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prado4x4 · 22-02-2006, 04:22 PM

Hi there,

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the factory bar is alloy, and not suitable for a winch. Better off getting an after-market (ARB/TJM, etc) steel winch compatible bar.

Check that the towbar is a standard recce hitch compatible type. I've seen factory fitted so-called recce hitch bars on 100 series cruisers, that do not accept the standard 50mm square receivers, the opening is smaller and only accepts toyota supplied receivers ($$$). Looks the same, but not the same/standard size.

Skip the hard wheel cover, as you'll probably end up putting on tyres with a larger diameter than the standard highway tyres anyway (All-terain or mud tyres). The hard cover won't go over your new ones. A regular flexible vinyl cover would be better if you really need something.

On that note: make sure you budget for a suspension and tyre upgrade. These won't be dealer fitted options. Some of the most usefull upgrades you can make. As you plan on a winch, I'm assuming you plan on going to some interesting offroad locations, so tyres at least will be a necesity. The tyres fitted on delivery are strictly highway tyres, not offroad tyres.

Again, I'm not 100% certain, but I believe the toyota sat nav uses proprietry toyota software, and is therefore difficult and expensive to update with new maps, etc. The maps only cover major metro cities anyway. Better off with a GPS and your favourite maping software like oziexplorer running on a notebook or a PDA.

Anyhow, just some of my opionions. Feel free to ignore them all.

John

lc120_man · 22-02-2006, 05:23 PM

Re: New Prado

Originally posted by epaul

G'day all,

I am just about to start with the car dealers for the brand new Prado. I was trauling the net, researching when I came across this site and knew that i had to pick some brains here.

I'd like to know if there is any advice you guys could share. I was surprised to read about a new version on the way, now i am wondering if maybe i should hold off. Anyway, as things currently stand my desired specs are:-

GXL, 3L TD, Man.
Plus
*Bullbar and winch
*towbar
*plastics
*mats (carpet front, rubber back)
*Park assist : say what you will, I like this idea

)
*Wheel cover ?

A few questions that I am currently looking for answers on -
- Does anybody have experience with the factory bar, the ARB version looks much better with more ground clearance.
- What about Toyota's Sat Nav, is this really worth th 4.5k when you can pick up decent portables for $500
-Anything else that comes to mind.

Anyway thats my story and thanks in advance for any bodys 2.2cents (gst inc)

Cheers

If the rumors about new diesel prado confirmed to be true, expect to lose
a few $K of the price when a new model comes out.

Test drive the Auto version as well, a lot of people who wanted manual
bought an Auto model after test-driving it....

Standard toyota bar is mainly for looks IMHO, you can get them cheap off
ebay from around $200+...

If you put ARB bullbar and winch you will have to change suspension otherwise your car will be nose diving all the time...

Got standard toyota bar, no problems with towing camper trailer...

Sat Nav is waste of money with costly software upgrades... You can
get Navman/Tom Tom or something similar for under $1K and you could
use it for offroad as well.

Get the dealer to change the tyres before delivery...

Carpets mats are only for looks, no good for sand/mud, etc... You can get rubber matts for front row, second row, and the rear....

Park assist will annoy hell out of ya if you want to reverse with something
in the tow as it cannot be switched off by default... Personally I would go
for aftermarket system with rear view camera....

As said above wheel cover wont feet with larger tyres on the car...

and I would budget around $1700 for the suspension after bullbar and winch goes on....

Matt · 22-02-2006, 05:29 PM

Originally posted by prado4x4

H The tyres fitted on delivery are strictly highway tyres, not offroad tyres.

i wouldn't go so far as to say they are strictly highway tyres.. i have had the grandtreks on extended gravel travel, in mud, and on sand.. the only thing that has dissapointed me was the performace on steep loose hill climbs..

so unless you are going to do a big trip in the outback, and just plan to go off road on occasion, then the stock tyres are fine.

Guest · 23-02-2006, 11:06 AM

Thanks for information all.

Checked out eBay, some interesting bargains to be had there, including, as mentioned near new bars for ~$200 and new complete towbar fitting for ~$60 genuine vinyl wheel covers ~$10. Have to look more at this.

Comments on sat nav stuff has confirmed what i pretty much thought and any further thoughts of that are gone..good after market is the choice

Deffinate rubber mats for the centre, rear (hmm kids) but carpet at front for general driving (feels better and ya feet dont slip around) but certain get some rubber for the mud times though.

I like the idea of the ARB bar and winch but I know I that I don�t want to commit to a suspension upgrade straight away (it was hard enough convincing the wife that the bar and winch was a good idea just in case). If this is the case may have to settle for the factory bar and winch. (I know they use a 9000lb warn winch)

Didn�t know the dealer offered tyre choices, but I would not get new ones just because, and again there is the female factor

My only reason for manual is the better fuel economy, if going auto I would go with the VX model that has the electronic assists. Anyone know if there is much real world fuel difference between the 2

My biggest concern now is the possibility of a new diesel. It would annoy the crap out of me to know that if I had of waited I could have had a new generation engine. Anyone know any more on this?

prado4x4 · 23-02-2006, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by Matt

I wouldn't go so far as to say they are strictly highway tyres.. I have had the grandtreks on extended gravel travel, in mud, and on sand.. the only thing that has dissapointed me was the performace on steep loose hill climbs. So unless you are going to do a big trip in the outback, and just plan to go off road on occasion, then the stock tyres are fine.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Everybody has different opinions. That why forums are so good. We can give our opinions, and leave it up to the individuals asking the question to make up thier own mind.

Some further info on tyres....

The Grandtrek's don't have the tougher sidewall construction of a Light Truck (LT) type tyre carcass - which is what nearly all All-Terrain etc tyres have. Way too easy to tear the sidewall on a stake with the grandtreks. Now that may just be the conditions I'm used to in WA (ball-bearing gravel, tree root stakes in ruts, etc)

Going by the requirement for a winch, I'm assuming that the areas planned to be travelled will not be to the shopping centre and back. A good quality all-terrain tyre would be a lot better option. Very little difference with on-road handling, and a lot better offroad. If they can be fitted as a dealer option, unlikelt to be too much difference in cost either.

Guest · 23-02-2006, 02:05 PM

If there a dealer option, I'm in. I will have to suss that out at bargaining time, but it makes sense

Matt · 23-02-2006, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by prado4x4

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Everybody has different opinions. That why forums are so good. We can give our opinions, and leave it up to the individuals asking the question to make up thier own mind.

Some further info on tyres....

The Grandtrek's don't have the tougher sidewall construction of a Light Truck (LT) type tyre carcass - which is what nearly all All-Terrain etc tyres have. Way too easy to tear the sidewall on a stake with the grandtreks. Now that may just be the conditions I'm used to in WA (ball-bearing gravel, tree root stakes in ruts, etc)

Going by the requirement for a winch, I'm assuming that the areas planned to be travelled will not be to the shopping centre and back. A good quality all-terrain tyre would be a lot better option. Very little difference with on-road handling, and a lot better offroad. If they can be fitted as a dealer option, unlikelt to be too much difference in cost either.

the new AT20's and AT2 Grandtreks are very different to the ones that you used to get on the 90 series.. with the original i totally agree, they were prone to staking, and were poor in nearly every off road environment..

prado4x4 · 24-02-2006, 12:01 PM

The new AT20's and AT2 Grandtreks are very different to the ones that you used to get on the 90 series.. with the original i totally agree, they were prone to staking, and were poor in nearly every off road environment..

I wasn't aware of that Matt. It's good to know. (See forums are good for getting information).

John

jakam04 · 24-02-2006, 08:57 PM

As mentioned in another thread on this site. I have recently got a new bullbar on my 120 V6 prado. I used to have a Toyota genuine Soveriegn bar which was bent out of shape by a minor traffic incident. I now have a TJM T15 steel bar that is winch capable and also offers a sturdy amount of protection incase my wife feels the need to meet other people throughminor contact with their cars.

I have found that since the BUllbar was put on, I have felt only minor differences to the handling and in my opinion I think its for the better. I find it feels more sure footed now with a little more weight on the front.

I would recommend a T15 steel bullbar to anyone.

Jarrod

Drew · 25-02-2006, 12:08 AM

Tyres

On the subject of tyres, I took my new Prado straight to the tyre place after delivery and they gave me over $1000 for the stock tyres, this went a long way towards a new set of Coopers, which I love.

It's up to your local tyre dealer whether he'll do this or not, and you need to take them straight to the dealer, don't drive for a couple of days and then decide to trade them in, they need to be able to pass the tyres off as brand new (which they are) and this will be difficult if they've got 100s of kilometres on them.

As for the new diesel, I read that the new D4D powered Prado is due late this year. I couldn't wait until then and I couldn't resist the 179kW, 5 speed auto that uses only 13.4l/100km (ADR). It's hard to argue against the petrol engine when performance, fuel costs and servicing costs are considered. Just my $0.02. 8)

Best of luck with your purchase, I can sympathise, $50,000 is a shirt load of money to me, it was a big decision but I don't regret it.

Going camping this weekend, can't wait to see how the Prado tows the camper trailer.

Cheers,

Drew.

Grandeman · 25-07-2006, 09:00 PM

Is this parking sensor switch an easy thing to do? Does it use an OEM switch? My sensors are annoying the crap out of me - they beep at nothing sometimes - other times they are dead quiet.

A switch sounds great.

I'm waiting for my camera to arrive - out of stock at the moment. Mine will be mounted inside the tailgate (to protect it and increase the angle of view) and will work off the screen of the head unit.

Mind if I ask what yours is like?

skycat · 25-07-2006, 09:43 PM

Gee i wish i got a GLX stuff the bling its not worth $20 grand unless you going to drive to New Zealand without a boat :wink: regards Skycat

Mike · 26-07-2006, 10:53 PM

Team Piggy wrote:

"I also went for the "annoying" park assist and have a switch being fitted on the dash (Original switch spot) that will allow it to be turned off If I dont want it."

Can you provide details of the switch?

Thanks

Mike

embi · 26-07-2006, 11:14 PM

I think piggy is using the switch I got him and having it rescreened.