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30-Sep-2016, 00:15 UT/GMT My new Toyota - Meet Panthera - Hilux 4x4 Forum
My new Toyota - Meet Panthera
Fri Dec 19, 2014 9:13 pm
So for a while i have been without a 4x4 since the accident that I have had a while ago in my SFA.
After a lot of searching and endless bad condition vehicles tested and inspected i found this one.
Had Hoppy give it his stamp of approval and the deal was done. Now its the long road home in my new Toy..
Last edited by JohanM on Tue Oct 06, 2015 7:55 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Loop speel eers pp Atlantis voor jy noord beweeg!
Fri Dec 19, 2014 9:37 pm
Brilliant, Johan! The Series 90/95 is still the best-looking Prado ever. Brakkenjan would be proud of you.
Either way, enjoy it and welcome to the Prado Club :)
Nice! Congrats and enjoy!!
Sat Dec 20, 2014 5:44 am
Good choice,I'm sure you will be very happy with it.
Sat Dec 20, 2014 6:04 am
Thanks guys im allready enjoying the vehicle.
Eric it is the 2000 V6 VX model. One owner vehicle and full service History @ toyota. This one also has the rear difflock fitted.
Now the modifications can start again on this one to make it a nice holiday camping, touring 4x4.
Sat Dec 20, 2014 6:38 am
Dis nou wragtag n netjiese prado! Dink jy gaan nog baie goeie kilos uit daai v6 kry. Laat weet hoe sy verbruik is.
Sat Dec 20, 2014 6:40 am
Baie mooi Prado Johan geniet hom
Very nice, enjoy...
Sun Dec 21, 2014 3:58 pm
Baie nice Johan, nou ry jy in styl!
Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:01 pm
I have exactly the same...same year model en alles.
346 000 and still ticking like a Swiss watch. Just went to the Waterberg this week, fully loaded, trailer as well and got 8km/L at 120-125km/h.
Many times thought of selling, but just cannot.
Taamlike mind-shift van daai trokkie van jou na so 'n smooth SUV :wth:
Baie netjies Johan - veels geluk en geniet dit!
Thanks guys, I really enjoy the vehicle.... Did a 2700 km detour home and have to say that it was to easy with the Prado. Even after a long day in the seat i was relaxed and comfortable at the end of the day. Speeds travelled ranged from crawling along on dirt roads in augrabies national park to enjoying the open road at 140 for some stages.... Had a lot of wind from all sides. Today was mostly headwind from Upington to Parys. Also travelled most of the way at 130 with lots of traffic and single lane roads which meant lots of overtaking of slower vehicles.
All in all the average consumption came to 12.8L/100km for the trip. Satified yes I am happy with my choice. Best consumption on the trip was 11.4L/100km travelling the westcoast at 90 - 110 km/h.
Johan, it really is a great vehicle to drive! I much prefer it to my MB, just more fun. hasn't got the acceleration of the Merc, but who cares!!
So after buying my new wheels, I have decided to start with the changes on it to make it more comfortable and rigged for touring offroad.
So out with the clear/ semi reflective film on the windows, I changed it to 35% tint.
Louis from 4x4megaworld in Menlyn once again did a sterling brilliant job on changing the suspension from stock to OME. Service excellence once again. The lift gained was about 50mm allround. General road manners and handling has improved so much that it feels like driving a newer vehicle so stable it has become. I have to admit that the shocks that was removed still had "Toyota" on it so Louis and I suspect that it might have been the original set or was changed at the dealers at some stage, but they were all tired to the limit.
Also fitted a snorkel to the vehicle. Mostly to improve breathing ability on dirt roads as the intake is situated in the fender on the r/f wheel which is a very dusty place to breathe from on dirt roads for extended travelling.
Last edited by JohanM on Sun Aug 09, 2015 4:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Great move, Johan!
PraDog also has OME suspension fitted and the ride is absolutely superb.
Many people who own this model have complained about dashboard rattles, apparently there is a small fix for this but either PraDog's dash does not rattle, or it was fixed before I bought it. This is indeed a great, and very capable, car!
Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:18 am
Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:24 am
Congrats Johan, looking good
Very nice, I'm about to start pimping my Prado too.
All you short now is a set of rocksliders and MT's.
Jis Johan jy was baie gelukkig, daai Prado is pragtig.
Die snorkel lyk mooi!
Looks good, it's a nice solid vehicle
Thanks guys, Im really enjoying my new ride. Like Alan said it is solid and the dirt road manners is much improved over the SFA and the Fortuner my Dad had.
Eric mine has that rattle but I will get to it and fix it and then the mods will continue. The ride is much better but the rear is slightly firm currently with the 150kg load springs that will soon find its work to do. Then it will settle..
Plan is to keep it as standard looking when used around normal driving. Will upgrade the tyres to AT when they need to be replaced.
Pieter nou het jy n mooi foto om te wys vir daai snorkel installasie op die modelle.
Baie nice Johan.Geniet hom
Is dit 'n diesel of 'n petrol?
Thu Jan 22, 2015 10:20 pm
Dankie Johan ek geniet hom klaar...
Thomas dit is die 3.4 Petrol enjin
Fri Jan 23, 2015 9:46 am
Ek is ook op die uitkyk vir een. As ek mag vra - wat betaal mens vir s bees en na watter km's moet mens na kyk? Ek bedoel, ek neem aan mens bly weg van naby die 300 000km?
Geluk Johan! Bly vir jou!
Rebel 4x4 wrote: Ek is ook op die uitkyk vir een. As ek mag vra - wat betaal mens vir s bees en na watter km's moet mens na kyk? Ek bedoel, ek neem aan mens bly weg van naby die 300 000km?
Hulle pryse wissel van kondisie, km's extras en handelaars tussen 70 - 150K. Kilos gaan jy bars om een te kry met minder as 230000 op. Meeste staan by 270 +. Myne staan op 286000 en hy ry nog soos nuut. So as hy n diensrekord het wat volledig is ( ook baie skaars op die modelle) en wat mooi opgepas is moet jy maar vinnig besluit want hulle staan nie lank rond as hy reg is nie. Probleem vir baie is dat hulle nou oud raak om te finansier so dit is hoekom jy sal kry dat hy dalk 3 maande op die vloer staan want nie almal loop met so vet spaar varkie rond onder die arm nie.
So vinnig vandag n "mock up" uitleg gedoen agter in die voertuig en daai laai area is na my skatting maklik 66 - 70% van my SFA se bak met canopy op. Die 40L yskas lyk sommer klein en half uitplek agter in alleen so ek gaan nou begin meet en pas om hom in te bou op sy plek met die nodige soos die battery en invertor.
Geluk Johan nou is jy weer volledig. Geniet daai mooi voertuig........pragtige rims en lyk parmantig met die snorkel
So toe kry n bietjie tyd tussen al die dinge deur om my Prado bietjie te begin regkry vir dit wat voorle, en sommer ook n kans gehad om n kersgeskenk bietjie in te span.
So toe begin ek van n kant af alles deur te werk. Die Volcano het ek so bietjie aangepas nadat ek die baie nice ARB inflator/deflator gekry het laasjaar as n geskenk...
So het hy gelyk voor die tyd....
Toe maak ek die twee saamwerk. Nou is dit baie maklik as ek bande pomp om die druk reg te kry.
Daarna het ek begin op die Prado so bietjie tyd te spandeer. Ek het die ou tracker/alarm unit getrace en uitgehaal, ek hou nie van sulke goed wat batterye kan doodtrek nie... Dit was n redelike uitstappie om die hele eenheid te kry en alles uit te kry sonder om die hele interior te moet uitmekaar haal nie. Dit het my so rukkie gevat.
Hier is die ou goed uit en as verwysing het en die maatband daar gesit om te wys hoe baie ek moes uithaal....
Daarna het ek die agterkant gevat en die towbar wiring oorgedoen en die draade wat gelas was vervang en die towbar se fabrieks punt in die harnass gesoek en die draade van daaraf deurgetrek sodat dit buite bereik van takke en gras is wat dit kan afruk.
Ek moes my eie wiring pigtails maak en die drade self heg en het die punte almal met epoxy geseel om te voorkom dat hulle kan los wikkel/rattle op n skurwe pad.
Drade voor die tyd, na ek n kilometer insulation tape afgehaal het.....
Die agterkant nadat ek die buffer afgehaal het en sommer so paar klein dingetjies uitgesort het, waarna ek die drade maklik geskuif het deur die chassis na die punt op die sleep haak.
Hierna het ek die agterste diff breather geskuif en ook die agterste paneel waar die domkrag geplaas is reg gemaak omdat die knippe gebreek was en bly uitskud het op n ongelyke pad.
Voor die tyd
Hier is die nuwe towbar wiring pigtail gekoppel op die fabrieks punt in die harnas van die voertuig.
Last edited by JohanM on Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hier is die diff breather op sy nuwe plek. Die voorste breather en die ratkas en transfercase sal ek nog doen.
Die blou pyp en die brass filter is waar die breather nou sit.
En so vir n middag draai toe vat ek hom sommer hier na 'n draai gaan ry en besluit om gou net te kyk hoe rek die nuwe OME bene. Die klip was so +/- 400mm hoog. Moet se ek het orals gekyk en die suspension travel kon nog verder rek.. Ja ek is maar chicken om sommer rowwe goed aan te vat so alleen na die ongeluk, maar ek kom stadig daarso om die voertuig se vermoe te leer ken.
Binnekort sal ek begin met die agterkant om die yskas sy plek te gee.
Last edited by JohanM on Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Johan, watching this keenly for some tips and tricks that I could apply to PraDog. keep them coming!
Oh, and with OME suspension fitted to your Prado, you will have a most capable vehicle!
Tue Apr 14, 2015 8:00 pm
Laas week het ek so blits besoek by Eric gaan aflê terwyl ek in sy wereld was.... Gou gou my Radio laat programme met die kanale op en ook n nuwe krag kabel en VHF aerial gekry. Die naweek toe besluit ek dit is tyd om die VHF te mount en ook sommer so klein tekort koming in die bestuursgerief van die voertuig reg te maak.
Die centre console is hopeloos te laag en net jou regter arm het n arm rus wat dit so ietwat interesant maak om op die lang pad te wees. So toe haal ek die maatband uit en begin gou meet en vinnig toe kom die idees om n double decker centre console te bou met die VHF in.
Hierdie was die begin van die idee.
Sommer gou alles gemaak en toe ook 'n 12v kragpunt bygesit vir die agterste passesiers om hulle selfone of ipads te kan laai. Die is nie 'n swaar stroom punt nie omdat die deepcycle nog agter in kom waarvan af die krag getap sal word vir groter krag dorstige eenhede.
Daarna is die Unit gefit en alles gou afgehandel sodat ek hom kan pas in die voertuig en die nodige veranderinge maak.
Die aerial is opgesit. Hierso was dit pret en plesier met die dual aircon unit in die voertuig was van so aard dat die unit en pype hierso loop so dit het mooi meet en pas gevat om te kyk waar die gat sal pas...
Ja dit vat nogal sterk senuwees om met n boor en gatsaag jou voertuig te benader!!
Hierso is die unit in die voertuig en alles werk en die boonste kompartement is so 60mm diep en die hele hoogte is so 150mm wat nou die middelste armlening inlyn bring met die deure voor.
Gisteraand na werk het ek gou al die covers onder die dash terug gesit en hom vir n draai gevat om my nuwe plan te toets en moet se nou sit ek eers gerieflik agter die stuur op die pad.
Last edited by JohanM on Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Johan, a couiple of things:
1. I just love the new camouflage jobbie you've done on the rear c-pillar, the one with all the ABSA logos.
2. The radio heatsink should not really get that hot, but is there airflow around it?
Ek het op my bakkie se diff breather ook in die cab gehad ,maar het dit later geskyf,want ek het die heeltyd diff olie geruik.
Tue Apr 14, 2015 10:05 pm
Family_Dog wrote: Johan, a couiple of things:
Eric, It has 6 holes below the heatsink and also not very clear in the photo's is the sides next to the radio is not tight fit as has approx 5mm gap either side to allow some breathing space. I will keep an eye and do some alterations if the need arise.
george wrote: Baie netjies
George ek het so 120 km gery nou die dag met die voertuig na die mod en kon niks ruik nie. Moet se dat ek ry meestal met die aircon aan maar selfs as hy staan is daar geen reuk van diff olie nie. Maar ook die breather is geplaas in die agterste deel waar die quarter vents na buite toe vent, so dalk is dit hoekom ek niks ruik nie.
Fri May 01, 2015 9:11 pm
So vinnige update.
Die bou en beplan van my yskas en laai stelsel het begin. Ek het die oorspronklike mat agterin uitgehaal en gebruik vir n template en n rubber mat gemaak wat agter in pas. Nou kan ek daai een mooi bere en wanneer ek dit nodig het om die stelsel te verwyder en net n gewone stasie wa te he dan kan hy sy mat gebruik sonder dat die raamwerk die mat deur skaaf met al die minimale bewegings wat gebeur op n safari op sinkplaat paaie.
Die connect its het ek saam my LED spotlights se switch bestel van Pieter af.
Hier is die die nuwe mat vir die rak en die ou mat is bo op die rak wat in wording is.
Dit is hoe hy lyk sonder die mat in en daai is die 50L water tank wat daarso gaan kom wanneer ek dit benodig om saam te ry.
Die nuwe rubber mat op sy plek in, al die covers was nog nie hierso terug gesit nie.
Dan het ek ook die centre console se gloeilampe vervang omdat 3 van die 6 nie gewerk het nie. Nou kan ek in die aand maklik sien wat aangaan as ek ry.
Soos hy was.
Soos hy nou lyk.
Na alles het ek besluit om bietjie weer die Prado te was nadat ek laas naweek die agterpaaie aangedurf het nadat ons so 120mm reen gehad het oor nag. Ek hou nie van modder wat nie uitgewas word uit die enjin nie.
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Last edited by JohanM on Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sat May 02, 2015 9:37 am
Nice, is 'n lekker projek.
Jou rubber mat lyk baie professioneel, lyk of hy uit 'n fabriek kom.
Thu May 14, 2015 12:07 pm
I hear great things about these vehicles and think thy are still one of the best shapes around.
Also seems like it was well looked after.
Keep the pictures coming please, we want to see how it looks as you go along.
So I had a generous offer on the tyres that was on the Prado which was about 40% worn. I wasn't a big fan off the Dunlops fitted however they didnt perform really that bad in general driving conditions i was still looking for a new set of tyres. I opted to fit the Grabber AT tyre which afer speaking to a lot of different owners seemed to be the best value for money AT tyre I could get that should be decent on and offroad.
Did the Kungwini trail with them and felt the difference in traction when going up steep slopes slowly.
I also picked up that the right had side foglight had sustained some damage to the body which left it kind of loose in the bumper but also had the tendency to get water in. After some driving on wet flooded roads i noticed the the inside started to fill withup with mud and I didnt feel like spending 1.5K on a replacement light, i set about trying my hand at plastic repair and redid the rear part that was broken and covered by a piece of flashband to keep almost sealed.
Here is the left side light's bracket in one as it designed.
This was my bracket made from perspex lying in the garage.
Also had to make a new bracket which i bonded with a mix of pratley clear and Qbond grey powder mix. It worked brilliantly.
The rear view which shows my moulding skill wasnt to bad with the help of a dental technician that finished it for me.
Also managed to build my frame a bit further. I will put the slides on next weekend and then we will start to make the drawers and the fridge mount that will fit in the slides.
From here it is going to be slow building as i need to make the locating brackets and also design the 2nd battery tray and also the invertor mount that will be fitted to the frame.
Still under construction now and not nearly finished...
The frame will have 3 drawers and house the 40L engel. Also I the drawers will be lockable but that will only be addes much later.
Still a lot to do but I will get it done during the winter so that I can head out in spring.
I am paying a lot of attention to this thread, of course! Keep it up, Johan!
Postby Nick (Nexus) » Thu May 14, 2015 12:07 pm
Nick, I fully agree! Much nicer shape than the new model and has all the creature comforts one could ever want.
Johan jy het daardie lig baie mooi reg gemaak.Well Done !!
Fri Jul 10, 2015 7:12 am
Baie nice Johan, dit klink of jy hom baie geniet
Sun Jul 12, 2015 10:01 pm
well done Johan its coming along nicely.
Even in the cold I decided that it was time to be busy in the workshop again.
The slides have been fitted to the frame, giving me 3 drawers on one side and the fridge on the other side.
I decided to put the frame in the back and do some final planning as to the side boxes and the mounting of the 1000W Hawkins Invertor.
Taken some measurement and also did a test to see how far the drawers will slide out in relation to the tailgate when it is open.
Also I have marked the holes to be drilled in the frame where the OE mounting holes of the jumpseats floor brackets lined up with the frame. I actually did plan on using those extra 4 bolt holes also, making the frame bolted down with 8 bolts in the floor using the OE holes.
Also added some special blackout material to all 4 doors as they had some scuff marks from getting in and out. This should prevent marks and keep the vehicle protected.
the bare rear view.
side clearance fromt he frame to the side panel. Plenty space left for 2nd battery.
also quite a lot of space behind the rear seat above the 50L water tank
Here is the slides just pulled out and also measured against the rear door. Got full extension on all and the fridge will be fully accessible. Also the jack and tool compartment can still be reached from the back.
Next up will be the mounting brackets made the the frame and the we will start to make the drawers and fit them.
Eagle eyed readers would have noticed the top of the frame to be the same height as the top part of the trimming at the rear side windows. It was designed like that as there is more to happen once the frame is fitted.
After 8 months I finally decided how to mount the spotlights. Theses lights had their maiden trip with the Prado from 4x4 Direct in Langebaan to home and has been put away, as I have been looking at different options.
Bought some spotlight brackets and made my own 90 degree turn bracket to allow the lights to be mounted flat and yesterday I wired them in to work with a seperate switch linked to the main beams.
Had a quick setup and rough alignment in the garage, and tonight I took it out on a dark road to play with them and get them set up properly.
Here I drove down the dirt road, to a fixed reflective sign on a low level bridge and turned back and drove 350m back and took the following shots.
The star like reflection just above the lights is the far side of the bridge which is close on 370M away. The road wasn't level but I could easily see for 250+M on the dirt road.
For reference here is the Prado on Dim taken from the same spot.
then I had a moment in town where it the road is near level and just took the pictures of it. I could see the reflection of the stop sign 550m away in a lit street.
and here is the dim shot.
For a 25W LED light I am really impressed with these lights from 4x4 Direct!!!! I have tested the lights on the way back, I could reflect a intersection signboard clearly from up to 700m away on a flat road with about 300m of well lit road in front of me with a good spread on the sides too.
Johan, do you have any shots with the brights only vs brights & spots?
Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:07 pm
Eric, no I haven't taken one. I will go to the airfield this weekend and go play around with markers and take some more photo's then.
Update time ..... Way overdue, but we are still getting it all done slowly but its all coming together.
I made the drawers and split them for my needs as required when packing the vehicle. Also the locks have been fitted, mainly to prevent them from opening whilst in transit and when parked slightly at an angle.
Also set my hand at making a protective cover for the rear seat as I didn't want the watertank the chaffe against the rear seat backrest and damaging the leather. Thus I made a slit seat protector.
Also i made the side box for the spares and a general utility box where many less frequent items can travel in an easily accessible position in the vehicle.
Below this i made another small space where my 2x 3ton foldable trestles can travel when on extended trips away from the beaten track.
In front of the trestles my Volcano is traveling and also I can still reach for the tools required when having to change a flat tyre when needed to... Eagle eyed readers will be able to spot this in the final picture as it is now standing.
This was getting close to the finish and overall we are very happy with the fitting of it in the vehicle.
Did some last measurements to fit the lid ontop and then finished it.
Another view from behind the seat. Enough breathing space for the fridge and also added space for my long poles that gets used with the shower and tent..
The way it is currently standing.
The first part of the build is over. Now for some more smaller but equally important added fitments and modifications.
Wed Oct 07, 2015 5:30 am
Baie netjiese werk daardie Johan.Dit lyk sommer baie mooi.
Wow, dit lyk awesome.
Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:06 am
Hey Johan that looks great.
Seems you are really handy at doing your own modifications.
Very neat and professional.
Great work, Johan! Look forward to seeing this 'in the flesh' at some time :)
Thank you guys, yes it is hard work to get it right but it is also so rewarding seeing it finished up to here.
Family_Dog wrote: Great work, Johan! Look forward to seeing this 'in the flesh' at some time :)
I suggest that you take a Sunday drive out here and then we go out to the farm and enjoy the view from the top there seeing that you are so close to me.....
From here the internal modifications are few namely, a load barrier between the rear seats and the frame. Roof mounted inverter with storage space, battery bracket for the aux battery. and electrical panel fitted and then the rest on the outside will commence.
Baie netjies Johan
Currently sitting in Durban - and enjoying the 'cool' temperatures here, relative to the soaring temperatures in Klerksdorp anyhow! ;)
Point of interest, 4 adults in PraDog with luggage, travelling 120/140km/hr (but slower in KZN - we don't take chances there!) we averaged 7.4km/l consumption. Not too shabby for a 3.4-Litre V6 to a heavy vehicle fitted with AT.
Johan, we will definitely make a plan sometime!