AJ120s 2009 D4D and DIY camper trailer

[74Damo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 74Damo]

Hi AJ120 I was wondering on the price for some rock sliders and scrub bars for a 120 Prado

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Not really a new mod, rather a new improved version of an old one. I recently bought myself a new pipe bender and as such thought it was time for a new and improved set of scrub bars, I keep getting asked to make these for people so I thought I should make a new set for myself just to test run things.

Nothing much is different from the old ones other than the bends are a larger radius and a smoother bend compared with where I was getting my bending done previously.

Here is the difference in bends between new and old.




And with them fitted but not painted




I'll probably wait until the new year to get them painted at the same time as some other stuff in the pipe line.

It might also be worth my while getting the sliders re coated, given the abuse I have given them






Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Forgive me as I have sinned, it has been 4 months since my last mod Well to the Prado anyway, I bought a Motorbike in that time so its been getting a bit of attention.

Nothing like another trip to get me back into the swing of things and some extra lighting under the awning has been on my list for some time. Simple LED strip light. I ran the wiring up the cavity behind the windscreen moulding and through the roof rails and fitted an Anderson plug on the roof rail to connect and disconnect power from the roof rack. This wiring also doubles up as a permanent supply for my shower pump as well.

Night pictures would be better but you get the idea.




Wiring through the roof rails.




I also fitted an isolation switch so power is automatically cut off when the awning is folded away, just in case the lights get left on or turned on with it closed.




Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Just a few pics from the latest trip out and about.

We had a choice between a lot of work with the chainsaw or a little work with the winch, the winch won

t



I always thought the game was called chicken, maybe it should be called cow.



Only a little creek



These guys had been waiting all day for someone to come along to help them out, we had them sorted and on their way in pretty quick time.





Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

As always it’s steeper than it looks in the pictures.








More work!



All worth it though.



On the way home.



Milmed Rock, the Ayres rock of the Mallee



And one of my favourite views, South Bore Track in Sunset NP



Cheers Andrew

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Just luffly Andrew, just luffly . Good to see you had an enjoyable trip with no damage or breakdowns.

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

What was the problem with the Hilux?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

What was the problem with the Hilux?

Ran out diesel, I had 20lts in a Jerry on the trailer which I took off and went to the rescue. System needed bleeding and his starter motor was also buggered. He was actually going to rescue a mate who had snapped the diff U-Bolts on his Lux, I offered to weld it up for him but they already had the new parts.

Chees Andrew

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Ran out diesel, I had 20lts in a Jerry on the trailer which I took off and went to the rescue. System needed bleeding and his starter motor was also buggered. He was actually going to rescue a mate who had snapped the diff U-Bolts on his Lux, I offered to weld it up for him but they already had the new parts.

Chees Andrew

I will remove this post because this buildup is uncluttered and a good reference point for many, but must say its lucky for them I was there and able to help.

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

Good photos Andrew.

Have you lifted the front end a bit further?
It looks quite high in those photos and I'm wondering if you've stuck in some new coils or its just the weight of the rear bar.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Good photos Andrew.

Have you lifted the front end a bit further?
It looks quite high in those photos and I'm wondering if you've stuck in some new coils or its just the weight of the rear bar.

No front is still at 800mm, the rear is down a touch with the rear bar added but I think it might just be a bit the way the Prado is sitting in the pictures, most of them it's facing up hill.

I have been looking at upgrading the rear coils but don't want a stiffer option for extra lift which is what the standard OME springs would be. I think I am going to end up with 150 coils in the rear, same spring rate as I currently have but a touch longer.

Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

There seems to be so many electrical devices nowadays that we cant seem to exist without that need charging, Phones, Ipads, Kindles, Cameras, Go Pro..........

Anyway time has come to add a few USB charging outlets, I didn't want to replace any of the existing cigarette plugs so settled on 2 x double USB chargers in the rear of the Console like others have done.

I had read elsewhere on the Forum that removing that back section of the console required removing the whole thing, fortunately I didn't go that way and worked out that back section just pops of, takes about 10 seconds to remove it, unplug the wires to the rear air con (if you have it) and the whole section comes out. 4 self tappers will separate the outer and inner sections so you can more easily do the drilling required.

I used Narva USB adaptors and I was aware that whatever you use would be a tight squeeze in this position sith bending the terminals required to fit them in. It seemed to me that even with the terminals bent it was still a very tight fit, so as I have a lathe and a bit of black nylon shaft lying around I machined up a couple of spacer to pop behind the outlets to give me a bit more room to work. Pictures below.






I am wiring these up to the auxiliary battery which in my case is in the cargo area, so relatively simple to run the wire under the carpet and into the Battery compartment. I think I am going to redo the wiring in and around the battery as its gotten a bit complicated with various additions and its time to simplify and neaten it up a bit.

Cheers Andrew

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Great job! This is next on my to do list. What's the trick to removing that piece?

Want to sell some spacers?

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Great job! This is next on my to do list. What's the trick to removing that piece?

Want to sell some spacers?

No trick, just get something in the join, I use a plastic spatula, and gently lever it out, as I said takes around 10 seconds and is about as easy as anything gets.

I used my last piece of Nylon shaft for this project, another length is going to set me back quite a few dollars and I rarely use it, that length lasted me around 10 years I reckon. I'll check and see what is available though.

Cheers Andrew

Cheers Andrew

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Well the reverse camera on my Dodgy Option GPS unit stopped working, don't know why and to be honest I don't care, its been such a useless piece of crap since the day I installed it that the reverse camera which was about the only thing useful; stopping working was all the excuse I needed to put it where it truly belongs.




I've put the original stacker back in and am happy as a pig in poo to have something that actually works like its supposed to again.




A lesson learned I guess, yeah it was cheap to buy, but it never actually did what I wanted it to do, so therefore not cheap at all. Thank god I don't have to put a dollar in a swear jar every time I drop an expletive, otherwise this unit would have cost me my life savings Glad to see the back of the Useless F#$*ING Piece of $#1T.

Cheers Andrew