Protecting the Prius's rear bumper from gouging

I'm about to transport a compact refrigerator-freezer a considerable distance. I'll be using our new Prius in lieu of our Avalon for two reasons: the trip will cost less, and the 4' x 2' x 2' crate fits entirely inside the Prius. And of course the Avalon would be embarrassed to be seen balancing a common appliance on its roof-rack.

This project started me thinking about the jeopardy of the painted plastic rear bumper when loading and unloading cargo through the liftgate. Toyota and at least one independent supplier sell a thin plasic applique' to partially mask the most vulnerable upper surface of the bumper, but that would offer no meaningful protection against a gouging.

I've devised (I think I'm the first, but someone will correct me if not) a simple expedient for offering nearly impregnable protection for the bumper. The joy of the scheme is that it costs *nothing*. I like that part. I offer the idea for any who might benefit from it.

Having bought the Prius from dealer's stock, I had to accept the pricy extras already installed. Among these was a set of Prius-branded, rubber-backed, cut-pile mats that are tailored to fit over the factory carpeting. I grumbled, but they turn out to be pivotal in protecting the bumper.

Here's the key. The storage area behind the back seats would be approximately rectangular, except for the matching pair of cavities extending outward behind the rear wheelwells. The fitted pricy mat has "ears" that match those cavities.

So here's what you do to protect your rear bumper while loading and unloading.

  1. Empty the storage area.
  2. Reach into the storage area and grasp the pricy mat at its forward edge. That's the edge immediately behind the fold-down back seats.
  3. Pull that edge up and all the way toward you as stand behind the car. This flips the mat over, front to back. Now the cut pile is down and the rubber backing is up.
  4. With the mat thus inverted, slide it such that the mat's "ears" once again occupy the floor of the two cavities.

That's it. The inverted pricy mat is held firmly in place by the ears in the cavities and by the considerable friction between the factory-installed carpeting and the cut pile of the pricy mat. The part of the mat that normally would be immediately behind the fold-down seats now hangs face-down over the rear bumper.

When you've loaded the cargo, just fold the protective part of the mat upward and close the liftgate. It will still be firmly in place for you when you unload.

Brent

Reply to
Brent Secombe
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That should work just fine. Other possibilities might be a scrap piece of carpet, a few layers of corrugated cardboard or a furniture moving pad.

Chuck

Reply to
Chuck Olson

Id also wash the car first or you'll still get a million little scratches. Oh, and excessive pressure on the skin will still craze the paint.

Good idea though.

Reply to
Coyoteboy

You're right, and the warning is well given. Thank you

Brent

Reply to
Brent Secombe

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