Is the 150 showing any signs of cracked inner guards

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Being a 2010 model, it's the 3ltr version..... I assume Nissan sorted out all the Engine/Turbo issues with motor? Economy wise, what do they average? I've a Navara with the ZD30 engine in it & it goes pretty well.... (U can PM me if u want so this post stays on Topic)

Rob

I looked at a number of 100 series, but the were just too expensive for their age and km. Sad to say, but yes, I have a 2010 GU Patrol. Ex Government (Longreach health services) factory bull bar, 2" lift and Kaymar duel wheel carrier. Slower and not as nice to drive but will last a long time and is about as close to unbreakable as I could get for the money. I couldn't afford to spend money on another vehicle that was not going to last after the money I lost on the Prado.

Let the building begin.

Steve

[outback7 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close outback7]

After reading this entire thread on the cracking of the guards on the 150 it would seem with all the 150's out there, its not a common problem.......I feel really sorry for the guys here that experienced the cracking on their cars. But, it is still a very fixable problem. I had a 100 series for eight years and loved it but I don't think I would want to give up the comfort and ride of my 150 to get another one. If the cracks on the guards could not be fixed maybe i would think again....JMO.

[sleeky5 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sleeky5]

Has anyone yet found/manufactured an aftermarket battery tray that will fit on the passenger side under the original battery. I have a TJM one on the second battery side and would like to put one on the passenger side. As yet no luck in finding one.

Thanks
Neil

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

Has anyone yet found/manufactured an aftermarket battery tray that will fit on the passenger side under the original battery. I have a TJM one on the second battery side and would like to put one on the passenger side. As yet no luck in finding one.

Thanks
Neil

I think you will find that brand of bull bar is most of the issue, not the battery.

[sleeky5 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sleeky5]

I think you will find that brand of bull bar is most of the issue, not the battery.

I have an ARB bar and also had one on my 120 including dual batteries, drove it all over the place including the Canning and no problems whatsoever. Now people are saying that we shouldn't even place a second battery under the bonnet of a 150 and there has been much discussion about the starting battery side cracking. So is it a battery problem or isn't it? I certainly cannot see how a bullbar could cause the problem.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

I have an ARB bar and also had one on my 120 including dual batteries, drove it all over the place including the Canning and no problems whatsoever. Now people are saying that we shouldn't even place a second battery under the bonnet of a 150 and there has been much discussion about the starting battery side cracking. So is it a battery problem or isn't it? I certainly cannot see how a bullbar could cause the problem.

I definitely don't believe its a bar problem (ARB or TJM)..... As to what's causing it, I don't think anyone really knows, but for me, I believe it was a Aux Battery / Tray issue which now has been rectified and I've haven't had anymore issues to date....

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Rob what was the issue and how did u rectify.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

The bull bar is bolted to the chassis. The body of the vehicle is mounted to the chassis using rubber mounts. So Rob's theory that the bar is not the problem is plausible.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

The bull bar is bolted to the chassis. The body of the vehicle is mounted to the chassis using rubber mounts. So Rob's theory that the bar is not the problem is plausible.

That is spot on Winston.. i also fail to see how the bullbar can affect it.

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

Of all the Prado's that have had cracked guards, I would like to see the ratio of ARB, TJM and other brands of Aux battery trays.

Or does it come down to whether your Prado was made on a Monday, Wednesday or a Friday??

Cheers
REV

[SuperDavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close SuperDavid]

Of all the Prado's that have had cracked guards, I would like to see the ratio of ARB, TJM and other brands of Aux battery trays.

Or does it come down to whether your Prado was made on a Monday, Wednesday or a Friday??

Cheers
REV

As I've read it, it looks like the Prados with the ARB battery trays have more cracks than any other.

[rob_macca67 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close rob_macca67]

Rob what was the issue and how did u rectify.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

Hutch, I had cracks appear after our 2012 Desert Trip. Found it when we came back home.... Ended up having some arguments with Toyota and in the end we were lucky with Toyota coming to the party. At the time of repairs I had the repairer add some extra plating to strengthen that area. My Aux Battery tray was basically the same as what is under the OEM battery on the LHS.
When all the repairs were completed, I rushed out and bought a ARB carrier which was a mistake on my part as I discovered that Paul also had a ARB battery carrier and had cracks appear as well. After having a look at the TJM ones (which to my knowledge there has been no reported cracking), I decided to modify the ARB carrier with some extra bracing + the extra battery top support that attaches to the radiator support panel. I also changed to a lighter/smaller Aux Optima Yellow Top battery. The car got a good workload with this years outback trip and came back w/o any issues...... So, hopefully the problem won't return....

The TJM Aux battery carrier apparently now been changed and u can only install a 10" long battery in it...... Still, I believe the TJM carrier is a better/stronger design carrier than the ARB one......

Rob

[REV Find all posts View Profile Close REV]

As I've read it, it looks like the Prados with the ARB battery trays have more cracks than any other.

That is what I am getting as well, but it would still be interesting to see the numbers.

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

If it’s the battery, why did mine crack on the driver’s side when I did not have a battery there? Mine cracked on both sides, but the driver’s side was the worse.

With my ARB bull bar you could see that there is a great deal of flex in the chassis. This is quite visible when driving on corrugations and off road. The amount of movement (going up and down) is IMO greater that the amount of movement allowed by the rubber between the chassis and the body. When the chassis moves upwards the stress of the must be passed to the body, forcing the front of the body upwards and causing stress on the inner guard, which is the area used to hold the front of the body stable.

I have not seen, but have been told my several members in the past, that a TJM bar has a different mounting points and this acts as a brace to the chassis and reduces the visible flexing. Less flexing of the chassis means less stress passed through to the body.

From the day my bull bar was fitted I was amazed at how much visible movement there was. The battery may be a factor, but IMO it is not the cause. The cause is too much fex in the chassis, made worse by the weight of the ARB bar.

If I had my time again I would find two local members, one with an ARB bar and one with a TJM bar. Go for a drive and compare the movement in both.

The stress from the chassis movement must go somewhere.

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

Smakb

I have a ARB bar and battery on the drivers side, no cracks yet touch wood, mine is one of the first 150's (2009) and I have done heaps of off road including the Cape, Simpson Desert, Outback SA in it. Interestingly another SEQ Pradopointer has a TJM bar and he has cracks on the drivers side. It looks like it is random, I've seen cracked guards on Prados that are stock standard.

Richo.