Smithy's Rig Build

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Hey Fronty, the angle is now in the opposite direction than before the lift, as the factory setup had sagged with all my accessories, and 4 years of use. I updated my insurance cover today, and no extra charge either.

As you can see, the angles aren't too extreme, and with 2" lift, I don't believe a diff drop is necessary either.

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

Smithy, those angles look fine. In fact they're almost flat. I don't think you'll have any issues prematurely tearing boots. My original suspension has sagged so much my cv's are going up that much. Thanks for posting the pics. Really appreciate it. Cheers.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Slowly getting organised for a rear camp table. Got half the materials (some I already had, some I had to buy) and built the table part on the weekend. Just need to source some hinges, webbing, and loopy bits for securing the table, and then I'll get into installing it. Dimensions will be 900x500 when done, using 9mm ply to minimise thickness, reinforced with aluminium channel.

[Flea LeCrowds Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Flea LeCrowds]

That lift looks VERY tidy Smithy. I cant wait to get mine done but am a little nervous about the repercussions having taken a 'better to beg forgiveness' approach to my lift. The under car protection plate looks tops also. I may have to price this bit of kit once my wounds heal :-)
On another topic... did you ever consider going with a BFG 265 70 17 AT?

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

On another topic... did you ever consider going with a BFG 265 70 17 AT?

Hi Flea, funny you should ask, as it wasn't until AFTER I had put the 65's on that I actually learnt what the numbers really mean. When I learnt that an extra 13mm clearance could be gained by going to 70's, I felt a little put out, but there are advantages still sticking with the 65's (better low down torque for one - not that I need it). There is some discussion on this forum about the 70's actually calibrating the odometer properly as well (the 65's show you are doing around 10% faster than reality (I am yet to test this with my GPS, but I believe the discussion), which is actually a legal requirement on car manufacturers these days... Might go up to 70's next time, but that is a few years away as yet... Other than that, very happy with the BFGs.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

[QUOTE=Smithy - 120 D4D;408819]Slowly getting organised for a rear camp table.

Got around to finishing the camp table on the weekend. Very happy with the result, but did get a bit of grief from SWMBO due to coverring up the rear door catch (Prado is being used a bit as a taxi service for kids during the winter)

The hardest part was locating where to drill for the hinges and buttons so as to contact steel, as I couldn't work out how to fully remove the rear door panel, but with a bit of guess work, I managed to achieve the required outcome.

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

She will be happy when you go on a winter run, pull out the little gas burner and make her a damn hot coffee.

Looks good.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

[QUOTE=Palmer;410156]She will be happy when you go on a winter run, pull out the little gas burner and make her a damn hot coffee.

Such a way with words, Palmer - Would you like to speak on my behalf next time I get grief about drilling holes into the Prado?

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

Do you really think I'm dumb enough to do that (I would imagine she would rip me to shreads if you didn't do it perfectly)

By the way, when I said "damn hot coffee", I mean't it as being an extreamly hot coffee that would warm her up after a cold day out.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Ahhh - I thought you meant to indicate the mood being projected towards one's self...

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Recently ordered and received (thankyou mr e-bay) a pair of front recovery points, and got them on over the weekend too. What seemed like a simple job almost had me giving up, as I couldn't for the life of me work out how to remove the lower radiator bolts, but my determination to get the job done without wife and kids to distract me won over, and I finally nutted it out!

Waiting on receipt of another purchase - AMTS radiator protector - which will hopefully arrive today and complete my UVP requirements (for now)...

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

[QUOTE=Smithy - 120 D4D;410123]

Slowly getting organised for a rear camp table.

Got around to finishing the camp table on the weekend. Very happy with the result, but did get a bit of grief from SWMBO due to coverring up the rear door catch (Prado is being used a bit as a taxi service for kids during the winter)

The hardest part was locating where to drill for the hinges and buttons so as to contact steel, as I couldn't work out how to fully remove the rear door panel, but with a bit of guess work, I managed to achieve the required outcome.

Looking forward to seeing this set up when we meet for a GTG meeting later this month. Has been on the radar for a while now but really wanted to see one in the flesh.

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

They look pretty good.

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Glad to have them on - much safer option than the factory tie-downs, and reading some of the GTG threads, are an essential item for attendance, for safety reasons.

Need to test them out some time...

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Received one precision engineered shiny radiator protector plate last week - Thankyou AMTS!

Managed to fit it on without too many dramas, which now completes the UVP requirements. Feel much safer now - Always use protection!