1Coolbanana's Grande Build Up

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Im using a Uniden AT870 ground independent with two whips, a short 150mm 3db and a 630mm 6.5db.

Is this a decent antenna?? I have no idea (as usual)

The 6.5db long whip was going ballistic and drove me nuts in the first 7 k's! Took it off.
The short 3db whip is ok.
Still not that impressed but I dont think there are many options???

Anybody got any good ideas, would love to hear them.
Alternative antenna types maybe???

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

Ebay mate

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Bloody bargain

Damn you, damn pradopoint and damn ebay. you all keep costing me money just kidding

i bought the stebels from same ebay seller (very quick delivery) and fitted them last night. they sound great and i am very happy with my horn, ahhh prado's horn....

thanks for the link and advice too (will let you know how i go with the gps/reverse camera)

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

No worries mate, glad your happy with them.

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

OK, so the lift is done after much deliberation and got a chance to give it a hard time.
Ive gone with the Tough Dog adjustables.
I got the struts fitted mainly because I could be bothered and the price was very good.

I know they arent popular and people have strong opinions about them but got these specifically for a number of reasons.

1) The local service from "Mr Toughdog" himself is exceptional and only just down the road.
2) The dimensions to suit the Prado (with OEM airbags) I had in mind were very specific and they were the only ones that fitted the bill exactly.
3) Adjustable which is an absolute gem to be able to do.
4) Suited the airbag perfectly with a total of about 10mm in extra extension, WITHOUT MODS.
5) Importantly, EVERY person I spoke to who has the current gen of Tough Dog shock is wrapped in them without a single issue.

So, I took it out yesterday and first thing I wanted to prove was I was going to loose an airbag.

Rear with spacers for the sensors sit at 825mm with 65-70mm left.


Spacers either side for the sensors


Front using TDC974H springs sitting at 790mm with a massive 100mm of travel left which is significantly more than all the other brands.


Rear wheel is off the ground

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

No sign of bags coming loose.


Different angle on max extension


I will be persuing the R clip sometime but there is no hurry I reckon with this combo.

Im wrapped in the result actually and the adjustment works brilliantly.

Perfect height combo for me,
790 front with max extension at 890 (before was 735 and 845)
825 rear with max extension at 900 (before was 790 and 890)

Very happy and the ride is awesome.

On a road trip and around town I had it set to 4 clicks, awesome handling but a bit hard especially with no load.

Offroad, knocked it down to 2 clicks and it soaked everything up really well.
Ive actually left it on two clicks, nice and plush similar to OEM but much better.

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Couple more pics

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Some detail shots.
The TD front has so much more down travel that the upper control arm just kisses the springs.



Front max droop




Just touching and exactly the same both sides and CV angle.
There seems to be no binding at this height.



Ride height 790mm CV angle is only a few degrees

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Rear at full droop



Doesnt seem to have any dislodgement issues????
Hopefully wont need to retain but may still do the R clip mod Ive been thinking about.

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

Marc. Nice work and congrats on taking the plunge and going against the norm with the Tough Dog setup. Fantastic results with both lift and droop. Can you please confirm the height of the spacers used for the sensors?

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Marc. Nice work and congrats on taking the plunge and going against the norm with the Tough Dog setup. Fantastic results with both lift and droop. Can you please confirm the height of the spacers used for the sensors?

Thanks mate, Im really happy with them, the ride is fantastic and the adjustment really works well.
Mine were not even to start with, the right side was originally 7-8mm lower so I ended having to compensate for this to get them level.
Left originally was 790, wanted 825 = 35mm @ 3:1 so I used 11mm spacer.
Right originally was 783, wanted 825 = 42mm @ 3:1 so I used 14mm spacer

You will have to work out what you want based on what youve got.
Hope that helps.
Cheers
Marc

[Strider Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strider]

Hi Marc, congrats on the lift. The rig is looking great.

Cheers
Alan

[1coolbanana Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 1coolbanana]

Hi Marc, congrats on the lift. The rig is looking great.

Cheers
Alan

Thanks Alan, I pretty happy the way its coming along and so far Im very impressed with the TD's
Cheers
Marc

PS: Can you hear the crickets from the Cape? lol

[shrek Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close shrek]

Hi Marc,
Nice rig, I just joined and I have only just bought my first fourby. Same as yours only white.Look forward to seeing more pics as your build progresses. Thanks for your comment about the ARB. I am getting one soon and it was between that one and TJM.Cheers
Shrek

[8608 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close 8608]

you need some new upper control arms on the front.

good pics and write up too.

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

Starting to tick the boxes now mate ..well done...
joey