Nik's 2015 Graphite GXL buildup

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

Hi there

So I was told to start my own buildup thread by Derekclapham while I was on my NSW Toyota Landcruiser Club 4wd training course (which I have to say, was awesome!). I noticed a Pradopoint sticker on the back of Derek's car and had to introduce myself. Great way to meet someone I have to say! I'll get a sticker on the back of my car too asap Champion of a bloke.

(the other half may have taken ownership of the car after doing the course...)

So a back story I guess, as this might as well be my intro:

I've had a few sports/hot cars (first car: '69 corvette, which I still own, second: golf GTi, third: BMW m135i), so I love having fun in cars, but I put too many km's on them so that the kms outstrip the value too quickly I had the m135i for about 1yr 3m and 32,000kms on it from the canberra<sydney>canberra trip... I decided to get rid of it and buy something that was long term, but how do you have fun in a long term car while still being sensible? You buy a 4wd. Probably a Toyota Diesel for reliability. So after a long list of choices and not being able to stomach the price of a Landcruiser, or the rear leaf spring hilux (I'm precious), or their turning circles, I decided on a Prado. But the prado is kinda ugly (but growing on me), so I started looking at 120s, then 150s, but I was looking at the year/km's/resale value and figured, screw it, I'd buy brand new, I can look after it well myself and guarantee the car. I know nothing about 4wd'ing, not sensibly anyway, so I'm open to suggestions and feedback.

So here I am.

In the past two months I wanted to do a lot more to the Prado but haven't really done anything besides attach some roadsafe recovery points. I have definitely got an idea about what I want to do now though. I am getting my head around a lot and think I have some sort of roadmap. I'm an IT buffoon (not a boffin) and it's in my nature to seek out the technical side of things - the problem with me though is that I get bogged down in the technical theory of things without realising simple practicality (KISS).

What Have I done So Far?

• Roadsafe Recovery Points ($135 +recovery kit from marks4wd.com in vic) - 2015-06
• TowBar - Trailboss - 2015-07
• BRC Diff breather kit (purchased, about to be put on - $180 for the stainless 4 filter kit from my local www.craighallmechanical.com.au - the people here are honest and open, so I'll probably get my suspension and bar colour coding done there too). - 2015-07
• Safari Snorkel - Professionally installed. - 2015-07
• Opposite Lock Bullbar, Brush Bars and Side Steps, color coded - 2015-09
• Winch - runva 11xp premium from autopartsco
• UVP from tin
• Transfer case guard from tin

What do I want to do? (in round-a-bout order)

• Fuel Filter
• Cargo barrier (Half-Size if it's cheaper and accommodates the rear draws)
• Dual Battery System
• Rear draw
• Fridge w/ pull out frame
• Probably get the 4wdsupacenta exhaust package unless I hear bad things about it
• Chip from tdi-tuning.co.uk, but going to see how my snorkel + exhaust does for me first... I just want pickup on the highway.

And somewhere in there, AT tyres.

Some of these things will be done very quickly together.

Here's some pics while on my first boys weekend away...

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

So I started with the basics. I've installed the recovery points and have had a 3t tow bar installed.

Recovery Points:


Tow Bar:
The Tow bar that was installed was TrailBoss brand - comes out of the same factory in victoria as the hayman reece bars, has the same inserts and the only difference that I can tell being that the electric plug female unit is made of plastic. I only plan to have the bar for recovery purposes, I haven't towed anything in the 14 years I've been driving but the option is there now.

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

Ramps on the cheap:
Next I needed to create some ramps. I did a ring around and found that there really was nowhere that did ramps that could take more than 1.1t each. Ramps are usually steel welded frames or plastic moulded ramps, they're rated between 800kg and 1100kg. I don't particularly want to buy ramps for only 1.1tonnes per corner (a good mate at work's dad died about a year back when his project car fell on him, no it wasn't on ramps but being crushed by a car is something I don't want to deal with), so I decided to build some solid ones of my own, off to bunnings I went.


Materials:
2x 2400x200x75 sleepers cut into 1100x800x500mm lengths by bunnings (@50c / cut) roughly $35 for two ramps
12x nailplates (6 per ramp) $12
2x steel handle (1 per ramp) $10
PVA glue $5

Tools:
1x Hammer
2x quick action clamps $20
1x rough file - to take the edge off the corners
1x Phillips head screwdriver (for handle)
I don't have a workshop or garage at my disposal unless I travel to the parent's place 250km away... 4x clamps would have been quicker though I figured it'd be cheaper to just do one at a time considering the clamps would probably only be used once. I'd also prefer to have made 45 degree cuts on the corners.

Directions:
PVA glue the 3 differing lengths of cut sleeper largest to smallest, and clamp them together. Leave overnight. Come back, hammer the nail plates in. The idea is to have them so they don't move when you're driving on top.

End result:










As it's a prado, I don't have any issues getting up the ramp - and it's actually quite good having steps to indicate when you're up on the third level. The length of 1100mm fits in the back of the car. The ramps weigh a fair amount, probably in the vicinity of 40kg each. Don't drop them on your fingers it hurts to type this.

Afterthoughts:
Wheels on the back could be handy but might get in the way, is all good for now.




Diff breathers are probably next... And a snorkel will be installed this week.

I'm now tossing up TJM or ironman bar work: I think I'll go ironman, but the TJM T13 should work with the recovery points.

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

If you did another two you would have a hoist.

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

If you did another two you would have a hoist.

Now there's a thought!

Today I had the Safari Snorkel installed and I figured I'd get the guy to also install the diff breathers. He stopped half way because one of the connectors didn't fit as a breather replacement - my rear diff breather and transmission breathers are hooked up, not my front diff or the transfer box. Pretty happy with the opposite lock Canberra/Queanbeyan shop. The advice I've received was been pretty fair and honest, and I like how they just said "look, we could have gone sourcing a part for you but you can do that yourself, for free". They knew I threw the breathers in as an afterthought. I'll look to finish it off this weekend if I can get around to it.

Here's the snorkel.






And the diff breather kit mounted
(with only two breathers/filters attached)



Tomorrow is muffler replacement day

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

Muffler
Initial thoughts: sounds orright, barely louder. Seems to be better response down low - ie. off the line it seems to hesitate less like the power is more on-call or present, I haven't had the chance to go on a highway yet to test pickup from 110km/hr.

Current average is 9.4l/100kms at 8000kms. Have just reset the average counter and will report back in another 8000kms (about 3 months at this rate).

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

So I started with the basics. I've installed the recovery points and have had a 3t tow bar installed.

Recovery Points:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20558[/ATTACH]

Tow Bar:
The Tow bar that was installed was TrailBoss brand - comes out of the same factory in victoria as the hayman reece bars, has the same inserts and the only difference that I can tell being that the electric plug female unit is made of plastic. I only plan to have the bar for recovery purposes, I haven't towed anything in the 14 years I've been driving but the option is there now.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20554[/ATTACH]

Why is it that these "3T" tow bars are always missing the 4 bolt main in the centre that the factory one uses in conjunction with the six bolt sides? How can that be better or stronger?

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

Id imagine that its probably got more to do with the strength of the steel? I'd think that any bolts you'd use are strong enough for the job regardless of the amount used.

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

Just ordered the bar work. Woohoo! Opposite lock bar colour coded.

[afryer Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close afryer]

Any pics of the ironman bullbar?

[lst2 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lst2]

any update on the rig?

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

any update on the rig?

It has been quiet hasn't it! I made the order and the main guy at the painting business was on holidays travelling around on a 4wd trip at the time. I could have had it installed about 3-4 weeks ago but decided to delay it until next week after my monthly payday, so I could afford to get suspension at the same time. I'm not concerned too much with the height as I am with the handling - I do a lot of driving between canberra and sydney (about 2.5k/month).

I purchased:

• Dobinsons springs and shocks (zordos 4wd suspension).

It hasn't arrived yet so I'll Opposite Lock to install it at the same time next week.

Stay tuned. Unfortunately, in the mean time since ordering, I've become fonder of the look of prados without the brush bars!! And I now think I prefer the look of the bar unpainted! . But I can always take refuge in the fact that brush bars help a bit.

To be installed next week:

• Suspension
• Opposite Lock bullbar (https://oppositelock.com.au/products...llbar-facelift)
• Opposite Lock side bars
• Opposite Lock brush bars

In the coming months:

• I think a battery tray is in order, then I'll wire it all up. But I'll probably be a little light on the upgrades in the coming months, I'm getting married soon.

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

Bar Work:
Finally, after delays on my part, here it is:

Opposite Lock Bar, Sides and Brush Bars. Quite a fan of the look. Will be a bigger fan when I get some lights installed








Here's the sidebar mounts. Don't know if this is the strongest way of doing it (I'm uneducated in this stuff, and they're not rock slider bars as far as I can tell) but a rock impact on the side would probably be fine, and it'd definitely be better than the original steps!

Rear:


Middle:


Front:



I left the car with them on Thursday, but asked them if they also had time to install the dobinsons suspension. Unfortunately circumstances for me changed, and I had to get the car before they had the chance to do the additional request. I rescheduled the suspension install for next Thursday.

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

personal info

[Nik83 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nik83]

Suspension


Had the dobinsons suspension / 2" lift installed today. Happy with the result, drives a fair bit flatter, less toe-in when stopping. Bit rougher, but that's a consequence of the improvements.