Help!I lost my trunk cover!

They are often called "tonneau covers" Dealer would be the most expensive (but for this item, maybe the most convenient) place to get one. Maybe a Froogle or Google search would help you locate one.

 

I believe I've read other Priuschat posts about people who have no use for that cover and never use it.

I think the fair thing to do would be to check out what a dealer would charge, then negotiate a fee to buy it privately based upon what the dealer charges.

1/2 what a dealer would charge should be a good starting price.

These kinds of covers are custom made so to get one on google or froogle would not likely work, except to get a used one from someone who has no need for it.

Junk yards would be a source, but how many Prii could there be sitting mangled in a Junk yard? Maybe 5 nationwide? And probably 50% of those are mangled in the back with a destroyed cover.

 

These covers are NOT custom made, they are mass produced! . . . just like the Prius itself. My cover will fit in any other Prius slot, and any other Prius cover will fit in mine.

Salvage yards have now gone high tech and are on the internet!

Google “auto salvage yard†to get a list of online nationwide auto parts locators.

I have never used one, but the concept makes so much sense - Why call a single yard when you can go online and tell hundreds of yards nationwide what you are looking for.

The one I listed below says, “Unlike other Parts Locators who charge for the service, our service is FREE and open 24/7.â€

Do some research, I didn’t!!!!
You may also consider using a second, junk email address for this type of thing.

http://www.getusedparts.com/fpr_partrequest.asp

 

You also might try ebay. I was seeing cargo covers regularly for a while.

I suggest you do a search for just "Prius" in the title. There will be about two pages of stuff. Look through it all in case it's called a tonneau, cargo or trunk cover.

 

I had mine replaced under warranty because the screws kept falling out. The dealer price was well over $200 on the form. By the way, the replacement one is slightly different where the screws were falling out and I don't think that will be a problem anymore. I have had the car for about 19 months.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy\";p=\"104968)</div>

I meant custom made for the Prius line. A Toneau cover for a Prius will not fit on a SAAB.

And I thought my meaning was pretty obvious. Indeed, I suggested to the guy that he look for covers from other Prius owners that don't use thiers, or to junk yards.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KathyY\";p=\"105007)</div>

whoa! OK, then, I'll sell mine for $100, no problem...it's a gray one. ('05 purchased 12/04; 8000 miles).
rob

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy\";p=\"104968)</div>

This is a good point but not entirely necessary. I doubt very much if there even exists a junk yard in America anymore that simply looks into their own database of parts. When you call just about any one of them, they will immediately go to the interconnected national database, probably while you are on the phone.

Of course, SPE's way might be cheaper because you cut out the middle man, on the other hand, these nationally connected services also are a lot more hardnosed about arriving at a price. You may find a cover from a salvage yard only slightly cheaper than brand new from a dealer.

But I still think that with only about 150,000 of this generation Prius on the road, there are not going to be that many covers in junk yards. Compare that 150,000 to the multi million numbers for Camrys or Corollas.

I think the best way to get one is from someone on Priuschat that is willing to part with theirs. And I think 1/2 the price of what the dealer would charge would be a fair price for both of you. IMHO

 

[font=Comic Sans MS:6c51b0ad4c]Mine's grey, and I want to keep it, but, um... How did you lose your cargo cover?[/font:6c51b0ad4c]

 

For future reference....if you lift up the bottom of the cargo area, underneath there is a place to stow the cargo cover when not in use. I make it a point to do that if I ever put the seats down and need to remove the cargo cover. That way, no way to leave it behind or forget where I put it.

If you need it fast, you may end up paying full price from a dealer. If you're patient and willing to wait....I'd keep checking eBay.

 

:roll: It NEVER fails to puzzle me why many Prius owners simply WILL NOT read the Manual. In my Manual on pages 198 - 199 instructions are provided on the use and storage of the luggage cover.

Admittedly, the Manual is not easy to read, but there is a wealth of information on the enjoyment and care of your Prius.

In all fairness, this owner was victim of taking someone else's assurance that the luggage cover was replaced in the Prius.

 

A good friend of mine has a shirt that says,
REAL MEN DON'T READ INSTRUCTIONS.

Doesn't apply to Ms Wheeler though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mswhealer\";p=\"105697)</div>

Actually, I've done the same thing as you. I've been both in the position of not being able to get the bottom cover open enough to "store" the cover and needing the cover off for such a short time that I didn't bother to "store" it. So I can see how this happened.

I do think you will find a cover either thru Priuschat or ebay. You could also go on Froogle, as SPE suggested in an earlier post. You might find some kind of generic cover that will do the job, though not as well as one customized to the Prius.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mswhealer\";p=\"105697)</div>

HA, you got me. What do they say about the word "assume".