Project 150 Prado | Modificaions / Mods list for a personal build

Overview

I have created this site as a project to keep track of research and mods I plan to undertake on my Prado. In my twenties, I owned a battered old Daihatsu Rocky. It was a bit of fun, but could not keep up with the coin my tradie mates were putting in to their rigs so for the next 15 or so years had Commodore station wagons. Having our second child was the kick in the bum to make the move to do more camping and in recent years’ experience, I now really need to get of the beaten track.

Deciding which car to purchase was a bit of a no brainer for me as:

I had a budget of 40k with allowance of an additional 15K to put into mods within 6 months.
Time poor and will use the car 95% suburban driving and work-related road trips.
Wanted something that looks half decent and drives nice.
Wanted something that was reasonable on the juice.

After a few months of searching I found my 2009 Kakadu at a dealership on the Sunshine Coast. It had done 105,000 and was very tidy in and out. Although I was originally looking for one with the crawl pack, I could not look past the cream leather interior. The only mods looked to be towing related (controller and plug for caravan etc).

After a little haggling I was off to the bank to get a bank cheque.
The vehicle was purchased December 2018 for $38,000.

Towing

The idea was to get a caravan or camper trailer to get out and spend more quality time with the kids (in the small window that they will actually want to spend with us).
Budget considered, weighing up the difference of an older Land Cruiser compared with the smaller towing capacity of the Prado, we decided on the Prado.
The thing is, the payloads etc can be a little confusing – especially when comparing to other manufactures advertised towing capacities…

It really all comes down to the Gross Combination Mass (GCM) . This is the maximum weight allowed for your vehicle and trailer combined.
The 2009 150 Prado has a of 2,420 kg, a of 2,990 kg and a of 5,490 kg.

At its Kerb Weight of 2,420 kg Toyota says it can tow another 3,070 kg, but that towing weight decreases in direct proportion to how much the tow vehicle's weight increases.

So if you loaded up the towing vehicle to its GVM of 2,990 kg (or a payload of 570 kg), that would only leave a towing capacity of 2,500 kg to meet the GCM of 5,490 kg.

Another reason that the Prado is so much more straight forward than other manufactures boasting bigger tow capacity.. when if fact.. most can tow less..'

Mods Overview

Here is a list of what I have purchased in no specific order. Click on the links to see further detail and link where it was purchased. Again this info is purely a record of this build. Probably had a good and bad deal here and there. No stress.

Headunit & Cameras

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
Headunit Best option to retain ALL OEM features	GPS Made To Fit	$1390
Fitting Headunit Wiring + Fitting	Pine Rivers Car Electrics	$300
Rerverse Camera Upgraded 1080p AHD camera for better resolution	Vhedia	$50
Front Camera Upgraded 1080p AHD camera for better resolution	Vhedia	$34
Camera Selector 4 to 1 vehicle camera selector with wireless remote	Vhedia	$74

Gadgets

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
Rear View Camera Gator GRV90MKT \| 9" Mirror Mounted	Super Cheap Auto	$179
Motrex HUD The best HUD you will find.	Amazon	$135
OBD2 Tool For Engine and Car date + scan tool	OBD2 Australia	$45
OBD2 3 Way Splitter To be able to leave 3 devices pluggeed in and remotely select	OBD2 Australia	$48
Quadlock wireless charger Air vent mount \| wireless charging \| phone case included	Quad Lock	$119

General Cabin

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
Car Sear Back Organiser 2 pcs \| Molle style \| 3 x bags	Ali Express	$84
Fridge Compartment Tray Quick installation to existing holes (10 minutes)	Ali Express	$30
Front Mats Genuine Toyota \| PZQ2060271 \| Rubber Floormat Pair	Ebay	$56
Rear Mats Genuine Toyota \| PZQ2060261 \| Rubber Floormat Pair	Ebay	$44
Cargo Protection Cargo Boot Liner Auto WaterProof \| Mat Cargo Boot Liner Auto WaterProof \| Velcro	Ebay	$107
Front Window Shade 46-80cm \| Alumimun foil \| Retractable	Ali Express	$40

Rear Cargo Barrier, Shelf & Door Table

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
Cargo Barrier Quick installation to existing holes (10 minutes)	Kaon	$302
Cargo Shelf Quick installation to existing holes (10 minutes)	Kaon	$315
Side Molle Quick installation to existing holes (30 minutes)	Kaon	$350
Door Table Quick installation to rear door (30 min)	Kaon	$298
Rear Door Cage Quick installation to rear door (10 min)	Kaon	$125
Rear Door Caddy Quick installation to rear door (15 min)	Kaon	$95
Rear Door Caddy Quick installation to rear door (10 min)	Kaon	$95
Magnetic Tool Bar Tool Pro \| Set of 3	Super Cheap Auto	$20

Fridge & Slide

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
Fridge Engel MT−V45F 40L \| Transit Cover bag	Snowy's	$1,449
Fridge Slide XTM 4WD Modular Draw	BCF	$349
Marine Ply 1220 x 610 x 9mm	Bunnings	$28

Roof Rack & Storage

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
Roof Rack Backbone + Pioneer Platform \| 4 plank \| 1240W x 2100L	Autobarn	$2,580
Roof Top Box Rhino Toolbox \| Slimline \| 1200 H:310 L:550	Bunnings	$319
Roof Top Bag Adventure Kings \| Length – 1600mm / Width – 1000mm / Height – 300mm - 500l	4WD Supa Centre	$129
Awning Adventure Kings \| 2.5 x 2.5m	4WD Supa Centre	$99
Shower Tent Kickass \| Closed Size: 112 x 16.5 x 12cm	Kickass	$149
Eeziawn K9 Mounting Slide Kit Under rack mounted slide + lock hinge	4WD Industries	$130
K9 Medium Table Camp table (510 x 870mm)	Dollium	$305
Maxtrax Mounting Flush mount \| Mounting Pin Set	Kaon	$145
Shovel/Axe Holder For Pioneer Platform 43218	Roof Rack Store	$99
Height rails TBA	Chief Manufacturing	$TBA
Miscellaneous Strut nuts x 6	Brisbane Fastners	$12

Lighting

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
LED Reverse Lights Stedi T10 / T15 \| 1,000 Lumen	Stedi	$70
Light Bar Stedi ST3K + Pioneer bracket \| 41.5"\| 40 LED \|	Stedi	$390
Work Lights x 3 Stedi Micro ST3520 \| 13.4" \| 36W \|CREE LED \|	Stedi	$195
Interior Switches x 2 In Cab Switch for lightbar & work lights	Ebay	$52
Interior Cargo Door Light XTM 4 Bar Light Kit \| with Power & Dimmer	Super Cheap Auto	$50
Interior Light Teralume \| Diimmable \| Dual Colour \| X-Strip Light	Teralume	$101
Exterior Switches x 3 Individually switched work lights	Autobarn	$30
Harnesses x 2 & Fitting Fitting of roof rack, light bar and work lights (Left and right)	Autobarn	$536
Fitting Rear Worklight Extending wiring to rear worklight	Pine Rivers Car Electrics	$100

Bull bar / UVP / Winch

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
Bull Bar ARB Deluxe Bar: Colour coded \| ARB Fog Light Kit \| Winch Spacer Kit \| Flip Up Licence Plate	UV 4x4	$2,580
UVP ARB Under Vehicle Protection: 3mm Steel \| Zinc plated	UV 4x4 Brendale	$555
Recovery Point ARB Vehicle specific mounting	UV 4x4 Brendale	$280
Winch Dominat8r X \| 12,000lb \| 7.2hp motor \| Synthetic Rope\| Wired or wireless controll	4WD Supa Centre	$339
Fitting Fitting Bar \| Fitting Recovery Point \| Fitting Supplied Winch\|	UV 4x4	$1,080

Performance / Capability / Damage Prevention

Item	Supplier	Price
Snorkle Safari Snorkle \| Installation	UV 4x4	$747
Catch Can Flashlube Catch Can Pro \| Installation	A1 Mechanical	$580
Transmission Cooler Kit Davies Craig / PWR 678 Cooler kit \| Bracket	Kaon	$295
Transmission Cooler Installation Install of bracket & cooler	A1 Mechanical	$200

Lift Kit, Wheels & Tyres

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
2" Lift Kit KDSS compatable \| Airbagman	Dobinsons Brendale	$3,300
Wheels Hussla Ambush Bronze 17x8 (x5)	Ozzy Tyres	$1,700
Tyres Falken Wild Peak AT3W (x5) 275 x 70 R 17	Falken	$1,950

Power: Dual Battery / DCDC / Power Distribution / Solar

Click here for the purchase, install and usability notes

Item	Supplier	Price
DC/DC Projecta IDC25 \| Anderson Plug for solar \| Relocation kit \| Anderson Plug \| Lamp Plug\| Cable (6mm) \| Conduit	Autobarn	$399
DC/DC Mount Redarc BCDC Mounting Bracket to Suit Toyota Prado 150 \| BCDCMB-003	Autobarn	$90
Fitting Fitting of kit + cable to back for fridge	Autobarn Lawnton	$220
Second Battery 90AH \| 27X MF CENTURY \| AGM \| sealed lead acid	Battery World	$479
Battery Monitor (front) Projecta DBM100 \| 12V Dual Battery Volt Meter	Ebay	$129
Battery Monitor (rear) Projecta DBM320 \| 12V Dual Battery Volt Meter	Ebay	$274
Battery Monitors Install Install of battery monitor	Pine Rivers Car Electrics	$180
Distribution Box Thunder TDR06013 \| Anderson In \| Anderson out \| USB out x2 \| 12v out x 2	4WD Industries	$200
160w Solar Panel 160w Fixed panel + brackets	4WD Supa Center	$109
Miscellaneous Strut nuts x 3	Brisbane Fastners	$6
Fitting Solar Panel Anderson Plugs / Connectors	Pine Rivers Car Electrics	$230

150 prado kakadu stock standard

From the factory, the 2009 Prado Kakadu rocks the following:

Engine / Power (Stock)
Engine:	4cyl 3.0L Turbo Diesel
Power:	127kW @ 3400rpm
Torque:	410Nm @ 1600-2800rpm
Power to Weight Ratio:	54.7 kW/t

General (stock)
Transmission	5 speed Sports Automatic
Fuel Capacity	150 L
Rims:	18 x 7.5
Tyres:	265/60 R18
Seats:	7

Body (stock)
Length:	4,930 mm
Width:	1,885 mm
Height:	1,845 mm
Ground Clearance (unladen):	205 mm
Brow Height (center of wheel to edge of guard) - FRONT:	475 mm
Brow Height (center of wheel to edge of guard) - REAR:	500 - 555 mm
Wheelbase:	2,790 mm
Track Front:	1,585 mm
Track Rear:	1,585 mm

Weights (stock)
Tare Mass / Weight: Tare Mass / Weight The weight of an empty standard vehicle with all of its fluids (oils, coolants) but with only 10 litres of fuel in the tank The weight of diesel is approximately 0.85 kilograms per liter.	2,320 kg
Kerb Weight / Mass: Kerb Weight / Mass Same as Tare Mass, but with a full tank of fuel and without any accessories fitted (bull bars, tow bars, roof racks etc). The weight of diesel is approximately 0.85 kilograms per liter. Taking that it is a 150 liter tank, the addtional 140 liters adds 119 kg.. So if the tare mass is 2,320 kg + 140 liters is 119 kg = 2,439 kg ... why is the manufacturer specified weight 2,420?	2,420 kg
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) This is the maximum your vehicle can weigh when fully loaded (as specified by Toyota - when it left the factory). You should find this GVM in the owner's manual. The GVM is the Kerb Weight plus all accessories (bull bars, roof racks, winches etc) and payload (people and luggage). If you're towing something, GVM includes the Tow Ball Download. Keep in mind, depending on modifications made, this figure may change	2,990 kg
Gross Combination Mass (GCM): Gross Combination Mass (GCM) This is the maximum weight allowed for your vehicle and trailer combined. Pay close attention to your vehicle's GVM and your trailer's ATM, because those two figures determine the GCM and one directly affects the other. For example, The 2009 150 Prado has a Kerb Weight of 2,420 kg, a GVM of 2,990 kg and a GCM of 5,490 kg. At its Kerb Weight of 2,420 you can tow 3,070 kg (braked), but that towing weight decreases in direct proportion to how much the tow vehicle's weight increases. So if you loaded up the towing vehicle to its GVM of 2,990 kg (or a payload of 570 kg), that would leave a towing capacity of 2,500 kg to meet the GCM of 5,490 kg. Another reason that the Prado is so much more straight forward than other manufactures boasting bigger tow capacity.. when if fact.. most can tow less..	5,490 kg
Payload: Payload This is simply the maximum load your vehicle can carry. Just deduct your vehicle's Kerb Mass from its Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and what's left is the amount of stuff you can load into it. This includes all passengers and their luggage.	570 kg
Towing Capacity (braked):	2,500 kg
Towing Capacity (Unbraked):	750 kg

To date, current build specs. (only displaying changed items).

GREEN = better | RED = worse:

Engine / Power (modified)
Power to Weight Ratio:	TBA kW/t

General (modified)
Rims:	17 x 8
Tyres:	275/70 R17
Seats:	6

Body (modified)
Length:	5,160 mm (inc Bullbar)
Height:	2,032 mm
Ground Clearance (laden):	235mm (+35 +)
Brow Height (center of wheel to edge of guard) - FRONT:	525 mm
Brow Height (center of wheel to edge of guard) - REAR:	550 - 605 mm
Track Front:	1,585 mm
Track Rear:	1,585 mm

Weights (mofified)
Tare Mass / Weight: Tare Mass / Weight The weight of an empty standard vehicle with all of its fluids (oils, coolants) but with only 10 litres of fuel in the tank The weight of diesel is approximately 0.85 kilograms per liter.	TBA kg
Kerb Weight / Mass: Kerb Weight / Mass Same as Tare Mass, but with a full tank of fuel and without any accessories fitted (bull bars, tow bars, roof racks etc). The weight of diesel is approximately 0.85 kilograms per liter. Taking that it is a 150 liter tank, the addtional 140 liters adds 119 kg.. So if the tare mass is 2,320 kg + 140 liters is 119 kg = 2,439 kg ... why is the manufacturer specified weight 2,420?	TBA kg
Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM): Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) This is the maximum your vehicle can weigh when fully loaded (as specified by Toyota - when it left the factory). You should find this GVM in the owner's manual. The GVM is the Kerb Weight plus all accessories (bull bars, roof racks, winches etc) and payload (people and luggage). If you're towing something, GVM includes the Tow Ball Download. Keep in mind, depending on modifications made, this figure may change	2,990 kg
Gross Combination Mass (GCM):	TBA kg
Payload:	TBA kg
Towing Capacity (braked):	2,500 kg
Towing Capacity (Unbraked):	750 kg