Stephen61 2006 GXL

[stephen61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stephen61]

HI everyone

Well i thought it was time to share my truck with you all. My prado has evolved to a great tourer capable of getting me and my camper to some great locations.
My thanks to so many on this forum for all the great ideas and "HOW TOO" posts that have taken my prado from shining new to - well see for yourselves.





The above pictures are my truck showing off new Cooper st . A little noisier than before but looking great.



This is my rig up in the Flinders Ranges. This to me is what its all about and worth every cent i have spent i think











The above shows my rack with esky, including tap, so i dont have to pull it out to empty the melted ice water (very handy).
Rack has 30cm clearance, very strong, and allows me to put a great amount of gear neatly into the back.
Folding table is just brilliant ,so simple and cheap and works a treat. Went vinyl for the top for easy wiping - sorry about the tea towel but you all get the idea. Have run extra power from my second battery but its a bit difficult to see in these photos.





Bought the lifestyle rack for my Engel and wow - if you dont need that 3rd rear seat it just gives you sooo much more room with the fridge out of the rear area. Made very well and i am very pleased with it. Cheaper than a fridge slide to boot .
Wine holders are a great idea pinched,once again, from this forum, the flask is handy there ready for day trips etc.



This has been my latest little project mounting everything on my barrier - need to test it out to make sure everything stays in place but so far so good.
Rear seat folds back up to cover them all and hopefully stop them from flying in an accident - i am sure the axe wouldnt do me any good :shock:





And finally my shower unit. One of my must haves in camping is a hot shower and this one does it well.
Have taken a bit of a risk and mounted the pump in the bull bar area - but its marine grade and i sealed every joint on it but time will tell.

Well i hope i havent bored you all

Thanks again to a great forum.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GLX

Looking really goodStephen61 2006 GLX

Can I ask what size the Cooper ST's are? 65's or 70's

[stephen61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stephen61]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Yep got me there GXL it is

In my poor defence it took me two hours to work out how to down load pictures and sort all this out - nearly gave up when i lost the lot half way through. :shock:

Cooper 70's - definately has an audible hum above 40km - price to pay for the tread pattern . Grandtreks lasted 57k and still had another 10 to go but got these at a good price so grabbed them. Only been on 2 weeks so early days for me, had to use two washers to space out the carrier to fit the spare on otherwise all good.

Speedo is now spot on 60km is 60 so thats a good thing but does take a little bit of getting used too.

Cheers Stephen

[GDS Member Find all posts View Profile Close GDS]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Looks great. Great spot for the pump, if it doesn't leak is should be fine.

Good choice with the ST's, their great.

I need to make one comment which I think is a safety one, wouldn't the shovels and axe be better installed on the other side of the cargo barrier? Just a suggestion.

Grant

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

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Top work mate.

keep it coming!
cheers
joey :mrgreen:

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Is the axe and shovel mounted on the passenger side of the cargo barrier? If so, are you a little worried about them possibly coming loose in a crash? Would be tragic to survive a crash but get killed by a flying axe in the passenger cabin!

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

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Is the axe and shovel mounted on the passenger side of the cargo barrier? If so, are you a little worried about them possibly coming loose in a crash? Would be tragic to survive a crash but get killed by a flying axe in the passenger cabin!

Handy though, for sorting out any non-prado driving drug fueled road rage scenario. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Rear seat folds back up to cover them all and hopefully stop them from flying in an accident - i am sure the axe wouldn't do me any good :shock:

Yeah - but the forces applied in a serious crash or rollover are immense. Things go in every direction as the body of the vehicle twists and contorts. Anything not locked down in the cabin (passengers included) can become a missile. Personally, I'd still prefer the axe to be on the other side of the cargo barrier.

But otherwise, this looks a fantastically well set out Prado.

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

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

This has been my latest little project mounting everything on my barrier - need to test it out to make sure everything stays in place but so far so good.
Rear seat folds back up to cover them all and hopefully stop them from flying in an accident - i am sure the axe wouldnt do me any good :shock:

I know a number of other people have already discussed the placement, my question is what have you used to attach each item on the barrier?

They also look like you have used different mounts for each of the shovel, axe, sand flag, etc. What are each of them?

Cheers OldGreyGuy

[stephen61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stephen61]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

H'mm

Looks like i will have to revisit the shovel/axe etc storage - used the rubber claps they use to fix these things to a camper etc.

However sitting here reading all your comments i will take them down and out.

you are all correct - better safe than sorry.

Thanks for the constructive feedback guys

[adam's prado Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close adam's prado]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

The ones holding the shovel/axe on are heavy duty rubber clamps. We have them on our roof racks to hold our shovel on they are good but I would not trust them 100% as the top only are only held on by raised sections so you can determine how tight you want it. We have never had an issue with them and traveled long distances on corrigated roads and haven't lost our shovel yet, but once again would not like to be inside when you have to make a sudden stop, the risk is to high. But nice looking rig you have got Stephen
Adam

[bevwone Member Find all posts View Profile Close bevwone]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Hey Stephen,

You may be able to keep the things there if you store them underneath the cross-member support on the cargo barrier and then put the seat back far enough so there is only a very small gap between the rear of the seat and the cross-member, not enough for the things to get through in the event of a prang/rollover. The shovel might struggle, unless you store this very low, I think my barrier and seat has a little more room there.

I had to lengthen the floor bracket of my cargo barrier to enable it to get close enough to the back seat. Make sure that you don't put the seat hard up against the barrier though, it will wear through the fabric.

The rubber grips are called quick fists. There is a bit of information here on the thread called 'Little Things' http://www.pradopoint.com/viewtopic....t=1203&start=0

Hope this helps

Bev

[stephen61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stephen61]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Hi Bev

Yeah that was the original idea - just had the flag and shovel extension down low and covered by the seat etc.
Just got a little too ambitous with the axe and shovel for a murray trip this week ops: - oh well it was an idea ops: .
There back in the cargo area once again.
Thanks for the input though
Stephen

[Sunday Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunday]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Hi Stephen, very nice rig, I like the fact you're prepared to experiment & have a go at something different! I also have a 2006 auto D4D GXL (same colour too). Just wondering about the 70 profile tyres: does the extra profile effect the driveability much (auto change-up patterns, holding 5th gear on highway, cruisability etc.)? Anys issues with any suspension / body contact on full-lock? I couldn't seem to find definitive views on these characterisitics in the tyres & wheels threads.

Also, forgive my lack of knowledge of the Lifestyle fridge mount: how does it mount? I assume it somehow utilises the seat mounting point?

Cheers,
Sunday

[stephen61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stephen61]

Re: Stephen61 2006 GXL

Hi Sunday

Good choice in car color

Sorry for the delay. Here is the rack - a picture says it so much easier.

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Easy to install - i am very pleased with it - does stop the front passanger seat coming fully back and reclining past a certain point if you have the engel 40ltr like me. Slides in with a hook up at the barrier end and uses excisting bolt holes at the other. The company has a web page and there is a post under the accessories section of PP.

Dont like there rear rack as much, its a tad low.

The coopers - well i am no expert and the murray trip this week my only "test" so far. You probably need to find someone far more knowledgeable on the subject than me. Sorry

May i ask if you have had any trouble with dust getting in ??? Mine is back to the dealer again post the Murray - fine dust just gets in everywere.

Stephen