Hi from South Africa. Prado 150

[Roadhawg]

Hi guys. From Deepest Darkest Africa here.

I've played with TJ and JKU Wranglers a bunch (still have a 2006 TJ on 33s) but I'm trying to grow up a bit (but not too much!)

I had a 2022 Ford Ranger T6 (not sure you get them there?) with the 2L single turbo diesel....But that Wet Belt story I just did not trust keeping it out of warranty. I found a 2014 4L V6 Prado 150 and want to build a nice overlander rig for me and my daughter to do some adventures in. The TJ is awesome but it's like camping on a motorcycle. The Prado feels huge compared. VX spec here has rear air suspension, KDSS and TEMS shocks.

As soon as I can I want to add some decent tyres and roofrack. Already have a fridge to go in to the back. Oh and sort out some way of adding Carplay etc.

 

[iwashmycar]

Welcome! Looks very nice!

 

[Roadhawg]

I do have a question....Do people complain of a hard ride on the rear of the GX460's with air suspension? It's a common complaint here on the VX Prado.

 

[Roody]

Welcome, that's awesome!

 

[23GXOR]

I do have a question....Do people complain of a hard ride on the rear of the GX460's with air suspension? It's a common complaint here on the VX Prado.

My GX has air ride, and while I've never felt the need to complain about it, over rough pavement it definitely lets you know you're driving an old school, truck based SUV, not a modern unibody xUV like most everything else on the road today. I'd compare the ride quality on less than ideal pavement to something between a half ton and a 3/4 ton truck. When you consider that air ride is only available on the Luxury trim and pushed the price well past comparable BMW/Benz territory, I could easily see how someone evaluating the GX against that market segment would find it unacceptably harsh.

Of course, in all likelihood only one of those three will still be on the road 15 years from now, so it's all a matter of where you want to compromise.

 

[Roadhawg]

My GX has air ride, and while I've never felt the need to complain about it, over rough pavement it definitely lets you know you're driving an old school, truck based SUV, not a modern unibody xUV like most everything else on the road today. I'd compare the ride quality on less than ideal pavement to something between a half ton and a 3/4 ton truck. When you consider that air ride is only available on the Luxury trim and pushed the price well past comparable BMW/Benz territory, I could easily see how someone evaluating the GX against that market segment would find it unacceptably harsh.

Of course, in all likelihood only one of those three will still be on the road 15 years from now, so it's all a matter of where you want to compromise.

Thanks!

Do the air ride GX's also have MUCH longer rear bumpstops than the coil sprung versions? (If there is a coil version?).

It seems part of the s***ty rear ride on the prado is that there is barley any uptravel before running into the bumpstops on the Airride VX model. The coild sprung TX has bumpstops that are around 90mm shorter.

I'm trying to work out if the long bumpstops are due the air itself, the TEMS shocks, or the KDSS setup.

 

[stinkyfj60]

At least you got a color since everything here in ZA is white or silver

Are you on the East or West Rand?

 

[Roadhawg]

At least you got a color since everything here in ZA is blue or silver

Are you on the East or West Rand?

You mean White or silver hahah. Yeah, I VERY nearly bought a white one but I thought it might be the worst midlife crisis buy ever. The blue is at least slightly interesting

I'm in the Centre Rand, Sandton

 

[stinkyfj60]

You mean White or silver hahah. Yeah, I VERY nearly bought a white one but I thought it might be the worst midlife crisis buy ever. The blue is at least slightly interesting

I'm in the Centre Rand, Sandton

Yeah, I was thinking that is a nice blue while typing

I'm in Krugersdorp area... If you're looking for a rack, the Eezi-Awn ones are fantastic. I'm not running one because we have one of their hard RTT mounted and it takes up the whole roof.

 

[Roadhawg]

Yeah, I was thinking that is a nice blue while typing

I'm in Krugersdorp area... If you're looking for a rack, the Eezi-Awn ones are fantastic. I'm not running one because we have one of their hard RTT mounted and it takes up the whole roof.

Ok cool. I was hoping to find some used stuff but it seems pretty rare. Otherwise was thinking FrontRunner, but I'll check out the Eezi-Awn stuff.

I see you have Dobinsons suspension....Who does it locally? And compared to OME etc is it legit? Seems like the guys in OZ like it.

 

[stinkyfj60]

Ok cool. I was hoping to find some used stuff but it seems pretty rare. Otherwise was thinking FrontRunner, but I'll check out the Eezi-Awn stuff.

I see you have Dobinsons suspension....Who does it locally? And compared to OME etc is it legit? Seems like the guys in OZ like it.

I love it, they've been brilliant on a lot of trips. We had it done at N1 4x4.

 

[GrizzlyClint]

Hi guys. From Deepest Darkest Africa here.

I've played with TJ and JKU Wranglers a bunch (still have a 2006 TJ on 33s) but I'm trying to grow up a bit (but not too much!)

I had a 2022 Ford Ranger T6 (not sure you get them there?) with the 2L single turbo diesel....But that Wet Belt story I just did not trust keeping it out of warranty. I found a 2014 4L V6 Prado 150 and want to build a nice overlander rig for me and my daughter to do some adventures in. The TJ is awesome but it's like camping on a motorcycle. The Prado feels huge compared. VX spec here has rear air suspension, KDSS and TEMS shocks.

As soon as I can I want to add some decent tyres and roofrack. Already have a fridge to go in to the back. Oh and sort out some way of adding Carplay etc.

Looks amazing. Love that color.

 

[23GXOR]

Thanks!

Do the air ride GX's also have MUCH longer rear bumpstops than the coil sprung versions? (If there is a coil version?).

It seems part of the s***ty rear ride on the prado is that there is barley any uptravel before running into the bumpstops on the Airride VX model. The coild sprung TX has bumpstops that are around 90mm shorter.

I'm trying to work out if the long bumpstops are due the air itself, the TEMS shocks, or the KDSS setup.

I wouldn't know. There are coil sprung GXes, all of them are except the lux trim. I do think the nature of air suspension mostly eliminates the need for a bump stop; the air bladder usually has bump stop material inside it to prevent a pinch rupture.

 

[Washingtontaco]

That 4.0 liter is a great engine but will get horable fuel economy!

 

[krice118]

My GX with no air dispirited ROUGH.

 

[Roadhawg]

I wouldn't know. There are coil sprung GXes, all of them are except the lux trim. I do think the nature of air suspension mostly eliminates the need for a bump stop; the air bladder usually has bump stop material inside it to prevent a pinch rupture.

The reason I'm asking is that I'm trying to figure out the reason for the stupid long bumpstops on the rear of the VX Prado 150.

I bottom out the rear going over Speedbumps too aggressively, and the TX coil sprung version has 90mm shorter bumpstops.

I heard a theory that the long bumpstops are to prevent a roll-over should the KDSS fail mid-corner.....that seems like a stretch though, and I'm wondering if other KDSS vehicles also have these long bumpstops.

Otherwise it's to enable you to actually still be able to drive if the air suspension fails.... In this case, I'm willing to take the risk of installing some shorter bumpstops and just keep the long ones with me should there be a problem at some stage.

 

[Strata Garage]

My experience is mostly with the GX470 (120) platform, but the rear suspension is the same between these models, and the air suspension cars definitely have a longer bump stop than a comparable coil spring vehicle like the 4Runner. I am not 100% sure but I believe these longer bump stops are to help protect the air spring from bottoming out too hard, and also in case the air spring fails and the frame collapses onto the axle. The longer bumps will hold it up enough for the vehicle to still be driven.
Whatever the reason, I personally do not like how the air ride cars feel going over any sort of bumps. They bottom out quickly and harshly. Doing a coil spring conversion is easy and relatively cheap, and one of the most common modifications I do for my own vehicles as well as customer vehicles in my shop. Along with upgraded aftermarket bump stops

BTW that is a great looking Prado! Love the color

 

[r2m]

Welcome to the site!
Not meaning any disrespect, but regarding your ride quality, I think that's one of the improvements of the Lexus, among other Lexus qualities we get here in North America.
Although, many on this forum have found that after market suspension with a lift AND larger tires with a higher side wall greatly improves ride quality.
I currently have an OME 3" lift on 35" tires and the ride is better than stock, but I also have a heavily kitted out overlander, so she's quite heavy too.
If you want an idea of what I have, I have a build thread here: Builds - R²M 2013 GX 460 Overland Build - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/r2m-2013-gx-460-overland-build.1104719/page-4

Was just thinking...
If you wanted to do a Lexus fascia mod on your Prado and be probably the only Lexus around your area, there's guys here in the northern hemisphere that would probably love to turn their Lexus into a Prado. You could just swap body panels!

 

[Roadhawg]

Welcome to the site!
Not meaning any disrespect, but regarding your ride quality, I think that's one of the improvements of the Lexus, among other Lexus qualities we get here in North America.
Although, many on this forum have found that after market suspension with a lift AND larger tires with a higher side wall greatly improves ride quality.
I currently have an OME 3" lift on 35" tires and the ride is better than stock, but I also have a heavily kitted out overlander, so she's quite heavy too.
If you want an idea of what I have, I have a build thread here: Builds - R²M 2013 GX 460 Overland Build - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/r2m-2013-gx-460-overland-build.1104719/page-4

Was just thinking...
If you wanted to do a Lexus fascia mod on your Prado and be probably the only Lexus around your area, there's guys here in the northern hemisphere that would probably love to turn their Lexus into a Prado. You could just swap body panels!

I'd love to do a Lexus lookalike, but shipping would be prohibitively expensive. We get hammered with shipping from the USA and buying anything bigger than like a sticker pack pretty much doubles in cost after shipping and taxes. It really sucks.


The Prado ride is pretty amazing, especially for a 11year old vehicle so i dunno if the Lexuses (Lexii? ) would be radicaly different. The front feels great, the rear just sucks. If I crank up the air to "High" at the back it feels miles better, but then once you hit 50kph it goes back down to the usual.

If spaced the sensors down a little so it's probably sitting a little less than an inch higher than it SHOULD but it feels a little better like that.

 

[Roadhawg]

I;m so tempted to go 285/65/18 (Just about 33inch) but Im worried the V6 is gonna hate pulling them. I live at fairly high altitude to power loss is a thing, and the Prado gearing is crazy long already.