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Sand duning to Offroading

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by SactoSandPrius, Sep 7, 2020.

  1. SactoSandPrius

    SactoSandPrius New Member

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    2014 Prius
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    Four
    A couple weeks ago, my daughter and I got stuck in the sand at the beach. I went a little too far in the sand with my Gen 3.

    I was able to reverse out and shake out of the sand. I said to myself, I would never get stuck again. So I started to doing research on how to not get stuck in the sand any longer.

    I plan to
    Make the following modifications:

    1. Upgrade tires to 225/75/15 Mud Terrain tires or larger
    2. Upgrade suspension to lift coil over kit from ceika
    3. Install Offroad Prius 33MM lift kit(Thanks for the feedback)
    4. Install Snorkel
    5. Install Spare Tire on hatch
    6. Install Roof rack for kayak and bike
    7. Install fender flares to accommodate MT
    If needed after lift kits

    Don’t mind the following:

    Error in speedo after change to larger tire
    Fuel economy loss due to modifications
    An error in the speedo could always be compensated by going faster....

    Go big or go home right?

    A bit of history:
    Second owner, purchased car with 25k miles. Currently have 88k miles. Daughter will drive after I lift the gen 3 to school if they ever get back to in/person classes. Lake is only 10 miles from the house. This will be weekend warrior to lakes most weekends when it’s not storming.
     

    Attached Files:

    Jesse Bechtold, RMB and Burna J like this.
  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    o_Oo_Oo_Oo_Oo_Oo_Oo_O
     
  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    MUCH easier to just NOT drive off the road, especially where there is SAND.
    :whistle:
     
    Majafamily and w84me like this.
  4. SnowMexicanuck

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    Base
    I'm rarely left speechless, but...
     
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Instead of buying all those add ons, you’ll be better off financially investing in a beater truck to do the 20 mile round trip.
     
  6. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    Lifted Prii seem to be a new thing especially in Japan. They do make a lift kit for it, so it’s not that strange.
     
  7. SactoSandPrius

    SactoSandPrius New Member

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    Where I live, they don’t have any additional
    Parking than in my garage. So the limitations of size preventing me from getting a truck.

    One
    Of my friends is selling 4x4 Chevy, and we put a tape measure to it....

    Space in garage max.196”...

    Chevy truck...220”, there goes that idea.
     
    RMB likes this.
  8. SactoSandPrius

    SactoSandPrius New Member

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    Celia just got back to me, and said they won’t be able to lift the rear... because of the shocks and spring are separate.

    But they could give a lift to the front, wondering how much to lift the front by?

    So I let them
    Know I wanted to squeeze a 225/75/15 wheel in there, and all I got were crickets.

    Guess back to the drawing board...
     
  9. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

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    I might or might not bother with a snorkel if I were you. On the one hand, the intake tube is a good 2 or 2 1/2 feet off the ground; if you're solely worried about water intake, that shouldn't be a concern unless you're planning on driving through several feet of standing water.

    On the other hand, one of the changes Toyota made in the 4th gen Prius was to route the intake tube to take in cooler, ambient air from in front of the radiator rather than the warmer air in the engine bay, to improve efficiency. For that reason, I cut up my front bumper cover this summer and ducted the air intake to ingest ambient air:
    [​IMG]
    Without the resonator and tube (so, taking in engine bay air from directly behind the radiator), intake air temperature was around 12-15 Fahrenheit degrees above ambient when outside temperature was 80 to 90+ degrees; with the resonator (taking in engine bay air from near the passenger headlight), IAT was around 10-12 Fahrenheit degrees above ambient in the same conditions. With the NACA duct, now IAT is between 4-8 Fahrenheit degrees above ambient. In the future I'm planning to try insulating the new tubing to see if IAT can be reduced even further.
     
  10. SactoSandPrius

    SactoSandPrius New Member

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    Like your air intake in the bumper. That’s one slick looking ride @Vmann455.

    Update on suspension upgrades:

    1. Ceika got back to me and said they can do Coilovers with a 80mm lift above stock for the fronts.
    2. Offroad Prius - 80mm for rear stock extensions
    3. Valley Spring works - custom rear spring 80mm above stock.

    On my way to getting a lifted Prius ready to get reshaped....and re-shoeeeeeeeddddddddd
     
  11. KennyGS

    KennyGS Senior Member

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    In for pics! I approve of 'getting high' in your Prius. (y)
     
  12. SactoSandPrius

    SactoSandPrius New Member

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    Just got confirmation that Ceika can make the Fromt coil overs and the rear shocks with a 80mm lift above stock.

    I am waiting for the valley spring works guys with a price for the rear springs. They said that they could make them no problem.

    I will post pics as soon as I start to receive the parts.
     
    KennyGS likes this.
  13. SactoSandPrius

    SactoSandPrius New Member

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    Got great deal on Lexus prucahing my Prius for $9k.

    Better to just start with a vehicle that was made for the sand.

    Sold it today... and will continue to follow you guys!

    Thanks!
     
  14. RMB

    RMB Senior Member

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    Is there a "Dislike" button? LOL :D

    Good luck with your next project! ;)
     
  15. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
    RMB likes this.
  16. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    RMB likes this.