My Prado Evolved

FloridaFJ80 · 10-21-07, 08:06 PM

NEW UPDATES!!!! SEE 2nd Page!!!!!

This is how she sits today!!!!

I wanted to share How my Prado has Evolved in the last couple of Months.

When I picked her up in August 2007.

With the new Hids Installed and Safari Rack (thanks Alvaro)

With the new 6" Fogs installed before the new shoes

And now with the new Maxxis Bighorn 265/75/16 Mud Tires and some Window Tint.

And this pic was taken at the Totumo Mud Volcano in Cartagena Colombia.

TEPUI · 10-21-07, 09:14 PM

I can see the smile on your face.

Alvaro · 10-22-07, 10:34 AM

Friend, it looks great so far, congrats!

p.s. Can't wait for our trip in January.

FloridaFJ80 · 10-22-07, 11:37 AM

Thanks for the compliments. I wish the 90 Series was as active as the 80 series one.

ALVARO, I am counting down the days for la Guajira!!!!!!!!

TEPUI · 10-22-07, 11:57 AM

Frank, what brand is your roof rack?

FloridaFJ80 · 10-22-07, 05:22 PM

Eduardo, The brand is called No-Frills!!! Actually its a copy made here in bogota, I think of an ARB one. ALVARO, please correct me if I am wrong.

Alvaro · 10-23-07, 07:35 AM

Yes it's an ARB style locally made roof rack, not sure how close in design to the original ARB but at least very stout.

Here a pic of when it was mine (I think it looks better with your round lights Frank)

FloridaFJ80 · 10-23-07, 08:00 AM

Alvaro - Your old Prado looks awesome!!! Love the lift. Man I need to find me a Snorkel!!! Where did you get yours...???

Alvaro · 10-23-07, 08:33 AM

Thanks Frank! I sometimes miss my Prado!

I had to buy the snorkel here in Bogota (expensive), couldn't find it in the US and I wanted it so bad that couldn't wait, but I'm sure with some research you can find it in the US and bring it (cheaper), part no. is SS185HF. Give a try and let me know.

FloridaFJ80 · 10-23-07, 12:00 PM

Sweet I will give it a try... Thanks for the PN. I will attempt to find in the US, I am thinking maybe through an ARB reseller I should be able to find one. If I dont have any luck, how much was your Snorkel?

80jay · 10-23-07, 12:44 PM

Nice rig Frank!! To bad you can bring it up here so we can test it out in Florida swamp...

FloridaFJ80 · 10-23-07, 12:58 PM

Hey one of these days.. My rig will be the only prado in the USA visiting...!!!

Alvaro · 10-23-07, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFJ80

Sweet I will give it a try... Thanks for the PN. I will attempt to find in the US, I am thinking maybe through an ARB reseller I should be able to find one. If I dont have any luck, how much was your Snorkel?

Friend it was 600 us dollars.

FloridaFJ80 · 10-23-07, 06:54 PM

Did you buy that at 4x4 Pickup Center???? I found one in the states through 80jay for 425 shipped to my house in Orlando... Might be going that route, tomorrow the 24th of October I will find out whether I won the contest for the TOYOTA PRADO Expedition.. WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

www.expediciontoyotaprado.com

FloridaFJ80 · 10-23-07, 07:09 PM

Some new pics.. This is what happens on a daily basis at work......!!!

Some rain and the ground turns into some sort f clay and become very slippery, this dump truck attempted to drive down the hill with its load intact and lost control.

The TRINITY TRANSPORTS FLEET!!!!!

Alvaro · 10-24-07, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFJ80

Did you buy that at 4x4 Pickup Center???? I found one in the states through 80jay for 425 shipped to my house in Orlando... Might be going that route, tomorrow the 24th of October I will find out whether I won the contest for the TOYOTA PRADO Expedition.. WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

www.expediciontoyotaprado.com

I bought it to a guy who used to sell parts but he is no longer active. He had a 2 door Prado also so he new all the stuff about those.

Good luck!!!

ps. Seems like you ARE having fun at work!!!

TEPUI · 10-24-07, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFJ80

Some new pics.. This is what happens on a daily basis at work......!!!

what a life shift!

From an air conditioned office in Orlando to the muddy roads of beautiful Colombia. I'm happy for you dude.

FloridaFJ80 · 10-24-07, 08:05 AM

ALVARO & Tepui - I guess you can say that I am having fun at work... I guess the life shift would be from an Air conditioned Orlando office with a leather desk chair to the nice and comfortable Air conditioned leather seats of my PRADO!!!!!! Cant beat that!!

Tepui - Did you buy your Lift in Chile or did you bring it from the states....???

TODAY IS THE BIG DAY!!!! Lets see what happens....

TEPUI · 10-24-07, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFJ80

ALVARO & Tepui - I guess you can say that I am having fun at work... I guess the life shift would be from an Air conditioned Orlando office with a leather desk chair to the nice and comfortable Air conditioned leather seats of my PRADO!!!!!! Cant beat that!!

Unbeatable for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFJ80

Tepui - Did you buy your Lift in Chile or did you bring it from the states....???

I got the suspension at 4TEC (www.4-tec.cl) the official Old Man Emu dealer for Chile.

FloridaFJ80 · 10-24-07, 11:15 AM

Was it cheaper in Chile than in the States???

-MaTTi- · 10-24-07, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFJ80

And now with the new Maxxis Bighorn 265/75/16 Mud Tires and some Window Tint.

"Some" window tint

I can´t see anything through!!!

FloridaFJ80 · 10-24-07, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -MaTTi-

"Some" window tint

I can´t see anything through!!!

Thats funny..!!!! Actually in the front windshield, which is used for Security reasons, its what they call here 60% on the front and rear doors is also 60% and on the back windows and rear window its all 80%. But if you stand on the side of the vehicle looking in you can see the passengers. If it were up to me it would all be 80%..

TEPUI · 10-25-07, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFJ80

Was it cheaper in Chile than in the States???

Definitely not. Buying from a distributor down here ends up costing about the same as buying it from the US and having it shipped via FedEx or UPS. But it's good to have the local customer service. I could have ordered directly from the US (and I've done it before) but if by any chance something is wrong, I'd be responsible for shipping it back, which would be VERY expensive.

FloridaFJ80 · 10-25-07, 08:18 PM

That is true, sometimes its better to bite the bullet with a shop closer that way if things dont work out you will have to dish out more cash...

FelipeA · 11-16-07, 05:46 PM

A bit late after the start of the thread, but.... welcome home Frank. I'm also in Bogota so if you need anything around here just let us know.

We go out on daytrips with Alberto often.

Read you guys are headed to La Guajira. I'm also going there with a couple of other friends Dec25-Jan5. It'd be nice to meet up somewhere around there.

Attached is a picture of the weekend driver in a recent trip to what little snow we have left in Colombia, and a shot of some other buddies' 80s.

Feel free to PM if I can be of assistance in this neck of the woods.

Un abrazo,

Felipe A

albertom · 11-18-07, 05:55 PM

Im catching up on this thread also... Congrats on the rig Frank, thats quite some progress!! Are you living in Cartagena full time?

Wish i could head up to guajira with you guys in december but i already have plans and very little vacation from work...

FloridaFJ80 · 11-18-07, 05:59 PM

Hey Felipe!!! Nice to meet you.. You have a sweet looking ride!!! ALVARO and I will be going to La Guajira just after New Years, Jan. 2 to Jan 15 or so. so it seems lilke we may run in to one another it would be great to meet another fellow MUDDER here in Colombia.

I am currently living in Cartagena, Job Transfer, but I am looking for a wheeling buddy here, havent found many aficionados for 4 wheeling. Maybe you know someone???

Hopefully we can meet in Cabo de la Vela!!!

FelipeA · 11-20-07, 07:08 AM

Frank,
It sound like cabo de la vela would be just about right timing wise, as we'll be there either Jan 1 or Jan2 finishing the trip.
I understand there's a Barranquilla group called Iguana 4x4. Maybe you can Google them up.
FA

dmc · 01-13-08, 07:29 PM

i think Frank's truck has completed it's evolution and is now being used only to move around the city. the mud terrains come in very handy on the well paved roads of bocagrande...

but it's still a sweet truck and looks very good out on the beach.
dmc

FloridaFJ80 · 02-14-08, 05:04 PM

Well a few weeks back, I was making a u-turn and a motorcycle slammed into my drivers side passenger door, it was pretty bad. The guy on the motorcycle tore up his knee. Anyways due to Colombian Law my Prado was takento "jail" an impound lot for about 12 days. Got her out and well started he process of getting her fixed. In the meantime, I opted for a minor face lift and got simple lift until I get the real deal, added some 1.5 trim spacers on both front and back and here are the before and after pics.

BEFORE

AFTER