What are essential pre delivery options/accessories for new GX?

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

Hi all ... My wife and I are considering a new Gx as a camper-van towing/off-roading/city commuting vehicle. We don't need/want 7 seats and can't see any other compelling reason to part with an extra $6000 for the GXL. Except maybe for the roof rails. It doesn't look like they are an option or accessory. We will need to mount a largish solar panel on the roof ... so would gutter-mount accessory racks do the job? Or do factory rails offer otherwise unbeatable versatility?

In terms of other Toyota accessories, what about tow bar and wiring? Or would it be better to go aftermarket considering we will need a brake controller and wiring as well?
Roo bar? Toyota at purchase or aftermarket?
Are there any other items that people would consider essential, that would be best supplied by the dealership pre delivery?
Thanks,
Greg

[Guest Close Guest]

For the roof racks, I would go with the 3 bar system that bolts to the mounts on the roof. Gutter mounts are not available for the Prados since the 120 series. Toyota sells the 3 bar HD racks cheaper than what Rhino sells them for and they are the same thing. So check this out first before you signed up for it.

The factory rails just looks nicer but they are a couple of grand if you were to buy them genuine. Or get them 2nd hand from another GXL owner who has taken them off.

I have seen a solar panel mounted between the factory roof rails but can't seem to find it anymore.

[setsujoku Member Find all posts View Profile Close setsujoku]

For me the creature comforts of the GXL like the BT audio, reverse sensors & camera, and improved climate control were an each choice to spend the bit extra and go to the GXL.

As Amts mentioned the "genuine" toyota roof racks with the 3 bars are cheaper through Toyota even though Rhino make them, so if you go down that path then you can save a couple of hundred dollars or more by doing that.

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

Thanks for responding amts ... Please understand that I haven't actually had a close look at the roof of a 150 in the flesh at this stage ... so some of my questions might seem strange ;-)

I am assuming that the rails that come standard on a GXL are fixed permanently to the roof at the factory ... are you saying that on a GXL they can be removed and replaced with something else? In the case of a GX, can genuine rails be purchased and added post delivery? What is the fixing method?
I would be needing to remove the solar panel when not touring. I would prefer that what remained was a pair of sleek, low drag rails rather than 3 bulky (noisy?) bars ... or are they also easily removable?

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

Thanks setsujoku ... I've been surfing so many car sites lately I've lost track of what's what. For some reason I thought BT audio was standard throughout the range ... I have it in my current car (Forester) and stream from iPhone ... I would really miss it. I'm pretty sure that the GX comes with the reversing camera though. I think we could quite happily live with straight garden variety air conditioning. And $6000 is a smidge more than a "bit extra" on our income ;-)

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The factory roof rails can be removed on all Prados. I wouldn't waste money buying the factory roof rails.

The Rhino 3 bar system is very easy to remove. You will be left with 6 pads on the roof.

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

Cheers amts ... Rhino 3 bar system sounds like the way I should go.

[Jaymboze Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jaymboze]

Hi Greg,
As far as Towbar and brake controllers go, it comes down to looks, as both toyota and hayman reese offer bars that look totally different but work just as well.
Cost would obviously be a big factor.
Brake controllers are a fairly easy fit and I believe that some are now available with a vehicle specific harness.

[Scoota57 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scoota57]

Hi Greg, had our GX 5 weeks now, it has BT audio and reverse camera but no sensors, the roof rails have 6 little plastic covers for the GXL roof rails but agree you'd be better with Rhinos. I also couldn't see the value in any extras of the GXL unless you wanted 7 seats. Your dealer should give you a good deal on a tow bar.

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

Thanks Jaymboze ... Just had a look at the tow bar on the Toyota web site ... Is there anything available that preserves more of the departure angle?

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

Hi Scoota57 ... Yes I'm really leaning more towards the GX ... More of a "blank canvas" so to speak. The option of fitting more substantial running board/sliders for example. I like the idea of going with the 3 Rhino racks. I'm just wondering whether using them would result in a loss of overall versatility though? Would the rails be an advantage in some respects?
With the GX is there some sort of stepped floor in the space left by the missing 3rd row seats?

[Scoota57 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Scoota57]

Greg, the floor in the back is about 50mm lower than the seats when folded down and level with the back door seal, hope this makes sense.

[Guest Close Guest]

If you add roof rails, the weight capacity of the roof is 80kg.
If you go with the 3 bar rack, the roof capacity becomes 100kg.
Note that you need to include the weight of the racks in that capacity.

[Black Mamba 2014 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Mamba 2014]

I've only used the third row seats four times since the first day of delivery, I am planning to get rid off the third row seats once the rugrats leave home and I will be installing some draw system and set it up for a touring vehicle. It is better off to install the three bar roof rails, AMTS is right about the load weight increasing. I went for the GXL because of the colour coded mirrors and air conditioning, I will be replacing my front grill to the GX standard black grill to suit the colour of the beast.

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

Sorry Scoota57 ... Can't really visualise it. Could it be said that there is some useable storage space in a GX without the 3rd row seats? (I'm planning to build a false floor from the 2nd row seats back to the tailgate to accommodate drawers and fridge slide anyway) - From photos that I've seen it appears that GXL 3rd row seats form a perfectly flat floor when the seats are folded down - I guess what I'm asking is, if there is no need for 3rd row seats and the plan is to use that area for storage when touring, what are the pros and cons of having/not having 3rd row seats. The only pro I can think of for having them is better resale value (which would be the case with a GXL anyway) ...

I really need to get to a dealership and just look at these things.