Desert Dueler 120

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

If you want to reduce drag, you need a pointy tail. Not much you can do when the back of the Prado and RTT is a vertical drop.

True that mate, but I thought id give it a shot. Even a small decrease in fuel will add up in the long run. Its got to be better than the exposed and uneven front of the rack and tent.

Cheeers,

[brett004 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close brett004]

Hi Dueler 120, I noticed on the pics on page 2 of this thread the dash mat in your vehicle comes right down to the glove box, just wondering what brand it is as I am after something similar that will cover up the dash cracks in my 120.
cheers Brett

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Hi Dueler 120, I noticed on the pics on page 2 of this thread the dash mat in your vehicle comes right down to the glove box, just wondering what brand it is as I am after something similar that will cover up the dash cracks in my 120.
cheers Brett

Hey mate,
Not sure of the brand, just checked it and it has no identification. I do remember picking it up from Supercheap though if that helps.

Cheers,

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Despite the bad wether today, I managed to use the breaks of day light to install the mobile phone aerial, booster and cradle. Took the rig out for a spin down some logging tracks and the new phone setup works a treat. From no service out of the car I had full service once I got back in and sat it near the cradle. Have also upgraded the yellow fog lights to a brighter bulb which matches in with the rest of the light color. Led's have also found their way into the bullbar indicators. The interior dome lights have been upgraded again from small SMD Led's to a Led panel setup that throws out heaps of light now! The fridge now has a wireless thermometer and the receiver sits in the center console. While I was out on the tracks I hooked up the winch to a heavy log and pulled it up a hill to put tension on the winch cable and retract it properly onto the drum.

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

Geez Dueler! You were game heading out in this weather!

Which wireless fridge thermometer did you go with?

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Geez Dueler! You were game heading out in this weather!

Which wireless fridge thermometer did you go with?

Mate I got the Ironman version. Works a treat. Weather was not too bad when I was out but I rekon come this weekend the area will give some good 4wd action with the accumulated rain.

Cheers

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Installed the TyreDog kit this morning. Was pretty straight forward and lets me see each tyre pressure and temp. We will see how it goes out bush and under water but I think it will be a little bit of insurance if nothing else. I also finally got around to placing the PP sticker on the back window. Thanks to WOZCLEAN for his efforts with the sticker, its a great product and came with great service.



Ill be heading back to the suspension supplier this morning to get its 500km check up and final sign off on the warranty card and then all that remains is a wheel alignment and im done!

Cheers,

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Well Christmas has come early for the Prado. Have fitted up the 300w inverter behind the rear seat, installed a rear door table in the cargo area and given her an oil flush and change. Shes all loaded up with most of the camping gear and everything else we have to take home ready to head north boxing day. Cant wait!

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

A quick update on the rigs first trip. We are half way through our trip from Perth to Broome and currently sit at Exmouth. The Prado has been fully packed for the journey, allot of which has been items not needed for trip but stuff collected from Christmas presents and spare parts from the car build in Perth. She has not missed a beat but has not really been pushed hard until I can get it home and the excess weight off the back. Current fuel usage is an average of 15ltr per 100k's calculated off three fill ups and driven over sealed, unsealed and beach tracks.

All our accessories have held up well so far with my only gripe being the broken straps on the roof top tent and awning to hold them in place when packed up. Seems they have failed due to exposure to the sun. Not to worry though as a few occy straps have come in handy to keep everything strapped down.

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

A few more

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

Awesome setup.

Love the rear bar, love the drawers, love the fridge slide, love the locations, love how clean the car is, love the Carlton Dry, love the battered fish? or is it chicken?

Love it all.....except the Roof top tent, not my cup of tea. ;-) Is that wind deflector home made?

How is the slide out solar panel working out?

Bernie.

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Awesome setup.

Love the rear bar, love the drawers, love the fridge slide, love the locations, love how clean the car is, love the Carlton Dry, love the battered fish? or is it chicken?

Love it all.....except the Roof top tent, not my cup of tea. ;-) Is that wind deflector home made?

How is the slide out solar panel working out?

Bernie.

Cheers Bernie,
Mate the fish was a Jewie that the missus caught when we were in Cervantes. We had the fridge packed with those fillets and a heap of others from a few Baldy's we caught.

The entire setup ran flawless apart from the rooftop tent. Unfortunately a few of the straps and buckles that pack it down fell apart or were destroyed by the sun and weather. The tent itself held up very well and we had it in all conditions especially in a few high wind and rain situations on the Coral Coast on the other side of Exmouth. One of the major draw backs of the tent setup was mainly we had to pack it up every time we wanted to take off from camp and head out for the day. This meant that we found ourselves packing and unpacking the tent more than what I would have liked too. My bad really but it is ideal for longer stays in locations where we wanted to stay put and were able to walk to many areas to fish and swim etc. Fully loaded the Prado still performed well once the rear bags and tyre pressures were dialled in. She returned an average of 15l per 100km over the entire trip.

The solar panel setup would have to be one of my fav mods. Works really well and once plugged in easily supplies power for the majority of the day to keep the deep cycle battery charged up ready for the overnight draw. We never had to go for a drive to just charge the battery and once the car is positioned to take advantage of the sun's track the monitor in the cab was always in the green charged/ charging position.

Now that we have the rig home I have unpacked everything and intend to have it at a more respectable constant weight. Allot of the gear brought back was un-needed eg. spare parts from the build, Christmas presents and other things for our house in Broome. The two weeks also gave us a better indication of how much food was actually needed and when and where we should fill up with water and fuel as well as how much we needed over each distance and period of time away from shops and town centres etc. The roof top tent has been taken off the roof and put into storage in my shed for when we decide to stay for a week say at Cape Leveque. We are now on the hunt for a turbo tent style of camping tent and heavily leaning towards the BlackWolf 270 Turbo setup. Other than that I think we have everything else we need for future adventures and with the extra weight saving the Prado is back to a more responsive machine. I can actually appreciate the 3" exhaust now!

The Prado is due for a few slight changes but cant wait to test her out with less weight and driven further up north. Pics of the changes etc to come.

Cheers,

[1tuff4b Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1tuff4b]

Nice rig Dueler.

How are you finding the Cooper Maxx?? Im in the market for a new set of slippers and are seriously considering the Dick Cepeck FC II, although I have heard nothing but praise for the new Cooper Maxx.

Can I also ask how much the rear bar set you back and where you aquired it from?

Cheers

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Nice rig Dueler.

How are you finding the Cooper Maxx?? Im in the market for a new set of slippers and are seriously considering the Dick Cepeck FC II, although I have heard nothing but praise for the new Cooper Maxx.

Can I also ask how much the rear bar set you back and where you aquired it from?

Cheers

Thanks for the comments mate,
The Coopers have been great so far. The majority of its driving has been on the hard top and a bit of beach work here and there when I was running up the coast. I have not had to let them down more than 22psi and they carried the load without any fuss. Ive played with the pressure during our trip but have adopted 36 front and 38psi in the rear when on the hard top and fully loaded. I guess the main thing is being on top of the tyre preassures, roation at service intervals and checking wheel alignment etc and I think you will be right with most tyres on the market imo. From having a look around (you may have already seen this) http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/vi...p?f=10&t=84345 it seems the FC II's are a good choice aswell.

The rear bar brand is MCC 4x4. I got it through Sports Range 4x4 in Welshpool. The rear swing arm has been modified to hold my shovel and high lift jack with a bit of DIY shed welding. I was looking into a Kmar but the prices are out of control on that gear.

Cheers,

[Dueler120 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dueler120]

Now that we have the rig back in Broome Ive given her a good clean out and stripped out everything not needed for general use around town here. I have removed the roof top tent and all the extra camping gear and cleaned and stored it all in the shed ready to go again when we need it.

I also upgraded the 300watt inverter for a 600watt version behind the rear seat and also picked up a Black Wolf Turbo Lite FS 240 tent for weekend stints out on the tracks around here. The tent is 15kg total weight and can fit across the back seat. It will be very conveniant for those last minute decisions to stay overnight when we head out for a drive and decide to stay the night.

Since all the weight is off and all cleaned up she's like a new one again!