Prado Altitude 2014 Bull Bar + Led Light Bar + leather advise

[Prado4X4_Man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prado4X4_Man]

Hi Prado Family

I got Prado Altitude 2014, its my first 4WD I am happy with it however I am not happy with the leather seats.

When I bought it after few days, my 5yrs old girl sitting at the back seat, she was wearing jeans with sequence on it, which caused scratches on the back seats.. I must say the leather used is low quality.

Toyota refused to repair under warranty, car was only a week old on that time. What should I do now should I repair ? any Idea about the cost ?

I usually drive Prado within city, we do go camping etc 3-4 times in a year. Currently I already have a nudge bar installed.

I need some advice is the Bull Bar is important or must ?


2- Led Light Bar

I am thinking to put on Led Light Bar on my Rihno Rack platform, ARB people suggested Night HAwak Led 24" inch bar ... Any recommendation on this

Which brand is better ? where to put on led light on the nudge bar or on the Rihno Rack platform?

[Guest Close Guest]

Not sure about leather repairs but you could fit canvas seat covers over the top.

Bullbars aren't necessary depending on where you travel. Avoid travelling at dawn or dusk although in some country areas, the wildlife are out even in daytime.

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

A bull bar depends on where you go. As much as someone might say just avoid dusk/ dawn - at some point you will have to drive then. Also, animals don't just lie dormant at every other time of the day.

Reference your leather - I got my GXL quoted as a full conversion to Luxury Leather (there is the OEM/cheap range, a Luxury range, and then the Nappa Range) for $3000 (for all 7 seats, all doors and the centre console - $1800 for OEM, $3300 for Nappa). That was from Doyles in Wollongong who have heaps of stores - but I am sure there are plenty of options around. So - that's a number for you to weigh up at least - a single rear bench may only be $700 fully re-done in OEM, but as you say - the OEM stuff is cheap and thin.

After my experience with after-market 'proper' leather, I'll always option a car with cloth seats if I can, so I can choose my own leather and colour to boot.

Decide whether or not you're going to have a bull bar before you decide on the light bar. I put one on a Platform rack and moved it quickly to the bull bar as it lit up the bonnet and bull bar too much.

[juz Member Find all posts View Profile Close juz]

Yep, amts is right. I nearly hit a 'roo today at 10am on the way to get my 110,000km service. Feels good to have a nice steel bar up front. Always felt a little vulnerable without one. Just depends when and where you drive. As far as light bars go, I would check out stedi, good quality at reasonable prices.

https://www.stedi.com.au

[Nova Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nova]

I'll add another vote for stedi. Good gear, not cheapest but not premium price either.

If you put the light bar on the roof, put it somewhere that it doesn't light up the bonnet. If you light up the bonnet you will get glare and lose distance visibility (even worse with a dirty/dusty windscreen). Mount it far enough back so the roof or platform will shade the front of the car.

Cheers, Nova

[Prado4X4_Man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prado4X4_Man]

This is my car :

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wIHou5tiooxqBY0x1

[Prado4X4_Man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prado4X4_Man]

Spoke with ARB, they recommend steel bull bar fitted around $2400 with night Hawk Lights 24.5 Inchs 43W $242

[Prado4X4_Man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prado4X4_Man]

Yep, amts is right. I nearly hit a 'roo today at 10am on the way to get my 110,000km service. Feels good to have a nice steel bar up front. Always felt a little vulnerable without one. Just depends when and where you drive. As far as light bars go, I would check out stedi, good quality at reasonable prices.

https://www.stedi.com.au

28 INCH 52 LED ST4K looks good , are these waterproof ? and better then bush ranger 24.5″ ?

[juz Member Find all posts View Profile Close juz]

28 INCH 52 LED ST4K looks good , are these waterproof ? and better then bush ranger 24.5″ ?

It does look good. Quote from Stedi : IP68 | Dust & Particle tight + Water-proof up to 3 meters – Drown it, we insist!

Better than Bush Ranger? Never used either light so can't comment.

I do have the stedi 41.5 inch single row bar on my roof rack and love it. Massive light output for such a thin single row bar.

[Prado4X4_Man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prado4X4_Man]

Is it easy to install ? how much does it cost to install ?

[juz Member Find all posts View Profile Close juz]

I mounted the light myself. Two holes in the ARB roof rack. I paid an auto electrician $100 to wire it up while he was installing my dual battery system. The wires run down the windscreen "flashing" into the engine bay.

[Prado4X4_Man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prado4X4_Man]

It does look good. Quote from Stedi : IP68 | Dust & Particle tight + Water-proof up to 3 meters – Drown it, we insist!

Better than Bush Ranger? Never used either light so can't comment.

I do have the stedi 41.5 inch single row bar on my roof rack and love it. Massive light output for such a thin single row bar.

Did you got ARB bull bar ? do you recommend one ?
As I live in Sydney, 90% drive in suburbia only 3-4 times do camping .. traveling to Canberra etc

[juz Member Find all posts View Profile Close juz]

Did you got ARB bull bar ? do you recommend one ?
As I live in Sydney, 90% drive in suburbia only 3-4 times do camping .. traveling to Canberra etc

Yes, its the ARB summit bar. Up to you whether you think you need one or not. Not always completely necessary. I live in an area that has lots of 'roos, wallabies, wombats and unfortunately plenty of deer now. I also travel a fair bit.
So for me it was a no brainer. Extra bonus is that I can mount my 9 inch spotties and UHF antenna on it.

[Prado4X4_Man Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Prado4X4_Man]

Yes, its the ARB summit bar. Up to you whether you think you need one or not. Not always completely necessary. I live in an area that has lots of 'roos, wallabies, wombats and unfortunately plenty of deer now. I also travel a fair bit.
So for me it was a no brainer. Extra bonus is that I can mount my 9 inch spotties and UHF antenna on it.

Yeah agreed, I don't travel alot into bush so may be its good for me not to put Bull Bar

But I will consider putting Spotties or LED bar and UHF antenna

ARB summit bar + Spotties and UHF antenna looks great

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

Unless you do a lot of country night travel, I wouldn’t get a bull bar. Installing a bull bar means you need to upgrade suspension too.... you will be up for $5k for the two. I’ve got a Lightforce LED light bar on OEM nudge bar. Installed the nudge bar myself. The Lightforce bar has more light than all the OEM lights together. Saved my money & bought a bar crusher