A Modicum of Modifications

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Re: A Modicum of Modifications

Mine's for work and fun.

Can guarantee it couldn't have done a lot of the tracks I've done for several reasons:

*Suspension lift, 2" has struggled to get me over some things.
*Mud tyres, massive difference
*Bash plate, would have spent countless $$$ fixing the underside after hitting rocks (everywhere in Vic High Country)
*Snorkel - again - Vic High Country
*Winch - used a couple of time when another vehicle couldn't possible get access to snatch
*Roof rack - luggage space in back taken up by drawers, usually put the tent on the roof
*Bull bar - saved me from damage once, mounting point for winch/lights

However, compared to most other 4wds the Prado has a very limited number of accessories available. Due to this I intend on going custom for a lot of things on mine, eventually want to run 4" lift, 2" bodylift, 35's (may require tubbing), full bar-work (scrub bars/sliders/rear bar) and either turbo or supercharge the engine. Why spend all this money on a Prado when I could buy an 80 series already setup like this for $20k? For starters, I was given the car (good 21st present hey?!) and secondly, I love modifying cars and I like being unique!

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

Re: A Modicum of Modifications

Hey xlr8_87,
How in the world could you manage a 4" suspenion lift on an IFS? It'd involve many component "drops" - front diff, transfer box plus steering mods, different upper/lower arms and basically everything else connecting to the front...?? In the US they often over-extend the arms to widen the track width and gain travel, but we have too many restrictive laws.

EDIT: Unless you're thinking SAS, in which case the biggest hurdle is our transfer box (or "centre diff").

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

Re: A Modicum of Modifications

Hey xlr8_87,
How in the world could you manage a 4" suspenion lift on an IFS? It'd involve many component "drops" - front diff, transfer box plus steering mods, different upper/lower arms and basically everything else connecting to the front...?? In the US they often over-extend the arms to widen the track width and gain travel, but we have too many restrictive laws.

EDIT: Unless you're thinking SAS, in which case the biggest hurdle is our transfer box (or "centre diff").

Yep. This is a long term plan, haven't looked into it but would need to be engineered. Other option is live axle conversion but you're looking at $15k for this. There's 4" off the shelf kits for 120's so can't be "too" difficult

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

Re: A Modicum of Modifications

Hi there xlr8, I take it you dont have airbags in the steering wheel and or passengers side of the dash ?? Regards Steve

[quote=xlr8_87]

Hey xlr8_87,
How in the world could you manage a 4" suspenion lift on an IFS? It'd involve many component "drops" - front diff, transfer box plus steering mods, different upper/lower arms and basically everything else connecting to the front...?? In the US they often over-extend the arms to widen the track width and gain travel, but we have too many restrictive laws.

EDIT: Unless you're thinking SAS, in which case the biggest hurdle is our transfer box (or "centre diff").

Yep. This is a long term plan, haven't looked into it but would need to be engineered. Other option is live axle conversion but you're looking at $15k for this. There's 4" off the shelf kits for 120's so can't be "too" difficult[/quote:2mnicd4q]

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

Re: A Modicum of Modifications

I'd be inclined to have something more than just the UHF in case of a real emergency too. If not a HF radio, consider a hired satphone or even a personal epirb.

Cam

[jimoctec Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jimoctec]

Re: A Modicum of Modifications

I loved Kingswood country, it was a great Aussie show. Travelling in any of the Australian deserts are not for the fant hearted. It is better to be over prepared then under prepared on your vehicle. I have done many years travelling in remote Australia, I love the desert country. I was a Park Ranger out at Boulia for a while, a lot of recovery work on people that were unprepared for the conditions. Sometimes you wonder why you spend thousands on diff locks, etc., then the day comes when you need them and you thank your lucky stars that you have purchased them. This is what I reckon you need : ARB Diff Lock at least in the rear, about $2100.00 fitted with the larger compressor, this also takes care of your tyres. You will need this, otherwise you will be doing a lot of recovery on the sand dunes. Bull bars are good as they have a recovery rail for the hi jacker and protect the vehicle plus they look good. I always go the steel because of this reason (recovery). Once you put on the bar you will have to do something for suspension because of the extra weight, corrugations are a real problem in the outback anyway. I like the german stuff, Bilstein shocks over King springs, 50mm lift. One of the best accessories you can do is a set of drawers in the rear. It gets you organised and things don't get throne around so much. You can make these yourself, for as little as $400.00. I did this in our 90 series, although I bought commerial ones for the 150 series. I can send you photos if you like, pretty easy to make with the right tools. Obivously with the drawers in the back, you can't sleep in the vehicle, I like the roof top tents, you can buy them for as little as $1200.00 from Austrack at Hervey Bay in QLD, same as the ARB and TJM brands. For racks I always use Rhino heavy duty as the tent is about 40 kgs. For water I use the 75L Flexi Tank, this is placed along the floor at the rear inbetween the seats, keeps the weight to the floor. Showers, I don't have them in the desert country, I usually have one at Alice Springs or something. If you have to have one, just use the 20L shower black bags, about $30.00 each and enjoy the view. If you have the D4D, I would recommend fitting a Raco 230R filter before your gen. Toyota fuel filter and a aftermarket oil cooler for your auto. I would also recommend a cooling system service before you go. Use the Toyota coolant as it is the best (50/50). For tyres, I use BF Goodrich All Terrains, they perform really well whatever the surface you are on. Remember the use of the right tyre pressures for the surface you are on is important, sometimes the difference inbetween doing a recovery or not. Once you have got this gear, your vehicle is prepared, and you will probably go back to the outback, again and again. You will love it out there, the experience is pricless, the desert sands get in your blood.
Hope this helps. PS. Watch the spinifex build up underbody of your vehicle, fire hazard, although last time I was out there it was pretty green.

Thanks for those thoughts, my thinking has been moving that way for a while now.

Latest purchase was a set of tyre deflators - looks like unbranded Stauns that I got on eBay for $29 (see http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0779331012). Probably out of the same Chinese factory.
The fridge has been bought, an Engel MT35F. At the moment it sits on top of what started as a shelf but has now become a homemade set of drawers.

2" Suspension lift will probably be the next item on the agenda as I don't really want to be using the Prado as a bulldozer to make it easier for the Disco and the Navarra to get over the sandhills.

In honour of Kingswood Country I will now go back and start polishing something. After all, it's worth it with a Prado, unlike something disposable like a Jeep.

[jimoctec Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jimoctec]

Re: A Modicum of Modifications

I loved Kingswood country, it was a great Aussie show. Travelling in any of the Australian deserts are not for the fant hearted. It is better to be over prepared then under prepared on your vehicle. I have done many years travelling in remote Australia, I love the desert country. I was a Park Ranger out at Boulia for a while, a lot of recovery work on people that were unprepared for the conditions. Sometimes you wonder why you spend thousands on diff locks, etc., then the day comes when you need them and you thank your lucky stars that you have purchased them. This is what I reckon you need : ARB Diff Lock at least in the rear, about $2100.00 fitted with the larger compressor, this also takes care of your tyres. You will need this, otherwise you will be doing a lot of recovery on the sand dunes. Bull bars are good as they have a recovery rail for the hi jacker and protect the vehicle plus they look good. I always go the steel because of this reason (recovery). Once you put on the bar you will have to do something for suspension because of the extra weight, corrugations are a real problem in the outback anyway. I like the german stuff, Bilstein shocks over King springs, 50mm lift. One of the best accessories you can do is a set of drawers in the rear. It gets you organised and things don't get throne around so much. You can make these yourself, for as little as $400.00. I did this in our 90 series, although I bought commerial ones for the 150 series. I can send you photos if you like, pretty easy to make with the right tools. Obivously with the drawers in the back, you can't sleep in the vehicle, I like the roof top tents, you can buy them for as little as $1200.00 from Austrack at Hervey Bay in QLD, same as the ARB and TJM brands. For racks I always use Rhino heavy duty as the tent is about 40 kgs. For water I use the 75L Flexi Tank, this is placed along the floor at the rear inbetween the seats, keeps the weight to the floor. Showers, I don't have them in the desert country, I usually have one at Alice Springs or something. If you have to have one, just use the 20L shower black bags, about $30.00 each and enjoy the view. If you have the D4D, I would recommend fitting a Raco 230R filter before your gen. Toyota fuel filter and a aftermarket oil cooler for your auto. I would also recommend a cooling system service before you go. Use the Toyota coolant as it is the best (50/50). For tyres, I use BF Goodrich All Terrains, they perform really well whatever the surface you are on. Remember the use of the right tyre pressures for the surface you are on is important, sometimes the difference inbetween doing a recovery or not. Once you have got this gear, your vehicle is prepared, and you will probably go back to the outback, again and again. You will love it out there, the experience is pricless, the desert sands get in your blood.
Hope this helps. PS. Watch the spinifex build up underbody of your vehicle, fire hazard, although last time I was out there it was pretty green.

Thanks for those thoughts, my thinking has been moving that way for a while now.

Latest purchase was a set of tyre deflators - looks like unbranded Stauns that I got on eBay for $29 (see http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0779331012). Probably out of the same Chinese factory.
The fridge has been bought, an Engel MT35F. At the moment it sits on top of what started as a shelf but has now become a homemade set of drawers.

2" Suspension lift will probably be the next item on the agenda as I don't really want to be using the Prado as a bulldozer to make it easier for the Disco and the Navarra to get over the sandhills.

In honour of Kingswood Country I will now go back and start polishing something. After all, it's worth it with a Prado, unlike something disposable like a Jeep.

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

Re: A Modicum of Modifications

Sounds like you've got heaps. I would say suspension and tough tyres most important