Is the 150 showing any signs of cracked inner guards

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

ARB accessories seem to be a common factor with the cracks?? just sayin.

[Rogerthatv2 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Rogerthatv2]

Not that I've heard of at least... but TJM are changing their Aux Carrier design and reducing the size of the battery to a 10in battery size only....

This is due to the ac pipe and not cracking issues Rob.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Company vehicle Ticka ??? I certainly wouldn't be happy or accepting it if it was mine considering there suppose to be made for this type of use........Cheers Steve

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

They are going for a smaller battery because they have run out of room under the bonnet of many cars to fit an auxiliary. My work Colorado has a small Optima yellow top tucked away in the left rear right up against the firewall. There's no room for anything else.

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

This is due to the ac pipe and not cracking issues Rob.

Yeah, So Darren told me..... still, reduces options for those wanting to have a larger battery though

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

Company vehicle Ticka ??? I certainly wouldn't be happy or accepting it if it was mine considering there suppose to be made for this type of use........Cheers Steve

Agree..... The $$ spent to buy one then u use it for what they advertise it for and then have this happen...... I wouldn't (& wasn't) be happy.....

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

They are going for a smaller battery because they have run out of room under the bonnet of many cars to fit an auxiliary. My work Colorado has a small Optima yellow top tucked away in the left rear right up against the firewall. There's no room for anything else.

I've currently got a Optima in mine as well.... worked fine when we were in the outback on our last trip.... Not sure how it will go up in the Cape next year.... capacity wise that is.....Hotter climate with the Fridge running more often.....

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

This is due to the ac pipe and not cracking issues Rob.

Yes to their credit TJM had a vehicle that had a air cond pipe rub on the tray and cause the pipe to rub through so they fixed the car for the customer and then called any other prado owner who had a DB install and checked there install to ensure there was no rubbing. My battery is a smaller 80amps but big enough to run the fridge for many days.

Hutch- Prado 2012 petrol with the TJM Catologue.

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

Agree..... The $$ spent to buy one then u use it for what they advertise it for and then have this happen...... I wouldn't (& wasn't) be happy.....

Nah she's my car. I'm an engineer by trade with experience on many platforms be it bike,car,aircraft.
This is not a major issue its just that people have a lower tolerance when it comes to their pride and joy for which they paid big coin. Fair enough but from an engineering viewpoint it's a minor design flaw. It's not worth me getting bitter about it. And for me it would be quite easy to fix if I felt the need.

Cheere

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

Nah she's my car. I'm an engineer by trade with experience on many platforms be it bike,car,aircraft.
This is not a major issue its just that people have a lower tolerance when it comes to their pride and joy for which they paid big coin. Fair enough but from an engineering viewpoint it's a minor design flaw. It's not worth me getting bitter about it. And for me it would be quite easy to fix if I felt the need.

Cheere

U could be right..... I don't confess to know much about structual stresses, etc, but I would have thought if the crack was ignored for long enough that a person could be faced with what happened in the pic below....where the battery just tears away and swings in the breeze so to speak.... I know it all depends on where & how u drive, but its something I would have thought would need repairing b4 the inevitable happens....as seen below..... but that's just my thoughts that's all

Found this on another site:



Quote from site:

[Schniff Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schniff]

Guys, I see a lot of talk here about auxiliary battery fitment causing cracking.
If you recall, my Prado cracked first on the passenger side where the factory battery is fitted.
In the end it got quite bad and while it didn't quite look like the picture that Rob showed, it was heading that way.

To Ticka I would say you should be worried, because the crack will get worse and more than likely there will be more cracking that is not visible.

If you have minor cracking, it may be best to end drill the cracks EARLY to prevent propagation. Plating and welding the area will just transfer the stress to the next weakest area and it will crack twice as fast. Unfortunately the only way to truly fix it is to replace the entire guard.
The only way to prevent it in the first place would be to fit a lightweight starting battery and relocate the auxiliary to the rear. Or not drive on corrugations.

Some may not be willing to live with this compromise. I wasn't and now I no longer own a Prado.

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

The Pic that I posted was from a Hire Company that hires out to the mining industry..... A mate gave me the pic to help me in my discussions with Toyota and from memory & looking at that pic, it too is of the MAIN Battery on the Passenger's side.....

We came back from a outback trip in June where the car got a good workout on corrugated roads and at the end of each day I checked for any signs and thankfully there were none. I also checked on the passengers side as well but all good too. I know I would be concerned too if I had to drive on corrugated roads on a daily basis, but I'm hoping a once a year trip sort of thing won't have any repercussions....as I don't want to start again from scratch in buying & building up another 4wd for another 5yrs or so.....

Guys, I see a lot of talk here about auxiliary battery fitment causing cracking.
If you recall, my Prado cracked first on the passenger side where the factory battery is fitted.
In the end it got quite bad and while it didn't quite look like the picture that Rob showed, it was heading that way.

To Ticka I would say you should be worried, because the crack will get worse and more than likely there will be more cracking that is not visible.

If you have minor cracking, it may be best to end drill the cracks EARLY to prevent propagation. Plating and welding the area will just transfer the stress to the next weakest area and it will crack twice as fast. Unfortunately the only way to truly fix it is to replace the entire guard.
The only way to prevent it in the first place would be to fit a lightweight starting battery and relocate the auxiliary to the rear. Or not drive on corrugations.

Some may not be willing to live with this compromise. I wasn't and now I no longer own a Prado.

[Schniff Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schniff]

Rob, you're right about 'starting from scratch', It's a PITA.
My lease was up so I took the opportunity to move on.
Lucky in a way with the FBT changes, not that they will last after Sep 7!

[Rogerthatv2 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Rogerthatv2]

Yeah, So Darren told me..... still, reduces options for those wanting to have a larger battery though

Did you manage to pick one of the current designs up? Would like to check yours out one day to have a look at the cracking issue.

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

Did you manage to pick one of the current designs up? Would like to check yours out one day to have a look at the cracking issue.

Yeah, I got one of the last designs where u can install a 12in battery if u want.....

I still think the top support brace that holds the battery down and that is also bolts to the front radiator panel goes a long way in helping to prevent some of the issues too