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Loading "Heavy" Stuff on Top of Batteries in Trunk on 2002?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Linda L, Apr 13, 2008.

  1. Linda L

    Linda L Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2008
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    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Hi all -

    I've had my 2002 Prius for about six weeks now, and am still in love with it.

    So much so, that we are strongly considering getting a tent for our annual camping trip to Tennessee this year, instead of taking the gas guzzling one ton pickup with 2500 pound camper sitting on it. It's hard to justify taking a vehicle that gets 10 mpg vs. one that easily gets 45+ mpg.

    I seem to remember reading a thread, back when I was still looking for my Prius, that warned about a problem with putting heavier items on top of the row of batteries in the trunk. But I don't remember if that was just a problem with the 2001, or with all generation I Prius.

    Can anyone help me out? I've tried searching, but I must not be using the right criteria.

    Linda
     
    #1 Linda L, Apr 13, 2008
  2. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Location:
    Bahstahn
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
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    N/A
    Anything that's likely to poke against the metal battery box
    isn't a good idea. Here's what I did to mitigate it in my '04,
    when I sometimes carry roadcases [whose wheels like to try to
    dive down into the cracks in the carpeting] or heavy/sharp junk
    of one sort or another. If I remember right the battery box
    in the Classic is set up a little higher in the trunk so it
    would be difficult to put heavy things on top of it, but shoving
    something pointy forward against it can't be good either. The
    steel battery box is reasonably sturdy but it's only sheet
    metal, so sufficient force could bend it inward. Putting in
    some extra layer to spread the load helps a lot.
    .
    _H*
     
    #2 hobbit, Apr 13, 2008
  3. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Location:
    Kunming Yunnan China
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    No problem with bricks there, for example.

    The thing you don't want to do is block the air inlets on the rear shelf. They look sort of like two smaller speakers. They must remain open for HV battery ventilation.
     
    #3 tochatihu, Apr 13, 2008
  4. jammin012

    jammin012 The man behind The Man

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    how about a 1990 firebird 305? Thinking of putting some kind of support in the spare tire area.

    I have to return it to it's home in Reno.

    Not worried about the hills, or mountains, but just the weight.
     
    #4 jammin012, Apr 14, 2008
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