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

[Yippeekyaa]

Just a suggestion from my own experiences towing with a Prius. 100k miles plus so far on two different prius all over the continental USA. Air bags in the rear leaf springs! They helped lift the rear up to level things out due to the small camper and the added weight of camping gear. They also have the option of a small on board air compressor which could come in handy for many uses. Worked great on the air mattress.

Edit: this was the system i installed.
https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index...AaAun3EALw_wcB

[bobo333]

Originally Posted by Yippeekyaa

Just a suggestion from my own experiences towing with a Prius. 100k miles plus so far on two different prius all over the continental USA. Air bags in the rear leaf springs! They helped lift the rear up to level things out due to the small camper and the added weight of camping gear. They also have the option of a small on board air compressor which could come in handy for many uses. Worked great on the air mattress.

Edit: this was the system i installed.
https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index...AaAun3EALw_wcB

Prii don't have leaf springs, I'm assuming you're talking about the coil springs on the gen3 and above?

I have a full computer controlled air suspension system on my other car and it's 100% the best modification I've ever done, the comfort, adjustability and load capacity are second to none and the handling is great too!

Unfortunately the system cost twice as much as the whole car so I can't really justify doing it again any time soon, I have been tossing up slowly fitting a much less automated system to the Prius, starting with the rear struts and a basic compressor, then upgrading to a tank, valves and front struts later on but I havnt been able to find the specs on the height range and load capacity of Gen2 Prius struts. They're mostly used for lowering the car right to the ground for style points.

[Yippeekyaa]

Yes, the air bags fit inside the coil springs. From deflated to inflated i gain almost 3 inches of lift at 60 psi. The entire system cost me less than 150$ us. Biggest advantage was no longer getting flashed at because oncoming traffic thought i had high beams on due to the rear sag. Plus it just drove better.

[bobo333]

Originally Posted by Yippeekyaa

Yes, the air bags fit inside the coil springs. From deflated to inflated i gain almost 3 inches of lift at 60 psi. The entire system cost me less than 150$ us. Biggest advantage was no longer getting flashed at because oncoming traffic thought i had high beams on due to the rear sag. Plus it just drove better.

Unfortunately I cant do that with the gen2 prius as the rear shock absorbers are inside the coil springs rather than next to it like gen3+. Instead i need to replace the whole struck with an airstrut which is much more than $150 and has no coil spring to hold the car up when the bags are deflated.

[ssullivan]

Bummer on not being able to fit bags. You got the grinder out so you are halfway to fitting those tires. Some strut spacers may be the other half (How happy you want to get with the grinder/hammer ). I like tall skinny tires both for off-roading and mpg. Should have enough torque to be plenty driveable.The notable increase in comfort is due to the taller sidewall (xxx/70Rxx). I'm planning to get /80 on mine with strut spacers and R bags for the exact same reasons you are. 165/80/15 vs 205/55/16 looks to be about 2lb weight reduction per corner (assuming new Al 4.5" rims).

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by bobo333

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 was actually considering fitting the Prius C engine and its HSD system on the transverse position and keeping it FWD. Well, maybe you would consider the setup fitted to some Toyota and Lexus SUVs with an electric-driven rear axle, or if you would want to keep the transfer case of the L300 maybe what you should be looking at is the setup fitted to rear-wheel drive Lexus and JDM Toyota sedans such as the Crown. AFAIK there are some provisions which render it quite easier to import an used JDM car if it's hybrid, so maybe you could find a good deal even if you're willing to get it just as a donor vehicle and scrap the rest of the car.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by bobo333

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

Woohoo!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03vLhpPKAgE

[Galane]

Originally Posted by bobo333

At first glance it looks like you have a wide diagonal section masked off to paint a different color. I think that'd look nice.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Galane

At first glance it looks like you have a wide diagonal section masked off to paint a different color.

I have no clue if it's legal to retain the standard taxi color in a former taxi in Australia.

[hayden55]

If you really care just measure spring sag loaded right now, find the rear oem spring rate, ID, OD, and free length... Do the math for the stiffer rate for desired sag and go buy some hyperco springs and slap them on. I feel the Prius needs stiffening up anyways and you can cure your Carolina squat problems simultaneously.