Prius as a Recreational Vehicle, Part 2: inexpensive floor mat/sleeping cushion

Edmu · Aug 12, 2017

Robert Holt said: ↑

After you have the 4 plastic egg crates and 17" x 48" piece of 3/16th inch plywood prepared for extending the floor so that you can sleep in the back of a Prius, you might want to consider a closed-cell foam pad for more comfort. Start by purchasing two sets of "Anti-Fatigue Foam Floor Mats" from Harbor Freight (on sale in August for $10 each set). Each set has 4 roughly 2' x 2' squares that have interlocking edges. Put the first set together and then lay the original Prius carpet floor mat over them, aligning the edge of the carpet toward the rear seat back with the top interlocking edge. Using the carpet floor mat as a pattern, trace around it with chalk or white soap to mark the outline. That step is represented in the attached picture. Using a utility knife, cut around the outline and you have a foam mat that almost perfectly fits the cargo area when the rear seat is raised. (If you stop here you will have a nice cargo area foam mat for $10.)
To make the forward section of foam mat for the Prius Recreational Vehicle, install the cargo area mat, then remove the rear seat headrests and lower the rear seat until it is flat. Move front seats all the way forward and install the 2 stacked egg crates in each of the foot wells between the rear seat and front seats. Install the 17" x 48" sheet of plywood flat on the egg crates just behind the front seats and ahead of the edge of the rear seat back. Assemble the second set of four interlocking foam mats. Carefully measure the distance from the forward edge of the cargo area mat to the front seat backs and cut the assembled mat to fit that space. Preserve the notched back edge of the mat so that the forward piece will interlock with the cargo area mat when installed and form one large contiguous piece of foam mat for sleeping. Happy camping! View attachment 55802
Click to expand...

Robert Holt said: ↑

After you have the 4 plastic egg crates and 17" x 48" piece of 3/16th inch plywood prepared for extending the floor so that you can sleep in the back of a Prius, you might want to consider a closed-cell foam pad for more comfort. Start by purchasing two sets of "Anti-Fatigue Foam Floor Mats" from Harbor Freight (on sale in August for $10 each set). Each set has 4 roughly 2' x 2' squares that have interlocking edges. Put the first set together and then lay the original Prius carpet floor mat over them, aligning the edge of the carpet toward the rear seat back with the top interlocking edge. Using the carpet floor mat as a pattern, trace around it with chalk or white soap to mark the outline. That step is represented in the attached picture. Using a utility knife, cut around the outline and you have a foam mat that almost perfectly fits the cargo area when the rear seat is raised. (If you stop here you will have a nice cargo area foam mat for $10.)
To make the forward section of foam mat for the Prius Recreational Vehicle, install the cargo area mat, then remove the rear seat headrests and lower the rear seat until it is flat. Move front seats all the way forward and install the 2 stacked egg crates in each of the foot wells between the rear seat and front seats. Install the 17" x 48" sheet of plywood flat on the egg crates just behind the front seats and ahead of the edge of the rear seat back. Assemble the second set of four interlocking foam mats. Carefully measure the distance from the forward edge of the cargo area mat to the front seat backs and cut the assembled mat to fit that space. Preserve the notched back edge of the mat so that the forward piece will interlock with the cargo area mat when installed and form one large contiguous piece of foam mat for sleeping. Happy camping! View attachment 55802
Click to expand...

Got the set of 8 "Anti-Fatigue Foam Floor Mats" from Costco at $11.95. Each set has 4 roughly 2' x 2' squares that have interlocking edges.

Prius as a Recreational Vehicle, Part 2: inexpensive floor mat/sleeping cushion

Edmu Junior Member

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Prius as a Recreational Vehicle, Part 2: inexpensive floor mat/sleeping cushion

Edmu Junior Member