Eco off-road on a budget? Or destroying a Prius, you decide.

[California98Civic]

You have nickel-metal-hydride in the traction battery as well as an AGM lead acid battery, right?. Given lithium's reputation for fire, I would not try to charge it in the Prius system. Maybe a DC-DC charger like this one? https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Batter.../dp/B07Q4SVX3M

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Given lithium's reputation for fire, I would not try to charge it in the Prius system.

Don't think failure, think offroad Prius with an afterburner.

[bobo333]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

You have nickel-metal-hydride in the traction battery as well as an AGM lead acid battery, right?. Given lithium's reputation for fire, I would not try to charge it in the Prius system. Maybe a DC-DC charger like this one? https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Batter.../dp/B07Q4SVX3M

Yeah thats it, someone is currently developing a lithium replacement for the NiMH traction battery that is a straight swap but uses new management and allows higher capacity, faster charging and less weight, hopefully it comes onto the market before my factory battery dies (i wont replace it until it does)

The 12v system im struggling to find information on, im assuming its just a constant 14.xv dc power supply rather than a proper AGM charger which means any of the off the shelf lithium 12v replacements for cars will work.

Lithium polymer batteries that are used for these purposes are a lot more stable than the lithium ion batteries that were catching fire in phones, the energy density is not as good though hence needing ion for small electronics where space is an issue.

[bobo333]

Preparing to return home from my interstate trip to my partners house I discovered that the Prius fits an unbelievable amount of stuff in it.


Unfortunately that also means a lot of weight, and the suspension sagged quite a lot causing the rear tyres to hit a small bit of the inner guards where the plastic liners used to attach, nothing an angle grinder and hammer cant fix.


There is still a slight rub on big bumps when the suspension compresses but the lift kit should fix that (if it ever arrives) and I don't plan on packing the car this tightly on a regular basis.

I also fitted the spare tyre holder that I made for my Subaru for the trip. Once I returned home I modified it to fit the Prius better as I don't need to lean the tyre back to clear the hatch and I would like to add a jerry can and/or toolbox for a jack/shovel/recovery gear etc


I decided to go for a simple flat platform this time, that way i can strap whatever i like on instead of being restricted to just a wheel, it keeps bulky items nicely within the wake instead of on the roof or elsewhere ruining aero.


I still need to get some steel mesh for the top, and some eye bolts for around the edges to strap things to, then paint.


This road trip with the new big wheels, and excessive weight netted 6.95L/100km with about 80% highway and 20% city, a saving of $40 over the Subaru for the same trip. I was also having some trouble with the fuel system for most of the trip, with the engine struggling to get fuel at high load (steep hills, overtaking etc). A bottle of injector cleaner and a fresh tank of premium fuel seems to have fixed it but I'm not sure on the mileage penalty. I'm still waiting on my OBD2 adapter to check the new codes after getting them reset at Toyota once.

[Piotrsko]

Did by any chance you get to weigh the load?

I like the leaning tire, looks like a kammback frame to me.

[freebeard]

Do you have any gray paint left over?

I'd want to at least paint the driver's door jamb.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by bobo333

What about that camo van? Mitsubishi L300? BTW the cat looks almost the same size of my Mini Foxie

I decided to go for a simple flat platform this time, that way i can strap whatever i like on instead of being restricted to just a wheel, it keeps bulky items nicely within the wake instead of on the roof or elsewhere ruining aero.

Maybe you could try to make a Kammback which would also provide some weather protection for the loads attached to the platform.

[bobo333]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Do you have any gray paint left over?

I'd want to at least paint the driver's door jamb.

At least 2/3rd of the can are left, I want to do all the jambs eventually but the main priority was the exterior.

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

What about that camo van? Mitsubishi L300? BTW the cat looks almost the same size of my Mini Foxie

Maybe you could try to make a Kammback which would also provide some weather protection for the loads attached to the platform.

The L300 is my partners pop top, she is slowly doing it up to live in, I have a matching one in maroon without a pop top that is getting a ground up rebuild, (#OscarVanWild and #fernthevan on Instagram) I'm working on the possibility of a Prius drivetrain swap once I learn more about this car.

Did by any chance you get to weigh the load?

I like the leaning tire, looks like a kammback frame to me.
05-23-2020 08:27 PM

A kamm back/partial boat tail is definitely on the cards built off the rear carrier.

I didn't get a chance to weigh the load but there were a lot of tools and scrap metal and wood so it wasn't light.

This brings me pretty much up to date with the current progress on the car, so updates will be a little slower from now on.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by bobo333

I'm working on the possibility of a Prius drivetrain swap once I learn more about this car.

Considering the Prius C has roughly the same width of this generation of the L300, which by the way had some clearly underpowered engine options back in the day, it doesn't seem to be a bad idea at all. On a sidenote, since the stock RWD layout has some clearance issues which prevent the floor to sit lower, it wouldn't be so hard to find space for a larger-capacity battery pack and to place it closer to the center of the wheelbase in order to better balance the weight bias.

[bobo333]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Considering the Prius C has roughly the same width of this generation of the L300, which by the way had some clearly underpowered engine options back in the day, it doesn't seem to be a bad idea at all. On a sidenote, since the stock RWD layout has some clearance issues which prevent the floor to sit lower, it wouldn't be so hard to find space for a larger-capacity battery pack and to place it closer to the center of the wheelbase in order to better balance the weight bias.

Mine currently has a 2.6L efi motor from a TR magna in it so I don't expect to have any issues fitting the Prius system, the hardest part will be adapting the output of the CVT into the input of the L300 transfer case to retain low range and 4x4

I could easily fit 4x Prius batteries in the space under the rear floor and keep my 120L long range fuel tank (I doubt 4x Prius batteries would be a wise investment these days however)