Prado 120 / 150 common issues and how they may affect me

[Corigator]

The guard cracking issue isn't very common compared to the number of Prados sold. Just need some mechanical sympathy when hitting corrugated roads.

... and a panel beater who doesn't tighten the cr...p out of the chassis to body bolts.

[RBJET]

It's also easy to put a brace from the battery mount to the front panel to stop it rocking back and forward.
Mine cops a hiding and no signs of cracking yet.

The guard cracking issue isn't very common compared to the number of Prados sold. Just need some mechanical sympathy when hitting corrugated roads.

[shadowchild93]

Hi all,

First post so, i hope i am in the right section for this! I am looking to get back into 4WDing and camping. Have previously had a 2003 RA rodeo and 2008 GU patrol wagon 3L CRD.

Up until this morning, i was very much leaning toward the prado (likely 150 series) in comparison to NT pajero. The prado seems to have a good rep, carries heaps more fuel than the pajero and comes with the Toyota name.

I have stumbled across the "guard crack" posts. This has me questioning if i should continue to look further in getting a used prado. I'll go a little more in depth what my usage would be like for whichever car i look at:
- Will want a steel bull bar.
- Will want dual batteries.
- Will want steel roof cage.
- Will likely want a winch (either cable or rope).
- Will be my daily drive and our 4WD / camping car.
- Will likely go 4WDing several times a month as he have lots of nice local tracks and beaches.
- Will likely go for at least one over night camp trip per month.
- Will likely go for several day camping trips involving lots of off road at least once a year.

Previously, our 2008 Patrol was very much up to the task and was great. Thankfully, we had no 3L engine issues other than warping the exhaust manifold. No chassis cracks or any other serious damage that we could tell. We sold it to help financially when moving into our first home that we built. In hindsight, should have kept it.

I welcome anyone's thoughts on my situation and the prado cracking situation. I found the sticky-forum post with people listing that their prado's had cracked. Boy, there were just pages and pages of people with cracks. Even, lots of them being repaired and just cracking again. We are looking for our 4WD to be a car that we keep for a fairly long time and dont want any structural integrity issues if we can help it!

Anyway, welcome your thoughts!

Thanks,
Glen