Time For a Change??

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

My Prado is on the market and I have a new 79 series dual cab arriving mid January. The Prado has served me well and been on a few adventures, as did it's predessessor (98 Prado), but the towing and gear carrying capacity is not up to my needs. Many of the newer dual cabs, such as Ranger and BT50, advertise 3,500kg towing but you read many reports where they actually can't carry a load whilst towing at capacity leaving many to have no bar work, winches, drawers, roof racks, etc in order to keep GVM down. The 79 might be a bit of a dinosaur but I have spent a lot of time in them and troopies and know what I am getting into.

Thankfully for me, towing is not a high priority - as long as I'm right to tow a tandem full of stuff, I'll be happy. And maybe a camper in the future.
I'll make an admission - please hold back your fire - the other thing stopping me from getting a 70-something-series is the Manual gearbox. Never driven a manual vehicle before, and I'm not sure a brand new cruiser is the vehicle to learn in.

I took a look at the Ranger XLT last night and gee are they impressive! I didnt take it for a drive, but the kit that comes with it is amazing! From all reports, its a damn fine car to drive too - particulalry if you add a bit of weight to the rear!

Im adding up all the costs associated with the potential switch (including the $18k for tray and canopy from Norweld) and if the dollars add up, then a change seems imminent. If they dont add up, I'll be looking at how I can reconfigure the Prado for better touring (and hopefully not spend too many $$).

[MacroP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MacroP]

and I'm not sure a brand new cruiser is the vehicle to learn in.

Actually I can't think of a better and easier vehicle to learn to drive manual in. You can literally just step off the clutch without it stalling.

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

My fellow PPers.

Its occurred to me that the Prado may no longer suit my needs. I love this car, and its tough saying that I might need to change.


Can anyone here talk me into keeping the Prado?

I liked my Prado as well, petrol with exhaust and muffler change, put the foot down and it just took off. Towed well on the flat roads, but the hills caused a drop in power and speed.

Now own a 200 series, tows without a problem and will accelerate up the hill with the van on the back. Towed the van up the Mt Hotham road last month, and could accelerate up the hill.

It is expensive to buy (then add more extras again, like all 4WD's I have owned), but, it gets moving when needed. (this will be my last 4WD, I think)

Well Spilsy, think about a 200.

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

I liked my Prado as well, petrol with exhaust and muffler change, put the foot down and it just took off. Towed well on the flat roads, but the hills caused a drop in power and speed.

Now own a 200 series, tows without a problem and will accelerate up the hill with the van on the back. Towed the van up the Mt Hotham road last month, and could accelerate up the hill.

It is expensive to buy (then add more extras again, like all 4WD's I have owned), but, it gets moving when needed. (this will be my last 4WD, I think)

Well Spilsy, think about a 200.

The 200 still doesnt really meet my needs, unless I get this:http://www.patriotcampers.com.au/lc200/

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

One of the problems with updating your vehicle is the new emissions and the resulting choking of the engine. I have just been reading in the 150 threads on the 2.8 engine. They don't seem to have things sorted out properly yet. If you give some thought and time in planning alterations you should be able to work out a solution. JMHO

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

Spilsy is a trailer definitely out? Cheapest option for carrying extra gear that won't fit in or on the Prado. I know dual cabs have come a long way but we also have a 6 year old dual cab in the fleet and it is a pig to drive compared to the 150.

[groeschel Member Find all posts View Profile Close groeschel]

Thankfully for me, towing is not a high priority - as long as I'm right to tow a tandem full of stuff, I'll be happy. And maybe a camper in the future.
I'll make an admission - please hold back your fire - the other thing stopping me from getting a 70-something-series is the Manual gearbox. Never driven a manual vehicle before, and I'm not sure a brand new cruiser is the vehicle to learn in.

I took a look at the Ranger XLT last night and gee are they impressive! I didnt take it for a drive, but the kit that comes with it is amazing! From all reports, its a damn fine car to drive too - particulalry if you add a bit of weight to the rear!

Im adding up all the costs associated with the potential switch (including the $18k for tray and canopy from Norweld) and if the dollars add up, then a change seems imminent. If they dont add up, I'll be looking at how I can reconfigure the Prado for better touring (and hopefully not spend too many $$).

If the automatic is an issue may that is an alternative: http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/m...01-gt1k05.html
The payload sounds impressive unfortunately the price as well
Cheers
Mike

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

The payload sounds impressive unfortunately the price as well
Cheers
Mike

f me, $120k

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

Spilsy is a trailer definitely out? Cheapest option for carrying extra gear that won't fit in or on the Prado. I know dual cabs have come a long way but we also have a 6 year old dual cab in the fleet and it is a pig to drive compared to the 150.

Nothing is off the table yet. I'm busily researching every option I can at the moment.
There's only 1 real problem with a trailer and that is, currently, I haven't anywhere to store it... Apart from on the front lawn. I do like the multi use of a trailer though. The canopy package I am looking at for a ute detaches with 4 legs to return the use of the tray.

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

If the automatic is an issue may that is an alternative: http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/m...01-gt1k05.html
The payload sounds impressive unfortunately the price as well
Cheers
Mike

I could go a Mercedes G Class. The 6 wheel version would be perfect...but thats even further away from my budget than the Patriot 200 series.

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Prado is made in Japan & pre dpf's. quality.
Prado luxury & comfort.

KEEP IT.

[Shayne Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Shayne]

Space is not great in a shorty and the mrs does like her creature comforts especially when our grandson joins us for a weekend away so i built this

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

Nice Build, Shayne. Which tent did you use?

[Shayne Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Shayne]

Ah i'm in the UK mate but long story short i got myself a trailer tent cut it off the chassis and mounted it on a missile trailer chassis . The hardest part was finding a tent that would be the same width as my truck when Toyota wheels and 285/75 tyres were added but i wanted to be able to swap wheels from truck to trailer and visa versa .

Believe it or not there is a cooker , sink and two double beds inside though one of the beds is always folded up to be used as a sofa and it lives outside in the rain all year round .

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Full length roof rack and get rid of the dog.