Matt's 2012 TD 150 Series Prado

[vxcruiser08]

A few updates...

ARB Awning fitted.

Scangauge arrived & fitted didn't like it above the steering column so mounted it above the CD player and happy with it there!

Blackwidow 57L water tank arrived. Going to be interesting getting this going.

Drifter Drawers with MSA drop slide booked in for mid-feb. Decided against built in slide as I am only a shorty!

GME TX3520 arrived. Going to mount it differently to what i've seen - Even if it means drilling holes in the dash!

Rear LED Lights mounted on top of roof rack seem to work well but really quite limited to strictly behind the car so need an LED strip for awning.

In the middle of moving house so I'll get a few updates probably later in Feb.

[vxcruiser08]

Also here is a video of the Prado attempting Big Red back in May last year. I made it up the following day after letting a few more PSI out of the tyres and getting a bit more momentum. The 2 x jeeps and 2 x hilux's didn't get up. Not to mention one of the Jeep's was 100 sand dunes away broken down anyway......



As you can see the vehicle started bucking as the rear foam cells were set to their softest setting which didn't help. The adjusters broke off which caused quite a few issues for me in the dunes!

[vxcruiser08]

Hi Guys,

Been a while since an update. I've been planning my next stage of mods before my next big trip. Since my last update, I did a "quick" outback stint with a friend on Reola station who was working there at the time. Went up to cameron corner and took our time to see all the sites, it was brilliant. Camped at cameron corner and loved it.

All I can say is i need DRAWERS! I can no longer handle plastic containers they drive me up the wall. So stay tuned for a few mods to come In Jan/Feb this year:

- Drifta or Outback Drawers (still deciding) whichever way I go, built in fridge slide.
- Cargo Barrier
- Black widow divider and shelf
- Black widow water tank
- Fuel manager water/fuel separator
- ARB Awning
- GME TX3520S (Oricom unit is a rubbish!)
- Kaymay rear bar with wheel holder and jerry can holder... Not too sure on this one as it's not cheap! 4K colour coded and fitted is a lot of $.

Here are some pics... enjoy!

[vxcruiser08]

Thanks Madkore, appreciate it. A little post editing helps on the photos.

[Madkore]

If I bought a 150 series, this is how I'd build it.

Thanks for the update Matt and great photos too. For someone who claims to mainly use the 'Auto' function, you certainly have a keen photographic eye.

[vxcruiser08]

Great set up Matt im still tossing up between proper made rock sliders or just ARBs side rails and steps I know it will set my Prado off I have seen some nice rock sliders superior engineering I might have to do some more thinking about it for the time being. But your 4wd looks great and I love the pics on PB of your camping we have so much dry stuff over here in the west and you guys over there have so much more to offer like the snow and high country dreaming now lol ....Steve

Thanks for the comments Steve. Yes it's rather green here at the moment and a completely different terrain! Personally I wouldn't mind if i slid on a few rocks as they seem really well built, but you are right they're not sliders so i wouldn't go out of my way to grind them like a skateboarder on a rail

[stevesonly]

Great set up Matt im still tossing up between proper made rock sliders or just ARBs side rails and steps I know it will set my Prado off I have seen some nice rock sliders superior engineering I might have to do some more thinking about it for the time being. But your 4wd looks great and I love the pics on PB of your camping we have so much dry stuff over here in the west and you guys over there have so much more to offer like the snow and high country dreaming now lol ....Steve

[vxcruiser08]

Thanks guys, I love playing around with the camera. Most of the time I just leave it on auto (650D) and play with them in Picasa a little. Wish I still had my mac had some great software on there.

Anyways...

Went round the property today cutting up some wood for my wood fire oven over the weekend, keeps the house warm. Since the temperature in my area doesn't seem to go over 10 degrees much during winter!

Took a few shots and played around a bit... decided on B&W for something different...

Btw - does anyone else get excited when they start their chainsaw? Bloke thing i guess...

[stevep84]

Looks like a great trip VX and some great photos there.
Your rear work light does a great job!

Steve

[Smithy - 120 D4D]

Those photos are superb - great colour vibrancy and clarity - something I need to learn a lot more about (have the tool in a Canon 40D, just not the comprehensive knowledge on how to get the best out of it).

[Hutch]

Nice one VX.

[mjrandom]

Nice shots, looks like a great trip.

[vxcruiser08]

River was pounding a bit...

[vxcruiser08]

Thanks for the tips AMTS.

I did a trip on the weekend, it was awesome! Long Point NSW (which is only 5 kms from me) to Hill end, sofala and followed the Turon river to Capertee. Was a great trip!

Does anyone else find reverse in low range on the prado's so ridiculous? Did a few side tracks with some steep narly stuff... lost traction on a few 3/4 up and crapped myself as reverse reaches about 20kms/h in about 1 second!

Photos:

With the camera settings, try ISO100, f8 and 4sec. Then vary the shutter speed until what you see matches what your eye sees.

If the lightbar is mounted back far enough, there will be minimal reflections on the bonnet and hopefully the tubes on the bar.