Mark's 95 Series

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

Hey Team,

I've been lurking on here for a few years now, have used the site for a fair bit of research and have asked a couple of questions but thought I'd finally introduce myself. My name is Mark and I live in Adelaide. Back in 2013 myself and my partner purchased our 2002 white Prado GXL manual diesel. It was a single owner job from a dealer with 218,000km on it and was from Yorke Peninsula (flat country). It was an honest vehicle and has proven to be highly reliable for us.

The Prado came with a a genuine Toyota alloy bull bar, alloy side steps and tow bar, a Tekonsha brake controller (fitted under driver's seat), and a dual battery system consisting of two identical cranking batteries linked via a Redarc SBI12 isolator. A single merit plug was fitted at the rear next to the trailer socket and was also wired up to the factory cigarette socket in the back.

I don't have any photos of the vehicle when we first bought it however it stayed this way for about a day before I began tinkering. The first modifications were all about improvements for camping purposes. Starting with Rhino Rack heavy duty crossbars (RL1375S) mounted to heavy-duty legs (RL110S2) an awning (TJM 2.5m), shovel holder (Rhino-Rack) and roof top tent (TJM Yulara) were fitted. The tent was mounted using Rhino-Rack u-bracket kits that wrap around the bars making the install much neater than the supplied sandwich plates.

Some photos from our first trip to Deep Creek Conservation Park.





I will do this build-up a little at a time to spread it out..

Any questions please ask.

Cheers,
Mark

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

I was never happy with either the routing of the cable for the dual battery install, or the gauge of the wire itself so set about reinstalling it. I used 3B&S for the earth lines and 4B&S for the positive lines (definitely overkill but it was there as off cuts). I removed the merit plug that had been mounted at the rear of the vehicle including all associated wiring and ran my own 6mm cable to a Piranha 4-way fuse box mounted in the rear left quarter panel. Off of this I have run a line to a new cigarette socket in the factory location as well as a merit socket (flush) mount that lives behind the rear passenger seat for the fridge.

At this stage I checked the wiring for the brake controller (not that I see myself needing it) and all was good. The original tow socket was stuffed so I changed it out for a metal unit and also had a struggle removing the tow ball mount which was seized in. I eventually go this out but had to cut the original pin. I replaced this with a new Hayman Reese unit including r-clip.

The only other additions at this stage was a set of front & rear MSA 4x4 seat covers and some new deep-dish floor mats.

Here are some photos from a trip to the Gawler Ranges on the Eyre Peninsula. The new Waeco CFX50 fridge is also visible in the back, as well as some led strip lights that I added to the awning.









Enjoy!

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

On the last trip to the Gawler Ranges we really missed a UHF, and were keen to get one fitted, so I went with a GME TX3100 mounted where the ashtray used to live and paired to a GME AE4018K1 6.6dBi antenna mounted on a GME stainless wrap around bracket on the passenger side of the bull bar. This has proven to be a good setup, but misses out on some of the features and arguably better build quality that the higher end GME units have.

Also visible in the photos is new window tinting. From memory we went for 20% in the back (second row, third row and tailgate with 35% for the driver and passenger glass).

Here is a photo of the Prado on a trip to the Flinders Ranges, and also a photo of the camping setup that is unchanged:





About this stage I also installed some diff breathers that were essentially a bitsa of BRC airline, Piranha filters and airline fittings from Pirtek. I made up a custom bracket out of some alloy 90 degree plate and mounted it to the firewall. I believe it was fine for the front but the rear didn't seem to allow any air to pass through. The airline is also very prone to kinking while you are routing it underneath the vehicle.

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

We did a trip to the Northern Flinders Ranges (Gammon Ranges N.P. and Arkaroola) and just happened to slash the side wall in one of the OE Dunlop GrandTrek tyres. This was highly disappointing as we had a bit more offroading that we were wanting to do but I couldn't justify it with no spare tyres left. I also wasn't keen to pay an exorbitant amount for a tyre in that part of the world. Nonetheless upon returning we fitted some Bridgestone Dueler D697 (265/75R16LT) to the vehicle. I'm spewing actually as I had always intended to fit a lift at some point and should have just gone for the 265/75's at the time and dealt with any scrubbing issues as they happened.

I also wanted to be able to carry a second spare (or at least a second casing) on remote trips after our last experience and so decided to change out the Rhino-Rack crossbars for a Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform (42103B - 1928x1376). This has proven to be a great investment and has also simplified mounting of the tent (4x bolts mounted directly through the platform with large washer, spring washer and whizz nut). I managed to 'adapt' all of the original brackets (awning and shovel holder) to fit rather that pay the exorbitant cost for new ones specific to the Pioneer range. Being able to throw a spare tyre or wood on the roof is great convenience.

This shot was taken on the south coast of Yorke Peninsula:



And here is the set-up down at Hillocks Drive, also on the Yorke Peninsula:

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Nothing changed for quite some time. Around two months ago we went 4wding to the Bendleby Ranges (near Port Augusta) and took on the first real tracks that the vehicle had done. It was awesome fun but we were constantly dragging the arse through creek beds:



At this point it was decided to lash out and get some more mods fitted.

An Airtec snorkel was mounted and is proving to be a good combo with the Unifilter that was installed around the same time. We went with TJM (King) springs, specifically heavy duty (50+kg) units for the front and 200kg progressive units at the rear. After doing a fair bit of research I decided on Bilstein shocks (BE5-2450M /BE5-2451M). The combo is providing substantially better ride than the original units that were no doubt knackered.

I also took the opportunity to fit some driving lights, and decided on Xray Vision 160 series HID (60w) units fitted with an Xray Vision wiring loom.

Here are some photos from a trip over the long weekend to Terowie Gorge:







Visible in the first pic is a fair bit of damage to the passenger side step. Moving forward the next major modification will be custom sliders/steps potentially tapped to be used as air tanks if the need arises. A rear locker (TJM Prolocker) is also on the cards.

I will get some better photos of the interior/engine bay and upload those..

Cheers

[Snoopy22 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snoopy22]

Good to see another 90

[oceanracer Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanracer]

Should be more of them,

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

Good to see another 90

Thanks mate, I appreciate it. Do you've one yourself? If so what sort of work have you done to it and are you happy with its capability?

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

Should be more of them,

Thanks oceanraceer. As above have you got a 90? And if so are you happy with it?

[oceanracer Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanracer]

Ive had my 90 since brand new. Ill never sell it.just keep updating it. I luv the 90

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

Hey robe I see you use photobucket. So do I.

If you just copy the IMG link it will post the picture in you post.

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

Hey robe I see you use photobucket. So do I.

If you just copy the IMG link it will post the picture in you post.

For some reason it still only displays the hyperlink? I did play around with the different images and didn't have any luck having the actual image appear in the post. Probably a mac thing. I will make the changes though. Thanks for the tip!

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

Ive had my 90 since brand new. Ill never sell it.just keep updating it. I luv the 90

Yeah nice one. I was having a chat to a fella at a 4x4 show a year or so back who had owned all three models (at the time) and said that they had become noticeable less 'bushable' over the years. He told me to hang onto it as he wished he kept his 90. It was a petrol though which is why he went for a D4D 120.

[robe0455 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close robe0455]

Can anyone tell me if the photos are loading correctly in above ^. I have changed the images to the IMG link as suggested by OldGreyFart above but for some reason my computer (mac) won't show them. Cheers

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

Can anyone tell me if the photos are loading correctly in above ^. I have changed the images to the IMG link as suggested by OldGreyFart above but for some reason my computer (mac) won't show them. Cheers

Yeah all the pics work , looks good.Agree love my 90 series no intention of buying a newer one the 90's are just right true to the original formula - comfortable cross between a 100 series and a Hilux. Perfect.