Steves Graphite 150

[stevesonly Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stevesonly]

Hello all never been in a forum before now so here goes. I bought my new 2012 model GXL last year had to wait 6 months for it because of the earth quakes in Japan wanted that colour in diesel and a auto because I drive a truck and change gears all day like the comfort of not having to do the same when I knock off.

Before I picked her up I had never owned a 4WD or every been 4WDriving man what have I missed all this time im 47 and just starting out wish I had caught the bug a long time ago but I will make up for lost time im sure of that.

Here are some pictures of what I have done so far with her.

This was a week old got talked in to doing the power lines in Mundaring WA


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I then Had Prestige Sheep skins put front seat covers and centre console and water proof canvas covers for the rear seats no pics of that

Then came the bull bar and snorkel thanks to ARB

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and UHF as well

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I then bought ARB intensity led lights and I can say they are the best never seen a light that can light up a road like these do.

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In the last fort night I have put 33" tyres and rims on her. Before the prado I owned a ssv sportswagon and had Falken tyres on it they would hug the road like any thing got great road wear out of them so when I was showed Falkens Wild Peaks I was like nice did some research and they seem like they are all good from what I have read . They have been on for 3 weeks and so far great on city roads no tyre noise great in wet big test will be in 4 weeks when im off to steep point. I went from 265/65/17 to 285/70/17 only problem I have had is the front mudflaps had to come off as they touched and on hard lock they touch the front springs just.


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Last week came the dual battery set up and I went with a redarc system and when it arrives a d34 yellow top optima. I had some issues with ARB over this firstly not placing the rear plug where I wanted it they thought that was to hard and put it on the right side and then they put a 48amp yellow top in where I asked for a D34 55 amp and paid for that. So you can guess I wasn't very happy when I found out so they got there battery back and im waiting for one I bought off ebay to arrive. No pictures of this job but when the battery arrives I will upload some.

Just gone Monday she had her last make over for a while a OME suspension and 2" lift kit put through her so I think she might just be able to go most places now well I hope so any way this pic aren't great but will post some more later on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...87630990_n.jpg

Thanks for letting me share I hope the links work been a long time since I posted in html links and thanks for letting me join I have read so much and got some great ideas since surfing here.

Have a great day ..Steve

[farmernz Member Find all posts View Profile Close farmernz]

nice set up.

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

Nice. I like the tyre size. They won't fit mine as my ARB side rails get in the way

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

Very nice there Steve. I test drove an ARB Ford Ranger around the streets in town a few months ago with the LED Intensity lights, not bad at all for 3 watt led's but he had 2 x spot. Just couldn't justify the price and if they were stolen i'd be spewing!

Keep us posted on your build!

[stevesonly Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stevesonly]

Going to put side rails on mine did you get the steps as well ? or just the rails I could see that would be a problem they go in just near where the mudflaps are ?

[stevesonly Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stevesonly]

lucky they are insured but yes they are expensive I did a deal with ARB on the lights some 4x4 places in the USA were selling them $200 dollars cheaper then here so I showed them and said I wanted them for the same price and they agreed...

[ru_altitude Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ru_altitude]

lucky they are insured but yes they are expensive I did a deal with ARB on the lights some 4x4 places in the USA were selling them $200 dollars cheaper then here so I showed them and said I wanted them for the same price and they agreed...

Hi Steve, Great job, why pay full price. Love the pics. I have just ordered a Redarc with Optima battery myself. Which Redarc did you get - SBI12 or a BCDC? Looking forward to seeing pics of it installed.

[stevesonly Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close stevesonly]

Hi Steve, Great job, why pay full price. Love the pics. I have just ordered a Redarc with Optima battery myself. Which Redarc did you get - SBI12 or a BCDC? Looking forward to seeing pics of it installed.

Hi there I got the BCDC system lets just say I wasn't very happy with ARB only because I think when you pay for some thing you should get what you asked for. I wanted the back plug on the left side in the spare compartment so I could eventually put all my bits in there seems that was to hard they put above the hair dryer on the right. Then oh this is the killer we had talked about a d34 Optima yellow top and as far as I know that is what I paid for 55 amp yellow top wasn't till my neighbour said to me steve maybe you should check that code number I don't think that's a d34 and blow me over if they didn't give me a 48amp was not impressed at all. Took it back last Monday as they were doing the OME and 2" lift and told them to keep the battery and disconnect the system il get my own battery for half the price they wanted. Found a guy in SA on ebay brand new D34 $230.00 delivered free to your door problem solved.

In saying all this I don't meen to be disrespectful to any one from ARB in here but I have spent every thing on my car from them and I got one of there and I meen this fantastic double dome swags they are every thing you could want comfy as hell lots of room and worth what I paid for. But I think ARB might not see me again after this and I will be taking my money else where...Steve

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

Going to put side rails on mine did you get the steps as well ? or just the rails I could see that would be a problem they go in just near where the mudflaps are ?

Checkout my build thread, plenty of pics. I have both.