Series 90 - Suitability for family touring

[LandieMan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close LandieMan]

Hi,

I'm keen to hear views on the suitability of a 90 Series Prado for a 6+ month family tour of Aussie. We're a family of four with two boys who will be 10 & 11 years when we plan to travel.

We're NZ based and currently own a 96 Diesel Prado TZ. Do we upgrade to something bigger or do we start preparing the Prado we have for the trip?

Our rough plan at this stage is to prepare the vehicle in NZ, ship it to Aussie and where we'll buy a Camper Trailer or similar.

All thoughts and suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers, Iain

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

Should have no problems with an older truck, Im planing a trip for this September in my '96 TD. Up to cameron corner and on to Birdsvile.

Most of it will depend on where you want to travel, but I would recomend getting the prado checked out by a local mechanic once you get it to Australia, a reputable 4wd mechanic should know the little things to look out for before heading outback. I get a once over before each big trip. When you know wich port the prado will arive at, just ask the forum for a good place for a pre trip inspection.

Dont forget to tell us when youll be here, we will have to arrange our first international meet up.

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

the trip

Mate What a wonderful idea !!

Trip in a prado !! Great and will be awesome and an ideal Vehicle in Australia ( not too big or small Just Peeerfect !!

I have been around Australia approx 4 times visiting many different parts of Australia and would like to make sure you understand New zealand will fit in our smallest state a few times so at the end of the day Australia is a big country !!, First I would like to ask what are your plans , I mean are you planning on a full around Australia trip which includes Cape york the kadau National park to the Nullabour ? etc I think bringing your prado over is a great idea but first please check with RTA ( road traffic Authority ) regarding vehicle entry and Insurance related while in Australia and is your prado diesel or petrol ? I hear the Diesel is better standards in New zealand you may have an issue in Australia But I doubt it ( I know japan import is an issue due to Japan diesel is a different grade )
On another Note I would also recommend good All terrain tyres such as Cooper or BFG goodrich tyres and Finally make sure you don't plan visiting during the what we call the Wet Season !! you could be isolated for days or weeks or in worst case scenio months do a search regarding wet season and outback etc

we look forward to hearing your plans and would be welcome for advice !

ps dont forget your camera !!

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

Mate you will have no troubles with the 90 as a family tourer. A camper trailer should be fine too.

The only I would say is dont use a roof rack if you don't have to. It creates too much drag for comfortable highway driving & you will notice the dollars at the pump.

Your lucky with only 2 kids, I have 4....makes room for other stuff marginal....

Get everything out you want to take & then cut it in half. Put one half back in the shed & the other in the trailer & car. It should then be a fun trip!

One thing I learn't after my trip to the cape in '93.......food can be bought just about anywhere & notes in your wallet are a lot smaller & lighter than crates of canned food. I'm guessing EFTPOS is also a lot more common.

Cheers

[Dieselman Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dieselman]

I have 2 kids aged 3 & 7 and the only problem I have had on my trips is stopping them fighting :x :x


A Prado more than capable of doing the trip you are talking about. I would get it checked over by someone who knows what potential problems to look for - a few dollars spent before the trip could save you an expensive recovery bill and possibly save your life if you were to break down in the Simpson desert for example.


Another thing is a New Zealand spec Prado the same as an Aussie spec?? I know the Aussie prado has a different cooling package than the Jap spec - maybe Yota would know more about this as he owns a grey import


I wish I had your problem of deciding what vehicle to drive around our great country for 6 months


Ben

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

Another thing is a New Zealand spec Prado the same as an Aussie spec?? I know the Aussie prado has a different cooling package than the Jap spec - maybe Yota would know more about this as he owns a grey import

To be honest Ive never checked that, only thing ive found different in the 5 years ive had it was the fly wheel, but I changed that.
I did have the radiator re-cored and the top & bottom tanks replaced last year, and they didnt mention any difference.

[KZJ90 Member Find all posts View Profile Close KZJ90]

I like to make family touring with my Prado. It´s big enough from inside for relax traveling. Good driving position helps to manage without tiredness. Here we are in Norway at last summer:

[Mick Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mick]

How the hell one gets tired with a view like that in Norway I'll never know!
My problem would be keeping my eyes on the road :lol:

The good wife never was much for travelling untill we got the prado. She loves it except (like dieselman) when the kids fight! :evil:
Just have to convince her about the camping bit now :wink:

Our prado's a real easy vehicle to drive on the hwy and has plenty of power for overtaking, etc and tows our large trailer well. It's comfortable for all passengers (in the main 5 seats) which is important if you're gonna be in them for as long as you described

Safe travels, enjoy Oz. It's amazing and diverse

[Mark Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Mark]

We are 2 months into our 6 month trip now! We are also towing a camper trailer and have 2 kids, 6 & 9. We made some drawers for the back which have been a godsend.

The Prado is JUST big enough, I keep thinking a little more room would be nice but then we would probably fill that too! They are a great vehicle, comfortable, reliable and capable. Their tight turning circle is a bonus when you have a trailer behind you - no 3 point turns reversing a trailer on a tight road.

Cheers,

Mark.

[LandieMan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close LandieMan]

Thanks everyone for all the great replies.

I'll respond individually to some of the comments but clearly the overall view is a resounding YES, the 90 Series would be just fine.

It's interesting that when you read all the Aussie 4WD Mags available here in NZ you get the impression that you'd need a 100 Series or Patrol sized 4WD. You only very rarely see a Prado all kitted up.

I'm glad the Prado will be fine, it's a great truck and the one we have has proven very reliable. Indeed, just this weekend I drove just under a 1000km with 5 adults and a boot full of gear and it didn't miss a beat.

The next step will be sourcing the mods and accesseries for the trip so you'll no doubt hear more from me.

Thanks again.

[LandieMan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close LandieMan]

Most of it will depend on where you want to travel, but I would recomend getting the prado checked out by a local mechanic once you get it to Australia, a reputable 4wd mechanic should know the little things to look out for before heading outback. I get a once over before each big trip. When you know wich port the prado will arive at, just ask the forum for a good place for a pre trip inspection.

Dont forget to tell us when youll be here, we will have to arrange our first international meet up.

Thanks Yota,
Getting a local pre trip inspection is a great idea and thanks for suggestion to use the forum to source a good place once we've sorted out were we'll be landing.

An international meet up sounds a great idea too, I'll keep you posted as the plan forms.

[LandieMan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close LandieMan]

Re: the trip

I have been around Australia approx 4 times visiting many different parts of Australia and would like to make sure you understand New zealand will fit in our smallest state a few times so at the end of the day Australia is a big country !!.

The size of Aussie is one of the attractions. If you're interested there's a great map call a "Peters Projection" that shows countries of the world by true land area. It show's exactly how big countries actually are and especially how big Aussie, Africa and South America really are. If you Google "Peters Projection" you'll be able to take a look. Europe and North America don't look so impressive as they are a lot smaller and that's one of the reasons the maps not very popular, surprise surprise.

First I would like to ask what are your plans , I mean are you planning on a full around Australia trip which includes Cape york the kadau National park to the Nullabour ?

To be honest we have no idea as yet. Cape York is one of those great icons of off-road travel so we'd have to fit that in somehow. I'd be keen to here suggestions of what is sensible to try and acheive in 6 months or so. Is there a "usual" route that travelers like us would take?

Thanks for your post.

[LandieMan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close LandieMan]

Get everything out you want to take & then cut it in half. Put one half back in the shed & the other in the trailer & car. It should then be a fun trip!

One thing I learn't after my trip to the cape in '93.......food can be bought just about anywhere & notes in your wallet are a lot smaller & lighter than crates of canned food. I'm guessing EFTPOS is also a lot more common.

Cheers

Thanks, this is good advise. It's easy to pack everything with the phrase "just in case" in your mind. One of the attractions of expedition travel is to get by without the clutter of all the things that usually surround us at home.

Mind you, you still have to take plenty of toys.

[LandieMan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close LandieMan]

Another thing is a New Zealand spec Prado the same as an Aussie spec?? I know the Aussie prado has a different cooling package than the Jap spec - maybe Yota would know more about this as he owns a grey import

Thanks Ben, I hadn't thought of that. My Prado is a Jap import and is different to the NZ new spec so I'm sure it'll be different to the Aussie spec as well. I'll have to do a little research to see what differences there are.

One thing I am aware of is that there's no dual fuel tank on mine. My Prado only has the rear tank. I assume the second tank on the Aussie spec is mid mounted along side the drive shaft like the 120 Series? I might need to start a tread on what the options are to retro fit the second tank. Maybe I could score one from a wrecker and fit it when we land in Aussie.

Thanks again for your reply.

[LandieMan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close LandieMan]

Another thing is a New Zealand spec Prado the same as an Aussie spec?? I know the Aussie prado has a different cooling package than the Jap spec - maybe Yota would know more about this as he owns a grey import

Thanks Ben, I hadn't thought of that. My Prado is a Jap import and is different to the NZ new spec so I'm sure it'll be different to the Aussie spec as well. I'll have to do a little research to see what differences there are.

One thing I am aware of is that there's no dual fuel tank on mine. My Prado only has the rear tank. I assume the second tank on the Aussie spec is mid mounted along side the drive shaft like the 120 Series? I might need to start a tread on what the options are to retro fit the second tank. Maybe I could score one from a wrecker and fit it when we land in Aussie.

Thanks again for your reply.