1st 4x4 - 04 Prado GXL

[Alex_GXL Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Alex_GXL]

Hey all.

First time on here so here goes.

I bought a 2004 GXL Prado V6 few wks back.

Absolutely stock!!! Not even any roof racks.

1ST Mod - TJM T13 Outback deluxe winch bullbar.

Few issues getting it on (did it myself and there were missing parts). But looks good I think.

Snorkel going on this wkend - hopefully if I have time.

Then spotties. Then winch and so on........ hahaha

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

Looks very nice!!! Congratz & welcome to PP.

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

Welcome to PP and the start of an empty wallet. This is the only place to learn what can and can not be done to a Prado.

[Justo77 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Justo77]

Very nice and welcome to PP, look forward to seeing your future mods.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

Welcome Alex. No mucking around with a DIY bar install right off the bat!

As above, you could spend a bomb on the 120. Enjoy!

Look forward to more photos as they come.

Micheal

[Alex_GXL Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Alex_GXL]

Thanks all. Hopfully I have some more photos after this wkend for you.

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

Nice score on the GXL Alex and welcome to the forum.
Glad to see you are getting into the mods straight away.
Good luck with the snorkel install.
What part of Adelaide are you from?
Cheers Troy

[Alex_GXL Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Alex_GXL]

Hi Troy,
I'm up in the Northern burbs.
Had a look at your snorkel install photos gave me some heads up, as mine is almost identical (parts and rubber joints etc).

Finally arrived in the post yesterday so got some more photos.

Not a name brand but made pretty decently and 2 year warranty.

[Alex_GXL Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Alex_GXL]

Hi Again,

Ok I have an update installed the snorkel the other day. Took plenty of notes from other people on here so went fairly smoothly.

Couldn't get the very top locknut on though 4 ain't bad lol

Photos below for everyone.

Setup.

Damn Clips haha (thanks PP for giving me the tip to buy extra clips

Holes cut (they are circular just have touch up paint to stop rusting)

Pillar holes


Next post will show finish.

[Alex_GXL Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Alex_GXL]

Ok Final connections tightened up


And the finished product


Had trouble with a HSS hole saw purchased specifically from a toolshop to cut the hole which in the end didn't cut a hole at all and almost did some decent damage.

In the end lots and lots of drill holes and a file had to finish off the job (Not Happy! was an understatement). hahaha

[grande1810 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grande1810]

Looks like a fairly neat fit, where did you buy snorkel from?

[Alex_GXL Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Alex_GXL]

Off eBay for $169. I think the same one now is around $150. Think it's 4x4 direct or
something like that.

[Matto24 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Matto24]

Hi Alex what was the issue with the hole saw?
For future reference an old formular for determining the drill speed rpm for cutting steel with HSS is 300x(20 for HSS)/Diameter of the drill or holesaw. For example a 100mm Diameter holesaw the drill speed should be about 60 rpm. ie the bigger the cutter or drill the slower it should go. ie 6000/100mm Saw= 60 rpm. Putting a large hole saw in a garden variety universal motor drill due to the high rpm is generally not a good idea, it gets out of control and just burns the teeth off any holesaw no matter what quality it is.
Hope this may help any future PP members. Nice work on the installs btw.

[Alex_GXL Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Alex_GXL]

Thanks MAtto. Really good advice. Did follow those rules have an AEG drill with all the extras (ie speed control) unfortunately I think needed a better saw as I was going fairly slowly with it. Non the less lucky it all worked out well in the end. Cheers.