craigm’s 2004 Black 120 V6 Grande

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

If you dont mind me asking, where did you buy your magnet from? I think this is a great idea and want to do the same setup as was planning on hardwiring one in but this is much better

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

If you dont mind me asking, where did you buy your magnet from? I think this is a great idea and want to do the same setup as was planning on hardwiring one in but this is much better

Here's the link from where I purchased the Magnetic base from http://store.imsolution.com.au/index...roducts_id=149

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

We have a black wolf 240 plus tent and now pack it up with the fly on, which saves heaps of time on set up, but is a little tricky getting back in the bag.

Thanks for the tip Smithy. Might try that next time.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Thanks for the tip Smithy. Might try that next time.

It's a bit like wrestling an alligator to get it back in the bag, and I use a couple of extra cam buckle straps to hold the air out as well... Good luck!

[prado2004 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado2004]

Here's the link from where I purchased the Magnetic base from http://store.imsolution.com.au/index...roducts_id=149

Thanks man!

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

120W Solar Panel

Picked up this 120W Mono Folding Solar Panel with MPPT for $170 delivered from ebay. I couldnt justify spending $500 + for a panel that I will probably only use a few times a year. When Gumboot gave me the link to this I thought it would be an absolute piece of junk delivered in a plain piece of cardboard with Chinese writing only on it. Wrong! The packaging was fine with all relevant info




Solar Panel is OK. Obviously not the highest quality panel on the planet but it does the job. And comes with a decent padded carry bag to keep it protected while transporting



Cheapest unit I've seen with an MPPT controller (albeit not the highest quality unit but it does the job) . Cables looks like 2.5mm²) with alligator clips. I'll cut these off and put a anderson plug on the end of it to use it for direct connection to a battery and replace the cable out of the controller with 6mm² to another anderson plug allowing me to plug into an outlet in the back of the Prado. The dodgiest part of the panel are the legs which are just 2 pieces of ali tubing that pivot out. I'll need to do something about that.



So this little unit ticks all the boxes on my short little list. If your'e after a Solar Panel on a budget, it's work a look. Here's the ebay link (gone up a few bucks since...) http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120W-FOLD...item53ed7b333f

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Pioneer Platform

Installed my Rhino Pioneer Platform tonight. You need to drill 4 x 8mm holes as per the instructions that are nice and clear. I already had Sportz Bars with the SXB roof rail mounts so I didn't need to purchase the SXB mounts. The platform comes with new Sportz style Rails which fit just inside the edge of the platform and the platform is secured with four 6mm channel nuts to the new rails.
(hint) You need to fit the rear fixings first because you cant get any fixings such as channel nuts, washers etc, past the platform fixing bolts once they're in. (no biggie to undo and remove them though)

Here's a quick pic, sorry about the quality (or lack thereof) I'll take a better one in the morning...

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Hi Craig..loving the look of your rig, those rims against a black finish and AJ120's metal sidesteps look the duck's nuts. I have to say those rims look better on a black car than any other I could imagine....sorry tiny. I've not been through all your build up pages yet but I've always had a strong attachment as our rigs our a similar vintage and spec and your a helpful guy. Just a quick question is the pioneer platform the 44103B as from the pic I can't quite see if you've left those wretched N/S rails on! Curious as I may get one in the future! Certainly looks better than that black mesh basket remember from a few years back. Again fantastic work Craig.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Macaroon why are the NS rails wretched?

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Thanks Charles. The platform to suit the 120/150 is the 44102B. The 44103B is too wide (1376mm compared to 1236mm wide). Yes I have left the N/S rails on. The platform only ends up approx 15mm higher than the Sportz bars that are mounted on the N/S roof Bars. I'll need to have a look tomorrow how to fit up my awning as previously I had the awning bracket set to line up with the Sportz bars and I would just slide the channel nuts in with the bolts on them sitting loose. This would only take 2 minutes to fit up. I used to use 2 fixings per roof rack (total of 4 fixings) to secure the awning but is not long enough to allow this on the platform. I may get a longer bracket to get across two planks of the platform yet...

[Guest Close Guest]

Very nice write up Craig.

Regarding the awning brackets, I got some custom made. It is wider for more strength and has 3 mounting point for each bracket. And fixing the bracket to one plank is plenty. See here.
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post392952

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Thanks Andrew. I'll have a closer look tomorrow...

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

Good work Craig, another Grande build for me to keep an eye on

[Guest Close Guest]

Good work Craig, another Grande build for me to keep an eye on

V6 Grande owners unite. Waiting for your build thread

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Perhaps we need a whole new section for the elite
( OK, pulling my head out of my ar$e now...)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk