The Budget is $4000, what would you buy for your Prado 150 and why?

[Black Mamba 2014 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Mamba 2014]

That's true Andrew.

The dark clouds of restrictions stops me from tackling the off beaten track. I have a missus who's ideal of camping is in a hotel room sleeping in a sleeping bags and at times I have a busy schedule at work (hard to get time off). Best thing about my job is I sometimes go off road with the company 4WD. I don't have Cape York or the High Country near by but will have the Glasshouse Mountains close to me next year. I can easily take my beast off road near my place but I am not about to do that just to say I've been off road with my fourby.

I also sometimes wonder why people buy vehicles like a Prado and spend so much money on it and sell it in couple of years time and for some... not even a years time.

I am opposite, after an extensive research It has taken me at least a year and a half to buy a Prado and knowing it will last me a while. I don't like wasting money and this is why I am trying to pick the brains of other Prado owners who has been there and done that, made the wrong decision and made the right ones.

I am very confident that the standard ATR can tackle some of the off beaten track and a decent rubber without the need of a suspension can get you places. The Dunlop's are still brand new and I will not waste it.

Cheers BM

[Pugaree Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pugaree]

That's true Andrew.

The dark clouds of restrictions stops me from tackling the off beaten track. I have a missus who's ideal of camping is in a hotel room sleeping in a sleeping bags and at times I have a busy schedule at work (hard to get time off). Best thing about my job is I sometimes go off road with the company 4WD. I don't have Cape York or the High Country near by but will have the Glasshouse Mountains close to me next year. I can easily take my beast off road near my place but I am not about to do that just to say I've been off road with my fourby.

I also sometimes wonder why people buy vehicles like a Prado and spend so much money on it and sell it in couple of years time and for some... not even a years time.

I am opposite, after an extensive research It has taken me at least a year and a half to buy a Prado and knowing it will last me a while. I don't like wasting money and this is why I am trying to pick the brains of other Prado owners who has been there and done that, made the wrong decision and made the right ones.

I am very confident that the standard ATR can tackle some of the off beaten track and a decent rubber without the need of a suspension can get you places. The Dunlop's are still brand new and I will not waste it.

Cheers BM

Having read that, there doesn't seem much point in spending the $4000 on anything for the Prado.

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

I can easily take my beast off road near my place but I am not about to do that just to say I've been off road with my fourby.

I think your missing the point, don't go off road just to say you have done it, go off road because ultimately that is the point in owning your Prado and that you will learn more in a day on the tracks then a month reading forums.

Everyone's needs and wants are different, I had a satellite phone before a suspension lift as that's what suited me! The biggest mistake you will make is buy something based on others recommendations without knowing you actually need it, and the only way to know that is to go out and use the Prado for what you bought it for.

I bought my first Prado brand new in 2005, we got a lift to Adelaide in the morning and picked it up, drove it home the three hours to our place and then got changed into our finest clothes to go to a wedding. On the way to the wedding I just had to go a little off the track and into some near by dunes just to see........... of course we got stuck going up the first dune with highway pressures and in that instant I knew that a compressor was definitely number one on my shopping list!

I understand where everyone who is suggesting suspension is coming from and in other circumstances I would agree, but if you have no plans in the near future to go off road I wouldn't spend your money on a wear and tear item when the originals will be fine for on road, wait until your ready to go off road and then get the suspension.

As for your missus not liking camping, there are endless places you can go and get a bit of off road action and still spend the night in an air-conditioned room on an inner spring mattress, plan a weekend around one of those places, she might even start to tell you what the Prado needs

You also might want to change the location in your profile, rough terrain seems to be a bit of an exaggeration

Cheers Andrew

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

I know a few people who have spent a small fortune setting their rigs up and waiting until it was all done before using it, then life throws a curve ball and all that money is down the drain and you never use it.

A stock Prado will get 90% of places and one with 2" lift and some decent rubber will get you 99% of places, so no reason to not go out and explore I reckon.

Good advice. Use it first and see what you need. Like others have said suspension and compressor. Any 'spare folding', put it in a trust fund for your children's future education. But then this is a 4wd forum . I could spend a ton on mine but do I need it all....?????

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

I think there is an assumption that suspension is only for offroad use/benefit. If you drive your prado every day, suspension actually makes the car drive better which in turn makes your daily experience better. It will also enhance your first off road missions and give you the urge to do more. Standard suspension simply doesnt cut the mustard.

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

I think there is an assumption that suspension is only for offroad use/benefit. If you drive your prado every day, suspension actually makes the car drive better which in turn makes your daily experience better. It will also enhance your first off road missions and give you the urge to do more. Standard suspension simply doesnt cut the mustard.

I don't assume that, sure a well set up lift will make the car a bit better on road, but if your not towing or off roading then its a lot of coin for a relatively small improvement. I disagree that the standard suspension simply doesn't cut the mustard, for on road use it is perfectly adequate.

My first Prado I covered a lot of territory on the stock suspension including the Kimberly, and towing the whole time, sure it could have been better but it certainly wasn't horrible.

Cheers Andrew

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

$4K could get you a half decent second-hand camper trailer...

I think AJ is on the money, take it out and see what works and doesn't and refine your list from there based on your needs. I took mine out within two weeks of buying it and was very happy, it did everything I needed it to, and more. Its a daily driver in Sydney so everything I've spent on it then has really been to make my life easier and make our camping trips more comfortable. There's lots of things I really want, some of which I have, and some of which I actually needed.

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

AJ.. yep very good point mate.. I will agree with you there

[r2d2 Member Find all posts View Profile Close r2d2]

I agree, just get out there an use it. I have had my 2014 for 5 months and is still stock except for a roof rack, and I have been out at least once a month out in the bush, mud and beach. Now looking to get ARB winch bar and just put on some recovery points and maxtrax, just last weekend. I haven't got stuck yet and haven't found a place that I could get to. Enjoy what you have get out there and then figure out what else you need, you might save $4k.

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

wear out what you have first!!

[Black Mamba 2014 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Mamba 2014]

Cheers for the feedback.

I've changed my location profile to bitumen, I have gone off road but not in my own Prado.
Andrew did you arrived on time for the wedding? Funny story but true at times, men will always be boys and that is what I am like when I get a new toy.

We do have an education trust fund set up for our kids but you are right Macaroon1 this is a 'Prado the beast of a 4WD' forum under accessory thread.

I have always gone camping and fishing with my parents when I was little, my dad had Pajero GLS and we camped out a number of times sleeping in tents. My plan is to take the kids camping before they move out of home because I haven't had that opportunity to do it for them like what my folks have done for me.

When you get that taste of accessorizing a Prado you can't stop until you are happy for what you have done and at the same time applying the 'do I need that now’ factor. I paid cash for my Prado and I don't own any money on it when I purchased it, I could’ve got the king of the road cruiser dual cab but the missus didn't like the old feel to it and I chose the GXL over the Kakadu because I am not a big fan of leather.
There is a never ending list of aftermarket parts/accessory possibilities for a Prado, that's currently available for purchase. I don't want to make my Prado too heavy because at the moment I am happy with the total mileage of the car. At the same time, I don’t want to do it up fully in such a short amount of time because I want to have that feeling of joy when it comes to fitting/installing different parts to my Prado throughout the time I will have my Prado.

I only have $4k to spare by the end of the year which I will have for my Prado, I could increase it to $12k but I don’t want to do that. I could go either way with my beast but I have set my limit and I want to stick to it. My original plan was to purchase a Kaymar replacement bar (this is in this year build list) but once again I applied the ‘do I need it now’ attitude. I could still do it but that means it will make the car heavy and this will end up using up more fuel. Or I could go the full hog and spend well over $4k and purchase a Kaymar replacement bar/ Warn 9.5xp/dual battery/air compressor/pioneer rack/supa awning/RV5 tent/suspension upgrade.

I am trying to use the ‘do I need it now’ attitude for my next instalment and I am leaning towards new muffler/suspension upgrade/pioneer rack or bars/supa awning/RV5.

I will keep the standard rubber on it because it is silly not to wear it out first.


BM

[Black Mamba 2014 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Mamba 2014]

My priority is the suspension upgrade because of the constant load from the bull bar. At the moment the new foam cell pro is winning it for me, I have spoken to a number of people here at work who had installed them recently and love it.

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

Yes we made it to the wedding on time

Cheers Andrew

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

BM there are lots of tracks around here that you can drive to get your other half interested in 4wd'ing. Head up to fresh water or go South to the Border ranges. Get to a few places you can only get to with a 4wd. Camping is a stretch from there. Few Prados would do more than 10% real off reading so I wouldn't be too concerned. A beach run on Bribie or Rainbow is another good demonstration of how the Prado reaches places that are worth the effort. As for suggestions given your comments grab a suspension and a compressor and hold onto the rest until you get over the first hurdle.

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

Personally the best mod ever is replacing the AT 20 grand craps, reduces body roll, better braking, improved steering feedback, better handling in dry and wet conditions.
I couldn`t live with the Prado and those tyres. But if you don`t have a problem with them, chances are you aren`t going to need better shocks or springs unless you need more ground clearance.

For me > Tyres, compressor, shovel , matrax, car fridge, dual battery and then some bilsteins and dobinson springs.