Matt's 2012 TD 150 Series Prado

[Madkore]

A second battery is not just for a fridge (although I think cold beer is worth the cost), but you can get dual purpose batteries which will allow you to turn over the engine should you main battery die.

For me, who owns an automatic, this justified the expense.

[vxcruiser08]

Thanks a lot for the helps guys. It's very confusing and obviously expensive just to simply run a fridge!
Sounds like the DCDC charger is a must and a proper deep cycle battery.

[The Alberto]

Redarc BCDC1225 is good, but you can get the BCDC1240 for under $400 if you shop around online. The advantage you have here is that it puts out 40amps rather than 25amps. This will recharge your second battery faster. Also if you are looking to one day put an anderson plug on the the rear for a camper or a van, once you allow for voltage drop the 40amp charger will do a better all round job. Each DCDC charger will suffer current drop due to the heat under the bonnet, so a 25amp charger will not necessarily put out a constant 25amps (likewise for the 40). The DCDC charger is also a multi-stage charger which looks after your battery better = longer battery life.

[Bear63]

the marine battery is good value , still a starting (do you need starting?)and some deep cycle , they have a gell inside them to stop the plates rattling around and breaking internally
As Madkore said it would be a good idea to fit the dc/dc charger

[Madkore]

From my understanding, the D4D motor (or any motor for that matter) is known to have issues when charging a second battery in that the alternator struggles to put out enough to charge it sufficiently. The RedArc charger you were quoted on boosts the charge to the second battery to help bring it up to a better charge rate as well as isolates the two batteries.

I think the RedArc you were quoted on may also account for various battery types, but best you search on that one.

Maybe try getting a quote from a different ARB store or even a reputable auto electrician.

And as stated above, shop around for your battery as there are so many types and prices out there. Plenty of info on this forum to help you with that.

[vxcruiser08]

Thanks mate, tell me this. I went to TJM and the bloke there actually explain to me how it all works.

He said to me I don't need the "RedArc S/Start DC/DC Battery Charger". I only need the isolator?

Total came to $1100 with a marine deep cycle battery. Apparently they recommend these due to value for money. This also included wiring to the rear and two outlets, also a switch for jump starting installed.

[Bear63]

that battery is a normal start battery ,if you are running a fridge off it it will sulphate in no time ,the price is also up there as well ,i would go with the optima but shop around for a good price

[vxcruiser08]

This is the breakdown of the quote for the dual batteries:

4321130 - Aux Batt Kit Prado 150 Diesel SBI12 - $324.04
4221030 - Batt Tray Kit Prado 10/09ON - $97.11
122102 - Batt NS70X Century UHP STD D Yellow Blue 13 - $182.06
Fitting of the above - $181.82

BCDC1225 - RedArc S/Start DC/DC Battery Charger 12v 25A - $365.12
Fitting of RedArc charger - $200
Install outlet for fridge etc in rear - $150

= Total $1499.00

+ Optional monitor for $250.

Thoughts? Is this a crap battery? I asked for an explanation of advantage of spending the extra $200 for the optima battery i think it was but he said he wasn't sure!

[ptnlinda]

Matt, 7.5 L/100k's is extremely frugal. With all the gear on mine driving around town I am only getting 13.2 L/100k's but total k's to date is only 7,000.

[Madkore]

25 years old and you've already owned a 200 series??? Damn! My car when I was 25 was a 1986 4runner with a 2.4l diesel (non-turbo). Damn I loved that car though!

Anywho, I digress...

Congrats on the Prado! $1400 seems a little pricey, but it depends on what Redarc controller you have and also what battery you are getting chucked in. Are you also getting some outlets put in the back? What about a fuse block and maybe an override switch? It all starts to add up then...

I have an ARB air compressor installed under bonnet with no dramas. Under the seat is also a popular option.

As for your other questions, I'll leave it to others who have more experience with the products you are considering.

[vxcruiser08]

G'day Guys,

Well I've been on and off this site for years trying to always compare the Prado to other vehicles, i wish i just did it to begin with! I've owned a few vehicles, the last one being a petrol 200 series... I've learnt a lot of lessons the hard way after that expensive fuel guzzler! So far the prado has ticked all the boxes for me.

I live out of town and do a lot of 4wd/camping trips so my primary requirement was an economical and capable 4WD and it had to be a Toyota!

Completed Mods (Updated Feb 2014)

- ARB Deluxe winch bull bar
- ARB side rails and integrated steps
- KayMar Rear Bar with dual wheel carriers
- KayMar High Lift jack holder
- Hi-lift Jack
- Suspension: Cal Off Road 3" Lift (Upper control arms, diff drop kit, tuned Bilsteins shocks & custom Dobinsons coils) superior engineering adjustable panhard rod, extended sway bar links and re-locators
- CoilRite Airbags
- Drifta Drawers
- MSA 4x4 fridge drop slide
- ARB Awning
- Safari Snorkel
- Dual battery system with Optima Yellow Top + Redarc BCDC1225
- ARB Under bonnet air compressor
- GME TX3520 UHF
- External GME speaker
- GME AE4705 Antenna
- RFI NextG Antenna
- Rhino Platform roof rack (42102B)
- Rhino Rack Shovel Holder
- 2 x ARB LED Intensity Spot Beam Driving Lights
- 1 x 20" Aurora LED Light Bar (5 watt leds)
- Piranha Diff Breathers
- WaterWatch fuel monitoring alarm system
- 2 x 10 watt LED flood lights on rear of roof rack
- Waeco 50L CFX Fridge + Wireless monitor
- ARB Bullbar Parker/Indicator LED Upgrade

Future Mods:
- Cargo Barrier
- New rims and 285's
- Winch

January 2013:



April 2013:



August 2013:



May 2014::