Big Dog's Rig Build Up

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

Been on the forum for a while now and have referred to it on numerous occassions while building up my rig, so here's my rig build up.

Before the Prado there was "Thunder", specifically my SS Thunder Commodore Ute.



The Ute was a fun vehicle with plenty of power, handy for taking a heap of gear camping, but not much chop getting to out of the way places, even speed bumps in some places were a bit of a challenge. So It was time for a 4WD.

Looked at a couple of options at the Motorshow Navara, Patrol, Pathfinder, Landcruiser and of course the Prado, wife liked the look of the 120 series Prado so that was the one. Looked around for a low klms, cheap, second hand, manual diesel with no luck. Had a mate at the local Toyota Dealer, and he hooked us up with a great deal.

So we ordered a Grey 2008 GXL Manual D4D Prado, with Sovereign Bar, Floor and Cargo Mats and in just 16 Weeks we would have our brand new Prado. Not a problem, still had to sell the Ute.

3 weeks later, got a call from my mate, good news had a canceled order and you can pick your prado up at the end of the week. Brilliant - haven't sold the Ute. Anyway picked up the prado and managed to offload the Ute about 2 months later - had the Prado arrived on time, we would have sold the Ute 1 Week prior to picking up the prado.

Anyway here it is on the beach at Bribie for it's first trip on the beach, when it was all new and shinny, can still see a reflection in the bull bar.

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

Big Dog - The List

So here's the list of what's done and what NEEDS to be done. I'll build this up with some pics over the next few weeks.

The Big Dog

Year: June 2008
Model: 120 Series GXL
Colour: Grey
Engine: D4D
Transmission: Manual


Accessories / Modifications

*Sovereign Bull Bar
*Toyota Tow Bar
*Toyota Rubber Floor Mats
*Toyota Rubber Cargo Mat
*Personalised Plates - BigDog
*GME3440 UHF Radio
*PradoPoint Sticker
*IPF 900 Spot Lights + Blue Covers
AMTS Spacers
MaxTraxx
MaxTraxx Custom Mount - Removed need to work out something for the ARB rack.
DIY Esky Slide/Box
*LT 275/65 R17 All Terrain BFG's
Hi-Lift Jack & Kaymar Roofrack Mount
Autocraft Rock Sliders / Side Steps
Safari Snorkle
Hilux Washer Upgrade
ARB Delux Alloy Rack
Ironman Awning 2m x 2.5m
Exedy Clutch Kit - Not a mod I planned on

To Do List / Wants

2" Lift & Airbags
Dual Battery System (Have bought the Redarc Isolator)
Wet Seat Covers
Third IPF Spottie
AMTS Bash Plates
DIY Drawers
Diff Breather Extensions
Reverse/Work Light
Exhaust Upgrade
Power Chip
ARB Delux Winch Bar
Winch
Rear Bar

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

Hi BigDog
Looking forward to the progression of your Rig Build up.
Nice list so far.
Cheers Troy

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

Big Dog's Name Tag

Alright the first thing to go onto the Big Dog was it's name plate. Stopped off at main roads on the way home from work and bloted them on in the carpark.

I Swapped 816DOG off my ute and onto the Prado, wouldn't let me just swap the standard plates that were coming off the ute onto the prado, had to surrender the Prado's Plate then purchase a set of "replacement" plates. I'm sure if i'd sent someone in 5mins later to the same counter to purchase a set of plates they would have given them my old ones.



As i've said previously not everyone gets it straight away... fairly regularly i get "Oh it's BIG DOG, that's clever"

Not only is it clever it's about $2k cheaper too (for those in the southern states in QLD you pay a one off then you own the plates)

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

Anyone else having trouble seeing the photo's or is it just me

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

Just you. .

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

Ok thanks I can see them now

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

The power of opening one's eyes.

So Bigdog, big change from grunt and a light end to torque and a big bum. Which do you prefer.?

[adamr7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close adamr7]

Had both too, prefer the Prado

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

The power of opening one's eyes.

So Bigdog, big change from grunt and a light end to torque and a big bum. Which do you prefer.?

It was a massive change, I had the ute in the shed for about 6 weeks after getting the prado. Once I sold it I had to drive it over to purchasers place and the difference in power was noticable to say the least.

I would love to have both but I prefer the prado buy far. As soon as you drop it into 4WD and hit the tracks there is no better feeling and no way I would want anything else.

Big Dog.

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

Big Dog's - UHF Install

So the first real mod was installing the UHF. This was my first go at doing anything like this myself. After spending alot of time on PP and looking at where to install it, I decided on the GME TX3440 and mounted in the space behind the dash on the drivers side. Pulled power of the back of the 12V socket in the centre console so it's only on when the ACC are on. Some Pictures.

Aerial


Head Unit - not the best photo, but it's hard to get the camera up there.



Mic / Cotroller



Brought the microphone/controller out through the hole in the dash, with plans of putting a socket there and done nothing with it since, only recently installed the mount for the mic, was hanging it off the lip of the hole.

In the future I'll put the socket down behind the gearstick as I've seen on someone elses install, mainly to get the cable away from my leg, every now and then it grabs the hairs on my leg . I'll also take the 12V supply off the second battery when that goes in. The other mistake I made on the first install was to route the coax through part of the bull bar mount, out of sight and very neat, well protected. Problem arose when toyota had to change the bull bar mounts, also slight possibility of damage in an accident, and then you've got no UHF. So that was re-routed when I reinstalled it after the bull bar work.

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

Nice work BigDog !!! This is still on my things to do list...
What was your antenna choice ?

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

Nice work BigDog !!! This is still on my things to do list...
What was your antenna choice ?

Not 100% sure it was a while ago that I installed it. It came as a bundle, and was a 4.5db gain, black fibreglass. Looking at the GME website it is probably the AE4018K1 (or similar). Could probably do with replacing the whip as it is a bit loose/cracked where it joins the base. While I was there I noticed that the Tx3440 is upgradeable to 80ch, might look into what's involved too.

Big Dog.

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

Let There Be Light

Next mod was the addition of some driving lights. Nothing complicated, bought a couple of IPF 900's off ebay, bit nervous drilling a couple of holes in the bullbar but all went well, relay in near the battery and then wired up the IPF switch.



Came with standard white covers but too much of a PITA having to pull over and take them off when you need your spots, so recently I got some IPF Blue Covers for them.

In the planning is to wire these up to an ARB switch and a HID Upgrade, then throw a couple on the roof.

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

Big Dog's - Spare Wheel Bag

Next my wife got me this with a 4WD action subscription.



Brilliant for fishing gear / bait, rubbish, dirty gear. It was alot easier to get on and off after installation of some of AMTS spacers.