Matt's 2012 TD 150 Series Prado

[Pearl150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pearl150]

Thank you, I see what you mean now.

That has made me think about adding a second spare. Might go with the jerry can holder instead. I tend to like things neat and tidy and that would bug the hell out of me.

I wonder if it is just a case of moving the mounting plate for the wheel nuts in a little to straighten him up. I know mine is adjustable for different width tyres on the drivers side arm.

Maybe it has to be that way to get past the replacement number plate bracket.

Good luck with it anyway mate.

Cheers.

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

Hi Matt
10 pages of a great Rig Build up just read.
Fantastic pictures and info, this will be one of the benchmark 150 series build up post for all to enjoy.
Regards
Troy

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Thanks for the comments guys. I will definitely be following up the bent (IMO) arm with ARB or Kaymar if i have no luck!

Latest news:

So the day I left before my trip I had booked in the Prado to get two 20mm spacers installed as the rear appeared lower than the front, even though when i measured it there was about 10mm difference, it was getting to me. Anyway, 2 x $30 spacers turned into a $500 drama! Turns out the panhard rod bolts seized and threads stripped etc. Luckily I was provided with a temporary solution so i could still complete my trip.

From this, I have ordered a few bits from Superior engineering:

- Adjustable Panhard rod
- Extended sway bar links
- Sway bar relocation plates

I hope that is it for now and there will be no more surprises.

My coopers are also starting to crack. They've hit the 50,000km mark and are 13 months old. The cooper tyre rep looked over them yesterday and said they have only worn 1/3 (5 tyre rotation) which is think is impressive. However they have side wall cracks on the outershell and they will honour the warranty and provide me with some sort of cash rebate. Maybe a good excuse to go to 285s...

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

Are the suspension issues because of the CalOffRoad kit?

Good on Coopers though for honouring their warranty. There are quite a number of reports of it not working out for people so well on here. I still cant believe you have clocked up 50,000km in 13mths!!

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Hey Madkore,

I believe it's simply due to going 3 inches and I wasn't clearly informed i would require any additional equipment except the control arms and diff drop. Having said that, it wasn't installed by Cal - he said it should have been picked up when the new kit was installed and by whoever did the wheel alignment. I have to give Cal credit, he has been very helpful and i've been really annoying calling him often with questions etc.

The guys that installed it, let's just say after the rear shock fell out when i was driving and an airbag that constantly leaks now i won't be going back!

I Agree - Coopers are great at honouring their warranty, the rep had all the time in the world for me too so i really appreciated it. Yes 50k in 13 months. ODO is at 95K for a 2012. I wish i had a second car!

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

Hey Matt

Awesome rig mate loving it. Tough looking truck
I am in the process of ordering my 2"- 3" lift from Caloffroad and just come across this and i am a bit worried now. I have ordered the UCA's and my mate has a diff drop kit i can get off him. But by the sounds of it you need a few more things to make it right. Did the 20mm spacers u installed take it over the 3" lift? If the 3" lift involves all the extra stuff i will most likely just go their 2" lift. Also what size tyres are you running with that lift? and any rubbing?

Cheers

Kane

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

Hi Kane
Most of the Dominson rear coils will give you more than 2" lift (many around 3") in the rear anyway, especially without any load, same with ARB and other coils. I have the CAL 2" kit and really like the ride, although I am probably going to drop back to a lighter coil in the rear, to lower it a little, and also to provide a more comfy ride around town

Hey Matt

Awesome rig mate loving it. Tough looking truck
I am in the process of ordering my 2"- 3" lift from Caloffroad and just come across this and i am a bit worried now. I have ordered the UCA's and my mate has a diff drop kit i can get off him. But by the sounds of it you need a few more things to make it right. Did the 20mm spacers u installed take it over the 3" lift? If the 3" lift involves all the extra stuff i will most likely just go their 2" lift. Also what size tyres are you running with that lift? and any rubbing?

Cheers

Kane

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Hey Kane,

I believe the 20mm spacers got it back up to 3 inches. I actually haven't measured it properly since as i am usually not parking on flat ground! There is a hell of a lot of weight on the rear when I packed her all up with Jerry cans on roof, all camping gear, water etc - so I think it was needed to maintain the height and i am really fussy.

Yes if you go the 3" it's going to be expensive and IMO not worth taking the risk, so i would recommend doing the control arms, diff drop, pan hard rod, and the sway bar re-locators/extenders.

My tyres are only 265/70/17 for now so I imagine 285's will bring it up more again. I can see evidence of them rubbing ever so slightly on the control arms but i'm not worried and when i go bigger tyres will be making sure the offset pushes them out a bit more.

Matt

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

Cheers jkspinner. I might just order their 2" lift kit then. Dont really need a big lift as most the work will be beach work and some touring now.

Thanks as well matt. So your airbags dont hold the prado up once its fully loaded? Or is it just because they keep leaking air? Think the 2" will be less drama and should be high enough for what i want to do now. I like the way they look when they are lifted nice and high and also the view u get. i had a 100 series with 4" and 35s. So i just wanted it up high but im not rock crawling anymore so i think the 2" with 32s should suit me.
I might get on to Cal now and change to just a 2"

Thanks guys

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Unfortunately not, I could probably have got the heavy duty sleeves but maybe i can look at this later if i go more weight on rear e.g. roof top tent/water tank etc. They leak air over 24 hours at the moment, but when they were fully aired up i wasn't happy with the height.

2" sounds like a plan, not for everyone. I can also tell you the car handle heaps better on a 2", but i found it's smoother on a 3" but more body roll.

Matt

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Got the Superior Panhard Rod and Swaybar drop/extension kits fitted. Handles so much better, i was quite amazed actually!

I think i'll give the bank account a rest for a while now....

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

vx how much for the extendable panhard rod? With my 2" lift the diff sits ok but I can understand the need when you go 3"+.

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Hey Mjrandom,

http://www.superiorengineering.com.a...ducts_id=20405

Paid close to rrp via Cal off road.

Matt

[jubozy Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close jubozy]

Hey Matt

Great setup :-)
Just wondering what size fridge you got in the back and what size MSA fridge slide you have/had before it fell apart?

I've got the Drifta's (love em) in my 150 with a cargo barrier but I haven't yet installed my MSA 40 drop-down slide. Currently I've got an Evakool 60l but this won't fit in the back so that will stay in the CT, so looking around for a new fridge that will fit..

Cheers
Geoff

[r2d2 Member Find all posts View Profile Close r2d2]

Wow what a awesome rig. Thanks for sharing. Lots of the add ons is what I have been looking at.
Always good to get others experiences with different bits of equipment.
Thanks again for sharing