Prado 150 with lift too high for carpark

[wifecallsmegrumpy Member Find all posts View Profile Close wifecallsmegrumpy]

So the story goes I have wanted a 2 inch lift for some time, Zordo's sorted me out and I fitted it myself. Success, although a ratcheting spanner is a must for the top nut. Anyway the car height is 1965mm, and highest at the rear, not a problem for my home garage, but instantly I have noticed the number of car parks that have height restrictions.

I drove into my work car park and.. CLANG hit the warning sign that swings on a chain. *#$*%# Oh bother I said. I thought it was a glancing blow and still drove into the carpark and survived but absolutely crawled around. The work carpark is rated at 1930mm max so they must allow some tolerance, or I was just lucky.

Looking around for other car parks in Perth I notice it's not uncommon to have a 1900-1950mm height limit. What does everyone else do ? I am guessing they find a street park when they have to or use public transport/ second car ? Perth has a lot of four wheelers with racks and baskets, no way these are making it into the underground carparks.

I think the roof rails will be going to increase my clearance and the survivability of my car when the wife takes it.

[Black 150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black 150]

I don't go into any carparks with less than 2100mm clearance

[feltham Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close feltham]

Ditto. Usually other parking around with a short walk. Often quicker than trying to find a park in the restricted areas as so many people trying to find space, park, leave, etc.
Just as easy to stay away from them.
Michael

[Hobes Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobes]

I was lucky Previous Owner installed old mobile Antenna that is about 10 mm taller than car height I watch that when rolling around car height is 1960 ish at rear (highest) but can lower somewhat with Grande suspension, never had a issue yet.

[iDestiny Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close iDestiny]

With the roof tray/awning I am at 2.1... But I usually slide under 2.1m marked car parks with about 10 mm to spare.

The home garage gives me about 10-15 mm clearance as well. But ironically I have grazed the door-frame at the top several time. As it happens, there is a little "bump" at the interface between my driveway and garage concrete. Drive in too fast, and the 'rebound' on that bump is enough to bridge the 10 mm gap.

So, if you barely make it under the 'warning sign' in car parks, be mindful of those 'bumps'... Especially speed bumps in parking structures that may have been put in after the height restriction sign!

[wifecallsmegrumpy Member Find all posts View Profile Close wifecallsmegrumpy]

Spot on ! I crept over the speed bumps. I removed the roof rails and it's under the limit again, so problem solved.

[gympiebrowns Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gympiebrowns]

hey i have the arb rack and 50mm lift so same as you with carparks, i got our UHF Antennae is 50mm longer than the overall height of our prado, so just tell the wife (and remind me) if the antennae hits a low overhead to back out, easy

[peter_mcc Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peter_mcc]

Like Hobes I keep my UHF antenna fitted for this reason - it's a little taller than car so it a good warning. The height bars seem somewhat unreliable - I've hit ones that I shouldn't have (given their quoted height) and missed ones I should have hit. At least with the antenna on I get a short warning before I would hit something inside the carpark.

[CamJam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CamJam]

Similar to others - I've got a white tape mark on my CB antennae that indicates exactly what height the rear is on the level with a quarter tank of fuel. That way I know if it's going to hurt or if I need to reverse. Those signs are usually at the low-points too - so the edges or where low plumbing is installed. Don't trust them fully though - I have a 1.95m carpark sign I hit at a local Hotel and a 1.95m one I clear at the local supermarket.

[cbm8880 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cbm8880]

Just write to the building manager and see if they can raise the roof a little for us all ;-)

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

Buy a little Hyundai for the car park. Leave the Prado for the bush, unless you're one of those Westfield Stalkers?

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

Buy a little Hyundai for the car park. Leave the Prado for the bush, unless you're one of those Westfield Stalkers?

It what I do, run around in the Suzuki Swift as my commuter car, ride around in wife's car when we head out and bring the Prado out for "special events".