Micklow's 2013 D4D150 Build

[Micklow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Micklow]

New to PradoPoint posting but been lurking for a while. After 2 years without a truck I picked up the keys to my 2013 150 Series GXL D4D last Friday.

Starting a build thread to share the journey, but also document the project. The vehicle was delivered by the factory with 70km (what were they doing?) and a number of accessories, including;

• ARB deluxe winch bar
• Toyota towbar
• Toyota roof racks
• Window tint
• headlight protectors
• Bonnet protector
• Floor mats

Much more work to be done, but the journey is as important as the destination! Plans in the next month or so include:

• UHF Radio - fitting GME TX3540 tomorrow
• ARB Dual battery system with Optima 34 and Redarc BCDC1220 being fitted in the next week
• rear drawer system - probably ORS

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

Nice one. .great colour.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[outback7 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close outback7]

Welcome to Prado point.......great site to learn from. Looking forward to see your rig build.

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

Very nice. Good choice.

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

Look forward to the build up Michael...

[Brentnal Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brentnal]

Keen to hear/see (if you can take some pics) of the TX3540 install. Wondering exactly where you ended up mounting the main radio part?

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

Mine is all in behind the dash with a plug next to the 2nd start button to plug the mic into. Check my build.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[Micklow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Micklow]

Thanks all for the comments, UHF install guide to follow - just collating photos now. Its great to read the build up of others. Learnt heaps from the work of people like Hutch and Brains. Thanks also to the guys at TJM Brendale!

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

We r a help ful bunch Mick.. have fun.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[Micklow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Micklow]

GME TX3540 Install

Kit ready to go:


First step was to install the UHF antenna on the bull bar and run the antenna lead in split tube through the grill and along the passenger-side bonnet edge. The easiest location to bring the antenna lead through there was into the passenger footwell. There is a large grommet already with wires through but conveniently Toyota have left a couple of small nipples you can cut through to pull the wires. I only needed to use one of them.

[Micklow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Micklow]

Second step was to remove all the trim. Lots of credit must go to davidsford write up of his 'GME TX3340 install'.

First remove the top kick panel under the glove box, 1 screw at the front.

Next remove the glovebox (open the glovebox, remove the hinge near the passenger door (by sliding it gently off towards left passenger door), then lower glovebox as far as possible before gently pulling it back towards the seat, it will "POP" out. (You can make this less traumatic by pressing the left and right sides of the glovebox inwards to clear the support tab on the glovebox as it comes out)

Next remove the strip above the glovebox surround, you'll just need to get your fingers under it and pry it out.

Then remove the kick panel on the RHS of the passenger foot well, just pull it out from the front gently. Next you need to lift up the kick panel that runs along bottom of the door, this just pulls up (get your fingers under it from the inside of the car and lift it up).

Once this is out you can gently work at removing the kick panel cover on the LHS, there is a really painful clip so just take it slowly and investigate as needed. In the end, I don't think this was needed, but it did provide good visibility.

Once all this is done, remove the glovebox surround with a couple of bolts (4). You need to unclip the glovebox light before completely removing this section - don't pull it off without checking as there are two retaining components.

[Micklow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Micklow]

After running the antenna from the grommit entry to the RHS of the passenger space I then focussed on getting power and an earth to the UHF's provided power connector. I hooked into an unused connector feed that I found behind the radio. It is live (regardless of accessories). It seems like this socket is spare, provided for some item of technology that is not installed in the GXL. Have not yet traced it back to the fusebox but placing the multimeter on the feed produced the correct results. Does anyone more expert want to offer comment on the purpose of this connector? I was able to get a good earth on a bolt attached to the metal dash frame.



Due to the headless nature of the TX3540 I was able to position it behind the centre dash console - it fit really neatly - and fix with a number of cable ties. I positioned it so that the speaker was on the outside. The below photo was taken prior to completing the cable ties and neatening up.



Once the unit was fixed securely I re-attached the RHS trim and ran the mic cable securely under the edge of the trim.

[Micklow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Micklow]

The connector between the mic extension and the actual mic connector is just a RJ45 extender connector with a nice black cover on it. At the moment is is attached with super strong double sided tape. Lets see how that survives the rigours of the first trip!

The finished job. I am still debating if and how i might attach the mic holder. It works like it is though. Suggestions welcome.

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

I've got a dash mat on my 120, so all I did was put hook velcro on the handset. I mounted mine underneath the glovebox kick panel.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...k-s-Ride/page4

[Micklow Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Micklow]

Hi Hutch, I saw a photo of the 2nd start option in the TJM Brendale store during the week. We may frequent the same area

I wasn't game to go that far in my first attempt. May end up moving it later.

Thanks all for the feedback.