Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

[woody50 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woody50]

Hi All

This my Rig Build so far - a bit different to most - but I am a Grey Nomad so my Van is as much a part of my rig build a my Pride & Joy - the 150.



Below are some photos of the Wynnumn Towbar Fitting. There are about 8 anchor points and no cutting of the rear bumper. It is bolted to the chassis rails as well as the cross bar in behind the bumper. The locking nut underneath is much better than the Hayman Reece I had one my previous car.





This photo is the right side anchor points


Hope my photos are clear enough.

More work to do in coming weeks

Have worked out a way to set up a reversing camera for hitching the van up. The one in the spare is not much use for hitching up. Once I get it worked out will do posting.

Cheers
Woody50

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

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Thanks for sharing your build up with us. By the way, that's a huge caravan! :shock:

Also, there's a thread here somewhere about a hitching camera. It's in the 150 section if I recall correctly.

Looking forward to more.

Cheers

Edit: I guess you're already aware of it since you've posted in that thread!
viewtopic.php?f=46&t=8353&p=144425

[woody50 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woody50]

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Hi William

The van is officially 17'6"' - My Measurement (confirmed by others is 18'6" ( over all length ex rear bumper and A Frame is 19'8") The prado tows it very well. The dual axles make the van more stable on the road. (my previous van was single axle and I notice the difference). At 2ton fully loaded the prado does a great job towing it - 12.5 - 12.8L per - kms so far with Van on.

Yes I have seen the thread in your post. I have a different idea in mind. Rexie's idea will do the job but my concern how dirty the lens would get and couild the camera get hooked on something. As soon as I can draw it up I will post a pic.

By the way - the draws you are working on.

Cheers
Woody

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

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

I have a different idea in mind. Rexie's idea will do the job but my concern how dirty the lens would get and couild the camera get hooked on something. As soon as I can draw it up I will post a pic.

By the way - the draws you are working on.

Cheers
Woody

If you do build a housing for the camera, be aware of condensation/fogging.

What about the drawers I'm working on?

Cheers

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

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Hey Woody thanks for sharing the towbar pics, can I ask how much do they retail for? They look much sturdier than the HR one and less intrusive than the Toyo bar.

[woody50 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woody50]

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Hi William

I meant to say "By the way the drawers your are working on look good I will be following with interest"

I am not the best typist at times!!

Cheers
Woody

[woody50 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woody50]

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Hi William

The camera idea I have is to either use a modified couplemate wing with an extra plate up the back ot make my own as per the pic below and then run a camera cable through to the dash with either a new indash system or a separate screen (would prefer the indash system as it is tidier.) I have yet to determine which indash system to go for.

I would tidy up the design so that camera was protected and couldn't be damaged if I backed in too hard and passed the towball as well as making it look a bit neater.

I trust that gives you the idea.

Also have to think about how easy it would be change the heavy duty towhitch tongue as I don't leave it on all the time. So a bit of work to do yet.

Got to cut the eaves off one side of the house first so I don't hit it again when backing the new van in. Fortunately only hit twice in 7 years and no damage as I stopped quickly . The space to fit the van in is a bit tight (Only about 150mm on each side and the gutter line up right on the Awning) and hard to see so an extra 400mm of width will be very helpful.



Cheers
Woody

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

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Hi Woody,
It sounds like a lot of effort to own a rather large caravan like yours haha :lol: I'm sure it pays off with luxuries when your away though.

The camera mount build sounds like a lot of work too, but it looks to be very professional. Remember to take lots of pics for us

Yes, I'll keep you posted with my drawer build. It's going to be a slow one that's for sure, especially since I'll be away this weekend and again during easter. I hope to get it all done in one day, hopefully during the weekend after next. Shouldn't be that hard to knock up a couple of drawers!

Cheers

[woody50 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woody50]

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Hi Hutch

The costing on the Towbar etc were. (including Fitting)
Towbar $450.00
Lockable pin to lock the HR WDH into the tongue slot $20.00 (saw the same thing at $45.00 elsewhere) You'd be surpised how many HR WDH's get stolen.
Wiring $150.00 (with 7 pin flat)
Anderson Plug $280.00 including heavy wiring and an extra cigarette lighter plug with inline fuse in cargo area on left $20.00
Tekonsha Prodigy P3 $440.00 (installed on left hand side of the steering.)
Dual Battery system with Piranha Tray and Redarc Isolator $240.00
2nd Battery -Supercharge Allrounder Deep Cycle 105aH $200.00.
All up the job cost me $1800 with the battery plus I put another new battery same model in my van.

I see some guys doing it cheaper themselves but that's not my call. I am happy to pay someone who is reliable to get it all right for me.

The guys a Wynnum Towbars do a great job and are appreciative of the work on 150's they have picked up from PP.com. I have known Leo Hyte for some years.

They design and build the towbars themselves and whilst they are rated at 2500kgs because that is all Toyota will allow due to the 150's towing capacity the bar is essentially the same as the LC200 bar which is rated to 3500kgs so I am very comfortable with its reliability for towing a 2ton van eventually doing the big one via Highway One. All up I think there are at least 8 anchor points joining the bar to the chassis.

Also the locking nut is much better than the HR one. The HR on my commodore has stripped its thread now after many tongue changes. Leo told me it is a common problem.

http://www.wynnumtowbars.com.au/Wynnum/Welcome.html

cheers
Woody50

[woody50 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woody50]

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Hi William

I have been at vanning a few years now and with the Prado it is so easy to push a van even this size around and I have an awkward place to back into. Compared to my commodore it is a breeze. Really it isn't that much work. My 150 will probably do more vanning than 4wd'ing.

Whilst I don't like playing with car electrics hence getting all the towing stuff done . I will have a go at the drawers myself as I like doing that sort of thing.

Will put up pic's when I get to the camera idea underway. Would like to have it done by Easter if possible but will depend on whether I can afford the indash system.

Got some prices on some sheepskin seat covers this week
Mercedes SheepSkin Products - 3year warranty
20mm pile $700.00 Front and Rear Airbag compatible including head rests and and arm rest covers
25mm pile $945.00

I picked them up from a PP.com thread from someone who was very happy with them.

Got a quote locally $1850.00

Main difference - specially made and fitted at factory - need car for 2 days and
local one all sheepskin where Mercedes ones sheepskin face/acrylic back- big difference for the full sheepskin approach. You don't sit on the backs.

Any thoughts.

Cheers
Woody50

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

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Thats a lot of moola to spend on seat covers I reckon. I spose they absorb four times the amount of farts ey?

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

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

$1850??? You could probably go full leather at that price... I've seen some TJM seat covers at the 4x4 show. They look great, though I didn't get to sit inside so I cant comment on the feel/quality. If you haven't bought the sheepskin ones already, you may want to look into it.

Cheers

[woody50 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woody50]

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

Hi Guys

Yes I was set back just a tad on the $1850.00 The Mercedes Set @ $945 for 25mm pile or $700.00 for the 20mm pile did seem a little more appropriate.

Haven't seen the fart absorption graph on them but Madkore may be right on that.

No I haven't bought any yet. I'll check out the TJM ones as well.

Thanks for your advice.

Still thinking about the Bull Bar Issue - Smart Bar V ARB V TJM. Now the Bullbar fight seems to be over one can take some more time on that one. The comments on increased fuel usage are a bit of a concern.

Cheers
Woody

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

Re: Woody50's 150 D4D GXL Rig Build

I think I paid about $300 bucks or so for my sheep skins and they are still slick.

As for the bullbar - if you do any country driving, just go steel (ARB or TJM - whichever you like the look of).

I'm surprised you are concerned about fuel costs considering the size of the camper you have in tow. Plus, think of the money you will save if you hit something with a bullbar as opposed to without.