Outer Limits 4x4 Board

We are looking at selling the 80 and forester (selling two cars and buying one) at the moment we are considering buying a Prado around the 2002 to 2005 model

My questions if any one can help are

If we bought a V6 petrol one can they be put on gas?
would they be a strong enough car to tow a loaded car trailer?
and are the auto transmissions any good?

The car would be the wifes and she is not to keen on the 100 serries or GU's (nissan lol me either) the Prado looks and feels a lot more car like.

Thanks if you can offer some opions.

cheers Daz

We just purchased a 05 3lt prado for my missus and we love it. I also have a twin locked 75 series ute and one very modified zook and thought the prado was only good for highway car. I took it for a bit of a play and was very surprised at how capable it was being IFS and all. Heaps of potential to mod. It has some balls too. We test drove a v6 for a day. There bloody thirsty buggers but have a bit of go as expected. Were very impressed with the prado. Not keen on the v6 though

zookprojectfnq wrote:We just purchased a 05 3lt prado for my missus and we love it. I also have a twin locked 75 series ute and one very modified zook and thought the prado was only good for highway car. I took it for a bit of a play and was very surprised at how capable it was being IFS and all. Heaps of potential to mod. It has some balls too. We test drove a v6 for a day. There bloody thirsty buggers but have a bit of go as expected. Were very impressed with the prado. Not keen on the v6 though

i am gettig the impression that the desil one is the one to get if we gp prado.

My main concern is would it be up to the task of towing a loaded car trailer approx 3ton

thanks Daz

Can't say Ive tried towing with it yet so I won't comment. I have seen a Lot of tandem axle caravans been towed with them but. I would imagine you would need to install electric brake modules and that. Log onto prado point. someone there will be able to answer that question.

i can't see that towing 3 ton will be a problem, apart from being slow, unless your towing ever day then a landcruiser is a better option.

try and find a second hand D4D if you can. heaps more pulling power right though the rev range, where as the older engine doesnt pull as hard uphills etc. check the tow rating as well, I think it may only be 2500kg

Jcas24 wrote:try and find a second hand D4D if you can. heaps more pulling power right though the rev range, where as the older engine doesnt pull as hard uphills etc. check the tow rating as well, I think it may only be 2500kg

Sorry but whats a D4D?

2500 was stamped on the tow bar of the one we looked at today.

only want to tow that weight prob 1/2 dozen times a year.

The one we looked at today and like very much was a 2004 3lt desiel with 116,000 k on it white with window tint and ARB bull bar, nice looking car. See what sort of deal i can get out of them on Monday but it has $33g on the window.

thanks for the feed back so far cheers Daz

ok,

the 2004 3ltr diesel will be a 1KZ-TE about 96 killer wasps.

in about 2006(?) they brought it out with the D-4D motor from the new hiluxs. i think its called 1KD-FTE. Its a 'common rail' diesel and pumps out about 127kw. also has an extra gear in both auto & manual boxes.

I have the 1KZ in the prado, and the newer D4D in the hilux work ute which flys in comparision to the older motor.

They are only rated to 2400Kgs so you wont be able to tow 3T with one, the wife has a V6 03 model GXL and loves it her only complaint is the rear door is a pita in carparks.

My brother in law has an 04 TD and personally I prefer the V6, they are a great all rounder although imo the low range sucks arse and lets them down a lot off road. I also suspect it goes some way to explaining the diff failures they can get off road. Over chrissy we took ours to Mackay with the camper trailer fully loaded (around 800kgs) I got to Mackay on the one fill up from Brisbane.

The 180L tank standard and the ride is great I have never owned another 4b I can drive for 12 hrs and get out ready to go again.

Having said all that the V6 lacks torque, I have towed my Lux behind my crewman which is a pos compared to the Prado V6 and it handled it fine, I feel the Prado would handle it also. Given that my Lux would be heavier than yours I dont think you would have a drama.

Thanks booflux and Jcas24 that helps me heaps. We drove a 2003 turbo 3lt deseil one today auto with 116,000 k on the clock and there asking $29g for it. Nice car but man gutless

can they be chipped up and fitted with exhaust etc to get more grunt go out of them???

I have not been able to find a V6 on gas can gas be fitted to them?? they would have to have more power and be cheaper to run than a deseil one if they were on gas wouldnt they????

Yeah the old 3lt and an auto is a disappointing combination.

Yeh Daz the diesel can be chipped, my brother in law is looking into it for his. I have never seen one on gas and to be honest I probably wouldnt do it. The wife gets the Prado doing around low 13L/100km around town and she doesnt drive it lightly. I guess I dont mind paying the extra for the fuel if its got the power

Check out www.pradopoint.com/index if you havent already. Everything you will want to know will be on there.

booflux wrote:Yeh Daz the diesel can be chipped, my brother in law is looking into it for his. I have never seen one on gas and to be honest I probably wouldnt do it. The wife gets the Prado doing around low 13L/100km around town and she doesnt drive it lightly. I guess I dont mind paying the extra for the fuel if its got the power

Check out www.pradopoint.com/index if you havent already. Everything you will want to know will be on there.

Ill go check out the site thanks. Im going toDrive a V6 one this week and im going to quiz the guy that dose all my gas work to see if he has converted one. I have not found a V6 one for sale that is on gas and there are plenty of V6 ones out there up for grabs atm.

We drove a 4.0 lt V6 today and that is what we are shopping for. She will not have a 100 series or a potrol she loves the Prado.

I went to the gas place today and diret injection for the prado is $4500 and no prob at all. He gave me the names and contact numbers of a few he has done and they are all very happy with them he claims.

Time to go shopping for the best deal we can get.

Any one interested a 06 forester or a 1994 V8 80 series?

cheers Daz

Good stuff Daz will be interested to hear how you go with the gas