First post ever, so bare with me. I bought this right hand drive TX limited Japan import a while ago at 73.000km. It was a rare gem, never gone off road and in incredible state. My previous car was a 1998 Prado RZ V6 three door, but with the expansion of the family I had the excuse of up sizing. My aim is to build a tourer that can bring us in reasonable comfort through South America, and straight through the Amazon rainforest where we live, in good times and bad (wet season).
Apart from some interior work, the only upgrades that came with the vehicle were a high flow muffler and cat installed in Japan. First upgrade I did was new tires. I bought Mickey Thompson's ATZ p3 from the US at size 265/70R17. I bought them to be able to deal with the very sticky Amazon mud that we have here, but maintain great ride quality over long distances on the Tarmac and the city driving that I still do with this car. All my previous AT tires have damaged quickly with smaller and bigger chips on the threat and tears in the side walls. The MT's are heavy as hell and do make much more noise than any AT tire I have had before. All acceptable and in combination with a second alignment and the new rims with lower offset I actually find the ride quality improved over the original. Less squirming whilst cornering at speed, more planted feel to it and less dancing left to right. I do notice that it generally runs at slightly lower RPMs for a given speed, but also that more gas pedal input and RPMs are required under acceleration. I should say that my optimism is definitely influenced by my expectations of worse ride quality than standard. Also, I haven't been able to say much about the fuel consumption, which matters to me.
Second upgrade was new rims to make the car unique over stock and increase the track width, giving more stability to the car and avoid rubbing the UCA, etc. My search for new rims was focused on rims for FJ Cruisers and 4Runners, since we are closest to the US for import. I bought the TRD Pro 17x7.0inch offset ET4 rims that were first displayed on a heavily modded FJ Cruiser displayed during the 2014 SEMA show. They are now available OE at Toyota US for the FJ Cruiser and 4Runner. For FJ Cruisers and 4runners the wider offset seems just right and I took the gamble for my Prado. Their 7.0 inch width gets strongly debated since many consider this too small for their oversized tires. The Mickey Thompson's fit well over them so I only see the advantages. And in my view, they look great.
This is how the rig looks like today. I'm sure you all think it deserves a lift urgently:
https://s26.postimg.org/xltbek3op/20170121_121121.jpg
and
https://s26.postimg.org/sbocn9jft/20170121_121412.jpg
A reminder of how the car looked like when bought during a trip into the rainforest and savannahs of the Guianas:
https://s26.postimg.org/flopnx0vd/Su0030.jpg
Upcoming plans are dual batteries, a roof rack, roof tent and new suspension with between 1.5 and 2 inch lift. On board air compressor and snorkel are on the list. Wish list also includes side bars, (aluminum) bull bar and underside protection.
Apart from some interior work, the only upgrades that came with the vehicle were a high flow muffler and cat installed in Japan. First upgrade I did was new tires. I bought Mickey Thompson's ATZ p3 from the US at size 265/70R17. I bought them to be able to deal with the very sticky Amazon mud that we have here, but maintain great ride quality over long distances on the Tarmac and the city driving that I still do with this car. All my previous AT tires have damaged quickly with smaller and bigger chips on the threat and tears in the side walls. The MT's are heavy as hell and do make much more noise than any AT tire I have had before. All acceptable and in combination with a second alignment and the new rims with lower offset I actually find the ride quality improved over the original. Less squirming whilst cornering at speed, more planted feel to it and less dancing left to right. I do notice that it generally runs at slightly lower RPMs for a given speed, but also that more gas pedal input and RPMs are required under acceleration. I should say that my optimism is definitely influenced by my expectations of worse ride quality than standard. Also, I haven't been able to say much about the fuel consumption, which matters to me.
Second upgrade was new rims to make the car unique over stock and increase the track width, giving more stability to the car and avoid rubbing the UCA, etc. My search for new rims was focused on rims for FJ Cruisers and 4Runners, since we are closest to the US for import. I bought the TRD Pro 17x7.0inch offset ET4 rims that were first displayed on a heavily modded FJ Cruiser displayed during the 2014 SEMA show. They are now available OE at Toyota US for the FJ Cruiser and 4Runner. For FJ Cruisers and 4runners the wider offset seems just right and I took the gamble for my Prado. Their 7.0 inch width gets strongly debated since many consider this too small for their oversized tires. The Mickey Thompson's fit well over them so I only see the advantages. And in my view, they look great.
This is how the rig looks like today. I'm sure you all think it deserves a lift urgently:
https://s26.postimg.org/xltbek3op/20170121_121121.jpg
and
https://s26.postimg.org/sbocn9jft/20170121_121412.jpg
A reminder of how the car looked like when bought during a trip into the rainforest and savannahs of the Guianas:
https://s26.postimg.org/flopnx0vd/Su0030.jpg
Upcoming plans are dual batteries, a roof rack, roof tent and new suspension with between 1.5 and 2 inch lift. On board air compressor and snorkel are on the list. Wish list also includes side bars, (aluminum) bull bar and underside protection.
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