Lj78 Prado Ute

Kaney · 05-18-07, 01:38 AM

has anybody turna lwb prado into a ute? i have decided to make mine a second vechile rather than my daily driver and i like the ute idea. i had a play with photoshop today and this is what i came up with.......

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modu...view_photo.php

any other pitures would be awsome!!!!

how do i post pictures??

crushers · 05-18-07, 07:24 AM

since the second set of seats actually goes back past the "C" pillar i would suggest removing them and sut the "B" doors down the middle giving you and extended cab and a longer box or tray.
i was standing next to the LJ78 we have here with a blown head thinking the same thing yesterday...

a wrecked body and a zip disc makes for quick work...i did this to a 60 series on year just for fun. i liked the look. i will see if i can find a pic next week...

cheers

roscoFJ73 · 05-20-07, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaney

has anybody turna lwb prado into a ute? i have decided to make mine a second vechile rather than my daily driver and i like the ute idea. i had a play with photoshop today and this is what i came up with.......

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modu...view_photo.php

any other pitures would be awsome!!!!

how do i post pictures??

I saw this being driven by a young mum some time back,you can see the pram in the back LOL

I would also stitch up the back doors or put a flat section in there and sell the doors off.

The one in this pic has an aftermarket f/glass tropical roof for hot climes.

lshobie · 05-20-07, 06:39 PM

Very nice!

wolf den · 05-21-07, 05:55 PM

The place where i got my 2 LJ 78's sells them here and is quite popular as a ute for the cost concious construction company that bought several of them. not sure tho how the coil springs will hold out with the stuff they load it with.

roscoFJ73 · 05-22-07, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf den

not sure tho how the coil springs will hold out with the stuff they load it with.

Easy to upgrade or maybe use some 80 series coils

wolf den · 05-22-07, 06:33 PM

REALLY? 80 series coils? will it raise the vehicle? how would it affect the ride if i place them on my LJ's? sorry for the numerous questions, im new in the coil spring stuff. Im old school leaf springs coz of my 60. Cheers

roscoFJ73 · 05-22-07, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf den

REALLY? 80 series coils? will it raise the vehicle? how would it affect the ride if i place them on my LJ's? sorry for the numerous questions, im new in the coil spring stuff. Im old school leaf springs coz of my 60. Cheers

I know others have used them on their LJ70 but they reported a hard ride as they are designed for a heavier 80,however they may be ok for load carrying.

Welby · 05-23-07, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

I saw this being driven by a young mum some time back,you can see the pram in the back LOL

I would also stitch up the back doors or put a flat section in there and sell the doors off.

The one in this pic has an aftermarket f/glass tropical roof for hot climes.

What was that before it was made into a Ute?. Looks pretty smart. There is an outfit in Christchurch who cut the back off VX Cruisers, mostly 80 series and makes them into a double cab ute. Seems to be popular with farmers as there does not seem to be anybody making 75s into double cabs here. Now the Hilux has gone soft there are not lot of options if you want a Toyota double cab. Personally if you do not have a deck at least 2m long it aint worth having one. I guess you can keep the dirty/smelly stuff outside if you have a deck of any size. I am sure there are owners of flatdecks (traytops) who like me would not know what to do if they did not have one. I spent 6 months with out one and it was not easy!!.

roscoFJ73 · 05-23-07, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welby

What was that before it was made into a Ute?. Looks pretty smart. There is an outfit in Christchurch who cut the back off VX Cruisers, mostly 80 series and makes them into a double cab ute. Seems to be popular with farmers as there does not seem to be anybody making 75s into double cabs here. Now the Hilux has gone soft there are not lot of options if you want a Toyota double cab. Personally if you do not have a deck at least 2m long it aint worth having one. I guess you can keep the dirty/smelly stuff outside if you have a deck of any size. I am sure there are owners of flatdecks (traytops) who like me would not know what to do if they did not have one. I spent 6 months with out one and it was not easy!!.

That was a 75 series cab chassis . The raised roof is an off the shelf product and a low roof is also available.
The old rear doors had crappy sliding windows but now they have windable type

There is some companies in NSW that chop troopys into a dual cab ,but I think the cab chassis looks better.

Yes the Hilux has gone soft. It use to be like a smaller brother to the 75 series but now its just like all the other sickly offerings in its class.
I think the Nissan Navara is out selling it hands down.

I think traytops are an essential part of the fight against bad backs.
Have to lift something out of a tub and over the sides makes my back ache thinking about it.
Being able to drop the sides and slide something out at hip height is much more back friendly.
This is another popular dual cab this way

http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...1&d=1179885583

Kaney · 05-26-07, 01:32 AM

nobody else got any pics of cut down prados

Welby · 05-30-07, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

That was a 75 series cab chassis . The raised roof is an off the shelf product and a low roof is also available.
The old rear doors had ****py sliding windows but now they have windable type

There is some companies in NSW that chop troopys into a dual cab ,but I think the cab chassis looks better.

Yes the Hilux has gone soft. It use to be like a smaller brother to the 75 series but now its just like all the other sickly offerings in its class.
I think the Nissan Navara is out selling it hands down.

I think traytops are an essential part of the fight against bad backs.
Have to lift something out of a tub and over the sides makes my back ache thinking about it.
Being able to drop the sides and slide something out at hip height is much more back friendly.
This is another popular dual cab this way

http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.p...1&d=1179885583

Must agree, and you do not have to worry about dents in the wellside with a flatdeck.
Still heaps of Hiluxes here, but I think the others are gaining ground. I have a Ford Courier at work, and I now prefer it to the hilux, especially off road ( Its not a patch on Cruisers though). The new Ford Rangers here are popular.
Looks like a 100 series RV with a deck?? Wagon cut off?? Doing the same here with a lot of the older 80 series wagons. Decks to small though, and who wants rear seat drivers.

Many of those 5 door V8 wagons your way?? Few for sale here, but yet to see one on the road.

James@JDM · 06-03-07, 03:00 AM

There is definitely one in Auckland I saw it driving down the motorway the other day, he had even painted the rear deck two tone to match, from what I saw was a jap short bed deck from a Mitsi Canter style vehicle (the drop side style) looked bloody well done.

roscoFJ73 · 06-03-07, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaney

nobody else got any pics of cut down prados

Sorry for hijacking your thread Kaney ,but over the last few years I must have looked at 1000s of cruiser pics but Ive never seen a LJ78 cut down to a ute.
Im not saying there isnt one out there

.

I think the best way would be to do it like the 75 series and as they share a similar body you maybe able to use the rear of 75 series cab welded in

.
I had a close look at a 60 series done this way by a pro and you would swear it came from the factory

roscoFJ73 · 06-03-07, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welby

.
Looks like a 100 series RV with a deck?? Wagon cut off?? Doing the same here with a lot of the older 80 series wagons. Decks to small though, and who wants rear seat drivers.

Many of those 5 door V8 wagons your way?? Few for sale here, but yet to see one on the road.

Its a 105 series STD spec

Ive only seen one on the road and it was on its way to get licensed.
Ive mainly seen cab chassis and a troopy.
I was at the dealer the other day on a parts mission and I asked a young salesman if the new troopy still came with a forward facing rear seat option. He was pretty confused and finally admitted he was only at the job for 2 weeks

Welby · 06-04-07, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roscoFJ73

Its a 105 series STD spec

Ive only seen one on the road and it was on its way to get licensed.
Ive mainly seen cab chassis and a troopy.
I was at the dealer the other day on a parts mission and I asked a young salesman if the new troopy still came with a forward facing rear seat option. He was pretty confused and finally admitted he was only at the job for 2 weeks

The new troopies here have the option of an 11 seater set up or a forward facing rear seat that folds down. Those new 5 door wagons look pretty flash, can hardly see them being used he same way as a troppie would. Have only seen the GLX though.