The problematic Tonneau (Curtain in UK) Gen 2 & Gen 3

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Christopher Lynch, Oct 25, 2018.

  1. Christopher Lynch

    Christopher Lynch Junior Member

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    Hi Prius owners/drivers,

    My job involves me accessing the Boot (yes I know, Trunk in US) frequently, and apart from the cursed water showering the Toneau after rain, or a car wash if you open the hatchback in a normal fashion, there's also the matter of the Tonneau slipping out of your grip etc.

    So, as a lot of you will be aware, may be Feedback/common sense finally got thru to the Toyota Factory and hey the Gen 4 has a neat, easy to grab handle right where you need it. However, no surprise, you can only buy this 2 piece plastic handle/grip as part of the entire Tonneau (@ huge expense).

    Recently, I was fortunate enough to have a Gen 4 on loan (impressive, especially performance and mpg) so it seemed natural to remove the Tonneau grip handle (3 small bolts) examine, note plastic mould no's check against Gen 3 Tonneau to see whether it could be fitted (yes, with minor mods).

    Knowing that here in the UK Toyota had already confirmed I had to purchase a complete Gen4 Tonneau in order to obtain this grip handle (£100's) so I wrote to Toyota Headquarters, Tokyo to beg for this much needed addition to my Gen3. They of course put the UK Toyota in touch with the original response, so nothing gained.

    Does anyone know whether there is a suitable grip/handle available as a mod to both the Gen 2 & Gen 3 Tonneau please.

    I've waded thru Amazon/ebay handles/grips, nothing suitable.

    May be I'll have to craft it from wood??

    Let me know?

    Regards

    CJL
     

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    #1 Christopher Lynch, Oct 25, 2018
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Interesting, never noticed that. Still, I would just "admire it from afar": to much hassle/expense to retrofit.

    As often as not I use two hands to pull the cover back, get it properly secured on the left and right side, and then a central handle doesn't work. I've used our cover quite a bit, and it doesn't show any wear-and-tear or soiling where I grip it.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Oct 25, 2018
  3. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    Thank you for the good information. I already knew that a boot is a trunk, but I had to look up tonneau. Ive been calling it a cargo cover all my life!
     
    #3 Pluggo, Oct 25, 2018
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Seems like there's lots of DIY options for this... Probably a thick strap bolted to the material with some really big washers to distribute the load so there's no tearing. Or more simply tie a cord to both sides of the Tonneau where it clips into place and just pull on the cord from now on...
     
    #4 PriusCamper, Oct 25, 2018
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    We like the USA Gen2 Tonneau cover and it must be well built as no probs after 12 years
     
    #5 wjtracy, Oct 25, 2018
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Maybe someone with a 3D printer can make one? They make the holders for the OCC's.
     
    #6 ASRDogman, Oct 25, 2018
  7. Christopher Lynch

    Christopher Lynch Junior Member

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    Many thanks ASRD, good idea.

    I did pursue that route a while back and the cost for 1 piece was WoW!!!!!

    Thanks anyway.

    I'll keep trawling Amazon, ebay + specialist 'handle makers' and see if I can strike lucky.


    Regards
     
    #7 Christopher Lynch, Oct 27, 2018
  8. Christopher Lynch

    Christopher Lynch Junior Member

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    Hi Pluggo,

    Yep and I originally called it a curtain in the boot, but US guys told me it's a Tonneau. The latter was what I would cover my old sports car hood with once collapsed/taken down, then you'd typically clip it on above the dash and there would be a zipper up the middle (you could un zip jump in and drive; cool man.
     
    #8 Christopher Lynch, Oct 27, 2018
  9. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    There is someone on Prius Chat that has a 3D printer. You can search OCC (oil catch can) and it should turn up.
    Or maybe someone else in the thread can point you in his direction.
     
    #9 ASRDogman, Oct 27, 2018
  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    #10 Raytheeagle, Oct 27, 2018
  11. Christopher Lynch

    Christopher Lynch Junior Member

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    Yep, thanks PC. As I say, I'm fairly sure that my best solution is to craft it from ash wood etc. Then set up a production line and sell 100's to all those Gen 2 and 3 Prius owners, particularly Uber drivers (nearly all seem to have a Prius).

    Thanks.

    Once again, many thanks ASRD.

    I'll pursue that route and let you guy's know if I strike lucky.

    Thank you.

    Regards


    CJL (UK)
     
    #11 Christopher Lynch, Oct 27, 2018
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  12. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    probably won't have too many customers... The Tonneau is the most common Prius item up for sale on craigslist... I took mine out on day one and have never looked back, never needed it once. If anything I'll use a blanket or towel so I can still use the smaller window on my hatchback for better visibility.

    All that aside, I'm constantly modifying cars, tools, workstations to make them run at optimum efficiency, which is what you're doing. And part of that success is not wasting much time getting it done.

    So if I were your in your situation here's my process...

    I'd spend less than 10 minutes on two hand sized blocks of scrap wood and sandwich them just behind the Tonneau handle and put a couple screws thru 'em and call it a prototype. Then after using it for a while I'd get a sense of what could be improved to make the grip not only easier to use, but too look nicer too. Once I had a perfect design idea I'd spend 1/2 hour shaping the wood blocks for the next handle and then maybe paint it and all told I will have only spent an hour on this total, because there's much more important things to be concerned about.
     
    #12 PriusCamper, Oct 27, 2018
  13. danlatu

    danlatu Senior Member

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    Race door pull handle. Will add hp, mpg and looks so sexy.
    Screen Shot 2018-10-31 at 5.58.00 PM.png
     
    #13 danlatu, Oct 31, 2018
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  14. Christopher Lynch

    Christopher Lynch Junior Member

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    Many thanks PC.
     
    #14 Christopher Lynch, Nov 1, 2018
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