Bendman's 150

[Bendman Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Bendman]

I am going to keep this first post up to date with where the rig is at for ease of following along with updating as I go. Here is the current state of the vehicle....

Graphite, auto, diesel 150 - purchased second hand in August 2011 with 32k on the clock.

At time of purchase the 150 had:
Dual battery with Red Arc SBI12 isolator, Amaron battery and dual 12v outlets in cargo area
Brake controller
Factory Tow bar
Toyota Carpet floor mats

Current setup:
ARB Deluxe Bar and side rails
Tigerz11 12000lb winch with Dyneema
Lightforce XGTs (still with dodgy HID upgrade) and 6000k bulbs
OME 2" lift
Safari snorkel
BFG All Terrains 265/65/17
GME AE4018K2 aerial and TX6100
Lukey straight through muffler
Pioneer platform (44102B) on Sportz bars (Whispbars replaced)
ARB awning
Toyota rubber floor and cargo mats (these sit under the carpet ones which I remove when using the car in anger)
Dash mat
Colour coded bonnet protector (thanks to BNEGXL)
Alternator boosting diode (thanks to LeighW)
Headlight covers
Oil catch can installed
Madrake's 120W solar panels
TraxRax courtesy of Craigm
Brains TG150
False floor courtesy of Jamie's Touring Solutions
Piranha fridge slide
Stanadyne second fuel filter
Internal lights upgraded to LED

Wishlist and future plans
Unlikely at this stage - rear bar
And who the fudge knows what else






Original post:

I have been here for a while. Whilst it only accounts for a small portion of the time, I'll attempt to explain the delay in putting up a rig build now...

I bought the 2009 auto graphite 150 back in August 2011. I always wanted a Prado (I just knew ) and when we finally got into a position to purchase, I was aiming to buy a nice 120 already set up. However, due to many months of research, I recognised a bargain... a 150, bare bones but at least the latest model. Sadly (for the ex), she was a product of divorce where the wife was keen to get rid of the "big" car to downsize. It was slightly more than what I wanted to spend at the time but research meant I knew this was a good offer. As a result, with an extra little bit of coin thrown in, I found my true...ahh sorry sweety, second true love... however, the extra cash meant that I was happy (at the time) to keep her stock... afterall, I could go to places like this and do this in her with zero mods...



More to follow...

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Looking good Bendman. Which Tigerz11 winch did you go with? I have the 12,000lb Grande with dyneema rope which I'm hoping to finally install today.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

My bar has a horizontal plane mount for the winch (TJM T13) so I may not need to but shall see. Did you find yours had sufficient grease?

[Dusty74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dusty74]

Nice looking rid there Bendman, curious as to what brand hid upgrade you went with? On another note, I grew up in Gladstone and was wondering how you faired in the floods?

Cheers,
Dusty

[Dusty74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dusty74]

Let's hope this time they stop the pro's a bit quicker, would do wonders for the wild stock. As far as your hid's go, if you ever get fed up with them I fitted a set to my IPF's from New tech Pro, a company recommended here on the forum. The kit I got was 70w and fitted inside the housing so from the outside they look like ordinary IPF's and the benefit is they remain waterproof. Theses lights have been up to Lakefield with plenty of corrugations and plenty of bitumen miles too. They're still running great and are a huge improvement on the halogens.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Hi Fido - I didn't work out that I should have rotated it until too late so I haven't opened it up yet to check the grease. Was going to do it at service time.

Fair enough. I found that with the bar having a horizontal plane mount for the winch I can still reach the clutch control without rotating the gearbox. Where did you end up mounting the control box?

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

How did your install go Fido?

No good, got stuck with the mounting bolts being too long. Had to put everything back together so I can use the Prado, pretty annoying having done this twice now.

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

Looking Good Bendman, especially for a non Modded Truck!

Love the colour choice

Is that Stockyard point in the First Pic?

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

Hey Bendman,

What are your suspension measurements now after the suspension has had some time to settle?? (bottom of rim to wheel arch).

I just had a 2" TJM lift fitted last week. The ride is awesome and the rears came up to what I was expecting (830mm), but I am a bit disappointed with the height of the front struts (around 780mm) and I was wondering if you would mind posting up yours?

Thanks mate.

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

bendman, nice build up ,,, i like the the way you pointed out,, lol,, i was gunna stay stock then the wife agreeed to a lift...

and you walked outta there with a lift, awning, bullbar, winch, snorkel, bfg's ... with the battery setup and the maxtrax on the roof you wont need to spend anymore. ,

you'll be able to save the coin for a big diamond ring to smooth it over with the wife.. nice build up ,, cheers butane

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

Sounds like fun

No worries mate no hurry, hope the move went well.

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

Hey Bendman,

What are your suspension measurements now after the suspension has had some time to settle?? (bottom of rim to wheel arch).

I just had a 2" TJM lift fitted last week. The ride is awesome and the rears came up to what I was expecting (830mm), but I am a bit disappointed with the height of the front struts (around 780mm) and I was wondering if you would mind posting up yours?

Thanks mate.

Alberto what spacers have they used?


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

Alberto what spacers have they used?


Hutch- 2012 Prado 150, some TJM Kit.

Hey Hutch,

They have just used the 1 x 20mm large silver spacer. I asked them about it last week and said i wanted the additional 8mm spacer that comes in the kit installed and they reckon they never fit multiple spacers.

So I have no idea, they reckon they'll sort it at the 500k service. I paid for a 50mm lift not a 10 or 15mm lift, if they can't supply a decent lift they can pull the lot out and I'll source an alternative brand. Trouble is, the ride is great, perhaps that's the trade off?

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

Brains has just been done with similar spec to yours, check with him what spacers he has, I have the 20mm I think on a petrol with no winch, I am 795 at the front, if they put the 10mm spacer in that would bring it up almost 20mm. U more than likely will not get 50mm on a new car nore do u want too, around 795-800 is normal. I remember mine only came up about 20mm but was measured without bullbar first and after bullbar second but at the end of day it is around the magic mark of 790-800.

[Brains Find all posts View Profile Close Brains]

I just checked mine and I think I have a 20mm and a 5mm spacer on the struts, ill pleasure them tomorrow.

I have the HD Springs in front and back and am seeing a heights of about 795 in the front and 845 in the rear.

I have steel Bullbar, winch, 2nd battery, steel side steps, steel side brush bars, underbody protection including TG150. Drifta Drawers. I got the HD because the Kaymar bar is going on shortly.