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Hey all,
I used to have a 90 series Prado, but earlier this year bought a new 79 series landcrusier
ute. Anyhow, I thought some of you may be interested in the buildup on a non Prado vehicle.
I started out with a 2007 (well built in 2007, delivered in 2008) 4.5litre V8 turbo diesel 79
series. As part of my deal/negotiation with the dealer, I get them to include a few ARB
accessories. It was actually quite a bit cheaper getting these fitted through the dealer, than
I was quoted by ARB to have fitted as an individual.
So as it delivered to me it had;
- Factory fitted locking diffs
- ARB winch bullbar
- Warn XP9000 winch
- ARB sidesteps / scrub bars
- OME 2" lifted suspension
- BFG 255/85R16 MT tyres
- Standard tray.
(Sorry bout the poor image - taken on my phone day after delivery)
From there, the next major change was to get a full canopy / tradesmans box put onto the
rear tray. The one I got is an "off the shelf" model from Boston Canopies, with the addition
of dual spare wheel mounts on the back. This gives me a nice big empty space to fit out with
all the essential gadgets for touring (months at a time).
A pic up in Kakadu - Shows the basic canopy on the back
Now it was time to start the custom fitout in the canopy. I planned to have a kitchen/cooking/
basic storage down the passenger side, water tank in the middle, and storage drawers / space
down the drivers side. It worked out pretty much as I planned.
On the kitchen side, I installed a fridge slide (waeco slide, but fits my 40L engel fine). I also
made up an aluminium frame (using 25mm square tube and plastic qubelok connectors) to hold
a bunch of plastic drawer units from Bunnings. I store all the food/supplies etc in the drawers.
I also built a basic drop down table, and a pull out slide for the 2 burner gas cooker. On top of
the food drawers I placed a large shelf to store camp chair, ground mats HF antenna etc. Behind
the kitchen I installed a 55L water tank, connected to a 12volt electric pressure activated
pump,
Anyhow, it;s easier to look at a few pics, so here's a couple of the kitchen
The kitchen side - table up, no fridge in
The kitchen side - opened up with fridge
Once the kitchen and water tank were installed, I knew how much space I had for the storage
drawers down the drivers side. I made up the drawer/boxes themselves using 12mm plywood,
braced with aluminium angle. For the frame I used the square aluminium tube and qubelok
connectors again. The drawers slide on 45Kg full extension runners from Hafele. On top of the
frame, an 18mm ply deck was installed using camptive t-nuts to bolt it to the frame.
Like the kitchen, pics are much easier, so here are a few.
Storage drawers - closed
Storage drawers - drawer open part way
I also made up my own barrier/divider using an aluminium frame, and mesh cut from an old
security door. It's handy for lashing cartons down for traveling.
Barrier/Divider
Once the rear was setup to go, I turned my attention to the cab. There were a few things that
needed to be done to get it ready for decent trips. So out came the tools and I installed;
- Dual battery system (using redarc isolator) in the engine bay.
- Outback overhead console
- GME 3220 UHF in the overhead console
- Barrett 950 HF radio
- HP Ipaq with GPS running Ozi-explorer
- Aftermarket drivers seat (same one I had in the Prado)
- Cruise control
- Stereo unit (mp3/dvd) with 4" screen connected to reversing camera
That was pretty much it. I then packed up, and headed off for a 3 month trip up through the
Kimberley, across the Top End of the NT, across the Gulf Country, into North Queensland, and
back through the Red Centre and back to Perth.
Everything worked great on that trip, and I was happy as the pig in the proverbial with only one
exception. I'm used to camping in a swag (with a small tent for the occasional caravan park).
That works great in WA, but isn't so good in lots of the Top End and North Queensland where I
found it difficult to find a smooth patch to setup camp in amongst all the rocks.
So on my return I looked into rooftop tents. As I do a fair bit of goldfields/woodlands exploring
I didn't really want one with a soft vinyl type top. Way too easy for the low scrub to punch a hole
through them. That left me two choices. Both Hanibal (thier Impi model), and AutoHome (Magiolinna
and Columbus models) do rooftop tents that are hardshell (aluminium/fibreglass). After doing a bit
of shopping around I ended up getting an ex shop demo Magi.
Now the only hassle I have is where to store the ladder (still not 100% happy on that yet), and having
to remember that I'm up high if I have to get up in the middle of the night after an amber ale or six.
With the tent up - and the wet weather setup
With the tent down
Well that's how it stands at the moment. The only things I've still got outstanding are;
- Improving the storage of the ladder for the rooftop tent.
Still thinking about this one. Might just get a purpose built folding ladder made up I
can store under the tray.
- Installing my air compressor in a permanently mounted position, either in the canopy,
or in the engine bay.
Hope all of the above has been of interest to somebody. If I can answer any questions or
help out at all, just ask.
John
I used to have a 90 series Prado, but earlier this year bought a new 79 series landcrusier
ute. Anyhow, I thought some of you may be interested in the buildup on a non Prado vehicle.
I started out with a 2007 (well built in 2007, delivered in 2008) 4.5litre V8 turbo diesel 79
series. As part of my deal/negotiation with the dealer, I get them to include a few ARB
accessories. It was actually quite a bit cheaper getting these fitted through the dealer, than
I was quoted by ARB to have fitted as an individual.
So as it delivered to me it had;
- Factory fitted locking diffs
- ARB winch bullbar
- Warn XP9000 winch
- ARB sidesteps / scrub bars
- OME 2" lifted suspension
- BFG 255/85R16 MT tyres
- Standard tray.
(Sorry bout the poor image - taken on my phone day after delivery)
From there, the next major change was to get a full canopy / tradesmans box put onto the
rear tray. The one I got is an "off the shelf" model from Boston Canopies, with the addition
of dual spare wheel mounts on the back. This gives me a nice big empty space to fit out with
all the essential gadgets for touring (months at a time).
A pic up in Kakadu - Shows the basic canopy on the back
Now it was time to start the custom fitout in the canopy. I planned to have a kitchen/cooking/
basic storage down the passenger side, water tank in the middle, and storage drawers / space
down the drivers side. It worked out pretty much as I planned.
On the kitchen side, I installed a fridge slide (waeco slide, but fits my 40L engel fine). I also
made up an aluminium frame (using 25mm square tube and plastic qubelok connectors) to hold
a bunch of plastic drawer units from Bunnings. I store all the food/supplies etc in the drawers.
I also built a basic drop down table, and a pull out slide for the 2 burner gas cooker. On top of
the food drawers I placed a large shelf to store camp chair, ground mats HF antenna etc. Behind
the kitchen I installed a 55L water tank, connected to a 12volt electric pressure activated
pump,
Anyhow, it;s easier to look at a few pics, so here's a couple of the kitchen
The kitchen side - table up, no fridge in
The kitchen side - opened up with fridge
Once the kitchen and water tank were installed, I knew how much space I had for the storage
drawers down the drivers side. I made up the drawer/boxes themselves using 12mm plywood,
braced with aluminium angle. For the frame I used the square aluminium tube and qubelok
connectors again. The drawers slide on 45Kg full extension runners from Hafele. On top of the
frame, an 18mm ply deck was installed using camptive t-nuts to bolt it to the frame.
Like the kitchen, pics are much easier, so here are a few.
Storage drawers - closed
Storage drawers - drawer open part way
I also made up my own barrier/divider using an aluminium frame, and mesh cut from an old
security door. It's handy for lashing cartons down for traveling.
Barrier/Divider
Once the rear was setup to go, I turned my attention to the cab. There were a few things that
needed to be done to get it ready for decent trips. So out came the tools and I installed;
- Dual battery system (using redarc isolator) in the engine bay.
- Outback overhead console
- GME 3220 UHF in the overhead console
- Barrett 950 HF radio
- HP Ipaq with GPS running Ozi-explorer
- Aftermarket drivers seat (same one I had in the Prado)
- Cruise control
- Stereo unit (mp3/dvd) with 4" screen connected to reversing camera
That was pretty much it. I then packed up, and headed off for a 3 month trip up through the
Kimberley, across the Top End of the NT, across the Gulf Country, into North Queensland, and
back through the Red Centre and back to Perth.
Everything worked great on that trip, and I was happy as the pig in the proverbial with only one
exception. I'm used to camping in a swag (with a small tent for the occasional caravan park).
That works great in WA, but isn't so good in lots of the Top End and North Queensland where I
found it difficult to find a smooth patch to setup camp in amongst all the rocks.
So on my return I looked into rooftop tents. As I do a fair bit of goldfields/woodlands exploring
I didn't really want one with a soft vinyl type top. Way too easy for the low scrub to punch a hole
through them. That left me two choices. Both Hanibal (thier Impi model), and AutoHome (Magiolinna
and Columbus models) do rooftop tents that are hardshell (aluminium/fibreglass). After doing a bit
of shopping around I ended up getting an ex shop demo Magi.
Now the only hassle I have is where to store the ladder (still not 100% happy on that yet), and having
to remember that I'm up high if I have to get up in the middle of the night after an amber ale or six.
With the tent up - and the wet weather setup
With the tent down
Well that's how it stands at the moment. The only things I've still got outstanding are;
- Improving the storage of the ladder for the rooftop tent.
Still thinking about this one. Might just get a purpose built folding ladder made up I
can store under the tray.
- Installing my air compressor in a permanently mounted position, either in the canopy,
or in the engine bay.
Hope all of the above has been of interest to somebody. If I can answer any questions or
help out at all, just ask.
John
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