Toyota Prado 150 Series VX Build

Last week we completed an insane Toyota Prado 150 Series VX build. We did so much to this vehicle, including (but not limited to) installation of a bull bar, UHF, lithium battery system, roof racks, solar panels, drawers, and even electric drop down side-steps.  

OFF-ROAD ANIMAL TORO BULL BAR 

Starting with the bull bar, we opted for the Off-Road Animal Toro Bull Bar, which has been colour coded to Graphite to match the colour of the Prado. The Prado itself is a VX, so it has all the park sensors and radars integrating back into the bull bar. We opted for this bull bar due to its many benefits; 

• It provides better airflow than other bull bars which keeps the motor cool 

• It’s smaller in weight than other bull bars 

• It provides easy fitment 

• The winch can be fitted after the bar is fitted 

• It’s airbag compatible 

• It works with factory parking sensors 

• It can be colour coded to any vehicle 

+ more. 

BUSH RANGER 12,000LB REVO WINCH 

Behind the bull bar is where we installed a Bush Ranger 12,000LB Revo Winch. These winches come with a wireless remote, however you can still plug in a wired remote if needed, in case one day your batteries go flat! We opted for the Revo Winch, as they are designed to be strong and versatile, which is needed when going off-grid. They also feature 10mm of premium synthetic rope, a gearbox mounted braking system (which eliminates heat transfer to the rope), a spring-loaded clutch + more. 

STEDI TYPE-X PRO SPOT LIGHTS 

The customer opted for the Stedi Type-X Pro LED spot lights, which are Stedi’s top of the range LED lights, where we mounted them straight onto the front of the Toro bull bar. These lights provide impressive illumination (with a good price point) and fit the Off-Road Animal Toro Bull Bar perfectly. Featuring a 1.15KM beam throw, and being selected for having the no.1 highest lumen density per mm2 of any other comparable LED on the market – it’s not hard to see why the customer chose to go with these spotties. 

CEL-FI GO ANTENNA

We installed two antennas onto the Prado. The first one we mounted onto the Toro bull bar, which links straight to the Cel-Fi Go we fitted into the vehicle under the front passenger seat. The Cel-Fi Go provides the customer with boosted reception when traveling through destinations with little to no cell service – an essential for off-grid touring. 

UHF ANTENNA & UNIDEN UH9060 UHF

We installed the second antenna onto the bonnet of the Prado for the UH9060 that we installed inside the vehicle. 

The UH9060 is an extremely compact and durable UHF, which has been tested extensively in the most remote locations to stay connected. The remote head unit can be mounted on the roof or dash of your vehicle, and features instant replay, which allows you to record and replay up to one minute of recent received signals – which ensures important transmissions are never missed. 

The UHF antenna is there to pick up the broadcast signals from other channels that transmit on another UHF and ensures you to stay connected for longer periods of time when in truly remote locations. 

TMAX ELECTRIC SIDE-STEPS 

We also installed some TMAX electric side-steps onto either side of the Prado. These side-steps are auto fold-out which makes for easy access when getting in and out of the vehicle – whilst also being light-weight and durable. The steps themselves feature LED lighting and a safety feature, to prevent damage if an obstacle was to get in its path. They are activated when the vehicles doors open and close, and allow for a manual override if needed. 

INVICTA 100AH LITHIUM BATTERY 

We installed an Invicta 100ah lithium battery with Bluetooth, under bonnet in the Prado. 

The bluetooth allows the customer to monitor everything going on with the battery via the app on their smart phone. This includes; battery status, inputs and outpost. 

The battery itself is being charged via the Redarc BCDC 1240v Charger, which we mounted in behind the grill to keep it nice and cool. 

The Invicta 100ah battery powers all the accessories in the rear of the car including, Cel-Fi Go, Fridge, Lights and Sockets.

RHINO ROOF RACK & BAT-WING 270O AWNING 

We opted for a Rhino-Rack roof-rack, with the backbone mounting system, which is the strongest mounting system that Rhino does. Mounted to that, we installed a range of accessories. 

First off, we installed the Rhino-Rack Bat-Wing 270o awning,  which runs all the way around to the back of the vehicle and provides 11sqm of coverage. 

STEDI 40INCH SLIM LED LIGHT BAR, STEDI ROCK LIGHTS & STEDI WORK LIGHTS

Attached to the front of the roof rack is where we installed the Stedi 40inch slim LED light bar, and to the side of the roof rack is where we installed some STEDI rock lights, which actually mount into the base rack for easy installation. At the back of the Prado, also mounted on the roof rack is where we installed some STEDI work lights. All these lights together provide ultimate illumination around the entirety of the vehicle, for optimum vision at night. 

LIGHT SWITCHES 

All lights we installed can be switched on and off via a factory style switch panel we installed underneath the driver’s side dash of the vehicle, for easy and convenient access. The switch panel is 100% run off the auxiliary battery and is designed to fit the style of the vehicle. Off to the other side of the driver’s side dash is where we installed the spot-light override, which by law you need to have. 

120WATT REDARC SOLAR PANEL  

On top of the roof rack is where we installed a 120watt Redarc Solar Panel, which is feeding straight back into the Redarc BCDC, to charge the 100ah Invicta lithium battery that we installed under the bonnet when the vehicle is turned off.

OFF-ROAD ANIMAL RAKTANK WATER TANK + PUMP 

We installed the Off-Road Animal 50lt Raktank water tank which is made to suit roof racks for easy installation and convenient access. The tank is purely designed to reduce sloshing when full, and it is 100% built to last. The customer also supplied a pump that we installed for the water to be fed through. 

MSA ALLOY DRAWERS 

In the back of the Toyota Prado 150 Series VX is where we installed the MSA alloy drawers. We chose to use these drawers as they are super lightweight and robust, nice and smooth and easy to open and close thanks to the big steel latches. These drawers also feature automatic LED lights when opened as well, making things nice and easy for when you need to get something out at night and can’t see. 

MSA DROP-DOWN FRIDGE SLIDE 

On top of the drawers is where we installed the MSA drop-down fridge-slide to accompany the customer supplied 75lt Dometic dual zone fridge-freezer. The fridge slide moves slowly and smoothly from its position when pulled, and drops down to give you easy and quick access to all your fridge’s contents. 

ARB TWIN-CYLINDER AIR COMPRESSOR + 4L AIR TANK

In behind the fridge, super out of the way is where we installed the ARB Twin-Cylinder Air Compressor, for when you’re off-grid but need immediate and fast inflation. For a standard 4x4 tyre size, the compressor provides inflation from 18psi – 40psi in about a minute/tyre. 

AIR-BAG MAN AIR BAG SYSTEM 

We also installed the full Air-Bag man Air-Bag system with onboard inflation. Next to the Air-Bag system is the gauge which shows the pressure levels in each bag. This is all easily adjusted by a couple of small panel switches which are mounted on the side of the Prado’s boot, where you can also find the ARB compressor switch for the ARB air compressor + the ARB air chuck. 

CUSTOM SOCKETS 

On the drivers side we have installed some sockets for charging and running all your devices. Including; 

• 2 x Dual USB A & C 

• 12V power socket

• Plus a Red Anderson Plug for solar input if the customer wants to add in an extra solar blanket

So if the customer ever decides to add a bit of extra solar into the existing system, they can just plug a blanket straight in, unregulated, and it’ll help charge the auxiliary battery up super quick. 

CARAVAN SAFETY DAVE CAMERA SYSTEM 

We installed a Safety Dave camera system to the Prado for eyes when reversing with a caravan or trailer. We placed the camera screen in the middle of the Prado’s cab for easy vision when driving. 

ROH RIMS & FALKEN WILDPEAK TYRES 

For this Prado, we opted for the ROH rims wrapped in the Falken Wildpeak Tyres. The Wildpeak’s are a good tried and tested tyre and a really good 4WD all-rounder, hence why we decided to use them for this Prado build. They are also low on noise and don’t wobble, yet still give a good aggressive pattern when you need to engage 4WD. 

PEDDERS 3500KG GVM UPGRADE SUSPENSION

Suspension wise, we opted for the full Pedder’s 3500KG GVM Upgrade. We worked with the guys over at Pedder’s very closely to get this suspension done for this vehicle, and the blue plate as well to obviously make it all legal for all the extra weight we put on the vehicle. 

TJM AIRTEC SNORKEL 

We installed the TJM Airtec Snorkel, as these ones suit Prado’s extremely nicely, whilst also having a sleeker look about them. The air comes up the snorkel and across the windscreen which also makes it a bit more discrete. 

MSA TOWING MIRRORS 

The last accessory we installed on the Prado were the MSA Towing Mirrors. Obviously towing mirrors are a straight up necessity for anyone towing a caravan/trailer/boat, as they make life ten times easier when needing extended vision whilst driving or reversing. These mirrors extend smoothly outwards when pulled, and can be put back to normal when pushed back inwards. 

Click here to watch the full YouTube video of Andrew and Craig taking you on a walk-through this awesome build.