Steve’s D4D150 GXL

[1stPrado-White150GXL Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1stPrado-White150GXL]

Yep, concur with the others - great photos.

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

Time to start putting some effort back into the Prado. Last week saw the diff breathers go in. One to the front diff and the other starts at the rear diff and links into the transfer case and the transmission.



I hope to get the roof rack on this weekend as well

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

Time to start putting some effort back into the Prado. Last week saw the diff breathers go in. One to the front diff and the other starts at the rear diff and links into the transfer case and the transmission.



I hope to get the roof rack on this weekend as well

I'm not sure if this is entirely correct, but I would be careful about joining them as it may lead to cross contamination of diff/auto fluids.

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

I'm not sure if this is entirely correct, but I would be careful about joining them as it may lead to cross contamination of diff/auto fluids.

I thought that, but after speaking to a couple of people I considered that it should only be a problem if I roll the car, at which time I think I have bigger problems.

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

Got the roof rack on today. Lights are not wired as yet.





Now I have room for a tent and beer without kicking the kids out

[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

Looking good Stephen. I assume you've taken it for a drive with the rack on. Is it noisy? Could you notice the extra weight on top? I'm looking at getting the same roof rack myself. If you get some time, could you post the minumum clearance betweent he roof and the bottom of the rack? I want to sling a table under the roof racks and need to know how much space there is to work with.

Thanks,

Mike

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

Looking good Stephen. I assume you've taken it for a drive with the rack on. Is it noisy? Could you notice the extra weight on top? I'm looking at getting the same roof rack myself. If you get some time, could you post the minumum clearance betweent he roof and the bottom of the rack? I want to sling a table under the roof racks and need to know how much space there is to work with.

Thanks,

Mike

You’ve got about 40mm in the middle and 60mm at the back. Weight, it is heavy but not an issue unless you want to take it on and off all the time. I was thinking about it but now that I am going to wire up the lights I have decided to keep it on.

Noise – mmmmmmmm Yes there is a bit when you get over 80kmh, but I think the lights are about half of that. In a couple of weeks I will take it for a decent drive and see how much it annoys me. At this stage, one small drive, my wife did not notice it so I am not in trouble on that side.

Note that Powerfull4x4 has just brought out a new model and they are currently selling the old model off via ebay for $500. That’s why I jumped in and got this one. I was saving for a ARB one, but that would be about twice the price.

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

Just back from Endless Air today. Still working out where the switch and other parts will go.

[hookedon4wding Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close hookedon4wding]

Looking good. I love the Wahalla area too. Some great tracks up their. A mate and I did Deep Creek Tracks 1-4 last time as well as Beardmores and a couple of others. Looking forward to giving some of the ones you mentioned a go next time. Planning on spending a weekend up there soon.

I saw your car the other day. Looks good on the road. Never forget that number plate

How have you found the extended sway bar arms? Noticeable difference in rear flex? Do you mind if I ask how much they were? I'm in Mt. Eliza so can easily get some from the shop.

Cheers, Sam.

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

How have you found the extended sway bar arms? Noticeable difference in rear flex?

Hi Sam. Cost was about $100. At this stage I have not noted any extra flex, but most of the time when it is flexing I am busy behind the wheel to see how the back is going. My flex is also reduced due to the rear springs being a bit stiffer than optimal as I plan to add a couple extra kgs to the back soon with a long range tank in the plans and a fridge. It should work well then.

When I was last up Rawson with another Prado that was close to identical with the one exception being the sway bar arms there was a good rock ledge that I got over where the second car needed a winch, so there could be a bit in it. Part of my reason for changing was also due to the rubbers at the top being crushed out of shape due to the angle it was pulling with the original arms after the lift.

Deep Creek tracks in one area on my “to do” list. The last time I was there we got to the top of Deep Creek no 5 when a big storm came over, and as it was close to “Beer O’clock” we decided that the beer was more important. Hope to get back there soon.


Love those videos on your Blog. Makes me hate my office.

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Steve,

Great looking Prado and it seems you use it plenty,

A couple of questions,

The Tough Dog Springs and Bilstein shockers is an unusual combination, why did you go with the Tough Dogs?

Are the BF Goodrichs noisy compared to the original Dunlops?

Thanks,

Greg

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

Hi Greg.

Springs - I spoke to a lot of people and about 5 different shops, but in the end I just took the advice of the local shop who promised that I would be happy with them, and they were right. The main concern I had when looking was that I had seen a lot of people get a 50mm lift, but after fitting a bar on the front they were only 10mm higher than standard. The springs I chose for a 40mm lift initially lifted the front about 75mm, which was then brought down a bit with the fitting of the bar and winch. Happy with the ride and height.

Shocks – some people told me I should get the same brand shocks as springs, but I do not personally think that it is necessary. Bilstein are known for not giving up on long corrugated tracks and I believe this is because they remain a single skin unit, where most are a double skin. This means that they can be more susceptible to damage if struck but can dissipate heat better. Bilsteins are also fully rebuild able.

When you change tyres you will notice the noise. For me it is not an issue as I do a lot of Victorian high country driving and I need the grip and the side wall strength (both of which I would not trust the factory tyres). The only thing that has created more noise was the roof rack.

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

I had seen a lot of people get a 50mm lift, but after fitting a bar on the front they were only 10mm higher than standard.

I would think this is more due to choosing incorrect spring rates rather than being down to which brand of springs are selected.

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

I would think this is more due to choosing incorrect spring rates rather than being down to which brand of springs are selected.

Very true. The difficult thing that most of us find is that unless we have gone through the process before or you know someone else with the same model vehicle there often a high degree of jumping in head first and seeing how it turns out. As a result I have offered my vehicle out to other members of PradoPoint for test drives in the past.

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

Got a bit dirty over the weekend. Always a good sign