
  9. Presto

    Presto Has his homepage set to PC

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2005
    1,326
    24
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill Merchant @ Mar 12 2007, 10:53 PM) [snapback]404659[/snapback]</div>
    I like my head under the hatch since it makes a good skylight for those starry lit nights.
     
    #9 Presto, Mar 16, 2007
  10. oriley

    oriley New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2012
    1
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    One
     
    #10 oriley, Jul 27, 2012
  11. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,104
    4,518
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    It's not safe to lay down in the back of a car without your seatbelt protecting you somehow. I'm at a cafe right now sitting next to a good friend who is in a wheelchair for the rest of his life because he went to lay down in the back of a van right right before it was in a bad accident.

    Safer way is to move the passenger seat forward and get lots of blankets and pillows and configure a way you can partially lay down in the back seat while still be belted in. I've done it before. It's not super comfortable, but better than sitting upright.

    And when a GenII is not moving you can slide the passenger and driver seat all the way forward, remove the headrests and recline the seats all the way back flush with the back seat. Then if you replace the center console armwrest with a pillow you can just barely fit a full-size futon mattress or foam in the car, though the sides of the seats tend to make the mattress less than flat, which is why I'll be designing a mattress with slots in 'em to keep the sides of the seat from bulging up so the mattress really is perfectly flat.

    I'll post pictures once it's done.
     
    #11 PriusCamper, Jul 27, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)