Christofurry and his 2013 "Altitude"

[christofurry Member Find all posts View Profile Close christofurry]

Guys,

I've been lurking around here for a couple of months now, basically stalking a few of the more extreme Prado 150's...

My previous vehicle was a highly modified 105 series landcruiser, long story short but it just didn't suit our needs anymore and it was just time to move on. Having a family owned Toyota dealership, its replacement was always going to be a landcruiser... just which model?

A couple of months ago I started asking the guys in the dealership a few questions about GXL's and was shown a top secret document stating that the new Altitude would be out mid year. We'll is wasn't "that" top secret since the rumour mill on Pradopoint was running high with "2013 Altitude" whispers. So I decided to wait.

Anyway good news is that my new 04/2013 plated Prado "Altitude" in crystal pearl with black leather has been delivered!

After finally getting the cruiser to where I actually wanted it, it seemed that it was gone before I could really use it. Learning from that there is a list of modifications to the Prado to be completed before I even see it.

The list is along the lines of:

ARB deluxe winch bar colour coded (yes in pearl, difficult and $$$ I've found out) with Fog lights Done

X9 winch (I kept my modified winch from the cruiser, its a 6hp X9 Superwinch with 35m of 10mm rope with wireless control) Done

Safari Snorkel Done

Dual Batteries (want to have batteries isolated with the capability to link them when winching) Done

Tow bar (with charge for the camper battery) Done

ATF cooler Done

Fuel watch water separatorDone

EGR catch can Done

Tekonsya P3 brake controller Done

Twine Shower (kept from the cruiser) Done- Still not Plumbed

Lightforce XGT 240's (kept from the cruiser) Done

Tint the non privacy glass windows Done

285/70R17 Cooper ST MAXX on FJ cruiser alloys Done

GME 3600 remote UHF and AE4705 Aerial (kept from the cruiser) Done

Transfer case guard from Brains (Cheers Paul) Done

Scangauge II Done

ARB compressor (kept from cruiser) Done

Some electrical bits and pieces (I need a reverse alarm and flashing light for work fitted...) Done

Diff and G/box breathers

2m x 2.5m Awning Done

Ironman bash plates (yet to be confirmed)

Tectyle rust protection treatment Done

LED lad LED interior lights (At home waiting to be fitted) Done

Remove centre muffler Done

Now the suspension is 90% locked in. Plan is a 3 inch lift using Bilstien's, UCA's, diff drop and sway bar extensions from CalOffroad. This I'm yet to order but I will try and lock it in tomorrow. Done


That's the current plan anyway... I probably wont see this Prado for a few weeks, as I'm in Coffs Harbour and the dealership is in Eden on the South Coast, and it seems that my old man (owner of the dealership) has taken a liking to it. But considering I'm not yet paying for the dam thing, and its going to take some time to receive all the bits and pieces I don't mind him driving it.

Anyway will keep you guys updated...


Chris

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

Where are the photos?

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

Sounds great. 265/75s?

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

Looking forward to seeing some pics Chris.

Sounds like an awesome build

Cheers,

Jeff

[christofurry Member Find all posts View Profile Close christofurry]

Mj - Yep that one is a typo.... 265/70R17 is what it should be.

Jeffers & ntp - at the moment Im looking foward to some pictures too!!!

[christofurry Member Find all posts View Profile Close christofurry]

Got most things are on the go now, with most things ordered except the suspension (will have to do that on Monday).

Bullbar is on its way and will be professionally painted and baked by the guys we trusted to paint our XW GT falcon, King Smash Repairs in Eden. Colour matching can be a PITA with pearl paints...

Having a little bit of trouble deciding on the dual battery system. Fraser Motors is a Redarc supplier and I dont know weather to just use a smart start solenoid or go for a 20amp DCDC charger with a 200 amp solinoid to join the batteries. Ive read heaps on the forum, and still cant decide.

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

Very impressive list of gear you are adding. Look forward to the pics

[christofurry Member Find all posts View Profile Close christofurry]

Ok so the suspension is all ordered and on the way! Pretty excited about that!

The kit will include

Adjustable upper arms
CalOffroad Bilstein front and rear shocks/struts and coils
Diff drop
Front sway bar relocation plates
Rear sway bar adjusters


Im making a visit to the South coast this weekend so I will be able to get some pictures!

Re: Battery stuff ended up just going with the 200amp smart start solenoid and diaode mods. Cheeper and easier to be honest.

Will cut the centre muffler out and replace with a straight through when I get the chance and I need to do some research on the EGR gear and blocking that off somehow... Also I managed to pick up a second hand Water Watch (made by Cooma Diesel I believe) for $0! And Ive ordered all the factory style switches for the Driving lights off evilbay as well as a LED lad deluxe replacement kit for the interior lights.

Its all coming together.

Cheers
Chris

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

No need to block off the EGR just fit a catch can. Lots of different types available. I fitted a genuine ProVent 200.

[christofurry Member Find all posts View Profile Close christofurry]

What a weekend...

We travelled down to the south coast for my little mans 2nd birthday and it turned out to be a mission...I never realised that 2 y/o birthdays are such a massive undertaking, especially if they are in a reasonably remote location. But it was a good day, and it was great to see all the family, extended family and friends. We left Eden at 4am to try and make a 9am flight in Canberra, unfortunately the road was iced up in a few places (temp gauge said -6 for a while there near Bombala) and we ended up missing our flight buy about 5 minutes... not happy. So with new flights booked = $$$ and the hire car dropped back empty of fuel (when I was still trying to make the flight) = $$$ it was a very expensive weekend.

We didnt get much time for ourselves bit I did sneak about 20kms in on the new Prado. Coming from a base model 105 series this thing certainly has more chimes, bells and whistles than I know what to do with. But it is VERY nice...Ive never had a new car or one this "fancy" so It should keep me occupied for a long time.

No photos however. To be honest we just didnt have time, I had plans to take a heap of photos pre modifications and I didnt even get to measure the standard suspension heights. Never mind.

I think I have figured out where to mount the Twine heat exchanger... but we will see how that goes.

I spent about 5 minutes figuring out where I want all the switches and things and marked it all up for the sparky to install and it was a relief to find so many blanks.

Do carling switches fit the standard blanks? I need switches for the battery link, and I would like an internal winch in/out switch like in my old cruiser. I dont think they will but if anyone could help out that would be great.

Cheers
Chris

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

snip....

Do carling switches fit the standard blanks? I need switches for the battery link, and I would like an internal winch in/out switch like in my old cruiser. I dont think they will but if anyone could help out that would be great.

Cheers
Chris

Yes, but major modifications are required to the panel. 3 switches do fit in the blanks below the start button but to do it without interfering with the operation of the switches below (that seem to protrude out beyond the panel enough to cause dramas) the carling switches have to be mounted right up to the top of the panel or cut the bottom portion of the switch off, I chose the first option. I have a few pics and will hopefully put them up today.

I mounted a battery isolator, driving light and roof light switches on the right below the start button and a winch isolator and in/out switch in the 4wd control panel infront of the gear selector (used a manual switch panel that has 2 blanks and not the "double sized" single one).

[christofurry Member Find all posts View Profile Close christofurry]

Oh I should add that my wife and I work for a civil contractor and both have company supplied hilux utes, however I will hand my ute back in and use the Prado as a daily driver. She was never that keen on getting a new Prado and just wanted to keep driving the Hilux's, to be honest she was dead against it. Anyway I never told the wife that it was an "Altitude" I just kept telling her its a GXL, just like to ones at work, and kept it as a surprise.

Well guess who wants to hand in their hilux and drive the fancy new Prado now? Yeah you guessed it.

A new fight is currently underway on who drives the Prado...

[christofurry Member Find all posts View Profile Close christofurry]

Thanks rwo. That would be great if you could grab a picture of that.

Where did you get the double switch blank from and what switches did you use?

On the RHS I planned
Driving light - Reverse light - Spare
Flashing light

On the LHS I planned
Winch in/out - Battery Link
Spare
Brake controller above the airbag

I wouldnt have any dramas with the battery link and winch control down by the 4WD switch

[christofurry Member Find all posts View Profile Close christofurry]

This is the current accessory wiring dia.

1 x Dual 60amp circuit breaker (4ga in 2 x 8ga out)
1 x 100 amp relay to switch on acc power to the fuse block
1 x Narva 12 blade fuse holder - 6 fuses with perm power & 6 with acc power.
1 x Baintech powerboard - Ciga, Merit, 2 x USB and a volt meter

Plan is to have the circuit breakers and relay under the bonnet, run 2 8ga wires through the firewall to mount the fuse block under the Drivers seat.

Im using 4ga and 8ga car audio wiring - why? because I have a heap at home from when I was a hoon...

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

Thanks rwo. That would be great if you could grab a picture of that.

Where did you get the double switch blank from and what switches did you use?

On the RHS I planned
Driving light - Reverse light - Spare
Flashing light

On the LHS I planned
Winch in/out - Battery Link
Spare
Brake controller above the airbag

I wouldnt have any dramas with the battery link and winch control down by the 4WD switch

See http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post403842 and http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...l=1#post412132 for switch details.