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A new thread (pradogxlv6 said it was OK) to summarize everything and to make sure all new comers know what’s happening – perhaps such a long thread before may have put them off.
For some history – see viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2383&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
And for those who have come in late…
I am organizing some recovery points for the Prado. This is instead of saying between $90-$120 for a ‘commercial’ set available from some 4WD stores (when you can find them). I'm not sure of the final price (see text in italics below) but is likely to be $50 + postage. The recovery points I am getting made are based on a design by LenGXV6 – pictures can be seen below. The main thing is that they have 3 securing points instead of the normal 2. I think these will be much stronger.
These will be cut via a computer guided plasma or laser (so the finish will be great) out of 12mm steel. There are plenty of instructions on this forum and others how to fit these but I’ll add more showing the 3rd bolt installation. Actually I don’t think there are many photographs showing the easier method of fitting that just swings the radiator out of the road (meaning you don’t need a ’90 degree’ drill fitting). I’ll post pictures showing this later. For those who are a bit hesitant fitting their own – it’s really simple.
I’ll need an answer in a couple of days about who wants a set. I am very willing to send you the plans so you can make your own or just check the size.
At the moment I have the following wanting a set
3 friends of mine that are not PradoPointers (I don’t know why)
FlyingBushPig (Melbourne)
OldGreyGuy (Brisbane)
LeighW (Melbourne)
09PradoGXL (Perth)
WizudOfOz (Adelaide) (new since 21:36hrs)
Possible
Golly (Perth)
It seems that some people can't see this properly
Here is a photo of the plan
And a mockup in 10mm chipboard
Show a 3.75t shackle
See the room between the existing tie down brackets
Shows the top (3rd) bolt hole and the second hole for an alternative attachment spot
Shows the existing hole, Also shows that removing the wheel will make drilling the hole easy
The next text is really a copy of what was put on the other thread…. (viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2383&start=120)
Update and final call.
Well now I have a completion date to work to – a fellow Prado owner at my office who has been helping with drafting is going on holidays in 2 weeks. I need to have the recovery points done by then.
I have done a few modifications from LenGXV6’s fantastic design. I have decided that I’m only going to build the 3 hole ‘long’ version recovery point (as per the design below). I have simplified the shape and moved the shackle hole out and downwards a bit. I had thought the original place for the hole was just a little tight for the shackle around the Prado’s tie down points.
The third bolt hole up on the chassis I thought was a bit tight – a slight difference in the drilling of the hole or a different spot for the existing hole on the chassis could see the bolt not fitting. So I have moved it a little. Now this is one of the things of slight concern. The original design called for the bolt at the top going through an existing quite large hole in one side of the chassis – and needing the other side of the chassis to be drilled. Now if the outside hole (the existing one) was quite loose, would this bolt really be taking much of the strain in a snatching situation? I think that because the hole on the other side of the chassis was snug and the whole recovery point being compressed onto the chassis then, while it wouldn’t be a good as 2 snug fitting bolts boles on both sides of the chassis, it would still be a huge improvement to the traditional recovery points that are only held on by 2 points. Some alternatives could be:
1. Weld a say 4mm plate over the large existing hole onto the chassis and drill though this (but would this welding potentially weaken the chassis?)
2. Have another hole drilled in the recovery point say 30mm away from the originally planned hole and then drill the chassis on both sides and fit the recovery point (again would this weaken the chassis?)
I’m not sure what I do – but I plan to get the laser/plasma cutter to drill another hole at the top to provide me some flexibility.
By the way – I figure the best way to drill either hole would be to remove the wheel. That would make it really easy.
A couple of other things with the design… The width of the steel at the bottom is really overkill for a normal recovery point. However I did this for a couple of reasons:
• One of the people that is getting a set is going to weld a bracket to the bottom so he can bolt a tow ball on the front so he can push a very lightweight boat trailer around (he hasn’t got a bull bar). The width of steel at the base should make this quite strong.
• I don’t think a bit more steel hurts - probably another half a kilo in weight – and there’s flexibility to do other things in the future.
So….I plan to order these early this week. Because the design is a little different than before I’m not sure of the exact cost. I’m betting a maximum of $45 per set (perhaps $35). I’ll also get a quote on the backing plate (for behind the chassis on the top hole) – originally I thought I would cut/drill this myself but for probably $5 extra – why stuff around?
Based on the weight of steel they will cost about $20-$25 to post to the Eastern States (Sydney/Brisbane). If the actual weight will mean that adding bolts will take it to the next price bracket, then perhaps you can source them yourselves. Those in Perth can either pick up from me or wait ‘till the next PradoPoint Tech Day.
I’m actually travelling all over the Eastern States between August and December this year – perhaps I can deliver in person – but the cost in this situation will be to show me some lesser known, spectacular place that my wife and I can go in the Prado.
Also note in the design below, all the corners are rounded and the shackle hole is also rounded. The finished product will not be painted – I’ll leave that up to others.
So – Final cost
Main recovery points - $45 (or less)
Bolts (2 x high tensile, one metric mild steel + 2 nyloc nuts) – I guessing but $10?
Backing plate - $5
Postage - $25
Now this may be a bit expensive for those on the wrong side of Australia. I certainly don’t mind providing the plans in DWG and DXF format so you can organize your own or a couple of you in the same city get together and organize.
Please reply by say Wednesday.
For some history – see viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2383&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
And for those who have come in late…
I am organizing some recovery points for the Prado. This is instead of saying between $90-$120 for a ‘commercial’ set available from some 4WD stores (when you can find them). I'm not sure of the final price (see text in italics below) but is likely to be $50 + postage. The recovery points I am getting made are based on a design by LenGXV6 – pictures can be seen below. The main thing is that they have 3 securing points instead of the normal 2. I think these will be much stronger.
These will be cut via a computer guided plasma or laser (so the finish will be great) out of 12mm steel. There are plenty of instructions on this forum and others how to fit these but I’ll add more showing the 3rd bolt installation. Actually I don’t think there are many photographs showing the easier method of fitting that just swings the radiator out of the road (meaning you don’t need a ’90 degree’ drill fitting). I’ll post pictures showing this later. For those who are a bit hesitant fitting their own – it’s really simple.
I’ll need an answer in a couple of days about who wants a set. I am very willing to send you the plans so you can make your own or just check the size.
At the moment I have the following wanting a set
3 friends of mine that are not PradoPointers (I don’t know why)
FlyingBushPig (Melbourne)
OldGreyGuy (Brisbane)
LeighW (Melbourne)
09PradoGXL (Perth)
WizudOfOz (Adelaide) (new since 21:36hrs)
Possible
Golly (Perth)
It seems that some people can't see this properly
Here is a photo of the plan
And a mockup in 10mm chipboard
Show a 3.75t shackle
See the room between the existing tie down brackets
Shows the top (3rd) bolt hole and the second hole for an alternative attachment spot
Shows the existing hole, Also shows that removing the wheel will make drilling the hole easy
The next text is really a copy of what was put on the other thread…. (viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2383&start=120)
Update and final call.
Well now I have a completion date to work to – a fellow Prado owner at my office who has been helping with drafting is going on holidays in 2 weeks. I need to have the recovery points done by then.
I have done a few modifications from LenGXV6’s fantastic design. I have decided that I’m only going to build the 3 hole ‘long’ version recovery point (as per the design below). I have simplified the shape and moved the shackle hole out and downwards a bit. I had thought the original place for the hole was just a little tight for the shackle around the Prado’s tie down points.
The third bolt hole up on the chassis I thought was a bit tight – a slight difference in the drilling of the hole or a different spot for the existing hole on the chassis could see the bolt not fitting. So I have moved it a little. Now this is one of the things of slight concern. The original design called for the bolt at the top going through an existing quite large hole in one side of the chassis – and needing the other side of the chassis to be drilled. Now if the outside hole (the existing one) was quite loose, would this bolt really be taking much of the strain in a snatching situation? I think that because the hole on the other side of the chassis was snug and the whole recovery point being compressed onto the chassis then, while it wouldn’t be a good as 2 snug fitting bolts boles on both sides of the chassis, it would still be a huge improvement to the traditional recovery points that are only held on by 2 points. Some alternatives could be:
1. Weld a say 4mm plate over the large existing hole onto the chassis and drill though this (but would this welding potentially weaken the chassis?)
2. Have another hole drilled in the recovery point say 30mm away from the originally planned hole and then drill the chassis on both sides and fit the recovery point (again would this weaken the chassis?)
I’m not sure what I do – but I plan to get the laser/plasma cutter to drill another hole at the top to provide me some flexibility.
By the way – I figure the best way to drill either hole would be to remove the wheel. That would make it really easy.
A couple of other things with the design… The width of the steel at the bottom is really overkill for a normal recovery point. However I did this for a couple of reasons:
• One of the people that is getting a set is going to weld a bracket to the bottom so he can bolt a tow ball on the front so he can push a very lightweight boat trailer around (he hasn’t got a bull bar). The width of steel at the base should make this quite strong.
• I don’t think a bit more steel hurts - probably another half a kilo in weight – and there’s flexibility to do other things in the future.
So….I plan to order these early this week. Because the design is a little different than before I’m not sure of the exact cost. I’m betting a maximum of $45 per set (perhaps $35). I’ll also get a quote on the backing plate (for behind the chassis on the top hole) – originally I thought I would cut/drill this myself but for probably $5 extra – why stuff around?
Based on the weight of steel they will cost about $20-$25 to post to the Eastern States (Sydney/Brisbane). If the actual weight will mean that adding bolts will take it to the next price bracket, then perhaps you can source them yourselves. Those in Perth can either pick up from me or wait ‘till the next PradoPoint Tech Day.
I’m actually travelling all over the Eastern States between August and December this year – perhaps I can deliver in person – but the cost in this situation will be to show me some lesser known, spectacular place that my wife and I can go in the Prado.
Also note in the design below, all the corners are rounded and the shackle hole is also rounded. The finished product will not be painted – I’ll leave that up to others.
So – Final cost
Main recovery points - $45 (or less)
Bolts (2 x high tensile, one metric mild steel + 2 nyloc nuts) – I guessing but $10?
Backing plate - $5
Postage - $25
Now this may be a bit expensive for those on the wrong side of Australia. I certainly don’t mind providing the plans in DWG and DXF format so you can organize your own or a couple of you in the same city get together and organize.
Please reply by say Wednesday.
Looking forward to painting them some bright 
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