I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR INSTALL IF YOU FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND SOMETHING GOES WRONG. DONT PLAY WITH IT UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. IT IS A "HOW I DID IT" THREAD.
After trying a freinds shower on a camping trip it became a must have. A trip to the Wandin 4WD show secured the kit and it was time to install.
I have a 120 Series Prado and I have only seen one other install. I didnt like it for a few reasons but each to thier own. This is how I did it.
The biggest hassle with the install is finding a spot to mount the exchanger and the pump. I did a recon trip to the engine bay the night before to see where I could place them. Funnily enough after I chose where I'd put them, I discovered the other install online....and we both chose the same locations. I just mounted mine differently.
This first pic shows where the heat exchanger was placed. On top of the radiator shroud are two lugs with holes. I bolted a stainless steel plate onto them and then bolted the Exchanger to the plate. Two reasons...I felt the lugs may need to have the weight distributed a little more evenly than just on the lugs and it also gave extra strength to them.
The Kit came with a couple of hard spacers for the exchanger to sit on but I made a couple of rubber ones so it had more shock absorbing properties.
Mounting the pump was a little more tricky. My father who was helping me with this install suggested exhaust brackets. Bloody good idea!
I think I used C17 brackets in case someone else needs to buy them. Basically we drilled a hole in the middle of the bracket...put a bolt through that and then held it in place with a nut. The pump was then attached as you would attach a piece of exhaust. If you look closely enough you can see the bolt that we added to the bracket below the pump...It then was bolted on to the wheel well. By using another nut we were able to make it sit above the wire loom that is in the same spot on the wheel well. It is as solid as a rock...The pump sits above everything which may help it to stay cool as well I guess, I will try to get some better pics of that setup soon.
In the image below you can see the exchanger in the foreground and the pump in the background.
Once both those items are mounted it a very simple install to put in the hoses and electrical wires.
I wont talk much about them unless someone has a specific question.
Here is an image of the where I placed the hoses. On the back firewall I removed a hose that connected the inlet and outlet pipes and put my two hoses onto the respective inlet and outlet pipes. Basically doing the same thing but now through the exchanger.
I have circled the ones I used. Those hoses run off to the exchanger,
For the pump switch I wanted an easy access place to reach when you are getting in and out of the shower....seeing the shower rose hose connects to the exchanger at the front of the vehicle I figured at the front would be a good spot for the switch. I ended up mounting it on the plastic flange near the drivers side headlight.
Well thats pretty much the basics of it. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. I can take other pics if needed too.
I hope this may help anyone else trying to install a shower kit.
The kit I used was a pirahna kit. On close inspection of the unit its a McPauls Auto Shower Kit. The Pirahna guy I bought it from said they had bought a company and had improved the product so I guess they bought out McPauls.
After trying a freinds shower on a camping trip it became a must have. A trip to the Wandin 4WD show secured the kit and it was time to install.
I have a 120 Series Prado and I have only seen one other install. I didnt like it for a few reasons but each to thier own. This is how I did it.
The biggest hassle with the install is finding a spot to mount the exchanger and the pump. I did a recon trip to the engine bay the night before to see where I could place them. Funnily enough after I chose where I'd put them, I discovered the other install online....and we both chose the same locations. I just mounted mine differently.
This first pic shows where the heat exchanger was placed. On top of the radiator shroud are two lugs with holes. I bolted a stainless steel plate onto them and then bolted the Exchanger to the plate. Two reasons...I felt the lugs may need to have the weight distributed a little more evenly than just on the lugs and it also gave extra strength to them.
The Kit came with a couple of hard spacers for the exchanger to sit on but I made a couple of rubber ones so it had more shock absorbing properties.
Mounting the pump was a little more tricky. My father who was helping me with this install suggested exhaust brackets. Bloody good idea!
I think I used C17 brackets in case someone else needs to buy them. Basically we drilled a hole in the middle of the bracket...put a bolt through that and then held it in place with a nut. The pump was then attached as you would attach a piece of exhaust. If you look closely enough you can see the bolt that we added to the bracket below the pump...It then was bolted on to the wheel well. By using another nut we were able to make it sit above the wire loom that is in the same spot on the wheel well. It is as solid as a rock...The pump sits above everything which may help it to stay cool as well I guess, I will try to get some better pics of that setup soon.
In the image below you can see the exchanger in the foreground and the pump in the background.
Once both those items are mounted it a very simple install to put in the hoses and electrical wires.
I wont talk much about them unless someone has a specific question.
Here is an image of the where I placed the hoses. On the back firewall I removed a hose that connected the inlet and outlet pipes and put my two hoses onto the respective inlet and outlet pipes. Basically doing the same thing but now through the exchanger.
I have circled the ones I used. Those hoses run off to the exchanger,
For the pump switch I wanted an easy access place to reach when you are getting in and out of the shower....seeing the shower rose hose connects to the exchanger at the front of the vehicle I figured at the front would be a good spot for the switch. I ended up mounting it on the plastic flange near the drivers side headlight.
Well thats pretty much the basics of it. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. I can take other pics if needed too.
I hope this may help anyone else trying to install a shower kit.
The kit I used was a pirahna kit. On close inspection of the unit its a McPauls Auto Shower Kit. The Pirahna guy I bought it from said they had bought a company and had improved the product so I guess they bought out McPauls.
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